whistleman123
Well-known member
I just came across some auction listings for tenor guitars. The seller offers an option for ukulele c tuning with low g. Is this a legit ukulele? Do these use steel or poly strings? Is anyone on UU playing one?
It's not a uke. I don't know the seller so won't speculate aloud on their motivation. But generally, tenor guitars are built to use steel strings, and that's what players use, regardless of tuning. If the instrument in question was built as a tenor guitar, it may not sound good with nylon (or other) uke strings. Ask questions and find out as much as you can from the seller, so you know what you're really getting if decide to buy one.
I seriously considered a tenor guitar before I ordered my last baritone. I wanted the steel string sound but still have the shorter scale length and smaller body. Rick Turner said he'd build one for me but I found the Chennell archtop baritone. Toby Chennell said he built my bari so it could take a light gauge steel string so am on the hunt for a set to try. I may try a nickel flat wound much like what the old jazz guitarists used.
In hindsight I wish I had gone with a tenor guitar. Especially after seeing the Kinnard sunburst that was shown here not too long ago. Perhaps I'll sell my Webber baritone and buy or trade for a good tenor guitar or as Mark says, a really big steel string baritone ukulele.
If you'd like to make an inexpensive foray into the world of tenor guitars, I can recommend the Blueridge BR-40T. It has a longer-than-baritone scale (22.9 inches) and the neck is thinner than a baritone ukulele neck, but it sounds great for an instrument with back and side laminate (the soundboard is solid Sitka spruce). You might also try contacting Rick Turner again. After a bunch of lousy luck (which included losing his then-main luthier to two broken arms that had to be rebroken and reset because they had healed improperly) his shop is running smoothly.
John Lawlor is one of my favourites;
What tuning is Mr. Lawlor using in the above video? Anybody know?
I'm going to guess that it's CGDA, which is traditional tuning, but I don't know for sure.
Ive got an old Martin tenor guitar, or as I often call it, a "super baritone" uke. I believe John Lawlor tunes his like a traditional tenor banjo, not Chigago tuning.
John Lawlor actually tunes down a full step to Bb-F-C-G, because his guitar is a converted 6-string with a 25" scale, too long for tuning that high string to A for all practical purposes. I love that tuning too - it's a little darker and fuller sounding than CGDA - plus you can capo the 2nd fret and get CGDA at a shorter scale length.