half size guitar into a baritone uke. Any ideas?

I have a half size guitar that has been laying around since about 1996, and my husband and I would like to attempt to turn it into a baritone uke. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions. Is this even possible? I have never played baritone before, but I think I would like to give it a try. Thanks for any and all ideas and suggestions!

JustLovely

How about making it a 6 string baritone? Other than finding the right combination of strings, you would have to replace the nut with one that would align the Cc & Aa as pairs.

It worked for me. Im not sure if my old Harmony kids guitar (19" scale) is a 1/4 scale, or a 1/2 scale but I cut two new slots in the nut to get even spacing for 4 strings and put the strings in the bridge as best I could. I have played it both with Aquila baritone strings and with strings 2-5 of a set of nylon guitar strings for more tension that the baritone strings gave me. It sounds better than some real baritones I have played, and certainly better than any I could have gotten for the $10 I spent on it, plus a set of strings.

I cut the extra slots (circled in red) with a hack saw blade, and didn't use two of the pins in the bridge. The spacing looks a bit strange at the bridge, but I kind of like having my bass string farther apart than the other 3. I have tried several other spacings, using different combinationss of pins, but I tend to do a variant of Travis picking, so it works for me. If it were not a pin bridge, I would probably have drilled 2 more holes to equaly space the 4 strings at the bridge. I may eventually make a new bridge.

http://www.box.net/shared/x7ufmnno2s

http://www.box.net/shared/gpbiizgxgr

http://www.box.net/shared/l6u6jy0su2

Here is a quick sound sample. Sorry if its a bit flat. I shoulda tuned before making it. I'm tuned DGBE by the way.

http://www.box.net/shared/11mxobs4t5

Not entirely sure if mine is a 1/4 or a 1/2 either. Thanks guys! Helpful stuff!

JustLovely said:

Not entirely sure if mine is a 1/4 or a 1/2 either. Thanks guys! Helpful stuff!

Click to expand...

Just measure the scale length. A baritone is 19", but plus or minus an inch will probably work with the right strings.

By the way, you don't have to cut anything to just try out a baritone. Before I did mine, I used my old classical guitar, which just happened to be missing the 2 lowest bass strings (it was a sign from the ukulele gods!!). It let me know how a baritone would sound and play, although that big classical body is certainly deeper in tone than a real baritone or a 1/4 scale guitar.

Is it a classical or an acoustic guitar?

See my comment here about putting nylon strings on an acoustic:

http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?35513-Can-this-be-done

My 1/4 scale kids guitar was a steel string, but it plays OK with nylon strings. Its correct that it may not be as loud as it was when it was a guitar, but its still as loud as my real baritone. I think it is helped by the fact that I now have it strung with Ernie Ball nylon strings (the lower two are brass wound). Since I used strings 2,3,4, and 5, the tension is higher than it would be if I used the strings as if I were stringing it as a guitar. I got that tip from a fellow UU'r. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I just checked with my husband (I am not a guitar player so I didn't know) He said it's a classical 1/2 scale. Keep the ideas coming! I really appreciate it!