is this possible ?

iamesperambient

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rather than getting a custom builder to make me
a steel string baritone would it be possible
to buy a child's acoustic guitar and convert it
myself to a steel string baritone? and how would
I go about it if it is possible? btw I have no interest
in getting a tenor guitar I prefer the size of
baritone and scale as well. but I like the sustain
of steel strings and it will cost me A lot
for a custom builder to make me one thinking
this could be more affordable to me.
 
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Hi. I'm only a beginner so I didn't expect to answer your query. However you spiked my interest and I just did a quick look for a suitable children's guitar but to be honest I haven't been able to find one built with the strength to take steel strings. All the one's I found were built with nylon strings. I think you may have to look at the smaller versions of serious adult guitars...traveller guitar???
 
I'm not a luthier, but I would think it would be possible to get a regular baritone ukulele, and have the neck and bridge reinforced so it could handle the steel strings.

If you wanted to convert a 6 string child's guitar to a 4 string, you would need to have a new nut and a new bridge, and you might have 2 empty tuning keys that might rattle when not under string tension.

–Lori
 
Here's a suggestion, buy a set of classical guitar strings.
The EADG are nylon, but wound. (low 4)
Put them on a Baritone and tune GCEA.
You will be an octave low, but you may get the sustain you are looking for.
 
I fixed up a couple of those child steel string guitars. They're built ok. Don't sound too great as a guitar, but not horrible either. I would guess you could remove two of the six tuners, re-fashion the nut, fill the holes in the bridge, drill out four new ones, and call it a day.

I was actually going to do that with one I got at a yard sale for $5, with nylon strings though, but than I found a kid who would have liked a guitar, so I kept it as is.

If you do go that route, please post back. And, if I find another one of those guitars, I'm going to give that idea a shot.

Dan
 
rather than getting a custom builder to make me
a steel string baritone would it be possible
to buy a child's acoustic guitar and convert it
myself to a steel string baritone? and how would
I go about it if it is possible? btw I have no interest
in getting a tenor guitar I prefer the size of
baritone and scale as well. but I like the sustain
of steel strings and it will cost me A lot
for a custom builder to make me one thinking
this could be more affordable to me.

Basically, all you would be doing is removing the two lower octave strings of this small guitar, it is still going to sound like a guitar, not a baritone uke. If that is what you want, go for it. Hope you aren't too disappointed.
 
Here's a suggestion, buy a set of classical guitar strings.
The EADG are nylon, but wound. (low 4)
Put them on a Baritone and tune GCEA.
You will be an octave low, but you may get the sustain you are looking for.

ya but gcea is not the tuning I want
and nylon still has a much different sound
steel is what I'm looking for.
 
I fixed up a couple of those child steel string guitars. They're built ok. Don't sound too great as a guitar, but not horrible either. I would guess you could remove two of the six tuners, re-fashion the nut, fill the holes in the bridge, drill out four new ones, and call it a day.

I was actually going to do that with one I got at a yard sale for $5, with nylon strings though, but than I found a kid who would have liked a guitar, so I kept it as is.

If you do go that route, please post back. And, if I find another one of those guitars, I'm going to give that idea a shot.

Dan
sounds like a plan I may try this thanks!
 
btw I have no interest
in getting a tenor guitar I prefer the size of
baritone and scale as well.

There are some tenor guitars that are small-bodied and short-scale (21"), just a touch over bari uke size. Some of the vintage ones (Regal, Harmony/Supertone) are pretty affordable. Soares'y was converting cheapo baritone ukes to steel strings for a while. There's one up on ebay now (search for "baby tenor acoustic guitar") - NFI on my part.
 
There are some tenor guitars that are small-bodied and short-scale (21"), just a touch over bari uke size. Some of the vintage ones (Regal, Harmony/Supertone) are pretty affordable. Soares'y was converting cheapo baritone ukes to steel strings for a while. There's one up on ebay now (search for "baby tenor acoustic guitar") - NFI on my part.

do u have a contact for soares'y ?
the converted bartitone is more my thing
and actually I've seen baritones around 22"
I just don't like the big body of tenors
I'll check into the converted Bari thanks
for the info :)
 
do u have a contact for soares'y ?
the converted bartitone is more my thing
and actually I've seen baritones around 22"
I just don't like the big body of tenors
I'll check into the converted Bari thanks
for the info :)

Both eBay and the Internet have search engines. They're easy to use and usually work really well.
Here's the eBay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Baby-tenor-acoustic-guitar-made-for-Soaresy-guitars-/331092357664?pt=Guitar&hash=item4d16a47220
here's Mike's website: http://soaresyguitars.com/
BTW, I have a Soares'y electric tenor guitar that looks a lot like the red and white one in the lower left corner of the photo on the website's homepage. He basically buys guitars and replaces the neck, bridge and electronics to accommodate four strings.
 
Both eBay and the Internet have search engines. They're easy to use and usually work really well.
Here's the eBay listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Baby-tenor-acoustic-guitar-made-for-Soaresy-guitars-/331092357664?pt=Guitar&hash=item4d16a47220
here's Mike's website: http://soaresyguitars.com/
BTW, I have a Soares'y electric tenor guitar that looks a lot like the red and white one in the lower left corner of the photo on the website's homepage. He basically buys guitars and replaces the neck, bridge and electronics to accommodate four strings.

thanks a bit snide on the first bit but thanks for the links
anyhow think I'm going to contact this lutheir
I found to just do a custom job.
 
I have a friend who did that with his daughters childhood 1/2 or 3/4 sized guitar years ago. He didn't do a good job of cutting new slots in the nut (to space the strings evenly across the fretboard). All were high so the intonation was awful - we had a good laugh with it, though.

I think if you take more care cutting the nut you could certainly make one that plays in tune but I'm not sure why you would want to go there. A 3/4 size steel-string guitar strung as a uke is still going to sound like a guitar. You might as well keep all six strings and have the extended bass range that goes with them.

I guess if you made it reentrant instead of linear it might have a slightly more ukish sound but it's going to be like the steel string electric ukes - sounding closer to a guitar than a uke.


John
 
I have a friend who did that with his daughters childhood 1/2 or 3/4 sized guitar years ago. He didn't do a good job of cutting new slots in the nut (to space the strings evenly across the fretboard). All were high so the intonation was awful - we had a good laugh with it, though.

I think if you take more care cutting the nut you could certainly make one that plays in tune but I'm not sure why you would want to go there. A 3/4 size steel-string guitar strung as a uke is still going to sound like a guitar. You might as well keep all six strings and have the extended bass range that goes with them.

I guess if you made it reentrant instead of linear it might have a slightly more ukish sound but it's going to be like the steel string electric ukes - sounding closer to a guitar than a uke.


John

I have a konablaster steel string electric
baritone and I love it. I want to go there
because frankly I suck at guitar and feel more
comfortable with a baritone uke as my main instrument
I like the idea of having a traditional nylon string acoustic
and an electric steel string but would also like that
steel string acoustic baritone for that sound. if there
is like a mini or baby tenor guitar with a small body
I would be happy with that but so far they all seem
to have big dreadnaught style bodies I prefer the smaller
size. I'll keep searching I guess. I'd contact
money wrench but their prices are beyond my
means.
 
I've tried using a tenor guitar as a steel string baritone uke and it was not a very positive experience. Tenor guitars have guitar sized neck scales - they are longer and thinner. Also they are designed to be tuned CGDA like a tenor banjo. They don't do very well when tuned to DGBE. I think you might be more successful with a short-scale tenor guitar. There are now a few options. Here are a couple:

http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/Guitars/ozark-tenor-guitar.htm
http://www.fletcherinstruments.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Roberts-Guitars-Ukuleles/158169180880042
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BR40T.htm

The key would be to get a short scale tenor. The old Regals and SS Stewarts has short scales too. It's still a little longer than a Baritone uke, but should allow you to use a Baritone uke tuning.
 
If you are looking for a steel strung baritone uke, what you are actully looking for is a tenor guitar. Here is a link to an Elderly Instruments page.
http://elderly.com/new_instruments/cats/80N.htm

but i already said im NOT looking for a tenor guitar.
I do not like the size of the body its to large.
I know steel string acoustic speciality baritones exist
there are two companies that make them one is monkey wrench...
but their too expensive.
 
I've tried using a tenor guitar as a steel string baritone uke and it was not a very positive experience. Tenor guitars have guitar sized neck scales - they are longer and thinner. Also they are designed to be tuned CGDA like a tenor banjo. They don't do very well when tuned to DGBE. I think you might be more successful with a short-scale tenor guitar. There are now a few options. Here are a couple:

http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/Guitars/ozark-tenor-guitar.htm
http://www.fletcherinstruments.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Roberts-Guitars-Ukuleles/158169180880042
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BR40T.htm

The key would be to get a short scale tenor. The old Regals and SS Stewarts has short scales too. It's still a little longer than a Baritone uke, but should allow you to use a Baritone uke tuning.

short scale tenor guitar may work i think. I thikn nothing bigger than 21 or 22" scale and a smaller
sized body like a baritone i dont like the big over sized bodies i have seen of the tenor guitars its basiucally
a full sized body guitar with a skinny neck and 4 strings, i also dont liek the thin neck. I just want a tenor guitar
basically deisgned like a baritone uke if that makes any sense. I know it exists ive seen them around.
 
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