Big steel string baritone :-)

Not a new build, but something I've been wanting to do for a while: convert a "normal" guitar into a big honking steel string baritone uke.

The sacrifice before the ceremonies began:



I talked them down a bit from the sticker price:



It's not such a bad unit... the neck is straight, and the top is solid wood (spruce?). Had a loose brace in the upper bout, and I needed to add a new bridge plate (held in place while the glue dries by the temporary screws in the picture). My younger assistant Wayne inspecting the work:



Going with half a set of mandolin tuners:



More as things develop! (This shouldn't take long...)

Sounds like it might be a worthwhile project. You should pretty much end up with a Plectrum Guitar. We are making those for classical strings (first one in the house as we speak).

The one thing that would concern me about your project is the neck width. Plectrums were a bit narrow by modern standards, but I think yours will be a good bit wide.

Will you be thinning the neck width?

I've got some old guitars around that now gives me an idea. Thanks for that.

.....Oh, and Wayne is the type of shop assistant I really appreciate.

southcoastukes said:

Will you be thinning the neck width?

Click to expand...

Maybe on the next one... It *is* going to be too wide, but I figure I'll get used to it

Man, those steel strings are hard on my fingers! Here is the finished beast next to a normal baritone uke:

Looks like Wayne is giving it a cat scan.