Can anyone make suggestions about the gauges of strings that I should use on a cigar box uke? I've read posts in other parts of CBG Nation to the effect that nylon strings aren't great on cigar boxes so I'm thinking about using strings from a guitar set (I'm also thinking this would give me the option of using a magnetic pickup - although I haven't decided yet and I may well use a piezo).

I haven't made a final decision on scale length, but it will either be a concert or tenor (in terms of scale length), so I'm looking for stringing suggestions for both of these (ie. gCEA for a concert or dGBE for a tenor).

Views: 247

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Generally a uke uses nylon strings, and they'll be fine with a piezo. I've not tried a uke with steel strings, but I'd been inclined to think that that they will change your playing, and might be a bit cheesewirey when doing your George Formby style split strumming. I think Risa make a steel strung electric uke.
I'm not a uke guy but look in the members for tinyguitars hes a member on here he uses metal strings a lot on his ukes he would be a good one to ask.
I put nylon on mine, and I love the sound, BUT, I've only finished one and have nothing to compare it with. I just bought a set for the size Ukulele I built. Got soprano for my soprano, bought a set of tenor for the tenor I am working on. I wait for the man, tinyguitars to respond. He is my go to if I have a question.
I used a standard set of nylon uke strings on mine, and it sounds fine. I used a rather lightly-constructed plywood box.

Volume is not great; I agree that a pickup would be a good idea.
I definitely recommend Aquila Nylguts. But for basic CBU use, I just paid $3 at Guitar Center for a set of black GHS strings. They're good enough for setting action height and basic plinking until I get around to buying the good stuff.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

Latest Activity

Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Da Do Ron Ron: 3D Printed Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 198th Zoom Mtg 04/15/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG Songbook.pdf...
10 minutes ago
Matthias Bichsel left a comment for Moritz Voegeli
"www.cbguitars.ch auf FB This Bichsel"
19 hours ago
Matthias Bichsel left a comment for Moritz Voegeli
"Hallo, ich bin aus Solothurn. Lisa Stearns hat mich gefragt ob ich Dich kenne. Ich baue cbg. Gruss…"
19 hours ago
Matthias Bichsel liked Moritz Voegeli's profile
19 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for John Herrick
20 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Daniel Cook
20 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Skip Novakovich
20 hours ago
T-Gripped liked David Woodman 's photo
20 hours ago
Profile IconJohn Herrick, Daniel Cook and Skip Novakovich joined Cigar Box Nation
21 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

The Blues riff a Tutorial BCB 2024

"Yup Doug ! standart tuning for the four that el be missing the E's ADGB ,on the 3 Tree String…"
23 hours ago
Max commented on Max's video
Thumbnail

My second guitar

"Thanks everyone, yes well and truly hooked haha. If I ever put this one down it's to make…"
yesterday
Southern Ray replied to Moritz Voegeli's discussion Joseph J. Rogowski about Current Based Pickup Design
" A few years later... Thank you."
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->