#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

uke scale

A friene wants a Uke. I am not sure of a scale length. My thoughts are that with nylon strings and a CB it might be a bit underguned, as in quiet sounding. What do you do for scale lenght and strings to get the most quality out of this sort of build.

I was thinking of a bolt on neck, concert scale of 17" I have a piece of maple for a neck, but open to any other ideas, wood, scale lenght, strings.

Cheers Ron.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on January 26, 2011 at 11:16am

17" is a tenor length which I like but I also have a couple of concert scale ukuleles. One recommendation I have is to use mandolin/banjo fret sizes. More narrow. Leads to more precise chording I find. Definately go with ukulele strings. All my ukuleles are as loud as any manufactured uke.

Don

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on January 26, 2011 at 2:29pm

Don:

Thanks, that makes it rather straight forward, stright is good right.

Cheers Ron.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on January 26, 2011 at 6:16pm

One difference I have found, CB or not, is that discount strings often sound quite dead, where the good quality uke strings really tend to make a difference.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on January 27, 2011 at 2:14am

Do you have a recommended brand? I"ve only used the GHS black nylon, because they were black and looked cool!

I also have a set of nylgut ones from that Italian company, I forget the name just now, but have not put them on an instrument yet.

Mark Bliss said:

One difference I have found, CB or not, is that discount strings often sound quite dead, where the good quality uke strings really tend to make a difference.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on January 27, 2011 at 4:41am

I am going to servery the local selection of strings today, then I will be able to tell if I have to order some from afar.

Thanks for the tip, I agree good quality strings will be in the plan.

Cheers Ron.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on January 27, 2011 at 6:22am

You know, I am at work and dont have access to double check, but the last two sets I got were called something like Aqilgut or something like that. They definitly had better, clearer ringing tone than anything I had previously used. Plain jane strings sound pretty dull in comparison. Just my opinion and experience.

Have fun!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on January 27, 2011 at 9:23am

These? http://www.juststrings.com/aquilaukulele.html

That's the brand I have, still in the envelopes.

Mark Bliss said:

You know, I am at work and dont have access to double check, but the last two sets I got were called something like Aqilgut or something like that. They definitly had better, clearer ringing tone than anything I had previously used. Plain jane strings sound pretty dull in comparison. Just my opinion and experience.

Have fun!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on January 27, 2011 at 11:16am

I agree everyone. I think the few more dollars spent on good strings is worth it. plus they keep their tone longer.

Don

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on January 27, 2011 at 9:45pm

Find an old vintage cedar box, float a hardwood bridge in the middle of the top and use any scale you want. it's a uke, it will sound like a uke..... no problem...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on January 28, 2011 at 4:55am

The local shop has Martin uke strings, clear fluro.

They are the same price as aquili, so I might as well order some since they will come before I get this built, I will check the local shops for a box this weekend, half the fun is in the hunt. Thanks for your help. Scale somewhere in the 17-19" range. It will be fun to build a bridge for this, well really the whole thing will be fun.

Cheers Ron.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on January 28, 2011 at 6:10am

Well, Unless a guitar player gets a hold of it and puts a low G on it and turns it into a little four string guitar.

Don

Wichita Sam said:

Find an old vintage cedar box, float a hardwood bridge in the middle of the top and use any scale you want. it's a uke, it will sound like a uke..... no problem...