Building my 5th....going to do a bolt on neck for first time on a nice Cohiba box (any tips on bolt ons also appreciated). My first 3 were 25' scale length 3 strings. 4rth was a 17" 4 nylon string ukulele. Now I want to do a 4 string, sorta baratone Uke/4 string guitar hybrid. I don't want to use the nylon strings, but standard acoustic guitar strings (the top 4 strings (highest pitched)). But, I want it more of a scale length of 19 or 20 inches. I know guitar strings are meant for certain lengths....any one know if I can go that short and keep it tuned to standard guitar tuning? thanks for the help Nation!
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Hi Harley,
I have made a couple with 19 and a half inch scales - I used a set of electric 12s gauge strings. I have tried smaller gauge sets but for regular tuning the thinner strings are too floppy when they reach the desired note. So you can go shorter but the trade off is you also need to go fatter.
Hey Harley, I have built most of my CBGs with a 25.5" scale length, but I did build one with an 18" scale and used the same strings tuned the same GDg tuning with no problems.
I've made both dulcimers and ukuleles with lightweight banjo strings-aside from needing a tiny bit of extra finger pressure in front of the first fret (on an 18.5" fretboard) everything went fine. I've also taken a cheap yard-sale Uke (pre-strung with pretty thick guitar string on a cheap tack-on tailpiece) with lightweight classical strings for longer neck life.
In fact, i've never used Nylon or Gut strings on a Uke I made yet-alas, my clumsy oven-mitt hands can't manage a decently-tied knot... :(
I think you will find it is not that much of a problem once you get used to it. I have friends who jump between guitar, mandolin and banjo without any problems. One plays bass and goes between standup bass, Fender electric bass and has recently gotten a small bass the size of a ukulele and doesn't seem to have any problems with the transition.
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