Steel string ukulele

[Jamminjames]

http://imgur.com/1VgYiSq
This is my first post,

I've been playing acoustic guitar for a year, got my electric about a month ago and I've been messing around with this Uke. I put steel strings on it so I could play it like a tiny lap guitar

Going to buy more strings later today I'll post more pics and video

[pops1]

I'm not sure that is a good idea, uke's are not really designed for steel strings. If you have very light steel strings tuned very low maybe. I have put them on a banjo uke, but that is a horse of a different color.

[ProfChris]

If it's an inexpensive laminate uke it will probably hold up to steel strings - many of the cheap brands are built like tanks!

[Dale Ludewig]

Or it might pull the bridge off.

[NEH57]

You are not in Bristol are you Jamminjames.......

[pops1]

Or it might pull the bridge off.

That was my thought, I see them come off with nylon strings, let alone steel.

[ProfChris]

But I think the OP has considered that - the brass hinges on the top look like stríng fastening devices. I'd have made a tailpiece though.

[Jacob]

Ukuleles - Portuguese Cavaquinhos - designed for steel strings. (NFI)

[Tom C]

A guitar player posting about a Uke on a mando site. Interesting thread.

[Jeff Hildreth]

Nix on the metal strings.. yes on Cavaquinho but Brazilian style, not Portuguese.

FTR.. Guitar player commenting on ukulele and cavaquinho on a mandolin site.

(I build cavaquinhos)

[g0rgf]

Not sure about the steel strings, try aquila strings (nylgut) beautiful sound and hold tuning well. They can be found quite cheaply on the well known auction site (beware of the Chinese imitations), or your local music shop should have them or be able to source for you.

[CES]

Couldn't view the link at work, but have a Pono Tenor Uke that's built for at least a "steel" low G string. AFAIK, they're the only production Uke (at least in the sub-1000 dollar price point) using truss rods...but has nylon on the higher strings...

[ProfChris]

Couldn't view the link at work, but have a Pono Tenor Uke that's built for at least a "steel" low G string. AFAIK, they're the only production Uke (at least in the sub-1000 dollar price point) using truss rods...but has nylon on the higher strings...

Your low G is a nylon core with metal windings. Don't replace it with a steel cored string, or you might distort the neck. Ponos are too expensive to take that risk.

[allenhopkins]

How about the Bruko octave guitar, which still shows up on the used market? I have one, and they're designed for steel strings; mine are .007/.009/.012/.018w/.022w/.028w, 1st string through 6th.

A nice little instrument, though a bit finicky in terms of intonation up the neck.

[fox]

Here is mine being played by a friend....

[DHopkins]

I'm like some of the others but destruction of the instrument notwithstanding, I would hate to change the unique sound of a uke by putting steel strings on it.

[John Morton]

I made a steel strung resonator octave guitar at the behest of a guy in Panama. Don't know what kind of music he plays.

I was skeptical about the project - he wanted a dark finish (on brass) and a piezo disc, neither of which appealed to me. But I was pretty happy with it. The wide string spacing is what makes it work. I could actually play it and the sound was terrific. The scale is 14in., so same tension as a guitar with 28 in.!