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Thread: nylon strung 4 string OM

  1. #1
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    Default nylon strung 4 string OM

    Is there anybody who makes these. One with 19" or 20" scale and cutaway would be nice.

    There are some baritone ukes cutaways in this scale, but the body is rather small.

  2. #2
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    No clue, but my brother had a 21" scale bari uke that I tuned as an octave, it was fun. Not super loud (I used the stock strings, tuned down a bunch) but fun to play.
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    Registered User foldedpath's Avatar
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    If you want a larger body than an OM-tuned baritone uke, you might consider a nylon string guitar in 5ths tuning.

    You'd need custom string gauges, but a tuning like CGDAEB could be interesting. Or maybe DGDADA, basically a bouzouki tuning with added low and high strings. This would probably sound better than a baritone uke because you'd have the larger soundboard and internal airmass to support the low notes. It wouldn't cost much as an experiment, if you start with a used nylon string guitar. They're available with cutaways, and you could sell it if it didn't work out.

    The other, more expensive option might be to find a uke builder to make a custom, larger sized body.

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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    Thanks for the ideas. There's a baritone uke in house that will get restrung. The classical guitar body size is right, but the neck is about 2 strings too wide tho.

  5. #5
    Registered User foldedpath's Avatar
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    Yeah, you'd have to think of the nylon string guitar as more of a cittern and make use of the extra strings. It would be way too wide with just four strings. It would also require a capo to shorten the scale down to OM length with appropriate string gauges for the target capo position, which I neglected to mention with that idea. Let us know how the project turns out!
    Last edited by foldedpath; Sep-23-2019 at 3:29pm.

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    Registered User Seonachan's Avatar
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    Pono makes a baritone "nui" that's roughly Martin 0-sized and 23" scale. It's designed for DGBE but would work well as a nylon string OM.

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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    Seonachan - Thanks for the idea. The body size might be alright, but it needs the shorter scale and spruce top. Capo would be an option, but ultimately there wouldn't be much neck left clear of the body. Maybe there's a cutaway uke builder or adventurous classical builder out there....

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    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    I guess it depends on how much you want to spend but this guy will build you one http://www.jazzboxukes.com/

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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    fox - That's a new one to me. Pretty nifty and different stuff, but i'm thinking more like flat wood.

    Can you tell me about the instrument pictured in your avatar?

    Thanks very much.

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    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    There is some info here ... https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...nally-finished
    I built that one for a pretty famous young lady called Birdie https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aNzCDt2eidg

  11. #11
    Registered User kwerry's Avatar
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    I've made a 4 string nylon instrument tuned as a Cello CGDA and I'm quite happy with it..

    Might do a nylon OM at some point as I do like the nylon string sound..

    Kerry

    Quote Originally Posted by dan in va View Post
    Is there anybody who makes these. One with 19" or 20" scale and cutaway would be nice.

    There are some baritone ukes cutaways in this scale, but the body is rather small.

  12. #12
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    Default Re: nylon strung 4 string OM

    There hasn't been much going on in the way of guitar sales in the area since the passing of Charlottesville Music, so i was surprised to see a Pono nylon strung tenor guitar with all solid wood and figured maple binding. A fairly well made instrument with fair tone, but the scale was some 23", and there is a nice Martin T18 strung OM in the stable already. It was encouraging to see this little nylon guitar that had OM potential, so the interest is still there. It might be a fun project a few years down the road.

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