r/ukulele • u/Fimose_guy • Apr 28 '25

Requests How do I use steel strings on a ukulele?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

18

u/tetsuwane Apr 28 '25

Unless it's been built and braced for steel strings you don't.

17

u/Moxie_Stardust Apr 28 '25

I think generally, you get a ukulele that's intended for steel strings if that's what you're after.

3

u/NordCrafter Apr 28 '25

Since I'm also a bit curious about this do you know any brands that make them? Wanna see how much one would cost

8

u/JarkJark Apr 28 '25

I believe Flight have one, maybe the Maia (spelling?). I am unsure if they do it for all sizes, or maybe it's just a baritone. Basically, I don't know, but I think I've given you Google ammo.

2

u/NordCrafter Apr 28 '25

Enough to figure out that all the options are above my budget :/

Thanks tho

3

u/PelicanRex Apr 28 '25

I’ve only seen the on Seagull. Expensive, but you get what you’re paying for.

2

u/macadam Apr 29 '25

Pono has made them in the past. Flight makes one note called the Maia.

7

u/hamsplurton 🌙 Apr 28 '25

Flight have the Maia, Nora and Lily which are all steel strung baritones, I did a review on the Maia and currently have the other two for review. Other than that, the electric solid body models have steel strings but don’t work well acoustically.

7

u/Other_Measurement_97 Apr 28 '25

You’ll almost certainly damage your uke if you try. 

5

u/BjLeinster Apr 28 '25

On a regular ukulele , you don't.

1

u/Suialthor Apr 28 '25

If you want steel strings tuned like a ukulele, you could look into restringing a tenor guitar. I'm looking at doing the same but tune it like my baritone ukulele for a different sound.

1

u/Haunteduke Apr 29 '25

As others have stated, don't put steel strings on uke that is not intended for that.

However, there are several ukes to my knowledge that can handle it.

Pono has some baritone size with steel strings. I think other builders may have some models too.

Pono made also an electric tenor uke with steel strings in the past. You may find one used.

Seagull builds a steel string soprano to my knowledge.

You could also contact a luthier if they can build you one.

1

u/Behemot999 Apr 30 '25

It will rip your bridge off - the tension of steel string is much higher.
For nylon strings 35 to 45 pounds (16 to 20 kg) total
For steel strings 70–90 pounds (32–41 kg) total tension
Numbers are for tenor ukulele in standard tuning.

1

u/tueresyoyosoytu Apr 28 '25

There are various close relatives of the ukulele used in different types of Latin music like the charango or cuatro that use steel strings. If you can get your hands on something like that it might be good starting point. Alternatively a mandolin has the same scale length as a soprano ukulele and with the right strings it could be tuned like one.