I have one of these. If you want to tune to DGBA (Chigago Tuning), you can't just tune up the strings it comes with. You also need to restring it. I used D'Addario EJ24 and used only stingd 1-4. Just get rid of the lowest 2 strings. This will provide the correct tension for the guitar, and it takes care of the "Tinny" tone,and reduce the risk of damage to the instrument. Mine sounds so much better tuned DGBE with these strings.
Thanks for the suggestion, Todd! Actually, there is no risk of damage using the tenor strings for DGBE tuning. The first and second strings are tuned down from the intended tuning and the 4th string is only tuned up one step, to the same tuning of the set you recommended. Three of the 4 strings are lighter gauges than the set you suggested (10-14-22-32 vs 13-17-24-32) so they have a lower tension at the same tuning. You may be right that a heavier string set may make the E string sound less tinny. Have you tried the D"Addario EJ16 set? The string gauges on this set for strings one through four are 12-16-24-32, so they are bit heavier than the Tenor set but a bit lighter than the DADGAD set you recommended. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I'm positively, literally in love with my Ibanez tenor git, tuned Chicago style DBGE! I love that sustain and the vibration in the neck when I play the frets just right that feels like a kitten purring in my hand. Like you, I have a baritone uke as well. Really cool instruments, both, but the Ibanez PFT2-NT is everything I hoped for and more in a tenor guitar.
Thanks! I see that Kmise recently released a short scale steel string tenor guitar, using the same body as there mahogany baritone ukulele. That is one I would like to check out.
@@CircuitsAndStrings Oscar Here, fun fact the Tenor Guitar is normally tuned like a Viola, or you can tune it like a Violin with John Pearce Tenor Strings (designed for Violin Tuning GDAE). Fun fact the Tenor Guitar was developed in the "Transition period from Banjo to Guitar" cause Steel String Guitars replaced Banjos & Mandolin (although they're still used in Jazz today).
I like this tenor guitar a lot! I’m a huge fan of Ibanez guitars, hence I have three: My Ibanez 12 string acoustic, my 1978 Ibanez musician, and my Ibanez Gio 7 string. I like the dreadnought body because a big body is usually pretty loud.
Yeah it is pretty loud. I wonder if there are dreadnought ukuleles out there. That would be fun to see! And yeah, I’d tune it to D G B E because I can’t play a banjo without stretching my fingers in strange positions.
Well there's something new. I'm exploring this deeper sound region of the string spectrum lately and this is a very helpful video. I want to dabble in guitar, so this would be a good companion in chord shapes and string spacing. How does the fret spacing compare to a guitar?
It does not have fret markers on the front at the 12th fret! Hmmmmm! I usually play a baritone uke and wanted a tenor guitar also. Kind of a toss up between this one, the Kala GTR, the Kmise Tenor and the Recording King Tenor....I am having a really hard time finding most of these tenors, especially the Recording King that came with very high compliments and still affordable, $199. Any thoughts that could help me decide? I am actually going to take some of my baritone ukes and turn them into tenors. I don't think I could get used to that skinny neck either!
Actually, the neck on the Ibenz is fine once I got used to the narrow nut. I can recommend it! I have not played the Kala ore the Recording King, so I can't comment on them. I have the Kmise tenor guitar, which I like, and is closer in size to the baritone uke, but the bridge began to lift on it. It may have just been this one, but it is something to consider. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Well I hope it doesn’t turn into a problem because I just got a Kmise but the intonation is way off and when I checked the neck it looked like it was bowed up on the ends and cupped in the middle so I need to adjust the truss rod and see if that goes away if not then I will be sending this back to Amazon and getting a new one but I have a Kala Tenor guitar, Which should get here tomorrow and I’m still waiting for the Recording King to come in but I’m getting one I think it’s a Horner I’m not really sure of now, that was made in Japan in 1978 and that should be here on Friday so I’ll let you know how that one turns out! But I am seriously considering converting a couple of my baritone Ukes to tenor guitars and see what happens!
@@cmjudcoIt sounds like you are developing quite a collection! This may be obvious to you, but if you plan to string a baritone ukulele as a tenor guitar, be sure to not use steel strings. Ukuleles are not built to take the tension of steel strings. Let me know how it turns out!
Even if they have a truss rod in them I wouldn’t be able to put lightweight steel strings on them? Well you should see all the ukuleles I have here and I’m not even a very good player I am an instrument hoarder! I think there is some disorder that people who collect Ukuleles are called but I can’t remember what it is right now but it is a real thing… it’s kind of like people who start out wanting to have a couple of chickens and before you know it they’ve got 50 chickens and don’t know how that happened, that’s kind of how I am with things I’m interested in!
@@stevesstrings5243 if I don’t put steel strings on it then it’s just a Ukulele! Because I am tuning my tenor guitars DGBE, so if I put nylon strings on the baritone ukulele it’s just a baritone ukulele it’s not a tenor guitar! Also I have realized that that wider neck on the Kmise Tenor is a little harder for me to play then I think the skinny neck would be so I’m looking forward to one of my skinny neck tenors to come in so I can see how the difference feels! It may have been comfortable for you with the wider neck because you’re a man with bigger hands but it’s a difficult stretch for some of the chords which slows me down which makes me sound even worse than I normally am! Lol 😝
I just purchased one of these and wow the strings are way closer together. I don't find it harder tho. I do have another tenor guitar which is way larger, guitar size which was my first tenor guitar I purchased. I was wondering where you got your tenor guitar bag that will fit this size. They didn't have one to fit at the music store for this size when I purchase this guitar. I've looked online but they all seem to large.
Congratulations! You should have fun with it. I have gotten used to the string spacing. It’s the same as for steel string guitars. The gig bag I got is a Yamaha. It’s the one made for 3/4 size guitars. It is very thickly padded and fits well . I recommend it! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Nice guitar and good review. I am on the fence for my next CGB build. I'm putting put two Ashtons together to build a baritone uke but this, with the longer scale might be more of a fit for me. I need to research Chicago tuning. Thanks for the review.
I built a baritone scale 3-string CBG build using an Ashton box. You can see it on my channel. Chicago tuning is the same as the baritone ukulele, DGBE.
@@stevesstrings5243 Great, It's a toss up so I'll go with the longer scale. I like DGBE so I don't have to learn new chords. I get too confused between instruments. I'll keep the 1.5 inch nut. Thanks Steve.
I presume you mean the walk down I did as the intro to the 12-bar blues. I press down on strings 1 and 3 at the 4th fret and pluck a triplet (3-1-3) and walk down to the 3rd and 2nd frets. For the last two notes I pluck string 3 (fretted at the first fret) and then string 1 open. You can also use it as a turn around.
It only costs $200! I did try tuning it open C and played around with a slide for a bit. It certainly eliminated fretting challenges do to the skinny neck.
@@stevesstrings5243 the skinny neck is what got me thinking about it. With a just a slight raise on the action, a string swap and a retune, It would be great to just treat/play as an oversized c.b.g. But with genuine acoustic volume.
you might know this already, but if it's tuned DGBE, you can capo the 5th fret and it'll be exactly like uke: GCEA. i capo my baritone uke at the 5th fret when i want a more "ukey" sound for certain hawaiian tunes :)
Thanks! Yes, I was aware of that. I have tried a capo on my baritone but don’t really like it. Although I must admit I didn’t try it for very long. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Do the strings tune up ok to Chicago tuning without being too tight? I have the same guitar, and I am thinking about changing it to Chicago tuning. Some have recommended .09 string set; so electric guitar strings is all I can find in .09s. Do you turn the highest string down or up to E?
The terminology in this area can be quite confusing to the point of being misleading. This instrument is 46.5 inches long, but Kmise sells a tenor guitar that's only 30 inches, which is the same length as their baritone ukulele. Oscar Schmidt sells a 24" tenor guitar on Amazon, which is really a tenor ukulele.
I have the same Ibanez tenor Guitar and the Neck is not too small its perfect. This guy wants to play the Ibanez like a Uke and its a guitar not and Uke so it should be played like a Guitar. Mine is tuned DGBE Chicago tuning. If you get this Guitar and want DGBE tuning you'll have to switch the strings. I recommend Martin & Co. Medium MA550S. THIS IS A GREAT GUITAR!!!!!!
Thanks, Dax! I agree, this is a great guitar! Now that I have spent more time with it, the more I like it! I have been playing it with Chicago tuning, but I think I'm ready to take the leap and learn the chords for CGDA tuning, the way it was originally meant to be played!
I have one of these. If you want to tune to DGBA (Chigago Tuning), you can't just tune up the strings it comes with. You also need to restring it. I used D'Addario EJ24 and used only stingd 1-4. Just get rid of the lowest 2 strings. This will provide the correct tension for the guitar, and it takes care of the "Tinny" tone,and reduce the risk of damage to the instrument. Mine sounds so much better tuned DGBE with these strings.
Thanks for the suggestion, Todd! Actually, there is no risk of damage using the tenor strings for DGBE tuning. The first and second strings are tuned down from the intended tuning and the 4th string is only tuned up one step, to the same tuning of the set you recommended. Three of the 4 strings are lighter gauges than the set you suggested (10-14-22-32 vs 13-17-24-32) so they have a lower tension at the same tuning. You may be right that a heavier string set may make the E string sound less tinny. Have you tried the D"Addario EJ16 set? The string gauges on this set for strings one through four are 12-16-24-32, so they are bit heavier than the Tenor set but a bit lighter than the DADGAD set you recommended. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I'm positively, literally in love with my Ibanez tenor git, tuned Chicago style DBGE! I love that sustain and the vibration in the neck when I play the frets just right that feels like a kitten purring in my hand. Like you, I have a baritone uke as well. Really cool instruments, both, but the Ibanez PFT2-NT is everything I hoped for and more in a tenor guitar.
I love mine too, especially now that I’ve grown accustomed to it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
I’ve played tons of guitars and bunches of ukuleles, but I’ve never played a tenor guitar. I might need to get hands on one.
Nice review.
Thanks! I see that Kmise recently released a short scale steel string tenor guitar, using the same body as there mahogany baritone ukulele. That is one I would like to check out.
@@stevesstrings5243 It looks like the Kmise tenor has a wider neck than the Ibanez. Interesting.
I think I would like the wider neck of the Kmise but I think the mini/dreadnaught body probably projects better.
@@CircuitsAndStrings Oscar Here, fun fact the Tenor Guitar is normally tuned like a Viola, or you can tune it like a Violin with John Pearce Tenor Strings (designed for Violin Tuning GDAE). Fun fact the Tenor Guitar was developed in the "Transition period from Banjo to Guitar" cause Steel String Guitars replaced Banjos & Mandolin (although they're still used in Jazz today).
Interesting! How many pickups and where did you put the pickups? Because of the sound hole, there is not a lot real estate under the strings.
Awesome video. Thank you for sharing!
I'm glad you found it helpful! Check my other review views as well! Thanks for watching and commenting! Don't forget to subscribe!
I just ordered one online. Hoping to get started with it.
Great! Let me know how you like it! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Absolutely fabulous, not one flaw set up well and relates greatly with my mandolin.
@@goofyjohn6191 Glad to hear it! Enjoy!
I like this tenor guitar a lot! I’m a huge fan of Ibanez guitars, hence I have three: My Ibanez 12 string acoustic, my 1978 Ibanez musician, and my Ibanez Gio 7 string. I like the dreadnought body because a big body is usually pretty loud.
This one does have good volume and sustain. Way more than any of my ukuleles.
Yeah it is pretty loud. I wonder if there are dreadnought ukuleles out there. That would be fun to see! And yeah, I’d tune it to D G B E because I can’t play a banjo without stretching my fingers in strange positions.
Well there's something new. I'm exploring this deeper sound region of the string spectrum lately and this is a very helpful video. I want to dabble in guitar, so this would be a good companion in chord shapes and string spacing. How does the fret spacing compare to a guitar?
I’m glad you found the video helpful! The fret spacing is a little closer together than a full sized Guitar.
It does not have fret markers on the front at the 12th fret! Hmmmmm! I usually play a baritone uke and wanted a tenor guitar also. Kind of a toss up between this one, the Kala GTR, the Kmise Tenor and the Recording King Tenor....I am having a really hard time finding most of these tenors, especially the Recording King that came with very high compliments and still affordable, $199. Any thoughts that could help me decide? I am actually going to take some of my baritone ukes and turn them into tenors. I don't think I could get used to that skinny neck either!
Actually, the neck on the Ibenz is fine once I got used to the narrow nut. I can recommend it! I have not played the Kala ore the Recording King, so I can't comment on them. I have the Kmise tenor guitar, which I like, and is closer in size to the baritone uke, but the bridge began to lift on it. It may have just been this one, but it is something to consider. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Well I hope it doesn’t turn into a problem because I just got a Kmise but the intonation is way off and when I checked the neck it looked like it was bowed up on the ends and cupped in the middle so I need to adjust the truss rod and see if that goes away if not then I will be sending this back to Amazon and getting a new one but I have a Kala Tenor guitar, Which should get here tomorrow and I’m still waiting for the Recording King to come in but I’m getting one I think it’s a Horner I’m not really sure of now, that was made in Japan in 1978 and that should be here on Friday so I’ll let you know how that one turns out! But I am seriously considering converting a couple of my baritone Ukes to tenor guitars and see what happens!
@@cmjudcoIt sounds like you are developing quite a collection! This may be obvious to you, but if you plan to string a baritone ukulele as a tenor guitar, be sure to not use steel strings. Ukuleles are not built to take the tension of steel strings. Let me know how it turns out!
Even if they have a truss rod in them I wouldn’t be able to put lightweight steel strings on them? Well you should see all the ukuleles I have here and I’m not even a very good player I am an instrument hoarder! I think there is some disorder that people who collect Ukuleles are called but I can’t remember what it is right now but it is a real thing… it’s kind of like people who start out wanting to have a couple of chickens and before you know it they’ve got 50 chickens and don’t know how that happened, that’s kind of how I am with things I’m interested in!
@@stevesstrings5243 if I don’t put steel strings on it then it’s just a Ukulele! Because I am tuning my tenor guitars DGBE, so if I put nylon strings on the baritone ukulele it’s just a baritone ukulele it’s not a tenor guitar! Also I have realized that that wider neck on the Kmise Tenor is a little harder for me to play then I think the skinny neck would be so I’m looking forward to one of my skinny neck tenors to come in so I can see how the difference feels! It may have been comfortable for you with the wider neck because you’re a man with bigger hands but it’s a difficult stretch for some of the chords which slows me down which makes me sound even worse than I normally am! Lol 😝
I just purchased one of these and wow the strings are way closer together. I don't find it harder tho. I do have another tenor guitar which is way larger, guitar size which was my first tenor guitar I purchased. I was wondering where you got your tenor guitar bag that will fit this size. They didn't have one to fit at the music store for this size when I purchase this guitar. I've looked online but they all seem to large.
Congratulations! You should have fun with it. I have gotten used to the string spacing. It’s the same as for steel string guitars. The gig bag I got is a Yamaha. It’s the one made for 3/4 size guitars. It is very thickly padded and fits well . I recommend it! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Nice guitar and good review. I am on the fence for my next CGB build. I'm putting put two Ashtons together to build a baritone uke but this, with the longer scale might be more of a fit for me. I need to research Chicago tuning. Thanks for the review.
I built a baritone scale 3-string CBG build using an Ashton box. You can see it on my channel. Chicago tuning is the same as the baritone ukulele, DGBE.
@@stevesstrings5243 Great, It's a toss up so I'll go with the longer scale. I like DGBE so I don't have to learn new chords. I get too confused between instruments. I'll keep the 1.5 inch nut. Thanks Steve.
A also need to learn how to play that little riff you've been playing on these two instruments.
I presume you mean the walk down I did as the intro to the 12-bar blues. I press down on strings 1 and 3 at the 4th fret and pluck a triplet (3-1-3) and walk down to the 3rd and 2nd frets. For the last two notes I pluck string 3 (fretted at the first fret) and then string 1 open. You can also use it as a turn around.
That would be cool for slide playing. Is it pricey?
It only costs $200! I did try tuning it open C and played around with a slide for a bit. It certainly eliminated fretting challenges do to the skinny neck.
@@stevesstrings5243 the skinny neck is what got me thinking about it.
With a just a slight raise on the action, a string swap and a retune,
It would be great to just treat/play as an oversized c.b.g. But with genuine acoustic volume.
Definitely! Typical tenor guitar tuning is CGDA. I saw a video where they retuned it GGDG so they could play it like a dulcimer.
you might know this already, but if it's tuned DGBE, you can capo the 5th fret and it'll be exactly like uke: GCEA.
i capo my baritone uke at the 5th fret when i want a more "ukey" sound for certain hawaiian tunes :)
Thanks! Yes, I was aware of that. I have tried a capo on my baritone but don’t really like it. Although I must admit I didn’t try it for very long. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Do the strings tune up ok to Chicago tuning without being too tight? I have the same guitar, and I am thinking about changing it to Chicago tuning.
Some have recommended .09 string set; so electric guitar strings is all I can find in .09s.
Do you turn the highest string down or up to E?
Yes. I play it in Chicago tuning (DGBE) with the tenor string set that came with it. I tune the C up and the D and A down.
I use Martin MA130's on my other Ibanez Tenor Guitar and it sounds sweet. DGBE like a baritone uke.
Thanks for the tip! Thanks also for watching and commenting!
Nicely done.. thanks
Thanks for watching!
The terminology in this area can be quite confusing to the point of being misleading. This instrument is 46.5 inches long, but Kmise sells a tenor guitar that's only 30 inches, which is the same length as their baritone ukulele. Oscar Schmidt sells a 24" tenor guitar on Amazon, which is really a tenor ukulele.
I agree!
I have the same Ibanez tenor Guitar and the Neck is not too small its perfect. This guy wants to play the Ibanez like a Uke and its a guitar not and Uke so it should be played like a Guitar. Mine is tuned DGBE Chicago tuning. If you get this Guitar and want DGBE tuning you'll have to switch the strings. I recommend Martin & Co. Medium MA550S. THIS IS A GREAT GUITAR!!!!!!
Thanks, Dax! I agree, this is a great guitar! Now that I have spent more time with it, the more I like it! I have been playing it with Chicago tuning, but I think I'm ready to take the leap and learn the chords for CGDA tuning, the way it was originally meant to be played!
Ibanez, Ibanez, Ibanez.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
First
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Steve's Strings you’re welcome 🥰 and happy new year