strings for pono asd and waterman

krush050

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I need new strings for my pono asd. I have the stock strings on now that are way passed their due date and was going to swtitch to fluorocarbon...any suggestions? Also, i just got a waterman uke for kayaking and the beach! I really like it but action is too high. I was told if i switch to fluorocarbon strings it would lower the action a bit. has anyone done this?
 
I was told if i switch to fluorocarbon strings it would lower the action a bit. has anyone done this?

Who told you this? Never ever listen to anything they tell you ever again.

The action is the height of the strings from the fret board. It doesn't matter what the strings are made from, they will always be the same height, unless you change something about the things that hold them up, i.e. the nut and the saddle.
 
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Who told you this? Never ever listen to anything they tell you ever again.

Okay. It's 1:31am here, and I'm about to go to bed...checking in to UU one last time to see if there was anything interesting and read this...laughing out loud and in danger of waking up the whole house. Almost as much as the EUR-X1 video review on Amazon where the reviewer says, "Look, a solid wood ukulele," and Barry Maz leaves a comment saying, "It isn't made of wood." (The X1 is touted as a HPL laminate uke).

To the original poster, is the Waterman new, or new to you? And how do you know the action is high? Are you using a string gauge, or are you just talking about how you feel when playing it?

The new Waterman models should have fixed the earlier problems with action...and it is darn near impossible to adjust one of those plastic ukuleles that has neither an adjustable saddle or nut.

[Side question: why not make them with a saddle and nut...goes for Bugsgear, Vorson, Outdoor Ukulele, etc.]

If you think the Waterman action is too high, you could try a string with less tension (Booli, can you suggest anything) that will be easier to press than the stock Aquilas, which seem (to me) to be a little more rigid, but can really drive th sound on a plastic uke.

As for the Pono, which size is it? If you like the original strings, you can order Ko'olau strings, such as from The Ukulele Site. If you want to try something different, you could try Aquila Super Nylguts or move to a Martin fluorocarbon. Those are my starting points as the extremes that are available just about everywhere. From that point, there are so many paths to string happiness.
 
I use (Living Water) flourocarbon strings on my better ukes (solid wood & solid tops), which I pick & strum (occasionally), but keep the stock Aquila on my laminate ukes.

(To lower the action, you have to physically lower the string height over the frets, particularly at the 12th, sometimes at the 1st or the nut.)
 
...(Booli, can you suggest anything) that will be easier to press than the stock Aquilas, which seem (to me) to be a little more rigid, but can really drive th sound on a plastic uke...

responding to the Bat-signal...

I have observed the following:

- Thinner strings = more sustain = less tension = less volume = brighter tone

- Thicker strings = less sustain = more tension = more volume = warmer tone
 
responding to the Bat-signal...

I have observed the following:

- Thinner strings = more sustain = less tension = less volume = brighter tone

- Thicker strings = less sustain = more tension = more volume = warmer tone

Thanks for that response Booli and its a great one. Although that might not be helpful enough for a new player that is inexperienced to strings. Can you explain how to tell which sets are going to be thin and which sets are going to be thicker. When I first started to play the thins (WB) felt like they were cutting into my fingers and I couldnt handle them. For those of us that purchase online this can be confusing. I guess the short story would be to go to the local shops and have them tell you the difference but then some shops don't carry all strings. Its good to hear from the experienced how thy choose.

For your waterman or any instrument concert or soprano I would go with Living Waters for ease of play. They are easy on your fingers. I would guess the reason they told you it would lower the action (not true) is because fluorocarbon's might feel easier on your fingers.
 
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Thanks for that response Booli and its a great one. Although that might not be helpful enough for a new player that is inexperienced to strings. Can you explain how to tell which sets are going to be thin and which sets are going to be thicker. When I first started to play the thins (WB) felt like they were cutting into my fingers and I couldnt handle them. For those of us that purchase online this can be confusing. I guess the short story would be to go to the local shops and have them tell you the difference but then some shops don't carry all strings. Its good to hear from the experienced how thy choose.

For your waterman or any instrument concert or soprano I would go with Living Waters for ease of play. They are easy on your fingers. I would guess the reason they told you it would lower the action (not true) is because fluorocarbon's might feel easier on your fingers.

Hi Linda,

It's quite simple really, and other than maybe 1-2 string makers, every string making company that I've encountered (that I can remember), lists the string diameters on the package, as well as the web site selling them.

stringsandbeyond.com and also stringsbymail.com both show the PICTURE of the string pack, and ALSO include the diameters in the descriptions.

I'm not sure how you are not seeing string diameters, unless you are only buying from certain companies that do not care to share this info about their strings.

D'Addario lists all gauges here:

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductsUkulele.Page?ActiveID=3781

for ^ you have to select the STRING TYPE by clicking the picture of the string pack, and then in that page you get after, you can select FAMILY TENSION CHART and is shows you the info of string diameter and tension, and currently D'Addario has 6 different SERIES of strings, and each have a different chart, but NYLON will be thickest and FLUORO will be thinner...

Living Waters here:
http://www.kenmiddleton.co.uk/living-water-strings/

Worth has over 20 different sets listed here:
http://worthc.to/english/w_strings.html

Martin here:

https://www.martinguitar.com/strings/ukulele/

Other brands are from the vendors up in the text paragraph, and both stringsbymail and stringsand beyond each sell more than a dozen brands of ukulele strings, and each has at least 4-5 different sets.

Fremont and PhD string diameters can be found on Uke Republic here:

http://cargo.ukerepublic.com/category/strings

Also, check these, and be prepared to spend an hour or two:

https://www.stringsbymail.com/ukulele-strings-684/

http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/ukelele.html

Also, if you still have 'viewing forum signatures disabled' you will not see the link that I have in mine, so I will include it here, since it might be helpful for you:

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...-String-Recommendations&p=1981276#post1981276

Hope all of this helps! :)
 
Thank You Booli,

I posed my question as though I didn't know a lot of what you've explained so that the newer uke players would have this information. You've gone well above and beyond with all the links and I really appreciate that. I do know about string gauge but to tell you the truth Ive only noticed it on wound strings. I have gone through many different sets of strings and now that I have a good set of calluses Im not all that concerned with gauge except for the information you listed in your first response to the OP.

That being said I am going to copy the URL to this thread for later shopping :)

Much appreciated!

L
 
Thank You Booli,

I posed my question as though I didn't know a lot of what you've explained so that the newer uke players would have this information. You've gone well above and beyond with all the links and I really appreciate that. I do know about string gauge but to tell you the truth Ive only noticed it on wound strings. I have gone through many different sets of strings and now that I have a good set of calluses Im not all that concerned with gauge except for the information you listed in your first response to the OP.

That being said I am going to copy the URL to this thread for later shopping :)

Much appreciated!

L
Hi Linda,

I am glad the info was helpful.

Thank you for giving context for your question, honestly I was surprised because you are an advanced player, singer, and Seasons performer...but now I understand, and believe it was a good idea.

Sometimes I have trouble trying to organize the encyclopedic way that my mind works, and to put things into an easily readable explanation, and for fear of giving too much info (and overwhelming others with a flood of details), sometimes I leave things out, saving them for a possible follow-up conversation...

So, it's all good to me. I am happy to share my experience here with my UU ohana.

:)
 
responding to the Bat-signal...

I have observed the following:

- Thinner strings = more sustain = less tension = less volume = brighter tone

- Thicker strings = less sustain = more tension = more volume = warmer tone

Seriously? It's that easy? Well, I'll be.

Definitely thinner for me, then. I like the less volume. Do you know of a thinner string that has a warmer tone?
 
Hi Linda,

It's quite simple really, and other than maybe 1-2 string makers, every string making company that I've encountered (that I can remember), lists the string diameters on the package, as well as the web site selling them.

stringsandbeyond.com and also stringsbymail.com both show the PICTURE of the string pack, and ALSO include the diameters in the descriptions.

I'm not sure how you are not seeing string diameters, unless you are only buying from certain companies that do not care to share this info about their strings.

D'Addario lists all gauges here:

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductsUkulele.Page?ActiveID=3781

for ^ you have to select the STRING TYPE by clicking the picture of the string pack, and then in that page you get after, you can select FAMILY TENSION CHART and is shows you the info of string diameter and tension, and currently D'Addario has 6 different SERIES of strings, and each have a different chart, but NYLON will be thickest and FLUORO will be thinner...

Living Waters here:
http://www.kenmiddleton.co.uk/living-water-strings/

Worth has over 20 different sets listed here:
http://worthc.to/english/w_strings.html

Martin here:

https://www.martinguitar.com/strings/ukulele/

Other brands are from the vendors up in the text paragraph, and both stringsbymail and stringsand beyond each sell more than a dozen brands of ukulele strings, and each has at least 4-5 different sets.

Fremont and PhD string diameters can be found on Uke Republic here:

http://cargo.ukerepublic.com/category/strings

Also, check these, and be prepared to spend an hour or two:

https://www.stringsbymail.com/ukulele-strings-684/

http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/ukelele.html

Also, if you still have 'viewing forum signatures disabled' you will not see the link that I have in mine, so I will include it here, since it might be helpful for you:

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...-String-Recommendations&p=1981276#post1981276

Hope all of this helps! :)

I have to read all the numbers on the strings?! That could take awhile. :thud:

Can't they just label them fat and skinny? ;):p
 
I have to read all the numbers on the strings?! That could take awhile. :thud

String diameters are usually printed on both front and back of string packs, and D'Addario is the only one that I know of that ALSO lists the tensions, both for EACH string, as well as for the TOTAL tension of the entire set when tuned to pitch.

Can't they just label them fat and skinny? ;):p

This is actually already done, albeit metaphorically for classical guitar strings, with a spectrum from:

'normal' to 'hard' to 'extra-hard' tensions

which mirrors the spectrum of string diameter from:

'baseline thickness' to 'thicker' to 'even more thicker'

also listed on all classical guitar string packs, but I've not yet seen no such labeling on uke strings as such, other than as per above...
 
What scale length?

Soprano or concert. I don't have a tenor - yet! Maybe one day! :drool:

I bought Worth Browns for my Pono. I also have some South Coast strings that I haven't put on anything yet. I forgot the others I bought . . . :rolleyes:
 
String diameters are usually printed on both front and back of string packs, and D'Addario is the only one that I know of that ALSO lists the tensions, both for EACH string, as well as for the TOTAL tension of the entire set when tuned to pitch.



This is actually already done, albeit metaphorically for classical guitar strings, with a spectrum from:

'normal' to 'hard' to 'extra-hard' tensions

which mirrors the spectrum of string diameter from:

'baseline thickness' to 'thicker' to 'even more thicker'

also listed on all classical guitar string packs, but I've not yet seen no such labeling on uke strings as such, other than as per above...

Where did you get all of this string knowledge? We should call you the UU String Guru!:)
 
Soprano or concert....

The absolute thinnest strings made that I have seen are the Worth Clear "CL" or Worth Brown "BL" strings, which you can get from most string vendors online, like Strings By Mail, Strings and Beyond, and also Just Strings.

They run about $12 for a 46" length, double set in one pack, that if you cut exactly in half gets you 2 sets for soprano and concert, and if you are very careful of leaving a tiny-to-little extra at the bridge-end, will also give you 2 sets on a tenor.

Where did you get all of this string knowledge? We should call you the UU String Guru!:)

It's just from lots of experience combined with a bit of OCD in seeking out a specific tone, as per in my signature text below:

After testing over 100 discrete sets of strings, I have observed the following:

  • Thinner strings = more sustain = less tension = less volume = brighter tone
  • Thicker strings = less sustain = more tension = more volume = warmer tone
 
The absolute thinnest strings made that I have seen are the Worth Clear "CL" or Worth Brown "BL" strings, which you can get from most string vendors online, like Strings By Mail, Strings and Beyond, and also Just Strings.

They run about $12 for a 46" length, double set in one pack, that if you cut exactly in half gets you 2 sets for soprano and concert, and if you are very careful of leaving a tiny-to-little extra at the bridge-end, will also give you 2 sets on a tenor.



It's just from lots of experience combined with a bit of OCD in seeking out a specific tone, as per in my signature text below:

After testing over 100 discrete sets of strings, I have observed the following:

  • Thinner strings = more sustain = less tension = less volume = brighter tone
  • Thicker strings = less sustain = more tension = more volume = warmer tone

Why have I never noticed that in your sig line before? Goodness me, I am not always very observant!

I just checked. I have Worth Brown BM strings. Next time I will go for the BL. Thanks, UU String Guru!:cool:
 
Why have I never noticed that in your sig line before? Goodness me, I am not always very observant!

I just checked. I have Worth Brown BM strings. Next time I will go for the BL. Thanks, UU String Guru!:cool:

No worries Jan :)

I only updated it and added the info like 2 days ago, so if you did not notice, maybe because I had not put that text there yet? :cool:

I am always happy to help.

BTW the BM are thicker as a set than the BE which are thicker than the BL, which are the thinnest I know of.

See all Worth strings, here on their web site: http://worthc.to/english/w_strings.html
 
Very interesting . . . The 2nd and 3rd strings are the same size all the way down to the tenor size! Only the 1st and 4th differ. Very interesting . . .
 
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