Is it me or my uke?

koko

koko

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2009
Messages
20
Reaction score
1
Location
Surrey, UK
I have had my uke and have been learning to play it for about a month. It's only a cheapy thing (Ashton UKE100RD), and I was getting on great with it until about a week or so ago...

... I knew that the strings needed to settle down so I've been patiently re-tuning it every time I pick it up, and putting up with the G-string popping out of it's slot at the top of the fretboard for a bit after each tuning, but have now developed a rather more annoying problem!

When I place my finger on the 3rd fret, 2nd fret or 4th fret of the A-string it sounds the same note - a C#!! I have tried different ways of pressing my finger down on the fret, different pressures, different ways of strumming the string, and nothing works. Occassionally I get close, but the string just buzzes and sounds both a C and a C#, which apart from being infuriating, sounds really very nasty!

Please, what am I doing wrong? Any ideas?

Thanks

Jenn
 
It's not you! It's the uke. Cheap ukes tend to have intonation issues. Usually the nut is cut improperly (yours might have this problem), the scale isn't precisely measured, the frets aren't placed properly, or the action is so high that you can't press the string down without bending it out of tune. It's tough to adjust the intonation by yourself, and getting it fixed professionally can cost as much as the uke itself. Sometimes it will go away simply by changing the strings or letting the existing ones settle; other times it really is a design flaw.

I hate to say it, but if changing strings doesn't work out, you might want to get yourself another ukulele. :( Luckily, you won't have to spend a ton if you buy from MGM; he even sets up the cheap $35 Makalas to play in tune.
 
Yep, that sure sounds like a problem with the uke. It may well be a fret sticking up. Try laying a ruler (or other suitable straight-edge) down along the tops of the frets. They should all be exactly the same height. If any stick up significantly, that is your problem. It can be fixed.

Have you made contact with any of the London based uke groups? It's a big place, I know, but one of them might be conveniently placed for you. Other experienced ukers could soon sort your problem out.

All the best,

Ukantor.
 
Thanks haole and ukantor for replying quickly!

I haven't discovered any London based uke groups as yet... Most google searches I have done so far bring me to US sites... but if anyone knows of any in SW London, please do let me know!

If one/some of my frets do stick up significantly how can i fix it? Is is just a case of taking a sander to the extra high frets until they're all the same height?

Thanks

Jenn
 
Could be the fret is loose. That will drive folks nuts. Get a magifier and look real close at the fret then press it down with something like a small wooden stick or dowel. If you see the fret moving you will need to reset it and possibly glue it down. Not a big deal but it sounds like crp if loose, buzzes and deadens the string.
 
koko said:
I haven't discovered any London based uke groups as yet. . . but if anyone knows of any in SW London, please do let me know!
Click to expand...

Go to the UK Ukes site. If there's nobody listed, write to Uncle Ray Shakeshaft and ask. I'm sure he'd be happy to help out.

You can also try at the Ukulele Cosmos forums.
 
Ok here's where I am so far:

I have used a ruler along the frets, and the 4th fret sticks up more than the rest slightly, as does the 11th fret. I have checked to see if they're loose, and they're not. Also, playing around with my uke a bit also shows that the 4th and 11th frets are sticking up unevenly, and only enough to affect the A-string. Do I just bravely sand them down until they're the right height, or do I need to get someone a bit more qualified to have a go?

Also, don't want to sound dumb (but I am only a newbie at all this), but is the nut the bit at the top of the fretboard with the slots for the strings to go into?

Have some Aquila strings on order now, as these cheap nylon ones sound a bit nasty anyway... :)
 
Last edited:
Hi Koko,

Yes, the nut is the little bar (often white plastic), with grooves which space the strings, at the tuner end of the fret board. The saddle is at the other end of the strings, and it is carried in a slot in the bridge. Some bridges have a built-in saddle, rather than a separate, removable piece.

My advice would be to remove the old strings, when your new ones arrive, and carefully file or stone the high frets, until they are level with the others. Keep stopping and checking with your straight-edge. If you think about what you are doing, and don't go mad with it, you'll be OK.

Do try to make contact with other ukers in your area. I second Hobbitt's suggestion of the Ukukes Web Site, and Ray Shakeshaft. Ukers are a friendly bunch, and there are many benefits to be had from meeting up with others.

Ukantor
 
Thanks ukantor, I will give it a go.

I am taking a look at Hobbitt's suggested links now, haven't seen any uke clubs for my area yet, but will keep looking and will email Ray Shakeshaft to see if he knows of any too.
 
it may be well worth asking or ringing the duke of uke near liverpool street. i'm sure they wil lknow of london groups. its a specialist uke shop,

i've also only been playing since feb , and am also in south west london!


http://www.dukeofuke.co.uk/
 
The resolution...

... in the end was replace the strings with better ones (Aquila) , which helped a little, and then to take a needle file to the offending frets and just "shave off" a tiny bit.

One happy Uke... One happy me!

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

:D
 
Glad to hear you got it resolved.
 
A better uke is always a good thing. Trouble is, I've now got several better ukes, and they are all better than me! I still enjoy playing the Yellow Mahalo that lives on the back seat of my car.

Ukantor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
The great Uke hunt.
Replies
1
Views
54
rhiggie
rhiggie
M
curved fretwire on uke
Replies
17
Views
155
BuzzBD
BuzzBD
G
How do you know if your uke needs a setup?
Replies
7
Views
164
ailevin
ailevin
Oldscruggsfan
Does the Key of D “suit” my high-G soprano uke or is it just my imagination?
Replies
3
Views
135
Wiggy
Wiggy
BiosphereDecay
What microphones do you use to record your uke/voice while playing?
Replies
13
Views
279
UkingViking
UkingViking
Top Bottom