String sets. I've learned a bit about strings since I've been here and once you're in you can't get out, at least in my case. I've tried many of the recommended strings and am coming up with a few favorites but it can still be very iffy at times.
I digress, I was just at strings by mail looking over the selections and I notice most string sellers with a decent selection will have string sets that I don't recall any discussion about here. What does that say about them if anything?
I'm going to list a few and you folk can add any you've noticed and maybe someone who's tried them can chime in about the set. I'm curious enough to buy some of them but I'd like to have an idea what I'm buying.
So here's a few, chime in if you have experience with them please.
Royal Classics, Sound Generation, Aroara, Mahalo, Tycoon Percussion Kona, Jim Dunlop,Kala,Alice ukulele,Black Diamond,DaKINE, Aquila (just kidding
)
Hi Ice,
Do you remember this thread?:
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?93141-It-s-like-UAS-only-worse-SCO
I just read it again and laugh at what a newb I was compared to now. I am still learning and open to new ideas.
As per your topic here, I too had been curious about the other brands on SBM that you listed, but like you, due to little mention here and on the ukulele subreddit, and having very FEW video demos on YT and Vimeo, I've had little motivation to try many of those brands you've listed, save for the JIM DUNLOP nylon strings (which I found on Amazon for $3.99 and gave in to temptation, to round out an order) and the DaKine single low-g bought way back when I first started with the uke. Having said that, I found these strings unremarkable. Not bad or good, just average, functional, meh.
Why are we not all raving about the other brands you listed?
I have 2 theories:
1) Due to the lack of info as stated above, we are all in a petrified (as in atrophied) state, and/or too timid to be the Maverick or Pioneer and be 'the first' one to test them out, lest the money be wasted or the strings are bad and we are publicly shamed for being so 'foolish' LOL
2) Testing Fatigue - i.e., using my personal experience as an example: I have personally tested all *yes
ALL* varieties of PhD, Living Water, Aquila, Fremont, D'Addario, GHS, La Bella, Martin, Oasis, SouthCoast and about 6 or 7 other brands that evade my immediate memory. As well as experimenting with 100lb (0.0408") and 130lb (0.0444") fluorocarbon fishing leader in 33 yd spools to try and get a good unwound low-g. After having spent a small fortune, huge time investment, and extensive listening tests across 18 ukuleles and more uke-like instruments, as well as guitars, guitaleles and uke bass, I've run out of funding, free time and energy to keep going with string testing, and at least for now.
I have to accept what I've found that I like as 'good enough', and work through the existing 'inventory' somewhat before I buy ANY more strings. So the TL;DR is that I've kinda burnt out on string testing after having hands-on experience with nearly 100 different sets of strings.
So with the above in mind, the only other thing that I'd like to add is that those folks that say that ALL strings sound or feel the same, are either
a) easily satisfied (they buy/use 'whatever' is readily available)
b) lack the hearing perception to tell the difference (this must be such bliss)
c) just dont care (they spent their time/attention on other things)
I want to be clear that I'm not judging anyone for their preferences, to each his own as to what make your experience with the instrument most satisfying for YOU, for THAT joy is all that should matter. However, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' and THAT is the only opinion that I would challenge.
My record-keeping is not as thorough as Hippie Dribble. I keep a post-it note (or 2, or 3) in each string pack with the date of installation and what uke it was on, and then if I take the strings off, that date as well, in addition to the tuning used, and my thoughts/impressions in 5 words or less. I also have a lot of recordings I made, but since my recording setup has changed several times over the past 3 yrs, there is quite a variety in the sound quality, so my notes are more important than the recordings. I never throw the string packs out, and have gotten to be somewhat of an expert as to how to install the strings so they can be re-used many times. Most of these string sets that are NOT currently installed have less than 20 hrs play time on them, which is about how long it takes for them to settle to pitch and proper tension and reveal their true nature, so in most cases this is about 14 days from installation.
Sorry if I went off on a tangent. You can recommend appropriate penance if necessary. :music: :2cents::shaka: