how many sets of strings does it take...

to find out how your instrument really sounds?



I'm on set 12...

It isn't always a full set that makes up a good sound. I mix strings from different types of sets to create a sound that I think is good for me.... YMMV.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a blow pop!
Sadly I've tried almost every one of those strings too.
Cheaper than buying a new one, right??!

Of course you're still searching. . .Savarez Alliance is missing. BUT, that would also be dependent on what instrument you have, and how its tuned.

Kekani said:

Of course you're still searching. . .Savarez Alliance is missing. BUT, that would also be dependent on what instrument you have, and how its tuned.

Click to expand...

Great selection!
The Savarez Allances are there, but Titaniums and SouthCoasts are missing.

If none of those sound good it's either the instrument or your ears aren't working well.

Savarez is there, right hand row.
I have more South Coast coming in (see below) and the Titaniums are on one of my ukes (see below)!

Some of my generalizations on high G sets:

Flourocarbons are colored.
They have a certain sound, a ringing/chiming that I'm not particularly fond of.
Then again, the Savarez and the new Pepe Romeros (made me get some LaBellas) were a pleasant surprise; very close in sound. I also liked how they played.
My Tangi mango is also wearing some Oasis warms. Oasis is/was okay, but felt a bit stiff, both the warm and bright.
Living Waters didn't do it for me though I only tried them once and I may go back.
Same thing for Worths, though I haven't tried the browns.
South Coast was maybe the least colored of the flouros and I got more on order.

Aquila: Regular and Super bored me. Felt like playing big game 500 lbs test fishing line. The Lavas (which is supposed to be the same as the Supers) I liked and will go back to them. I really dig the Reds; makes an un-ukulele sound particularly on my spruce tops. I put them on koa and liked them there too. Currently on one of instruments and will go back to them later. I am using mix of old Reds and new. So far so good on the A strings.

Fremonts: for whatever reason, they only get along with one of my ukes, a spruce top. I'd call the sound muddy but warm, opposite of the Aquila Reds. I like them there but haven't had success with any other uke.

Martins, bleah, just like D'addarios.
Except for D'addario titaniums. Currently on one of my ukes, still being reviewed. Large diameter strings that don't feel large. Similar I think to Aquila Lavas.

I also tried Kala Pearls on a couple of my instruments. I sort of liked them, but sort of reminded me of flouros.

Did I learn anything?

My Kamaka sounds like it does no matter what strings I got on it. I mean it sounds different with each string yet at the same time, it retains a large part of what I now think is it's native sound. The Kamaka, or should I say my Kamaka, seems to be very sensitive to string changes. Sounds contradictory, but I could hear the minute differences in each string change, things that I couldn't hear or notice when changing strings on other instruments (spruce tops).
I have a feeling the Tangi Mango may be the same.

My Kala spruce seems to be the least sensitive, sounding pretty much the same no matter what string I dropped on it. I really like that uke.

My other two ukes were some place in between; sometimes changes made a big deal, sometimes not.

To recap, I'm using Oasis Warms, Aquila Reds and Lavas, Fremont Blacklines, and D'addario Titaniums.
I think all the sets I've tried have their merits, some are just not for me; on the instruments I now own.
I have goofed around with mixing some strings, mostly with the Aquila Lavas for the A string has a tendency to 'ring' on me. I usually just drop whatever A string I got laying around.

Favorites or first string I change out to? Aquila Reds or Lavas and Savarez or Romeros for flouros.

Next up are PHds, and Aaron's 'special blend' and possibly some Koolaus.
And the rest.

I gotta say this Quest for Strings has taught me about what kind of sound I like and not, and it also taught me a bit about all my instruments and the sounds they make.

Doc_J said:

Great selection!
The Savarez Allances are there, but Titaniums and SouthCoasts are missing.

If none of those sound good it's either the instrument or your ears aren't working well.

Click to expand...

I stand corrected, and I need.to clarify; Savarez Alliance 540J or 540R. The ukulele sets Ive tried, not so good.

Kekani said:

I stand corrected, and I need.to clarify; Savarez Alliance 540J or 540R. The ukulele sets Ive tried, not so good.

Click to expand...

I haven't gotten around to looking at the guitar sets; I don't really like how flourocarbons sound. I did like how the ukulele set 150R felt and played on the Kamaka. Not real strong, but not real weak, sort of someplace in the middle. Mostly I liked how they felt.

Kekani said:

I stand corrected, and I need.to clarify; Savarez Alliance 540J or 540R. The ukulele sets Ive tried, not so good.

Click to expand...

The Savarez uke strings are the same Alliance KF strings used in the classical 540 sets, just slightly different diameters. Which results in a little more tension and a slightly warmer, round sound, when using the strings right out of the classical 540R set compared to the uke set. Only two strings, in the uke set are different diameters.

Uke set diameters are.0205/.0272/.0331/0224, the usual classicals (the 540R treble set and an extra E string) used are at .0244/.0272/.0331/0244. So you can see, it is just the A and G string in the uke set that is a different diameter than the 540R set.

Of course, you can use any diameters you like. Savarez sells carbon singles in just about any diameter you could want.

hammer40 said:

The Savarez uke strings are the same Alliance KF strings used in the classical 540 sets, just slightly different diameters. Which results in a little more tension and a slightly warmer, round sound, when using the strings right out of the classical 540R set compared to the uke set. Only two strings, in the uke set are different diameters.

Uke set diameters are.0205/.0272/.0331/0224, the usual classicals, the 540R treble set and an extra E string, used are at .0244/.0272/.0331/0244. So you can see, it is just the A and G string in the uke set that is a different diameter than the 540R set.

Of course, you can use any diameters you like. Savarez sells carbon singles in just about any diameter you could want.

Click to expand...

Two thoughts:

8 string ukulele's are strung so the paired strings are different octaves, aren't they? They are essentially 2 complete string sets that each have a different pitch which are strung in pairs to create a ukulele with a fuller, richer sound.. Why couldn't you simply string one set or the other to change the pitch of a normal 4 string ukulele? I'm not a luthier by any stretch of the imagination, so I don't know if changing the pitch of the strings would improve the sound quality of a ukulele. However, it seems to me with that even if the quality was not improved, the ability to string a ukulele in a different octave might be of some benefit to many players.

On a slightly different note, a baritone is strung similarly to a tenor guitar. Tenor guitars can be strung using the DGBE strings from a guitar string set. I don't know whether or not a ukulele bridge would need to be altered to accommodate guitar strings, but if using guitar strings is possible, it would increase the selection of strings available to baritone players.

Is this correct, or just unconventional (and/or impractical) thinking?

Phluffy the Destroyer said:

Two thoughts:

8 string ukulele's are strung so the paired strings are different octaves, aren't they? They are essentially 2 complete string sets that each have a different pitch which are strung in pairs to create a ukulele with a fuller, richer sound.. Why couldn't you simply string one set or the other to change the pitch of a normal 4 string ukulele? I'm not a luthier by any stretch of the imagination, so I don't know if changing the pitch of the strings would improve the sound quality of a ukulele. However, it seems to me with that even if the quality was not improved, the ability to string a ukulele in a different octave might be of some benefit to many players.

On a slightly different note, a baritone is strung similarly to a tenor guitar. Tenor guitars can be strung using the DGBE strings from a guitar string set. I don't know whether or not a ukulele bridge would need to be altered to accommodate guitar strings, but if using guitar strings is possible, it would increase the selection of strings available to baritone players.

Is this correct, or just unconventional (and/or impractical) thinking?

Click to expand...

Classical guitar strings, nylon or carbon, can and are used for the ukulele.

So how much mx-n-match have you done. Surely in all those sets you have found an individual string that works. Sometimes it takes finding the right G and then a C that doesn't boom or thud, etc. I have found C and A strings to be the biggest challenge (on re-entrant high G). Sometimes that A is a an exercise in futility between too thin and too much tension.

John

igorthebarbarian said:

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a blow pop!
Sadly I've tried almost every one of those strings too.
Cheaper than buying a new one, right??!

Click to expand...

That was my first thought too. I guess the best answer is as many as it takes. We all seem to have a certain sound in our heads/body that resonate the best with what our expectation or desire may be. All can be a bit different, so it makes it hard to pigeon-hole Ukes and strings together.

All string sets sound good to somebody on one uke or another!!!!!! :music:

I see you have the PHD strings coming up in rotation.
Those have been my favorite strings on my mango. And I just recently put a PHD high g set on my mahogany. Very happy with the sound.
I still need to try South Coast, Salvarez and Oasis though.
Thanks for posting this thread.
I will have to hit up the string store after xmas.

Wrong salvarez set though, what kind of uke is this. Usually when i choose strings, first is tension, guage and compound..wound or not, fluro carbon or nylon, low or high g,
Depends on your ukes tone and feel. On what strings may work, for instance heavy build thin guage
Laminates, thin or aquilas, bright or tinny sounding , heavier guage softer compound etc.
Good luck, 11 sets huh? Clarity heavy tension, sweet , heavy guage softer compound

70sSanO said:

So how much mx-n-match have you done. Surely in all those sets you have found an individual string that works. Sometimes it takes finding the right G and then a C that doesn't boom or thud, etc. I have found C and A strings to be the biggest challenge (on re-entrant high G). Sometimes that A is a an exercise in futility between too thin and too much tension.

John

Click to expand...

I haven't done too much testing, mostly like you, the A and C strings. I mostly replace them with whatever used set I got laying around. I've replaced some C with Aquila Red, mostly because I had a couple of open sets. I like the Red A but it's prone to self destruction.

I'll probably start customizing once I work my way through all the sets.

ukuleleden said:

That was my first thought too. I guess the best answer is as many as it takes. We all seem to have a certain sound in our heads/body that resonate the best with what our expectation or desire may be. All can be a bit different, so it makes it hard to pigeon-hole Ukes and strings together.

Click to expand...

That sound in my head was what got me started on the Quest for Strings. Where that sound came from, I don't know. Where that sound is, I don't know.

One interesting thing about all this is that all the strings have been tested on one instrument.
It think it was around the 10 string change that I began to realize that while string changes were altering the sound some, I was still hearing the same ukulele.
If that makes any sense.

the flat tire said:

to find out how your instrument really sounds?

View attachment 86576

I'm on set 12...

Click to expand...

What are you looking for? What is wrong with the sounds you have already found? I mean, is there going to ever be a time when you say, "I'm satisfied, and I'm just going to play this thing", or will you always be looking? I ask this without judgement. I just wonder if there is actually a sound that you seek, or if you are just seeking a sound.

the flat tire said:

I haven't done too much testing, mostly like you, the A and C strings. I mostly replace them with whatever used set I got laying around. I've replaced some C with Aquila Red, mostly because I had a couple of open sets. I like the Red A but it's prone to self destruction.

I'll probably start customizing once I work my way through all the sets.

Click to expand...

Well diameter isn't a sure fire way to go about things, but for me cheap Harbor Freight digital calipers go a long way in figuring these things out. As odd as it may seem .001" can make or break the right and wrong string.

As mm stan pointed out composition and material plays a more important role, but for like material strings, at least for me, having some tangible data does help. I have contemplated getting a tennis string tension gauge, but I'm not sure if it will work and I have zeroed in on the right strings for the different ukuleles.

I think the current Reds are supposed to be better as far as breaking, but you may want to do a search of the threads.

John