String recommendations for a cheapie uke

J

JessicaM

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 26, 2016
Messages
180
Reaction score
0
Location
Columbus, Ohio, USA
Can anyone recommend new strings for this all-plastic soprano uke? The strings it came with sound a little dull (for lack of a better word) and maybe like the tension isn't high enough (maybe?).

image.jpg

Or, I'm sure this has been asked before but I'm having trouble finding another thread. So if you have thread recs, I'd love those too/instead!
 
Last edited:
Likely a cheap uke will have nylon strings, Aquila will likely make it sound better.
Yes, those look like the right strings to try first.
 
Definitely Aquila Nylguts. Both my cheapies came with Nylguts and I have no reason to replace them. They do fine. My first uke had cheap nylon strings and they were truly awful with lousy intonation. Aquila Nylguts made a vast improvement though even they couldn't redeem the inherent faults of the instrument and I fairly quickly bought a better instrument and got rid of it.
 
Speaking of intonation, I wonder how much a note has to be off before listeners without trained ears note the off-ness of the note. 20 cent? Less?
 
And is it safe to assume that if they don't list the brand of strings that it came with then it probably came with pretty cruddy strings?
 
I'm an Aquila Nylgut naysayer. They sounded dull and muddy on my cheap uke. At first I thought the uke was the problem but then I put some Martin M600s on it and it sounded like a new (and better) uke! Oasis strings also work very well on it. I'll never buy Aquilas again.
 
Last edited:
JessicaM said:
And is it safe to assume that if they don't list the brand of strings that it came with then it probably came with pretty cruddy strings?
Click to expand...

uke1950 said:
Can't say for definate, but they have to cut costs somewhere. :)
Click to expand...

As cheap ukes are massed produced in large quantities, the manufacturers probably bulk buy cheap nylon monofilament of approximately suitable gauges. So likely not even branded.

If Nylguts don't do it for you, then try fluorocarbon strings.
 
Sorry I can't say from experience (never had a plastic uke) but I'd be tempted to try Oasis Lights if the Aquilas don't strike your fancy.
 
My Waterman came with some Nylgut. I didn't like them.
I consider the uke to be a cheap uke but I spent $8 or $9 for some PHD fluorocarbon and they have changed the tone and sound quality by ten-fold.
The original strings had some serious problems with intonation, especially on the E string.
The PHD have great intonation up the fretboad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

wherahiko
Strings Seeking string recommendations for baritone in fifths, CGDA.
Replies
7
Views
411
doctorapatite
doctorapatite
B
Any recommendations on a 5 string tenor?
Replies
8
Views
382
Dohle
Dohle
Adomaru
8-String Baritone Owners- strings recommendations and more questions.
Replies
3
Views
433
bbkobabe
bbkobabe
M
String recommendations?
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
ookooleilei
ookooleilei
M
String recommendations to address boomy C string
Replies
6
Views
400
LorenFL
LorenFL
Top Bottom