after the successful topic about the sustain, I'd like to talk about volume related to strings.
often I read comments or reviews about strings mentioning the correlation between them and volume/loudness.
in my little experience with a couple of sopranos and few sets of strings, I noticed the difference only with the laminated uke.
let me explain:
I have this cheap Arrow uke bought for 30 euros like 10 years ago, on which I played a lot with the stock strings (some smooth black nylons, that were really good, but now I can't seem to find what they were), and it had a nice sound and volume.
almost an year ago I decided to try the reknown Aquila Super Nylgut (I'm italian, and I had to try them ), but they didn't change much in terms of loudness.
on that uke I tried the D'Addario Fluorocarbon, the Aquila New Nylgut and the D'Addario Black Nylon:
only with the New Nylgut I noticed actually an increase in volume/loudness, and only with the Black Nylon a decrease (loosing all the mid-frequencies).
on the other side, I have an Ohana sk38, which is solid mahogany, and extremely loud and "barking".
I've tried the same sets, and I didn't notice any difference in volume.
this uke always sounds nearly at the same volume, projecting the tone almost in the same way, and just with small differences in terms of frequencies, but none of those sets actually changed it's loudness.
the Black nylons by D'Addario, crap on the laminate uke, are fantastic on the Ohana.
both Super and New Nylgut are bright and full, projecting in the same way, and the fluorocarbon are clear and bright, but still with any increase in volume.
this led me to think that probably the "impact" of the strings is important only with laminate ukes, and with a good solid uke they only change the "sound" and frequency responce, but not that much to alter the volume perception.
what are your experiences?
often I read comments or reviews about strings mentioning the correlation between them and volume/loudness.
in my little experience with a couple of sopranos and few sets of strings, I noticed the difference only with the laminated uke.
let me explain:
I have this cheap Arrow uke bought for 30 euros like 10 years ago, on which I played a lot with the stock strings (some smooth black nylons, that were really good, but now I can't seem to find what they were), and it had a nice sound and volume.
almost an year ago I decided to try the reknown Aquila Super Nylgut (I'm italian, and I had to try them ), but they didn't change much in terms of loudness.
on that uke I tried the D'Addario Fluorocarbon, the Aquila New Nylgut and the D'Addario Black Nylon:
only with the New Nylgut I noticed actually an increase in volume/loudness, and only with the Black Nylon a decrease (loosing all the mid-frequencies).
on the other side, I have an Ohana sk38, which is solid mahogany, and extremely loud and "barking".
I've tried the same sets, and I didn't notice any difference in volume.
this uke always sounds nearly at the same volume, projecting the tone almost in the same way, and just with small differences in terms of frequencies, but none of those sets actually changed it's loudness.
the Black nylons by D'Addario, crap on the laminate uke, are fantastic on the Ohana.
both Super and New Nylgut are bright and full, projecting in the same way, and the fluorocarbon are clear and bright, but still with any increase in volume.
this led me to think that probably the "impact" of the strings is important only with laminate ukes, and with a good solid uke they only change the "sound" and frequency responce, but not that much to alter the volume perception.
what are your experiences?