String:Uke Round-Up

pdxuke · Mar 12, 2011

Thought it might be fun to do a list of the ukes we have and the strings we have and a simple YES/NO/MAYBE of how we like them. We can all scroll through and it might give us ideas for future string changes.

May I suggest we keep the posts simple, for EZ reading?

So I'll start with mine, as a demo:

Kamaka Pineapple/Fremont Blacks/YES
Kiwaya KTS 4/Martin 600/YES
1948 Martin O/Martin 600/YES++++
Gibson Uke 1/Martin 600/YES
Gretsch 1930's/Worth Browns/MAYBE
Ohana Sopranino/Worth Browns/YES
Ohana SK 35/Martin 600/ YES++++
Ohana SK38/Aquila/NO
Ohana CK25/Aquila/NO
Dolphin/Aquila/YES+++
Kala Watermelon/Aquila/NO
Flea/Aquila/MAYBE

ceviche · Mar 12, 2011

KoAloha September 2000 Standard Uke + Worth Medium Brown Strings = Insanely in LOVE with this combination!
2009 Kamaka 8-String Koa Tenor + Stock Strings (GHS?) = Maybe
2010 KoAloha Tenor + Stock Strings = Yes

RyRod · Mar 12, 2011

Dave Talsma Tenor/Mix of Savarez Alliance & Cristal/ YES

Kala Travel Tenor/ Worth Brown Low G/ Yes but not a big fan of low g

Kala Flame Mahogany Tenor/ Worth Brown F#,B, D#, G#/ yes

Lanikai Curly Koa Concert/ Worth Brown/ Maybe (pretty old set)

Rogue Baritone/ Aranjuez/ No, but it's the uke

Crestwood Soprano/ GHS/ No, probably because the tuners are terrible

joeybug · Mar 12, 2011

Ohana SK10S - Aquila - Yes
Luna Tattoo Pineapple - Aquila - Yes
KPK - GHS - maybe - Worth Browns - YES+
Tanglewood Union 1TU CE - Aquila - Maybe

Astrid's who's unknown - Fishing Line - NO - Abdigo - Maybe - Aquila - YES +++

Eric Blooduke · Mar 12, 2011

Not much help as I just have the one uke, but here 'tis:

Ohana SK10S Soprano laminate / Aquila / Yes

Plainsong · Mar 12, 2011

Ko'olau Golds w/ everything I've tried: Noooooooo
D'addario w/ everything I've tried: Nooooooooooo

Howlett Helsinki Soprano w/ Aquila: Yes w/ Worth BM: No
Kanile'a superconcert w/ Low G Aquila: No w/ High G Aquila: Yes w/ Worth CT: Ehhhhh not sure
Flea w/ GHS: No! w/ Aquila: No w/ Worth BM: Yes

pdxuke · Mar 12, 2011

Plainsong said:
Flea w/ GHS: No! w/ Aquila: No w/ Worth BM: Yes

Huh. Browns on the Flea! Gotta try that!

AncientMatingCalls · Mar 12, 2011

Great thread, I like Plainsongs list as it gives examples that certain strings work while others don't.

Makala tenor: Aquilas-ehh / D'Addarios-a little better / Worth Browns-oh yeah
Kala : Aquilas-Meh / clear nylons (can't remember what)-ehh I think it was the uke itself I was unhappy with.
Kanilea tenor: Aquilas-maybe / next will be Worth Clears.

pdxuke · Mar 12, 2011

AncientMatingCalls said:
Great thread, I like Plainsongs list as it gives examples that certain strings work while others don't.

I agree. Updating my list:

Kiwaya KTS 4: Martin 600--YES/ Aquilas--OK
1948 Martin O: Martin 600--YES++++/Aquilas--NO
Gibson Uke 1: Martin 600--YES/ Aquilas, YES tuned to D
Gretsch 1930's: Worth Browns--MAYBE / Aquilas-ehhh
Ohana Sopranino: Worth Browns-YES++ / Aquilas--OK, not great
Ohana SK 35: Martin 600/--YES++++/ Aquilas--FAIR
Dolphin: GHS--NO / Aquilas--YES ++++
Kamaka Pineapple/Fremont Blacks/YES
Ohana SK38/Aquila/NO
Ohana CK25/Aquila/NO
Kala Watermelon/Aquila/NO
Flea/Aquila/MAYBE

joeybug · Mar 12, 2011

Eric Blooduke said:
Not much help as I just have the one uke, but here 'tis:

Ohana SK10S Soprano laminate / Aquila / Yes

We have the same Uke! Lilo is my Ohana, she was my first "proper" Ukulele and I loves her!

hmgberg · Mar 13, 2011

Great thread!

Kala KCG_CT: Aquilas=Yes+; Worth BM=No; Koolau Alohi=Yes, but hard strings that never seem to stay in tune; Martin 600=No
Martin O, ca. 1960: Aquilas=No; Martin 600 = Yes+; Worth CM=Yes; Worth CD=Yes++
Martin 3M, ca. 1930: Aquilas=No; Worth CM=yes++; Worth CD=don't know, suspect Yes, but afraid to put that much tension on the bridge; Martin 600=Yes+, but nut slots are too wide and A string buzzes
Harmony Roy Smeck Soprano: Aquilas=No; Alohis=yes, but same problem as mentioned above; Worth BM=Yes
Harmony Roy Smeck Vita: Aquilas=Yes++, so much so that I never tried anything else
Kamaka Concert: Worth CM=Yes++, so much so that I never tried anything else
Early Hawaiian Soprano: Martin 600=Yes, haven't tried anything else yet

Eric Blooduke · Mar 13, 2011

joeybug said:
We have the same Uke! Lilo is my Ohana, she was my first "proper" Ukulele and I loves her!

Yes I suppose I could add that the Aquilas made the Ohana come alive compared to the original strings

janeray1940 · Mar 13, 2011

Kamaka Soprano - Fremont Blackline Hards - MAYBE, leaning toward NO
Kamaka Concert Low G - Fremont Blackline Hards - YES
Kamaka Concert Re-entrant - Aquilas - YES

Still trying to find the perfect strings for the soprano. Aquilas were good but too floppy/mushy - I prefer more tension. Worth Clears felt great but sounded too thin. Planning on trying Martin fluoros next, then Aquila concerts.

Oh and - a big NO to the stock strings (Kamaka brand, but I'm told they are GHS) that came on all three of my Kamakas.

hmgberg · Mar 13, 2011

janeray1940 said:
Kamaka Soprano - Fremont Blackline Hards - MAYBE, leaning toward NO
Kamaka Concert Low G - Fremont Blackline Hards - YES
Kamaka Concert Re-entrant - Aquilas - YES

Still trying to find the perfect strings for the soprano. Aquilas were good but too floppy/mushy - I prefer more tension. Worth Clears felt great but sounded too thin. Planning on trying Martin fluoros next, then Aquila concerts.

Why not try Worth CDs? They feel a bit harder than CMs, but they sound considerably louder and brighter.

janeray1940 · Mar 13, 2011

hmgberg said:
Why not try Worth CDs? They feel a bit harder than CMs, but they sound considerably louder and brighter.

I didn't realize there was that much difference - adding this to my list of strings to try, thanks!

roxhum · Mar 13, 2011

Bushman Koa Soprano Aquila-no; Worth Brown-no Worth clear YES
Mainland Soprano Aquila-yes
KPK Concert Martin600-maybe

bazmaz · Mar 13, 2011

I am all for this thread (and in fact have similar poll running on my blog) - as I think it is really important that people try different strings.

The "stick Aquilas on everything" movement tends to annoy me - dont get me wrong - nice strings, but not on every uke. You need to try variety and listen with your own ears. Different strings on different ukes can make massive changes to sound...

Anyway, rant over! My choices below. Mine are all YES votes because I have tried a wide variety of strings on every uke I own (its the first thing I do when a new uke arrives)

Makala Dolphin - Aquila - YES
Flea Soprano - Worth BM - YES
Fluke Concert - Worth CM - YES
Mainland Concert Mahogany -Martin Flourocarbon - BIG YES!
Ozark Banjolele - Aquila Banjolele - YES

I have also in the past owned, but sold the following

Bruko 6 - Martin Flourcarbon - YES (Aquilas were overkill)
Bruko slim matte black - Ko'olau gold - YES
Eleuke Concert - Aquila - YES
Lanikai LU21 - Aquila - YES

joeybug · Mar 13, 2011

Eric Blooduke said:
Yes I suppose I could add that the Aquilas made the Ohana come alive compared to the original strings

Mine came with Aquila's, that's when I decided to try them on Astrid and wow, the difference is amazing!

GreatGazukes · Mar 13, 2011

Great thread folks

Pono Concert Pineapple solid mango---------- Aquilas> NO, Ko'olau Golds> YES+++
Ohana Soprano solid zebrawood ------------- Aquilas> Maybe (Worths BM under consideration)
Ohana Soprano Vita uke spruce top ---------- Aquilas> YES+
Ohana Soprano mahogany top, laminate body - Aquilas> YES++
1930's Richter Soprano Mahogany - Worths CM> YES+++

sukie · Mar 13, 2011

Moore Bettah super concert..........D'Addario T2s..........awesome. Came with them and I'd never change

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