I'm stuck!!!!!!!

kuke2 · Jun 20, 2011

I play a Lanikai concert uke (made of koa wood) in a band and I've started getting into somewhat harder chords. Now, I'm running into problems because I need a little bit of a deeper sound on my uke. I need more bass....is that possible?

What are my options? A tenor uke? Low G-string? Different wood?

elgooch808 · Jun 20, 2011

Tenor would give you a deeper sound, I just recently restrung my Tenor with a low G. It's a little deeper, for sure. But I'm not sure if I like it yet...

mustacheukuleles · Jun 20, 2011

post up vids of your band! sweet!

mm stan · Jun 20, 2011

Aloha Kuke2,
Get a tenor, thicker strings, drop the tuning a step, mahogany is sweet and nice... Hope it helps...good luck, MM Stan
BTW your Lanikai Koa concert is a highly sought after uke..it was made by Kanilea in hawaii and one of their first ukes..
worth some money....hold on to that baby...MM Stan

poppy · Jun 20, 2011

mahogany. low g freemont blacklines or worth browns - my 240 with black lines is very mellow. you can get it with a pickup now.

ItsAMeCasey · Jun 20, 2011

elgooch808 said:
Tenor would give you a deeper sound, I just recently restrung my Tenor with a low G. It's a little deeper, for sure. But I'm not sure if I like it yet...

I felt the same way man when I strung my uke up with low G.. so I went back to high G lol; Low G messed up a bunch of the picking in my songs. But I would second the suggestion to go with a tenor uke w/ a low G. Should probably be the sound you're looking for.

kuke2 · Jun 20, 2011

elgooch808 said:
Tenor would give you a deeper sound, I just recently restrung my Tenor with a low G. It's a little deeper, for sure. But I'm not sure if I like it yet...

What are you not liking about the low G?

kuke2 · Jun 20, 2011

mm stan said:
Aloha Kuke2,
Get a tenor, thicker strings, drop the tuning a step, mahogany is sweet and nice... Hope it helps...good luck, MM Stan
BTW your Lanikai Koa concert is a highly sought after uke..it was made by Kanilea in hawaii and one of their first ukes..
worth some money....hold on to that baby...MM Stan

Thanks, MM Stan.
Basically, I want to get a great, full, rich sound like a guitar with my uke. I'm looking at the Kala archtop tenor....would that be good?
Seriously????? That's fantastic! I had no clue!

kuke2 · Jun 20, 2011

poppy said:
mahogany. low g freemont blacklines or worth browns - my 240 with black lines is very mellow. you can get it with a pickup now.

Which do you prefer, blacklines or worth browns? Does the pickup help to mellow it out?

itsme · Jun 20, 2011

kuke2 said:
Basically, I want to get a great, full, rich sound like a guitar with my uke. I'm looking at the Kala archtop tenor....would that be good?

Then at least try the low G. Some people say they don't like it just because it makes the uke sound too much like a guitar.

Not familiar with that model, but found an older thread about it here:

http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?9416-Kala-Archtop-F-Hole-Tenor

Coconut Willie · Jun 20, 2011

How about a Baritone????????

olgoat52 · Jun 20, 2011

kuke2 said:
Thanks, MM Stan.
Basically, I want to get a great, full, rich sound like a guitar with my uke. I'm looking at the Kala archtop tenor....would that be good?
Seriously????? That's fantastic! I had no clue!

Two different animals. You will never get the richness and tonal range of a full bodied guitar out of any uke. The physics won't allow that to work. The smaller body does not move enough air to do that.

I see a baritone was suggested which is a bigger body and will be more guitar like. A tenor guitar would also be a bigger body, but steel strings are going to make difference in the tone.

Archtop use will give you more projection, as would a resonator uke (more volume if you will) but not the fuller tone you spoke of.

You have to accept the uke for what it is. Putting a pick up in and EQ'ing the uke through an amp or sound system would probably be your best bet.

TWC

Doug W · Jun 20, 2011

olgoat52 said:
Two different animals. You will never get the richness and tonal range of a full bodied guitar out of any uke. The physics won't allow that to work. The smaller body does not move enough air to do that.
TWC

I have to agree with olgoat52 here, a guitar sounds like a guitar. Another option for the uke would be to look at a six or eight string model:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbC9QSa1P4E

I'm stuck!!!!!!!

kuke2

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