I'm interested in getting a uke to tune in GDAE tuning (since I play fiddle and a little mando). I've done my homework on this, googled around for the best way to do it, and the conventional wisdom seems to be this:
1) get a soprano uke (since bigger ukes will pose a problem with the high E string),
2) use the Aquila Nylgut GDAE set.
So far so good. I have some issues with the above, though, and thought I would ask the experts before I go out and buy stuff.
Problem #1: The Aquila GDAE set has gotten some negative reviews on forums like this-- players say that they break easily, or else they just don't like them, etc.
Problem #2: I'd kind of like to use at least a concert size rather than a soprano. I know tuning the high E on a concert is supposed to be a problem... but I wonder about that.
What do people think about using a classical-guitar "high E" in say a .30 gauge and trying to use that as the high E, either in a 13" scale ukelele or a 15" scale? I mean, it's tuned to the same note anyway on a 25" scale instrument, so it should be easy to tune it up to pitch when you're just using 15" of it...
And if I do this, is there a preferred type of classical high E to use? (I would imagine you want a super-high-tension string, since you'd be lowering the tension a lot to compensate for the shortened length). Does anyone know how many kg of string tension a ukelele neck is designed for?
Thanks in advance for any help...
1) get a soprano uke (since bigger ukes will pose a problem with the high E string),
2) use the Aquila Nylgut GDAE set.
So far so good. I have some issues with the above, though, and thought I would ask the experts before I go out and buy stuff.
Problem #1: The Aquila GDAE set has gotten some negative reviews on forums like this-- players say that they break easily, or else they just don't like them, etc.
Problem #2: I'd kind of like to use at least a concert size rather than a soprano. I know tuning the high E on a concert is supposed to be a problem... but I wonder about that.
What do people think about using a classical-guitar "high E" in say a .30 gauge and trying to use that as the high E, either in a 13" scale ukelele or a 15" scale? I mean, it's tuned to the same note anyway on a 25" scale instrument, so it should be easy to tune it up to pitch when you're just using 15" of it...
And if I do this, is there a preferred type of classical high E to use? (I would imagine you want a super-high-tension string, since you'd be lowering the tension a lot to compensate for the shortened length). Does anyone know how many kg of string tension a ukelele neck is designed for?
Thanks in advance for any help...