Do some ukes dislike low G?

heymak

heymak

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
132
Reaction score
0
Location
Just west of Houston, Texas
I've been putting different low G sting sets on a lanikai SC trying to find the right sound. I've come to the conclusion that this uke just doesn't like to sing that way. Anyone else have a similar experience. Seriously does the resonance of the body of a concert prefer high G?
 
heymak said:
Seriously does the resonance of the body of a concert prefer high G?
Click to expand...

Yes.

If you want to play a concert with that low note, best to amplify it. Then you can compensate for the acoustic deficiency.
 
I think low G success depends on the Uke, and the strings chosen. It is a little harder to have it work on a concert or soprano length scale. Some wood tones work better with the low G too. I really have liked my Kala Mango Tenor with the low G on it. Sometimes you have to go for a wound low G to get good sustain on some ukes, but on my mango tenor, I was able to use all non-wound strings.

–Lori
 
I think low G works best on tenor.

Lori mentioned tone woods. Come to think of it, out of my five tenors I've tried low G on all but one. But the two I've kept it on both have solid cedar tops. I'd say cedar has a bit of a darker, richer tone that works well with low G (at least as compared to spruce). :)
 
I have had a low G on one concert scale that worked,
otherwise I stick to low G on Tenor only. On two or three
sopranos I have heard that tried it,it just does not work!
 
My lanikai is a laminate. It sounded awful in high G so I tried aquila low gs. It sounds great now. Oh by the way it is a concert.
 
I'd have to say yes. In fact, to my ear at least I'd say most ukes dislike low-G. I thought I just didn't like low-G until I stumbled across a used Mainland cutaway mahogany tenor that came to me strung with low-G Aquilas - it's the only one of my ukes that I've really liked Aquilas on and the only low-G I've liked. I tried low-G on Mainland mango and red cedar tenors and didn't care for it (to be fair the red cedar wasn't bad strung low G but just sounded way too guitarish).

John
 
I tried every "hardness" of the Worth unwound low-g's on my Kanile'a concert and they all sounded dull with bad intonation.

So, I'd have to agree with others here, low-g's sound best on tenors.
 
For what it's worth, my concert Greg Bennett, (not expensive, 6 yrs old but very nice for the price) sounded pretty poor with a low G when I tried it. Couldn't get back to high G quick enough.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Do you dislike Mango Ukes and if so why?
2
Replies
20
Views
3K
bsfloyd
B
Wildjoy
Enya mahogany ukes
Replies
15
Views
327
KohanMike
KohanMike
B
  • Poll
How many ukes have you got? (expanded poll)
2
Replies
21
Views
508
dr_mitch
dr_mitch
Captain Simian
Rock musicians who collect ukes
Replies
10
Views
489
Slooky
Slooky
J
User Reviews for Woody Howard's Hybrid Woody Lele Ukes
Replies
0
Views
47
jprovince
J
Top Bottom