String Theory

Thinker

Well-known member

Joined

Mar 25, 2012

Messages

182

Reaction score

0

• Apr 24, 2012

• #1

Hi Guys,

So I have a brand new KoAloha tenor. I've seen lots of posts about new ukes (really new strings) needing to be tuned quite a lot. I've been retuning every time I sit down. A few strings are always a little flat.

I'm wondering - how long does it take the Uke/Strings to settle in? Does it change based on the type of strings? (I've bought a new pair of D'addarios that I want to put on at some time).

Thanks for any guidance.

 

fernandogardinali

Well-known member

Joined

Jul 21, 2010

Messages

578

Reaction score

0

Location

London, United Kingdom

• Apr 24, 2012

• #2

I accelerate the process by installing the strings, tuning, pulling it gently, tuning again, pulling again... In sopranos I put a higher tuning (ADF#B).

 

peewee

Well-known member

Joined

Sep 9, 2010

Messages

1,885

Reaction score

6

Location

Hahamog-na, CA

• Apr 24, 2012

• #3

Yup
Tune up a half step overnight, then retune and tug gently, should be done stretching in a couple of days, fully settled in a week or so.

 

OP

OP

Thinker

Well-known member

Joined

Mar 25, 2012

Messages

182

Reaction score

0

• Apr 24, 2012

• #4

peewee said:

Yup
Tune up a half step overnight, then retune and tug gently, should be done stretching in a couple of days, fully settled in a week or so.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Does this time change with the type of string, type of uke? Or is all pretty much the same?

 

DaveVisi

Well-known member

Joined

Jun 6, 2009

Messages

1,065

Reaction score

4

Location

Las Vegas!

• Apr 24, 2012

• #5

It varies with the type of string. Aquilas seem to be the worst, taking sometimes a couple of weeks to settle down. Either way, I wouldn't be in any hurry to glue down your tuners. I usually have to touch up tuning every time I pick up a uke.

 

peewee

Well-known member

Joined

Sep 9, 2010

Messages

1,885

Reaction score

6

Location

Hahamog-na, CA

• Apr 24, 2012

• #6

I only know about Fluorocarbons and Aquilas. I would say they take about the same amount of time to settle, and that once settled, the Aquilas are a little more prone to changing pitch with time, temp, phase of the moon. But that is a non-scientific impression. I hadn't considered whether scale length has an influence on the equation.
I can tell you empirically that incorrectly tied strings on a tie bridge go way out of tune in milliseconds

 

bazmaz

Well-known member

Joined

Sep 5, 2009

Messages

5,537

Reaction score

1,027

Location

UK

• Apr 25, 2012

• #7

If I really stretch them, I can get strings settled in half an hour. At my last gig, broke an A on my Koaloha, and swapped it out mid set. Between each song for about half an hour needed tuning tweaking, but then it held. That was achieved with some tugging and twisting when the string first went on. Tune, pinch or pull, tune, repeat.