kissing
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2009
- Messages
- 4,370
- Reaction score
- 611
Just would like to vent my frustrations..
A few weeks ago, I made a topic about an Eleuke purchase that went wrong:
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?66604-Bad-Luck-Eleuke
In a nutshell - I purchased a dud Eleuke on eBay that had pickup balance issues. One of the strings (the 3rd) greatly overpowered the others. I attempted to get it repaired locally, because shipping it back for a refund would be too expensive/hassle. An email I sent to Eleuke's representative was ignored.
Got it back from the repair shop, only to find that the problem was not completely fixed. Did not bother going back due to their incapability to fix it the first time round.
So having no support from Eleuke, nor the local music shop... I decided to attempt to make this cursed instrument playable myself.
I've tried everything, from sanding the bottom of the saddle to make it flat. When this didn't work, I actually made a whole new "custom" saddle by getting a spare saddle, sawing it to length and filing it down to size.
Alas, this saddle too ended up having the same balance issues (overpowered 3rd string, and other strings sounding unbalanced).
I've changed strings twice!
From Aquila Baritone to Martin Fluorocarbon Baritone and even Guadalupe's low-GCEA strings (I thought perhaps if I used an all-wound set, the situation would improve).
I then spent another few hours, repeatedly trial-and-erroring saddle adjustments, using shims and trying to get this Eleuke to sound balanced..
I am a bit closer getting the strings balanced, but now I have this horrid distortion problem where the bass strings are over-amplified.. and there is nothing I can do to fix it, it sounds horrible.
This Eleuke will probably never play balanced... and even if it did, there is now another problem... the tuners have become stiff and unpleasant to turn and probably need to be replaced. I really don't understand - I have similarly priced ukes that I've had for years, and the tuners still feel smooth. The Eleuke, I just tuned some strings a few time, and it has already gone rotten.
It is now about 3AM in the morning, and I have failed to make this Eleuke a playable instrument.
It has left me feeling drained and wanting to throw it out the window and see it break.
To be fair, I do blame myself for choosing to waste time on it.
But one thing is for sure, I am never going to purchase another Eleuke, and I am never going to recommend it to anyone else.
I had similar problems with another Eleuke purchase in the past, and wasted time and energy in the same way.
Now I am stuck with an instrument that is a waste to throw away, but has grave imperfections that frustrates when played... what to do with this thing... expensive wall-hanger? I'm really considering getting rid of this wretched thing somehow, getting a new Baritone (probably an acoustic electric of a different brand) and pretending that it never happened..
/vent.
Anyone else had experience of spending hours trying to get a half-decent uke to play decent?
A few weeks ago, I made a topic about an Eleuke purchase that went wrong:
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?66604-Bad-Luck-Eleuke
In a nutshell - I purchased a dud Eleuke on eBay that had pickup balance issues. One of the strings (the 3rd) greatly overpowered the others. I attempted to get it repaired locally, because shipping it back for a refund would be too expensive/hassle. An email I sent to Eleuke's representative was ignored.
Got it back from the repair shop, only to find that the problem was not completely fixed. Did not bother going back due to their incapability to fix it the first time round.
So having no support from Eleuke, nor the local music shop... I decided to attempt to make this cursed instrument playable myself.
I've tried everything, from sanding the bottom of the saddle to make it flat. When this didn't work, I actually made a whole new "custom" saddle by getting a spare saddle, sawing it to length and filing it down to size.
Alas, this saddle too ended up having the same balance issues (overpowered 3rd string, and other strings sounding unbalanced).
I've changed strings twice!
From Aquila Baritone to Martin Fluorocarbon Baritone and even Guadalupe's low-GCEA strings (I thought perhaps if I used an all-wound set, the situation would improve).
I then spent another few hours, repeatedly trial-and-erroring saddle adjustments, using shims and trying to get this Eleuke to sound balanced..
I am a bit closer getting the strings balanced, but now I have this horrid distortion problem where the bass strings are over-amplified.. and there is nothing I can do to fix it, it sounds horrible.
This Eleuke will probably never play balanced... and even if it did, there is now another problem... the tuners have become stiff and unpleasant to turn and probably need to be replaced. I really don't understand - I have similarly priced ukes that I've had for years, and the tuners still feel smooth. The Eleuke, I just tuned some strings a few time, and it has already gone rotten.
It is now about 3AM in the morning, and I have failed to make this Eleuke a playable instrument.
It has left me feeling drained and wanting to throw it out the window and see it break.
To be fair, I do blame myself for choosing to waste time on it.
But one thing is for sure, I am never going to purchase another Eleuke, and I am never going to recommend it to anyone else.
I had similar problems with another Eleuke purchase in the past, and wasted time and energy in the same way.
Now I am stuck with an instrument that is a waste to throw away, but has grave imperfections that frustrates when played... what to do with this thing... expensive wall-hanger? I'm really considering getting rid of this wretched thing somehow, getting a new Baritone (probably an acoustic electric of a different brand) and pretending that it never happened..
/vent.
Anyone else had experience of spending hours trying to get a half-decent uke to play decent?
Last edited: