Spruce tends to give clarity and note separation (note separation is being able to hear the different notes being played in a chord - it's the opposite of muddy sounding chords). It also tends to bring out the high tones. Spruce also tends to give sustain rather than punch. Sustain means the notes keep on ringing rahter than decay away quickly.
But these are tendencies. I've heard a number of spruce top ukes with the opposite qualities of these tendencies.
Also be aware that spruce tends to need time open up and project. You kind of have to teach this wood to resonate. So it will tend to sound better after being a lot up and down the fretboard, and at loud and soft volumes... You'll get better sustain and volume, and a broader toanl palette as you take the spruce through its teaching process...
Other woods tend to not need this teaching process...
Spruce is my favorite wood for uke tops (and guitar tops...).
Spruce tends to give clarity and note separation (note separation is being able to hear the different notes being played in a chord - it's the opposite of muddy sounding chords). It also tends to bring out the high tones. Spruce also tends to give sustain rather than punch. Sustain means the notes keep on ringing rather than decay away quickly.
Also be aware that spruce tends to need time to open up and project. ).
i have the kala spruce top concert as well! the thing is here is that u need 2 find the right strings! yes the spruce makes it a bit brighter but man u find the right strings and you are in! i have tried every possible make of strings! and found that "TO ME" the pro arte d'adarios are SICK!
Would you say the pro arte are better at providing a warm tone than the aquila or worth strings? Im still fairly new to the ukulele, and have only ever tried aquila strings on my oscar schmidt concert. Im getting ready to buy a lanikai ck-t koa tenor though, and Id like to get a set of strings to bring out a nice mellow sound with good overtones. I know the D'Addario pro artes are my go to strings for classical guitar even up against way more expensive strings.
i have the kala spruce top concert as well! the thing is here is that u need 2 find the right strings! yes the spruce makes it a bit brighter but man u find the right strings and you are in! i have tried every possible make of strings! and found that "TO ME" the pro arte d'adarios are SICK!
thanks again to everyone who replied.
i guess im gonna be picking up a spruce top for christmas. :nana:
what does a solid spruce top do to the sound of a uke?
i cant decide whether to get a kala mahogany concert or the mahogany concert with the solid spruce top. anyone?
i've only tried GHS strings that came with the uke and the aquilas that are on the kala spruce top right now. the aquilas were an amazing improvement over the crappy ones it came with. i'll be trying the d'addarios next time around. i haven't been able to find a local shop with worths in stock.