OldePhart
Well-known member
I changed strings on the KoAloha longneck soprano today. Whenever I do that I always get out the Renaissance wax and wax the soundboard, fretboard, and headstock. Today I noticed that the shiny spots in the first position are now more than just shiny and have just begun to show the dimples that Koa fretboards tend to develop with a lot of play. And here I was feeling almost guilty over neglecting the KoAloha this past several months because I've spent most of my playing time on the Mainland mahogany soprano. LOL
BTW, I'm trying Ko'Olau Alohi's for the first time. I'd tried Ko'Olau Gold strings on it and hated them (love them on both of my mango ukes, though). Actually, this might not be completely the first Alohi strings I've tried - I think that is what was on my Pono baritone when I first got it - the trebles on it were the same color anyway.
So far I like these, the tone is lovely, though the volume and brightness are both way down from the medium gage Seaguar clear fluorocarbon leaders I had on it. Intonation up the neck seems to be a little better, which I'm hoping means maybe when they settle in it will be a lot better.
These are also settling in a lot faster than Golds. Typically I don't even try to play a uke the day I restring - I just tune it a step high and then keep checking it and retuning it a step high. This time I did that four or five times then left the uke sit while I read for an hour or so. Surprisingly, when I picked it up it was still a half step high and when I tuned it normally I played for probably twenty or thirty minutes without needing to retune.
I think I like the tone of the clear fluorocarbons slightly better, but if the intonation of these does end up significantly better I'll probably keep the Alohi strings. I think it's mostly the wonky intonation of the clear fluorocarbons that is the main reason I've spent so much time playing the Mainland because it intonates much better up the neck.
Interestingly, the KoAloha is the only uke I've got that doesn't intonate all that well with those clear fluorocarbon strings - go figure.
BTW, I'm trying Ko'Olau Alohi's for the first time. I'd tried Ko'Olau Gold strings on it and hated them (love them on both of my mango ukes, though). Actually, this might not be completely the first Alohi strings I've tried - I think that is what was on my Pono baritone when I first got it - the trebles on it were the same color anyway.
So far I like these, the tone is lovely, though the volume and brightness are both way down from the medium gage Seaguar clear fluorocarbon leaders I had on it. Intonation up the neck seems to be a little better, which I'm hoping means maybe when they settle in it will be a lot better.
These are also settling in a lot faster than Golds. Typically I don't even try to play a uke the day I restring - I just tune it a step high and then keep checking it and retuning it a step high. This time I did that four or five times then left the uke sit while I read for an hour or so. Surprisingly, when I picked it up it was still a half step high and when I tuned it normally I played for probably twenty or thirty minutes without needing to retune.
I think I like the tone of the clear fluorocarbons slightly better, but if the intonation of these does end up significantly better I'll probably keep the Alohi strings. I think it's mostly the wonky intonation of the clear fluorocarbons that is the main reason I've spent so much time playing the Mainland because it intonates much better up the neck.
Interestingly, the KoAloha is the only uke I've got that doesn't intonate all that well with those clear fluorocarbon strings - go figure.