SailQwest
Well-known member
I really dislike changing strings, and only do it when I have to—basically when the intonation starts going bad. The main thing I dislike about new strings is that they take a little while to settle before they start staying in tune. I am a freak about being in tune and being off makes me crazy!
So anyway, a couple of days before our last charter I put a new set of Aquilas on my Engelmann Concert, since the intonation was beginning to go bad. I played it like crazy to try to make sure the strings were stretched and settled before our charter. During the charter we played for our guests during Happy Arrrr probably 7 of the 10 days we were on charter. Every time we played I had trouble not cringing because my intonation was off, and above the 5th fret it was horrible. And those were new strings!
So we get back from charter, pick up our mail, and there is a package from UU! A t-shirt for Rich and some D'Addario strings for me. (BTW, thanks for the cool stickers!!!)
So, I put the new strings on (complaining bitterly the entire time). The strings feel good, the tone is nice, and they have a great sustain. But...the intonation on the C and E strings is not very good. I figure I'll give them a few days to settle in, and see if it gets better.
Well, it doesn't, and as a result on Tuesday night I end up playing my Eleuke on stage because I can't deal with the intonation issues I'm having with my Engelmann.
In the meantime, I'm really starting to worry about my uke. Could there be something wrong with it that would cause the intonation issues on 3 sets of strings? Is the neck bowing, the bridge pulling off, etc, etc, etc?
So today I get out my last set of concert strings (Aquilas) and put them on, keeping my fingers crossed. Knowing how crazy this whole changing strings thing makes me, Rich volunteered to help me play and tune the heck out of it today to get the strings settled.
Anyway, my intonation issues are over. The new strings sound fine and the intonation is perfect (again), thank goodness!
So anyway, a couple of days before our last charter I put a new set of Aquilas on my Engelmann Concert, since the intonation was beginning to go bad. I played it like crazy to try to make sure the strings were stretched and settled before our charter. During the charter we played for our guests during Happy Arrrr probably 7 of the 10 days we were on charter. Every time we played I had trouble not cringing because my intonation was off, and above the 5th fret it was horrible. And those were new strings!
So we get back from charter, pick up our mail, and there is a package from UU! A t-shirt for Rich and some D'Addario strings for me. (BTW, thanks for the cool stickers!!!)
So, I put the new strings on (complaining bitterly the entire time). The strings feel good, the tone is nice, and they have a great sustain. But...the intonation on the C and E strings is not very good. I figure I'll give them a few days to settle in, and see if it gets better.
Well, it doesn't, and as a result on Tuesday night I end up playing my Eleuke on stage because I can't deal with the intonation issues I'm having with my Engelmann.
In the meantime, I'm really starting to worry about my uke. Could there be something wrong with it that would cause the intonation issues on 3 sets of strings? Is the neck bowing, the bridge pulling off, etc, etc, etc?
So today I get out my last set of concert strings (Aquilas) and put them on, keeping my fingers crossed. Knowing how crazy this whole changing strings thing makes me, Rich volunteered to help me play and tune the heck out of it today to get the strings settled.
Anyway, my intonation issues are over. The new strings sound fine and the intonation is perfect (again), thank goodness!