String diameter question?

Dwave

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I like a thicker gauge string for my tenor that is why I prefer nylon. Currently using LaBella Uke Pros No. 100 however the sustain and playability of fluorocarbon is superior but the gauge always seems to thin for the tenor size for me. What is the thickest gauge fluorocarbon strings available?
 
Worth Fat Strings (Browns or Clears), may be the thickest FC strings
 
Worth Fat Strings (Browns or Clears), may be the thickest FC strings

Thanks Doc_J, I geuss I need to look at the Worth guages a little closer. I have Worth Browns on my Super Concert which I really like, not sure which ones, didn't like them on my tenor. The Brown Strongs and the Brown Fats say you need to be mindfull of the extra tension, is that really an issue? Also the Fats say they are for Soprano or Concert, can you use them on a Tenor?
 
Thicker/heavier strings will need more tension to get up to the standard tuning. Maybe use a lower tuning if you're thinking the tension is too much.
Since the Fat, Strong and Heavy Worth strings come in 63"inch lengths, I assume they must be for tenors.

http://worthc.to/english/w_strings.html
 
I use Seaguar fishing leaders in the same gages as a Worth CH set on several of my ukes, from soprano to tenor. On ukes that will tolerate the tension (the tension actually squashed the volume on my KoAloha longneck soprano, presumably because of the very light top) they are superb; having much better intonation up the neck than lighter strings I've tried on the same ukes.

John
 
It's kind of werid how the Worth Fats and Strongs are explained on the Elderly site. The Brown Strongs are for a Tenor and say that they can be used on Sopranos and concerts, however the user should be aware of the increased tension load and how it might impact their specific instrument. The Brown Fats are for Soprano or Concert but they can be used on a Tenor with the same notice to be aware of the added tension.
 
@Dwave - that is weird, ain't it? :) The bottom line is ignore what the string manufacturer's recommend - try a wide variety of strings on every ukulele and eventually you'll find the magic combination for that ukulele (unless of course the ukulele is deserving only of being used as a wall decoration, as is sometimes the case).

John
 
I use Seaguar fishing leaders in the same gages as a Worth CH set on several of my ukes, from soprano to tenor. On ukes that will tolerate the tension (the tension actually squashed the volume on my KoAloha longneck soprano, presumably because of the very light top) they are superb; having much better intonation up the neck than lighter strings I've tried on the same ukes.

John

Hi John,

Sorry if I am hijacking this thread, please don't hate me for asking this, but it is at least related to ukulele strings...

I have read (maybe like) all of the threads here on UU for using fishing line, and seeing the info about # test and gauge (diameter), and when I go search to try and buy the leader spools, I'm having trouble finding a single online vendor to purchase them all at once, and at a price of initial outlay of less than $100 - is this possible?

Would you be so kind as to please share the Seaguar part# or SKU's and the web site(s) you have obtained them from?

Trying to get all of them them from Amazon (with Prime) to eliminate the shipping cost, AND with Amazon as the seller and not one of the 3rd-party vendors that sell on Amazon turns into a frustrating endeavor. I refuse to accept that this is so difficult and there has to be a better way.

I am interested in the 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, & 90 (and maybe 100 or 120) # test so that I can mix-and match sets for soprano, concert, tenor and baritone, (if possible) with either high-G or low-g as the mood strikes.

I would really appreciate if you can help with this, as with 6 ukes now, buying 'uke strings' in fancy little envelopes is getting expensive and is pretty annoying to me, when I have been enlightened to the fact that the same or very close string material can be had in 25 yard spools.

I just ordered a set of both Worth Browns and Worth Clears, each with low-g from stringsandbeyond.com in order to try them out for the first time as I am feeling the need to move forwards and finally try something other than Aquila Nylguts.

If the Worth strings work out, maybe as an alternative, there is someone else here on UU that would be willing to cut like 10ft (or 3 yards) from each spool of their Seaguar stock and quote me a price and let me happily send them money via paypal. Right now $100 is a bit much for me to spend only on strings.

Right now I have some nylon classical guitar strings (D'Addario EJ27N) trebles with a DaKine FC unwound low-g on my Epi Les Paul and I am really liking the feel (like silk) under the fingers as well as the sound. They are definitely higher tension than the previously installed Aquila Nylguts that I had on the Epi. I am finding that the higher tension also really drives the top with greater volume and projection.

Anyway, please feel free to PM me if you prefer.

Thanks in advance,

-Booli
 
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@Dwave - that is weird, ain't it? :) The bottom line is ignore what the string manufacturer's recommend - try a wide variety of strings on every ukulele and eventually you'll find the magic combination for that ukulele (unless of course the ukulele is deserving only of being used as a wall decoration, as is sometimes the case).

John

Well with every Uke I've owned its a process to find the right strings and I have owned about 15 so I know what you are talking about. When your Ukes are in the $1000 plus range reading a disclaimer like the one for these fat and strong Worths is a little un-nerveing. I like the thickness of Nylon but with nylon you are losing sustain and playability. Again its a process everytime wish it wasn't.
 
@Booli - I wish I could help but it has been three years since I bought the leaders and I don't recall for certain where I bought them. I know it was an online specialty shop for anglers and I think it was anglerssupply.com and that is now a domain available for sale so it looks like they folded.

I'd send you some line but I'm out of one size now (the one that is used in all the various combinations I use) and very low on one of the others. Honestly, unless you are going to do a lot of tinkering as I do you are probably better off just buying Worths. These strings last darn near forever, anyway, and if I'd been smarter about saving and reusing strings when I was experimenting instead of just throwing them away when I pulled them off I'd still have plenty of line!

If you do find a place to get the leaders here is a chart of the apparent equivalents for the strings in each Worth set.
Code:
Worth CM		Sop.	Conc.	Tenor	Tension Ratio C to other strings
G	.0224	FP40	100	133	171	1.25
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128	1
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162	1.27
A	.0205	FC30	105	139	179	1.40

Worth CL
G	.0205	FC30	 83	111	142
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0185	FP30	 85	114	146

Worth CH
G	.0260	FC50	134	178	229	1.49
C	.0319	FC80	 90	120	154	1
E	.0291	FC60	119	159	204	1.32
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215	1.40

Worth CT
G	.0244	FC40	118	157	202
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215

Worth CT-LG
G	.0358	FC90	 64      85     109
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215

"FC" indicates the Seaguar "Blue Label" fluorocarbon leader. "FP" indicates the Seaguar Premium fluorocarbon leader. The numbers indicate the pounds.

I think that the FC90 and FC80 may be listed separately as "Seaguar Big Game" fluorocarbon leader.

Notice that the C and E strings are the same in all the sets except CH! This means that the relative tension, and thus the tonal balance, varies from set to set with the light gage sets having more emphasis on the lower-pitched C and E strings and the medium gage sets having more emphasis on the treble strings.

Also, note that you don't always have to get 25m spools. At least some of these are available in shorter lengths.

Finally, notice my emphasis above on "leader." Seaguar also makes fishing line in some of these weights but the diameter and density is not the same as the leaders.


John
 
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@Booli - I wish I could help but it has been three years since I bought the leaders and I don't recall for certain where I bought them. I know it was an online specialty shop for anglers and I think it was anglerssupply.com and that is now a domain available for sale so it looks like they folded.

I'd send you some line but I'm out of one size now (the one that is used in all the various combinations I use) and very low on one of the others. Honestly, unless you are going to do a lot of tinkering as I do you are probably better off just buying Worths. These strings last darn near forever, anyway, and if I'd been smarter about saving and reusing strings when I was experimenting instead of just throwing them away when I pulled them off I'd still have plenty of line!

If you do find a place to get the leaders here is a chart of the apparent equivalents for the strings in each Worth set.
Code:
Worth CM		Sop.	Conc.	Tenor	Tension Ratio C to other strings
G	.0224	FP40	100	133	171	1.25
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128	1
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162	1.27
A	.0205	FC30	105	139	179	1.40

Worth CL
G	.0205	FC30	 83	111	142
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0185	FP30	 85	114	146

Worth CH
G	.0260	FC50	134	178	229	1.49
C	.0319	FC80	 90	120	154	1
E	.0291	FC60	119	159	204	1.32
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215	1.40

Worth CT
G	.0244	FC40	118	157	202
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215

Worth CT-LG
G	.0358	FC90	 64      85     109
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215

"FC" indicates the Seaguar "Blue Label" fluorocarbon leader. "FP" indicates the Seaguar Premium fluorocarbon leader. The numbers indicate the pounds.

I think that the FC90 and FC80 may be listed separately as "Seaguar Big Game" fluorocarbon leader.

Notice that the C and E strings are the same in all the sets except CH! This means that the relative tension, and thus the tonal balance, varies from set to set with the light gage sets having more emphasis on the lower-pitched C and E strings and the medium gage sets having more emphasis on the treble strings.

Also, note that you don't always have to get 25m spools. At least some of these are available in shorter lengths.

Finally, notice my emphasis above on "leader." Seaguar also makes fishing line in some of these weights but the diameter and density is not the same as the leaders.


John

Thanks John for putting that together!

Cabela's has Seaguar fluorocarbon Leader (and private label made by Seaguar).

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=738591&destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fproduct.jsp%3FparentCategoryId%3D104793480%26categoryId%3D104719680%26subCategoryId%3D104338080%26productId%3D738668%26type%3Dproduct%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104793480%253Bcat104338080&WTz_l=YMAL%3BIK-123160
 

Thanks Doc, that's the link to the Premier - they also have the "Blue Label". Unfortunately, they also charge an arm and a leg for shipping (11 bucks to ship three rolls), and then calculate tax on the total including shipping. I understand they might have to collect tax because they have B&M stores here in Texas but shipping isn't taxable and they have to know that so I didn't go through with my order.

We have a Cabellas about ten miles from here. I don't go there often but next time I do I'll try to remember to see if they stock it in the store.


John
 
@Booli - I wish I could help but it has been three years since I bought the leaders and I don't recall for certain where I bought them. I know it was an online specialty shop for anglers and I think it was anglerssupply.com and that is now a domain available for sale so it looks like they folded.

I'd send you some line but I'm out of one size now (the one that is used in all the various combinations I use) and very low on one of the others. Honestly, unless you are going to do a lot of tinkering as I do you are probably better off just buying Worths. These strings last darn near forever, anyway, and if I'd been smarter about saving and reusing strings when I was experimenting instead of just throwing them away when I pulled them off I'd still have plenty of line!

If you do find a place to get the leaders here is a chart of the apparent equivalents for the strings in each Worth set.
Code:
Worth CM		Sop.	Conc.	Tenor	Tension Ratio C to other strings
G	.0224	FP40	100	133	171	1.25
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128	1
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162	1.27
A	.0205	FC30	105	139	179	1.40

Worth CL
G	.0205	FC30	 83	111	142
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0185	FP30	 85	114	146

Worth CH
G	.0260	FC50	134	178	229	1.49
C	.0319	FC80	 90	120	154	1
E	.0291	FC60	119	159	204	1.32
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215	1.40

Worth CT
G	.0244	FC40	118	157	202
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215

Worth CT-LG
G	.0358	FC90	 64      85     109
C	.0291	FC60	 75	100	128
E	.0260	FC50	 95	126	162
A	.0224	FP40	126	167	215

"FC" indicates the Seaguar "Blue Label" fluorocarbon leader. "FP" indicates the Seaguar Premium fluorocarbon leader. The numbers indicate the pounds.

I think that the FC90 and FC80 may be listed separately as "Seaguar Big Game" fluorocarbon leader.

Notice that the C and E strings are the same in all the sets except CH! This means that the relative tension, and thus the tonal balance, varies from set to set with the light gage sets having more emphasis on the lower-pitched C and E strings and the medium gage sets having more emphasis on the treble strings.

Also, note that you don't always have to get 25m spools. At least some of these are available in shorter lengths.

Finally, notice my emphasis above on "leader." Seaguar also makes fishing line in some of these weights but the diameter and density is not the same as the leaders.


John

Thanks John! This info in the chart is immensely helpful. I completely understand about wanting to hold on to your now-short supply.

Please tell me - what do the numbers in the columns under

'Sop. Conc. Tenor'

stand for?

-Booli
 
web site for Worths strings : http://worthc.to/english/index.html

On the subject of Worths, after what seems like learned ineptitude on my part by searching over a dozen times online both outside of UU and in the forum search function, in one of the other thread about strings, another UU member (don't remember who) posted the web site for Worths ukulele strings:

http://worthc.to/english/index.html

for some unknown reason, duckduckgo, BING and Google ALL failed to find and show me this web site, so I am reposting it here in case anyone needs it and in order to help the next person searching for it

this tidbit was not revealed to me until I used google proper with the following parameters in the google search box:

worth strings web site site:forum.ukuleleunderground.com

and for some reason the UU forum search was unable to find this information :(

Most of the online string vendors web sites have little information on most strings, and I wanted the maker's official spec to understand better all the options

like the Worths have clear and brown, but then there are like 5 different gages of each and also that same set of options but also with the low-g as well as the high-G, and looking at juststrings, stringsbymail and stringsandbeyond OR amazon is like trying to read something with vaseline smeared over your eyeglass lenses

-Booli
 
Thanks John! This info in the chart is immensely helpful. I completely understand about wanting to hold on to your now-short supply.

Please tell me - what do the numbers in the columns under

'Sop. Conc. Tenor'

stand for?

-Booli

I wrote a simple program that calculated the relative tensions of the strings at various scales and tunings, that is what output this chart, originally. The numbers don't mean anything absolute like pounds or anything like that. I picked a number to normalize at 100 (the FC60 tuned to C on a concert, if I remember right) and then calculated the relative tensions of the other strings.

John
 
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