uluapoundr
Well-known member
I've been reading about break-in periods for instruments like acoustic and classical guitars, mandolins, and violins. Although there are few articles on ukulele break-in periods, I'm sure some of the articles on the other stringed instruments apply.
I've heard new ukuleles break-in as it is played. My cedar top koa ukes opened up quite quickly, within weeks and months of playing. The articles I have read on the other stringed instruments state that the average full break-in period is about 2 to 3 years, of course dependent on how much the instrument is played.
I've also noticed the following and wondered if others have heard the same thing. For my new all koa ukulele, when I take it out of the case and start playing it, I can hear it open up a bit within say an hour of playing. Put it back in the case and take it out days later, and it's like again it needs some warm up time. I've read that this is due to the stiffness in the wood due to it's cellular structure and that the more the instrument is played, the looser the top becomes and the warm up time not only becomes shorter, but the open sound will keep longer. There is also theory that if not played, a stringed instrument can stiffen up, but if it's already a "broken in" instrument, that it will open up quickly once played.
What I found intresting is the analysis on koa. Koa is described as a tone wood that is usually dense and produces a bright tone. But the more a koa instrument is played, the more it opens up yielding midrange and a richer more resonant tone. Therefore, it's important for the buyer to know that a brand new quality built, koa ukulele won't sound exactly how it did brand new. Instead, you'll be rewarded with a much more richer and fuller sound the more it is played.
There are articles that also talk about techniques on speeding up the break-in such as chording, scales, percussive and tremollo strumming, and the use of speakers or shakers to work the instrument when not being played. That's a whole other thread.
It's important to note that the breaking in of an instrument usually applies to those that are built with quality and that a lesser quality instrument may never see the changes compared to a better built instrument.
Here's a link to the Taylor Guitar Wood and Steel publication that talks about tonewoods, pretty interesting. http://www.taylorguitars.com/news/community/ws_fall_2008.pdf
I've heard new ukuleles break-in as it is played. My cedar top koa ukes opened up quite quickly, within weeks and months of playing. The articles I have read on the other stringed instruments state that the average full break-in period is about 2 to 3 years, of course dependent on how much the instrument is played.
I've also noticed the following and wondered if others have heard the same thing. For my new all koa ukulele, when I take it out of the case and start playing it, I can hear it open up a bit within say an hour of playing. Put it back in the case and take it out days later, and it's like again it needs some warm up time. I've read that this is due to the stiffness in the wood due to it's cellular structure and that the more the instrument is played, the looser the top becomes and the warm up time not only becomes shorter, but the open sound will keep longer. There is also theory that if not played, a stringed instrument can stiffen up, but if it's already a "broken in" instrument, that it will open up quickly once played.
What I found intresting is the analysis on koa. Koa is described as a tone wood that is usually dense and produces a bright tone. But the more a koa instrument is played, the more it opens up yielding midrange and a richer more resonant tone. Therefore, it's important for the buyer to know that a brand new quality built, koa ukulele won't sound exactly how it did brand new. Instead, you'll be rewarded with a much more richer and fuller sound the more it is played.
There are articles that also talk about techniques on speeding up the break-in such as chording, scales, percussive and tremollo strumming, and the use of speakers or shakers to work the instrument when not being played. That's a whole other thread.
It's important to note that the breaking in of an instrument usually applies to those that are built with quality and that a lesser quality instrument may never see the changes compared to a better built instrument.
Here's a link to the Taylor Guitar Wood and Steel publication that talks about tonewoods, pretty interesting. http://www.taylorguitars.com/news/community/ws_fall_2008.pdf