Too early to test different strings?

elbilo

elbilo

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Hello, All!

I've had my uke for a few weeks and am having fun learning some chords and trying out different strum patterns, but I still have a long, long way to go. Anyway, my concert Flea came with D'Addario strings, which sounded good to me, but I just switched to Aquila, since many have praised these strings for the Flea. I also just ordered Living Water strings and am thinking about ordering Martin m600 strings as well, since they have been praised for the Flea too.

Since I'm a total beginner with the uke, does it make any sense to test out different strings before I can even play comfortably?

I feel that finding the sound that matches my vibe will inspire me to play more, but I'm wondering if I even have the ability to properly judge when I'm still a newbie.

Thanks,

Eric
 
When I get a new uke I am a madman changing strings until I get some I like. I guess my take is if they have stopped stretching then you probably have a good feel for how they sound on your uke. You can swap them out back and forth no problem. I put each string in a marked baggie so I know which is which. At $6 or so finding string you like is the best investment you can make.

Good luck and happy string hunting!
 
Never too early. Never too late.

As vanflynn said let them stop stretching before you make up your mind. Martin M600 are my choice for my concert Flea.
 
I use living water string or PhD strings on mine. Never too early to try a few different sets out. It will help you practice restringing, and you will find out what you like the best. Getting one of these has been very handy too.
http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Waves-Winder-String-Cutter/dp/B0002E1G5C
Yes, there are other things you can use, but these are really nice to have.
 
elbilo said:
Hello, All!

I've had my uke for a few weeks and am having fun learning some chords and trying out different strum patterns, but I still have a long, long way to go. Anyway, my concert Flea came with D'Addario strings, which sounded good to me, but I just switched to Aquila, since many have praised these strings for the Flea. I also just ordered Living Water strings and am thinking about ordering Martin m600 strings as well, since they have been praised for the Flea too.

Since I'm a total beginner with the uke, does it make any sense to test out different strings before I can even play comfortably?

I feel that finding the sound that matches my vibe will inspire me to play more, but I'm wondering if I even have the ability to properly judge when I'm still a newbie.

Thanks,

Eric
Click to expand...


living water strings are some of the best strings, i would install them and play them for a while and see if you like them.
I put a set of the re-entrant G (high d) ones on my baritone and i will never use another string again.
 
The real question is whether you are having fun and learning something each time you change strings. With strings costing no more than a hamburger and fries at a fast-food joint, what's the loss?

If there is a music store near you where you can get strings (rather than online or mail order), consider giving the business to the local guy. Not only do you get strings faster, but it gives you a chance to talk to folk at the store (staff and other customers), and a lot can be learned that way. Also, if you need help or advice, it's good to know local folk.
 
Once strings settle in and you've got a really good feel for them, I say change again if you feel like it.
 
SteveZ said:
The real question is whether you are having fun and learning something each time you change strings. With strings costing no more than a hamburger and fries at a fast-food joint, what's the loss?

If there is a music store near you where you can get strings (rather than online or mail order), consider giving the business to the local guy. Not only do you get strings faster, but it gives you a chance to talk to folk at the store (staff and other customers), and a lot can be learned that way. Also, if you need help or advice, it's good to know local folk.
Click to expand...

I definitely prefer going to a store. Luckily there is a nice music store about 30 minutes from me, which is where I got a Snark tuner and the Aquila strings. They had the Martin strings too, but they highly recommended the Aquila. I was forced to go online for the Living Water, since no place near me seems to carry them.
 
Switching strings is a fun adventure and it's all to your taste so nobody can tell you that you are wrong. On a flea I'd also recommend the Martin M600, the GHS fluro (both C and D tuning are cool) and for a really interesting one try the Aquila reds.
 
elbilo said:
Hello, All!

I've had my uke for a few weeks and am having fun learning some chords and trying out different strum patterns, but I still have a long, long way to go. Anyway, my concert Flea came with D'Addario strings, which sounded good to me, but I just switched to Aquila, since many have praised these strings for the Flea. I also just ordered Living Water strings and am thinking about ordering Martin m600 strings as well, since they have been praised for the Flea too.

Since I'm a total beginner with the uke, does it make any sense to test out different strings before I can even play comfortably?

I feel that finding the sound that matches my vibe will inspire me to play more, but I'm wondering if I even have the ability to properly judge when I'm still a newbie.

Thanks,

Eric
Click to expand...

I think that's a valid and good question to be asking. In my experience as a newbie I really didn't have much handle on what would sound good to my ear over the coming months. Even at 6 months I'm just beginning to grok some of this string stuff and separate the facts from the fictions.

So I'd suggest putting the string issue aside until you really start to feel comfortable around your instrument and know more than a handful of chords and a strum or two. Then you'll have a ton more information about what works for you and you'll have stayed focused on what's important to a beginner. That stuff will all be there for you to work on in three or six months from now. My 2 cents..
 
Icelander53 said:
I think that's a valid and good question to be asking. In my experience as a newbie I really didn't have much handle on what would sound good to my ear over the coming months. Even at 6 months I'm just beginning to grok some of this string stuff and separate the facts from the fictions.

So I'd suggest putting the string issue aside until you really start to feel comfortable around your instrument and know more than a handful of chords and a strum or two. Then you'll have a ton more information about what works for you and you'll have stayed focused on what's important to a beginner. That stuff will all be there for you to work on in three or six months from now. My 2 cents..
Click to expand...

ive been playing for 10 years and just now with in the past few months have been trying out new strings
i always stuck with 3 brands aquila, Ko'olau Gold Strings or GHS strings. I'm finding now 'high end' brands
like living water really really really make a difference in giving your uke a better sound. I just ordered south coast strings
for my tenor (never tried them) will see how they sound. I found living water re-entrant G tuning strings are the optimal
strings for my taste for baritone, for soprano i found worth clears are perfect, concert aquila reds or nylgut and now
for tenor....im still searching for that optimal sound. it takes time but its a fun adventure and once you find the string
of choice its a very rewarding experience.
 
elbilo said:
I definitely prefer going to a store. Luckily there is a nice music store about 30 minutes from me, which is where I got a Snark tuner and the Aquila strings. They had the Martin strings too, but they highly recommended the Aquila. I was forced to go online for the Living Water, since no place near me seems to carry them.
Click to expand...

living water is sold only from ken middleton on his website their not available anywhere else but totally worth it ken is a wonderful player
very creative guy and they are honestly amazing strings, he put so much work into designing them and the outcome is flawless !!!!
 
iamesperambient said:
living water is sold only from ken middleton on his website their not available anywhere else but totally worth it ken is a wonderful player
very creative guy and they are honestly amazing strings, he put so much work into designing them and the outcome is flawless !!!!
Click to expand...

ukerepublic.com has them too. i'm looking forward to trying them out!
 
elbilo said:
ukerepublic.com has them too. i'm looking forward to trying them out!
Click to expand...

oh do they? thanks for the info!
ill check it out they may not have the set i use for my baritone the
high D sets if they do happen to carry them it may be a bit cheaper.
If not i have no problem paying the extra shipping form the UK its well worth it.
 
Here's the original question:

elbilo said:
Since I'm a total beginner with the uke, does it make any sense to test out different strings before I can even play comfortably?
Click to expand...

My answer (yes, just me): It makes no sense at all for every reason in the book. Mostly the research takes your concentration away from the music and the ukulele becomes, in your mind, a tool for testing rather than a musical instrument. Some people can do it, but it's very hard to change gears when your foundation is set.

But, unfortunately it's encouraged around the UU.

With all the encouragement you're getting about trying all these string sets, I suggest you at least set yourself a limit. (Truthfully, I recommend you don't spend your time changing strings at all.) But if you must, play for a couple of months at least between string changes. Six months would be better. In fact, if you don't start changing strings for a year or so, you might be surprised at how very good you can make even the lousy strings sound. Then you've really got something. When you're actually making music, your research will be much more valuable, because you have a foundation based in musical and auditory experience.

There, I've said it.
 
I've tried a few different strings on my tenors seeking a mellower sound. My latest uke was fitted with Worth Browns which many on the forum recommended for this result. I like them. However I decided to try a low G 4th string for the first time-in my case a used classical guitar D string I had at home. I really like the sound of this tenor uke now. I wonder how many uke owners/players have never tried a low G setup?
 
greenscoe said:
I've tried a few different strings on my tenors seeking a mellower sound. My latest uke was fitted with Worth Browns which many on the forum recommended for this result. I like them. However I decided to try a low G 4th string for the first time-in my case a used classical guitar D string I had at home. I really like the sound of this tenor uke now. I wonder how many uke owners/players have never tried a low G setup?
Click to expand...


are worth browns really that mellow? their next on the list to try.
im trying out south coast SMU strings recommended by dirk of south coast for a mellower sound will see how they sound. I'm also going to try low G at some point. Still searching for the perfect string set for my tenor for baritone i found baritone high D (reentrant g) sets by living water are perfect and im sticking with them for my bari.
 
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