Hi all. This is my first post so I hope it goes OK..I'm on this baritone forum and some of the people assure me that all fluorocarbon strings are merely repackaged fishing Line.. Could someone give me a definitive answer on this matter? Thankyou
Hi all. This is my first post so I hope it goes OK..I'm on this baritone forum and some of the people assure me that all fluorocarbon strings are merely repackaged fishing Line.. Could someone give me a definitive answer on this matter? Thankyou
Agreed.. I have titanium strings on one uke..living water on another and they seem very different from eachother! (I actually had Martin fluorocarbon strings on another uke and disliked them as they felt like fishing line!) I presented this observation and was shouted down politely as they had a very reputable source who carped on ( pun intended �� that it's all fishing line! Ps the so called reputable source is a YouTube reviewer..very full of himself! Lol..slagged off a stagg uke as he didn't like the name ' stagg' not sure his opinion is worth a �� light!..Hopefully someone who makes ukuleles and sets them up might be more enlightening!? More reputable than mere opinion!Totally, completely, and in all other ways FALSE. There are a hundred different kinds of fluorocarbon strings, none of which are fishing line.
I have heard that some people have tried using actual fishing line... seems silly to me.
I disagree with this assessment: in every comparison test I've heard, the fishing line has sounded like fishing line—not awful, but noticeably not as good. Even if Seaguar makes both fishing line and instrument strings, it's faulty logic to say they're the same: that Seaguar uses the same formulations (and it's obvious that certain fluorocarbon strings are made with different formulations) or uses the same degree of quality control (fishing line doesn't need to intonate evenly over its entire length), and fishing line isn't available in the same range of diameters, for matching the tensions for specific pitches, a common challenge for people trying to use plain fishing line.
Agreed.. I have titanium strings on one uke..living water on another and they seem very different from eachother! (I actually had Martin fluorocarbon strings on another uke and disliked them as they felt like fishing line!) I presented this observation and was shouted down politely as they had a very reputable source who carped on ( pun intended ��) that it's all fishing line! Ps the so called reputable source is a YouTube reviewer..very full of himself! Lol..slagged off a stagg uke as he didn't like the name ' stagg' not sure his opinion is worth a �� light!..Hopefully someone who makes ukuleles and sets them up might be more enlightening!? More reputable than mere opinion!
Thought monofilament is a type of fishing line too! Lol..yes your right! It does bother me a bit..I happen to think ukuleles are splendid instruments and having stupid people telling us that ukes are fine with fishing line denigrates this fine instrument.. As does wearing silly hats or acting the buffoon whilst playing a ukulele..also in my opinion denigrates the ukulele.. I take playing my ukes fairly seriously...just bugs me.When you mention titanium strings up there, I'm guessing you're talking about the D'addario Titanium strings. Those are not fluorocarbon. They are monofilament. That is one reason they are so different.
I don't know how anyone can say for 100% sure except the string sellers whether or not their strings come from fishing line companies.
Personal opinion/guess: Yes, the fishing line companies probably are making all of the line repackaged and used as fluorocarbon strings. Personally, I don't see that as being a bad thing. Maybe some of the companies do change up their formula a bit for the string sellers. It's possible. Once again though, only they would know and they're not going to tell.
It seems it's just simply the thought of your strings being fishing line that is bothering you, rather than anything to do with how well the strings work. Of course there are different makes of fluorocarbon line too, which is why it makes sense you'd not like Martin but like the Living Waters. It's personal preference there.
Let me put something out there to try to prove a point I'm attempting to make: Wood is used in ukuleles. It can also be used in toilet seats. Maybe someone out there has a nice solid koa toilet seat. Does that take anything away from a nice solid koa uke just because the material can be used in other areas too?
Totally, completely, and in all other ways FALSE. There are a hundred different kinds of fluorocarbon strings, none of which are fishing line.
I have heard that some people have tried using actual fishing line... seems silly to me...
Edit: It seems my statement above may be incorrect. It seems some fluorocarbon strings might in fact be indistinguishable from fishing line. Either way, I wouldn't let that fact deter you from using fluorocarbons.
@MOPman, why do you say this so definitively? I’m curious on what basis you’re so sure since the topic has remained a bit of mystery for many.
My understanding is there are only a handful of factories that make fluorocarbon line. They make all the fishing line, all the flouro instruments strings, etc. there is no other source.
I happen to know several people who use large spools of fishing line, selecting different gauges for each string. And this is worth a read for those interested:
http://www.gotaukulele.com/2015/05/something-fishy-fishing-line-as-ukulele.html?m=1
I once proposed this on the Marketplace BB and was accused of fishing for gullibles.
So here goes again. I've wondered if using hollow core, constant diameter fly fishing line for all four strings and filling the 3 descending strings with increasing density material to produce the proper notes with almost the same tension on each string.
When you mention titanium strings up there, I'm guessing you're talking about the D'addario Titanium strings. Those are not fluorocarbon. They are monofilament.