I have been called the mad scientist string changer by sam13, (Simon) and Solorule (Brenda) calls me Stringman. I just found out early on that each uke can be a law unto itself and taking the time to find the strings that sound best is worth while. Once I find it I keep that particular set on the instrument. Don't mess with success and don't fix what ain't broken. But sometimes it takes a while to get there.
Enter my Fred Shields all walnut pineapple super soprano . I like a warm open tone but still retaining clarity, I dont like really bright. So when Fred and I planned this custom build I figured all walnut would give me that warm woody sound it is noted for. Wrong, wrong wrong, to the point of frustration and should I just sell this new, wonderfully made and easy playing radiused fretboard long neck beauty.
The strings it came with sounded too bright so changed them to Martin M600, too bright. Tim played it and loved it. Changed to Worth CM but too bright. Got radical and put on Worth BT those are tenor gauge. They were warmer but sounded a bit dead with the large diameter strings, off they came. Tried Living Water concerts, too bright. Tried Worth BM brown mediums, proper gauge was a bit warmer but still not to my liking. Simon loved it, just not me. I respect both Tim and Simon, they have a great ear but different tonal tastes. Ok time for some nylons, always warmer than florocarbon. They were warmer and I actually kept them on for 6 full days. It was painful because although warmer they made the uke sound like a $10 toy, yuck!!!
One more shot and I was selling it, seriously. Others played and loved it just not me. Last shot D'Addario Titanium concerts. Bingo bingo bingo, hallelujah and pass the mustard. Moral of the story if it is a quality instrument there is probably a string set that will give you the tone you like. More instruments have been sold before the right string set has been found. Thanks for letting me vent, it was get close to being sold or set on fire, just joking...... not really
Enter my Fred Shields all walnut pineapple super soprano . I like a warm open tone but still retaining clarity, I dont like really bright. So when Fred and I planned this custom build I figured all walnut would give me that warm woody sound it is noted for. Wrong, wrong wrong, to the point of frustration and should I just sell this new, wonderfully made and easy playing radiused fretboard long neck beauty.
The strings it came with sounded too bright so changed them to Martin M600, too bright. Tim played it and loved it. Changed to Worth CM but too bright. Got radical and put on Worth BT those are tenor gauge. They were warmer but sounded a bit dead with the large diameter strings, off they came. Tried Living Water concerts, too bright. Tried Worth BM brown mediums, proper gauge was a bit warmer but still not to my liking. Simon loved it, just not me. I respect both Tim and Simon, they have a great ear but different tonal tastes. Ok time for some nylons, always warmer than florocarbon. They were warmer and I actually kept them on for 6 full days. It was painful because although warmer they made the uke sound like a $10 toy, yuck!!!
One more shot and I was selling it, seriously. Others played and loved it just not me. Last shot D'Addario Titanium concerts. Bingo bingo bingo, hallelujah and pass the mustard. Moral of the story if it is a quality instrument there is probably a string set that will give you the tone you like. More instruments have been sold before the right string set has been found. Thanks for letting me vent, it was get close to being sold or set on fire, just joking...... not really
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