We use mostly fluorocarbon strings, but when we use a low G we prefer Aquila sugar strings with a Fremont wound low G. Both of these sets sound great!👍
These comparison you tubes are really interesting and helpful, Terry. Even though they both seem very similar at first, by the end, I like the warmer sound of the flourocarbon strings the best.
I've tried about all the strings out there on my tenors and I favor the Reds and especially the unwound low G Red. All the other low G strings seem to be too loud IMHO. At least for me! I agree, more rounded tone!
I put some Aquila reds on my $40 Mitchell soprano. I tune it in 4ths starting from high G. Once they got stretched in there was a big improvement in sound. This uke had terrible winders until I put a little 3-in-1 on them.
I always put Aquila Reds on the pre war Martins that have come through my shop . I also put them on any thin topped vintage ukulele . I always make sure that the nut and saddles have no sharp edges so that they don't snap . I like fluorocarbons on laminate wood ukuleles , they help "focus" the tone . Reds can be a bit overwhelmed under hard strumming with a hard pick , so if I have a customer that is a hard strummer , no Reds for you . Both are great strings . I have both kinds on my ukuleles and I also like the Aquila New Nylaguts for that guy sound , they are a bit thick though and need a different saddle cut for them as opposed to having a set of reds on that same ukulele .
I use an Aquila Red low G with Aquila Lavas for the other strings. Worth Browns on me reintrant tuned uke. I think you need to try a variety of strings with each ukulele. There isn't one right answer.
I think the thing with reds is that it is easier to play hard chords because the string itself is easier to bend. In the beginning I think you have to retune you your ukulele a lot more though, which is fine but can be annoying. Compared to the whites Aguilar strings the tops everything. I think I like them more
I use and love both of these strings. PVDF is a different fluoropolymer than other fluorocarbon (for example, D'Addario fluorocarbon strings), so it's misleading to call the PhD strings "fluorocarbon" as if they're the same thing -- the "V" for vinylidene matters. The Aquila Reds get added density from the copper additives, and the PhD PVDF strings get added density from the polymer itself. I'm using the Aquila Reds for an electric ukulele, and the PhD PVDF strings on an acoustic ukulele. They're a close comparison! But I feel the PhD strings have a little more Hawaiian sweetness to them.
The Reds almost ring out more like a banjolele-not quite that bright, but they have more bite, particularly on the attack. The PHD is a tad more mellow. They don’t have quite the same bright attack on the front end. I would give a slight edge to the Reds, but I suspect it may depend on what uke you put these strings on. They both sound great.
I have used PhDs on my concerts and really like them, so I bought a set for my tenor; don't really care for the tension. I'll probably try worth lights next time.
I like the Aquila Red low-G non-wound. I haven't had any breakage problem with them on 2 ukuleles (a tenor and a concert). I know some people complain that they break too easily. The only time I had a string break was when the compensation bevel on the saddle of a new ukulele was cut with a very sharp edge, and that was not an Aquila Red string but rather some other string installed at the factory, probably an Aquila Nylgut or New Nylgut by the looks of it. Perhaps those who complain about the Red strings breaking should examine the sharpness of the edges in the nut slot or saddle compensation bevel. Or perhaps if they replaced the high g with a low G Red, they should be sure that the slot in the nut is wide enough for the thickness of the Red. Ukulele Henry has a RU-vid vide where he explains why he loves the Reds and has used them for many years without breakage troubles.
I definitely prefer PHD'S over Reds. I actually use the Soprano/Concert PHD sets on my Tenors. They have a nice sound and make a nice lite gauge Tenor set.
My set of Aquila reds was a Low G and that string was a wound string. My earliest set of Aquila red, also Low G, were very high tension and snapped easily. Newer set much better. The reds give a great look and sound to my Pono tenor.
For my uke, Córdoba 21T (spruce top) and my style of playing (finger, arpeggio, jazz, not so much strumming) it’s Aquila Red, low G Tried nylgut and fluorocarbon out of curiosity Nope, back to Red
I personally don't love the reds except for baritone, which I think they sound awesome on. The biggest issue is they do not last very long before they inevitably snap, I find the wound strings are particularly fragile, I had the D string only last a couple of weeks and I replaced the just the D string with new nylgut. I love how they sound though and I think it's worth the headache
I have Aquila 88U Red Series Tenor low G. I like the sound, but the wound G string doesn`t last very long. I want to change it to unwound low G 72U that is sold separately. I hope it helps.
I didn’t hear you say which you liked. I see one commit that reds break easily. I probably wouldn’t go with them for just that reason. My ear presently doesn’t hear a lot of difference.
The first set of strings I put onto a ukulele myself was actually a set of Aquila Red concert with an unwound Low G, about exactly 6 months ago, on a slotted bridge. This has been the first time I've used any Red strings as well. Since they have the reputation for breaking easily, I looked up a couple of installation videos before changing the strings. Fortunately for me, I managed to put them on without any breaking, and they have even remained intact and maintained consistent performance to this day, honestly to my pleasant surprise. Because of that, I guess I won't be afraid to choose the Aquila Red strings again next time I need a string change. (That said, I personally have not had any experience with the Red Wound Low G, so I can't speak for what I don't know.)
