I just watched a guy from the UK tell me I need to slap on some black nylon strings to get me my Hawaiian ukulele sound here in Hawaii. Good thing, too, because that's exactly what I was looking for lol. Much mahalos guy
I remember those Nylon-from-the-factory days! I also remember when I first put aquilas on a ukulele, it was like night and day. In the time since I've experienced: -Aquila nylgut (usually good, great to improve cheaper instruments but like you say not so good on higher-end instruments) -Supernylgut (nice sound but they are so slippy!) -Bionylon (? weird texture, weird sound, a student got them, did not like), Aquila reds (fine sound but weird texture, brittle) Worth browns (high tension but very good sound) GHS black nylon (awful, usually) unbranded clear nylon (just awful, like playing with elastic) ground nylon (Clifford Essex, cheap, rough texture, didn't hold tuning so good, broke quickly) out of all of them, the worths were my favorite, but aquila is kind of a go-to if i need replacements. Interested to try to martin strings after what you said, for some reason I've always dismissed them before (probably an adverse reaction to thier packaging, i am a shallow consumer after all)
@@willow5321 I'm still a beginner, so I don't feel very confident giving advice, sorry... but you can listen to string reviews on youtube to get a feel for how they sound.
Many thanks, I have been researching "playing the ukulele for beginners youtube" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Fenaylern Nonpareil Formula - (do a google search ) ? It is a great one of a kind guide for discovering how to play the ukulele like a pro without the normal expense. Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my mate got cool success with it.
I don't live in the UK but I wish I did because I would love to visit your store. I'm here in the United States. I will say one thing you did an awesome job explaining the different types of strings and your display of ukulele strings look very organized. Thank you for taking the time to make this wonderful video
This was amazing! Incredibly informative! The string issue gets easily overwhelming when looking at all the options. This really helped with understanding the major differences in type. Thanks so much! Another excellent job, Alex! 👏
I wish I found this very long time ago before I wasted all this time on my own researches about strings, money on buying every possible string set for my instrument, to end up exactly with the same answers here :) A Very nice video that i hope it stops curios people from exploring.
Thanks for your kind words. I did the same thing as you - many years of experience and wasted money of my own. I hope some of the other videos are useful to you too.
I’m listening to your video while putting all the music I’ve printed in my 10 month career as a ukulele player into plastic sheets to store in a binder.
Since someone liked this comment today, I will give an update: I have discovered MuseScore and have entered in a ukulele solo for the baritone! Now I am working on writing my first solo, which I have a few small phrases I should enter to keep track of.
I'd like to put in a good word for nylon strings. My first ukulele was a solid mahogany Ortega concert (about Ł150 retail), and the strings on it were white, opaque and fairly pliable, easy on the fingers. I assumed they were Aquila nylguts, since that's what was to be expected at that price. I liked them a lot, all chime and sweetness! It was only when I bought another uke, for my son, that I began to wonder. The new uke was definitely strung with Aqula nylguts, and they were also white and opaque, but seemed to be a tiny bit thinner and even softer when fretted. They make it childishly easy to fret bar chords - but I didn't like them much, they felt too soft, almost plasticky. Clearly, they were not the same strings. Turns out, my Ortega was factory fitted with white nylons made by Aquila, which Ortega also markets under their own brand. By now I've been able to compare my favorite nylons against clear fluorocarbons and Worth browns. Of all these, the nylons produce the gentlest, mellowest, dreamiest sound - both when fingerpicked and when strummed. This is of course personal, but it is exactly the kind of vibe I want from my ukes. The nylon strings have more of a sweetness and a heavenly chime than the other kinds do. My hands are not very strong anymore (so much so I've had to drop my steel-string acoustic guitar), and I find flurocarbons to be slightly tougher to play due to the higher tension, but they're also a bit raspy and dry. They're just too bright and too brash to my ears when strummed. If this is they feeling you're getting, do try a set of white nylons. Yes, they do take a bit more time to stretch and settle, but they sound heavenly.
Thank you very much. On my opinion, the best explaination about the differnces between strings. I will keep the black nylon on my new Kamaka and will resist to change the by Flurorocxarbon.
“If you’ve a ukulele that’s not behavin’ itself… I’m not talking about standing out late drinking…” That seems quintessential British to me. Sledgehammer wit. Out of nowhere. Completely dry. Love it.
well, I had to stop the video to write this comment - and I promise I will finish watching the video after but... I bought today my v first uke, a Bari-uke, and I am already in love with her and tremendously in love with you! Thank you for this video and your knowledge!
Thanks so much Matilde, this means a lot and makes a nice change from the other comments I'm reading this morning about my most recent video. You take care, all the best on your first ukulele... Not many people start with a Baritone but there is loads to love about them. Terry at uke like the pros has some good Baritone resources on his channel.
Thanks, very nice. I think you have more an educated judgment with a subjective element, less opinion and more from and experience. I needed this first lesson as I've been changing and restringing with whatever works. This gives me an idea of why some of my experiments have totally failed. I finally got my Tenor tuned low D sounding pretty good with a combo, while I'm waiting for some Aquilas that are on order to come in. I have no patience. Thanks for the video. I'm the fisherman that would have tried to use fishing line :-)
Excellent overview! Best I've seen. I know strings are largely a matter of personal taste, but your video really helps to understand the wide range of strings available and where to start experimenting. Your experience on what kinds of strings tend to be suitable for what kinds of ukes is very helpful. I'll be coming back to this one I'm sure.
That was a wonderful presentation. I have to admit, that we very rarely get such a well spoken person doing a presentation , as well this, here in the states. Where English is a second language. And I’m referring to the native born Americans.🙊 Gear job, thank you.👌
Had the same Aquila nylgut strings on my uke for like a year and a half, maybe even more, took them off today and man I'm surprised they hadn't broken yet. They've been buzzing something fierce. Immediately picked up some Fluorocarbon ones because I was in a pinch and they were the only ones at Guitar Center and here I am watching this video. Good to know that they're probably the best for performing because I perform like 12 hours a week xD
Thank-you so much for this video. Have to replace the strings on my spruce top mahogany body and din didn't see this until I replaced my A string with Aquila and HATED the sound and could not figure out why............should have done more research. Thank-you for this really useful video. I now have some clear fluorocarbon strings and will see how I like them.
Much better than the maker expected! Very clear ( considering the subject). My first uke ( in 1999, "student" instruments were crap) had horrible strings, and setup so high it was unplayable. Luckily, I knew someone who told me, the store took a return, and $3 more got me an instrument I still love. Little things are important: strings are fairly small, cheap, and easy, but a good guide makes it easier. 😁
Looking back at this and really interesting. Just bought the Kala 8 string baritone from you and some Worth fluorocarbons to replace the horrible strings on it. Thanks for your help 😊. Edit. I now realise I sent for the wrong strings 🙄. And a hell of a job finding some to fit that aren’t Aquilas 😢 Edit: Alex sorted a great selection of strings for me and my 8 string Baritone sounds amazing. Thanks Alex x
I recently found a set of Fremont black line fluorocarbon strings in medium concert soprano. Long story short they are my new favorite string. Before them I was using the Martin fluorocarbon strings which are still one of my top three string sets! Great video.
This video is pretty great. Just got a Pono and getting buzz with a string while wanting to switch to Low-G Tuning and trying to decide which strings to try next. My kids have 2 decent starter laminate ukes and I've never done any string changes before. I combed through Ukulele Underground forum search results to get opinions on the differences between various string types and colors, and what he says in this video seems to vibe with general consensus I gathered (and my beginner to intermediate understanding of things), while offering useful additional insight. Cheers!
Thank you for the excellent video! It was great to finally learn the difference between some of these strings. Very informative and much appreciated :)
Thank you so much! I’m new to ukulele and bought a Córdoba 25S used. I believe the stings need changed. It’s becoming tinny. This is very helpful. Just need to decide!
I ended up making the same video again for my channel to try and answer more of the questions in the comments 😅 I'm glad you like it. Thanks for watching
Strings are a very personal choice and I change my opinion and mind all the time. Aquilas to me make any uke sound ok. Martin fluoros on Martins have a real snappy tight feel and a grear dynamic response. Im currently loving D'adarrio Fluoro's with a Freemont Low G on most of my Chinese Snails and similar Brightsun/moon, Umi etc (havn't tried D'adarrio low g set yet). They also are quite snappy but a little looser feel than the Martins. The Living Waters to me give me the loosest feel. On a good uke, like my KSR Kanilea slotted tenor they really feel good with the hawaiian Koa and I like to get just a microsecond behind the groove with them. They and the uke are what I would term very forgiveable. Im searching for Martins with Low G fluoro but cant seem to find them. I use Freemont dark low G but it would be best as a set.
I'm not too sure that I entirely share that opinion of nylon being such a stretchy stuff, taking soooo much time to settle in. I actually don't feel they take much more time than any other material, BUT they "remain moody", I'd say. I absolutely love nylon strings and half of my ukes are installed with them, whereas the second half is installed with brown or black fluorocarbon (or some special strings such as Reds or Titanium). To sum it up : the most stable strings I've ever had are Aquila Reds (I hardly ever need to tune that uke !), then Fremont Black line (also very stable, from what I personally experienced). But all my ukes equipped with Worth Brown need a little turn of mechanics (micro-stretching), when I want to play. It seems they will never stop extending more and more, and becoming thinner and thinner. I never experienced this with Reds, Nylgut or black Fremont. Concerning the nylon strings, I don't have the feeling that they extend more and more, but that they are way more sensitive to the atmospheric conditions (= extending OR retracting). I noticed I should not try to tune my uke before I play a little while, just to "warm them up", and then only I can tune the uke, if necessary. And it is not always necessary ! The Kamaka I bought probably had pre-stretched black nylon strings as they took no time at all to settle down. I installed myself some Aquila clear nylon or a Ohana cedar top, and black nylon on a mango pineapple, and none of them took much time to settle down. But depending on the temperature, I may need to tune-stretch or tune-unstretch a bit. I'm more concerned about my Worth Brown fluoro, though : because 80% of the time I have to tune-stretch them, and with time they tend to thin down to nothingness. I absolutely love their sound, except for the low-G that tends to loose intonation pretty quickly. Just my 2 cents and own experience/feelings with strings ! 😉
Thank you very much for this informative video. It has been extremely helpful to me. Thanks too for all your other videos, and best wishes from Valdosta, Georgia USA.
Cheers Alex. I'm going to save that D'Addario packet I've got! I'm a aNueNue black tide fan, by the way - and I'm far from a 'mellow' player. It's the handling and comparative ease of playing especially with barre chords I like.
Thankyou for that education...I still mot sure what strings to get ...I am learning Phantom of opere . Like Taimani Gardner...with Spanishy flamenco Carmen etc....I only have my mahogany soprano...looking to buy a 5 string tenor...what ever Taimani plays....we also have a Tanglewood Java koa...that needs better strings the ones on it are rather thick and dull sounding...and hard on our fingers...🌺
First of all, I love listening to someone who truly knows what they are talking about and it it obvious you know your business. Thank you! I play a Kale KA-SMHT-SC. I have landed on Living Water with a low g. I tell you this to let you know the sound and feel that I prefer. Are there other strings with similar characteristics? Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks again for your opinions and sense of humor. Both are appreciated.
I have found the Worth's and Living waters' to the most similar. Specifically the CF-LG Worth set. The D'Addario Carbons are also quite stiff and worth a try EJ99TLG. Hope that helps. If you like the Living Waters - I'd stick with them.
Hi Alex. Thanks for your quick reply to my question about strings for my brand new Magic Fluke soprano Flea. You really sold me on the brand in your reviews. I will get my shop to put on D'Addario Black Nylan strings. This is probably the closest I can get to the Hawaiian sound I'm seeking on a plastic uke. Do you know Long and McQuaid, the largest music store in Canada with 80 outlets from coast to coast? They have excellent service. Do you know the website "AllForUke" out of Chicago? It's first class, professional and encompassing. Trust you are keeping your business above water in these tuff times. Staying at home means more time for playing the ukulele. All the best from Toronto Canada. Merri-jane.
I had to stretch-out my nylon strings by pulling-up on them (with reasonable care as the "A" string is easy to break) also while trying to not put to much stress on the bridge. I suspect it would take a year for them to stretch out properly without doing this; however, pulling on them, each day for a few days, seems to do the trick. After that they sound significantly better and brighter. The real advantage of nylon strings is that they're relatively inexpensive.
I am ( trying) restoring my great grandfathers old banjo uke and have put new tuning pegs and a set of nylon strings. Didn't work at all. Then realized it needs a bridge. Hope when it arrives that it finally works or I will be asking some really stupid questions . . .
All my donners comes with aquilla strings and made of mohogangy with rosewood fingerboard they sound wonderful when I eventually change my strings I might go with Ernie balls for my two smaller ones and Fender for my Tennor
I really love the rubber strings They sound so warm, they have this Hawaiian vibe/sound to them And u can tune them really low I've got 4 ukulele in the past 6 month And I found out ukulele are my FAV instrument and they are always will Most of my ukuleles cost around 200$-300$ Anyway loved the vid
I have loved watching the videos you make so thank you for making them. I have a Farallon low g and a Clara high g with stock strings which if I’m not mistaken are Oasis fluorocarbons, warm for Farallon and bright for Clara. I’ve not tried any other brand of strings on them. In your opinion, which should I try first if I were to change the strings. I do like unwound strings. Thanks Alex.
I would suggest Worth Browns or Fremont Blacklines. They offer something a bit different to the Oasis strings - slightly mellower with a sweeter ring to them.
Very very helpful! I too am newbie (Feb 2020) - intermediate beginner - this is a good reference vid... I heard this 2-3 months ago but had no idea then what i was doing... Now to really hear about wood: mahogany vs acacia... Oh, Alex, I heard that comment in reference to what the purple titanium is good for -- that if you have a ukulele that is not behaving itself ... staying out late drinking - it will tame it..." Hilarious!! and in great straightfaced Brit fashion. Check out 20:18-32... Now, where is your wood tutorial?
OMG! I needed this video!!! This is why I can't get Nylgut to sound good on my Kiwaya!! She is a wild one! Will try the Titaniums. But could you explain why the Savanahs (?) are better on smaller scale instruments. Is it the sound? What characteristic of the sound do you prefer?
It's the tensions and diameter of the string. Smaller scale Ukes can sound thin and weedy with the wrong strings. If you can comfortably play with something heavier on a Soprano then you can feel and hear a lot more definition between the strings.
Great video Alex. One of the best I’ve seen on strings. Helped me to understand a bit more about the characteristics of the different materials. Is there a string that you would recommend that would take well to be tuned down to Bb reentrant on a decent tenor scale Uke? I look forward to hearing your views on the bewildering array of Aquila strings. Seems they are bringing out a new string every week!
Clive G hi Clive - thanks for your kind words. I use my Tenor tuned down a tone and my favourite strings for this are a mixture of Martins on the treble side and fremont soloist and a Ko’olau wound C on the bass. The Kala Elite Tenor strings also work.. I’ve just tested them before replying to make sure. Aquila are full on! I don’t know if a video for them will be worth doing or be redundant when they bring something new out next week
Yea, That's what I put on my Kala Solid Spruce top, you inspired me to change the stock strings I wanted to mellow it out it's quite loud don't know if I went the correct way or not but i like the Elites. Sharing your Videos with my For the Love of Uke F.B. Group Join us
Amazing video about strings. The 20min is worth it! Congratulations! I'm in Spain but definitively I'm going to visit the store once I'm visiting UK. I really enjoyed this video and the online service is also very good. All my questions were answered by email and I'm still deciding which uke and extra strings I'm going to buy... I would love to have a Pono steel string baritone (UL4-30 is my preference..), but I think all ponos steel strings are out of stock in the SUS. Do you think you are going to have it again? Thanks Alex and team! You are awesome!
Pono have had a bit of a change around... What steel strings they are going to make will become clear in the new year. Thanks for watching and please do say hi when you visit!
I have been watching so many of your videos in the past 3 years since I have started to play the ukulele. They are all so very informative, so thank you. Recently, I upgraded my ukulele and bought a OHANA CK-350G Solid HAWAIIAN KOA, I love it. It sounds beautiful. I think it is a really good instrument especially for the price tag. Would you advise me to use black nylon strings with it? Thank you. :)
Just watching this again and had a thought for another SUS upload ... changing uke strings is a thorny topic for many, so a workshop video could be useful. When we buy a new uke, you nearly always get that neat system at the back of the bridge where strings are trapped by each other rather than having their ends floating free. There aren't many demos of doing that. Also, some ukes use the peg system found on acoustic guitars ... a quick video of using that method with nylon strings would be interesting. Although not all the same strings are demo'd, this is an interesting upload to watch and hear after Alex's explanations. Lots of different string-types and makes aretested one after the other on a soprano. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pbfSnoNHLUg.html
For beginners watching: ukelele is a fun simple instrument. But if you’re getting it make sure it’s because you like it or tried it, not because you imagine it’s “easier” to learn. It feels like it is easier because even the wrongly struck chords kind of sound good. Make sure at some point you also buy a guitar. If you want something small. Just buy a small size guitar. They come in sizes 1/4 and 3/4, and full size. Maybe something in between exists but I don’t know. It won’t be much harder but will sound better than Ukelele.
@@SouthernUkuleleStore I know nothing of stringed instruments, but I do find it interesting that you clarify having picked up ukulele after guitar. What caused the shift to look into the ukulele? Things I can think of are the portability of a small instrument or the support that a less expensive instrument lends.
Hello from your TX subscriber Betty, & thks for all the brilliant uke help. I learn something with every video. In late July, you responded to my question about restringing bari ukes with GCEA. I finally found a good used bari that fit my budget, etc., and am wondering if you would please share some info on the strings you use for this? A store # to order some would be welcome. Thk you!
Go to our website and search Baritone GCEA and two sets of strings will come up. The most popular worldwide is Aquila 23u GCEA High g strings. The most popular at SUS is a set I developed. Our website isn't set up for shipping to USA but you can order and pay via PayPal by emailing me at alex@ukulele.co.uk
Excellent video but unfortunately I'm no closer to deciding on my next string purchase - lol!!! I have had the D'Addario Titaniums on - and off - and on again - of my Kala solid mahogany Tenor (bought from SUS a few years back) recently. First I hate them, then I love them, then I'm unsure. I think they are great for finger picking - really smooth and slippy with nice bright sound, but they are too loud and 'brash' when strummed, almost seeming to lose some of the Uke's natural sweetness. Currently have the Fremont blacklines with a low G Fremont soloist, on - beautiful strummed - very melodic and sweet, but I don't like the feel of them finger picked, and they are high tension and thin which hurts my fingers. I think I am looking for something which doesn't exist: a string that isn't too high tension, sounds beautiful finger picked (without that slightly rasping sound I hear from the Fremont and Aquilla reds), and isn't brutish when strummed. I might try the La Bella's next; has anyone else tried them?
@@SouthernUkuleleStore thanks for your comment: I have thought about the Worth Browns a lot, but the price has put me off - I know that you get a double length but if you don't like them ? I'm seriously considering the Aquila sugar strings after watching your other video, and reading Gotaukulele's review. I have some mobility and pain issues which is why very high tension strings don't suit me - are the Sugar strings hard on the fingers? I don't really mind being quiet as my singing voice isn't loud, but having said that, I do find the Fremonts are a bit quiet, and lacking sustain, when finger picked - but they are lovely strummed.
Thanks for another great video. Perhaps I could still ask everyone for a bit of advice though. I just got a Flight Victoria concert and I'm a total beginner. I actually bought a 100$ Oscar Schmidt which was pretty nice and fell so in love with the ukulele instrument that I decided to go for an improver right away. I'm finding the fluorocarbon strings very grippy and tough on my fingers. I would like a set with mellow sound with a low G, I'm playing by myself in a duplex. Are black nylons also very stretchy? Thanks 😊
I don't think changing the strings is goings to make a dramatic difference at this point in your learning to the tension but if you want to try something softer I recommend D'addario EJ53C strings paired up with a Fremont Soloist low G. Was your Oscar Schmidt Ukulele also a Concert? If so and you found the Aquila strings that they come with to be a bit easier on your fingers then perhaps try them on the Flight. All the best, good luck
I have been studying the ukulele for a little while as I had just ordered my very first one, which will be instrument number 12. I only have one instrument store near me and has only one type of strings, the Duck's Deluxe clear premium nylon. Whenever I get stringed instruments, I like to stock up. However, they didn't have much of a selection for me to chose from. I believe my uke will be coming with the white nylons. I'm definitely at the beginners stage, and am at a loss of which strings I would prefer with limited options. If you don't mind me asking, which strings would be better in your opinion for mixed music, such as rock, soft rock, classic, gospel, country, etc. I watched your video, but am not sure which would be better. Even if I have to order online. Thank you.
I really would just get used to the uke first before playing around with the strings. It sounds like vlesr fluorocarbon would be a good choice for you.
I would like to change my factory uke strings on my Enja beginner set up (about 60$ range) to a Low G set and would like your recommendation on which brand strings would work best for my "plastic" bodied ukulele
We do a ubass comparison video that you will find with most ubass searches but not one that specifically covers the subject of ubass strings. It's hard for us to do as filming the video would cost us about £300 just in strings
For me it's the Titanium's. EJ87B... I've tried them all white recently on my Snail Baritone and everything from the tension to the tone and diameter of those strings feels right to me. 👍
