Originally Posted by Neal
I’m a soprano player, mainly because it’s different, way different, than guitar. Tune in today’s standard tuning, gcea, with a high ‘g’. Sure, folks say larger sizes are easier for guitar players, but I don’t agree, switching from a guitar with a 1-⅞” nut width is no issue. You may want a smaller, more portable guitar-like Instrument, so a Tenor with a low g would be up your alley.
Haven’t heard of Enya, but take a look at Pono, Kala, Mainland, those seem to be the choice in inexpensive solid wood ukes nowadays. Just like guitars, cheap is cheap. A little suspicious of 50$ Stringed instruments..
Of the 4 main sizes, soprano(13”) concert(15”) Tenor (16+”) and baritone(bigger) all but baritone are generally tuned “gcea” nose-to-toes, bari like the 1st 4 on a guitar, dgbe, so chord names would be familiar, but as the shapes are the same anyway, the learning curve isn’t that steep with gcea.
Problem with cheaper no-names is poor construction, intonation and action issues, poor setup.
Strings? Ah, it’s a journey. Fluorocarbon strings are the most stable, Worth, the new Martin strings and a few others. Aquila are a bit meatier, and some say they sound great. When changing strings,btw, don’t leave slack like metal guitar strings, pull them all the way up, lock em, and tighten. That way you’ll have 3 winds around the Post and they’ll settle quicker.
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