The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Other Musical Instruments

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-24-2021, 02:40 AM
Mandobart Mandobart is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Washington State
Posts: 5,424
Default NUD

I'm new to ukulele but not stringed instruments - I've played many stringed instruments for many years - violin, viola, mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello, guitar, resonators, banjo hybrids, etc.

I recently joined a popular ukulele forum and asked this, but only got one response. I know there are other uke players here, so.....

Never did much with classical guitar, so this is really my first nylon stringed instrument (Martin tenor T1K). One thing that surprised me so far is the action. Evidently 3 mm at the 12th fret is normal for a tenor uke. I set the action much lower on my steel string mandolins and guitars, even though I use medium to heavy strings. Another surprise is how much I have to keep tuning up. My other instruments settle in pretty quick with new strings, but the Martin strings on this uke (open gear tuners) are still stretching a lot.

So for those of you experienced uke players who also came from steel stringed instruments - what are other surprising or unexpected differences you've run across?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-24-2021, 09:20 AM
jricc jricc is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 4,982
Default

Im a guitarist/teacher first, I do also play/teach ukulele. It's a great, fun instrument. You will find that that the nylon strings WILL settle and require less tuning. You bought yourself a nice instrument T1K to learn/play on!
I would suggest at some point, trying different strings, of different materials. They will surprise you.
Enjoy!
jricc

Last edited by Kerbie; 01-25-2021 at 02:42 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-24-2021, 11:10 AM
Dave Hicks Dave Hicks is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Hoosierlandia
Posts: 1,326
Default

Chopping on the 2 and 4 on the uke is a good sub for a mandolin.

D.H.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-24-2021, 11:20 AM
catt catt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 329
Default

The thing that makes uke interesting is all the right hand techniques -

Kind of the opposite of mandolin
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-25-2021, 02:16 AM
rsmillbern rsmillbern is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Langenfeld, Germany
Posts: 329
Default

Nylon strings, in general, can take longer to become stable, but they will.
Getting them properly stretched out can be a chore compared to steel.

I really like the Martin Ukes, I have a Soprano (all laminate) that is surprisingly nice, and I keep being tempted by a C1K.
__________________
scoTt

Various stringed instruments
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-25-2021, 12:26 PM
catt catt is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 329
Default

To hasten the process, stretch them (quite firmly) while installing
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-07-2021, 09:00 PM
elmaestro elmaestro is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Petaluma, CA, USA
Posts: 34
Default

The Hawaiian RH techniques are definitely unique. I come from a classical guitar background so I tend towards approaching from above instead of below like they do, which is very much like a lute technique.

However, many other classical techniques are commonly employed like rasgueados and triplet finger combinations. I have several tuned to low G but I still have a soft spot for the traditional high G tuning. There's something about the tight chords it creates that is very special. The Daily Ukulele books are indispensible for a new player, giving you chords and diagrams to songs you already know and love as well as some choice ones you may not be so familiar with.

It's a very fun and approachable instrument and I'm fortunate to build and work on them every day (I'm a luthier at Kala). Enjoy!
__________________
2020 Bourgeois Heirloom D LSH AT AP Adi/Madi
2018 Martin CS OM-28 AP Satin Top Adi/Peach Guat RW
2005 SCGC Bob Brozman Professional Baritone
1995 Taylor 855 12-string Sitka/EIR
2002 D'Angelico NYL-2 Blonde
2020 The Loar LH-700-VS Burst
2007 Alejandro Cervantes Hauser Signature Engelmann/Cocobolo
2016 David Hernandez 7-string Cedar/Palo Escrito
electrics, basses, mandos, ukes, etc.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Other Musical Instruments

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=