 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| ||||
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
|
||||||||||||||
| Newbie Query | Rate Topic |
| Author | Post |
|---|
| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 03:55 pm |
|
1st Post |
|
luthien Approved 
|
Hello to one and all! This seems like a friendly enough forum for asking 'newbie dumb questions'! I got myself a Mahalo soprano Uke a couple of weeks ago, and love the sound of the uke, having played guitar (6 & 12 string) for a long time. The only problem is the tuning! I accept that nylon strings will take longer than steel to 'bed in' as it were, but even so, it sounds fine when in tune, and then quickly loses its tuning. I have reduced the height of the nut and the bridge saddle slightly, as the intonation was not 'true' in the form I bought it in. Otherwise,as I said I think I am now a 'born again' Uke-ist! A friend has suggested that I look at another brand, an 'Aria AU120' which is on sale locally for a very fair price, and I intend to check this out within the next week or so. I am on a limited budget, being newly retired, so I will decide if the Aria suits my needs any better. In the two weeks I have owned the Mahalo,I have learned the tuning and most of the major chords,plus a few minor and seventh chords. In a nutshell, any opinions on the Mahalo Soprano uke, any opinions on the Aria AU120, and any hints regarding tuning,or to be accurate STAYING in tune for longer than a few minutes? Thanks for amy forthcoming advice! Last edited on Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 04:13 pm by luthien ____________________ Mahalo U30 Soprano Kauai KUC-70B Concert Mahalo U320T Tenor Handmade Ukulele Banjo Ozark Resonator Guitar |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 04:54 pm |
|
2nd Post |
|
UkeForever Approved 
|
I'd always recommend changing factory strings to something worthwhile like Aquila Nylgut or Worths. After you've eliminated that, the most common issue on one of the Mahalos would be setup--strings to high off of the nut, or action set too high. If the strings are too high off the nut, your first couple of frets may seem a bit sharp. If the action is too high at the saddle, your pitch may get sharp as you go up the fretboard. You can fix both of these problems fairly easily. You can tighten those gear tuners, but I do doubt they are the problem with staying in tune. I don't think Mahalo to Aria is a good jump. You need to be looking for the same factors that make great guitars--solid wood, lightly braced top. There are several brands that qualify, such as Ohana, Bushman, and even some Laniikai and Kala ukes (if they have at least a solid top). After that, there is a world of ukes out there to choose from. Best of luck!
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 06:12 pm |
|
3rd Post |
|
luthien Approved
|
Thanks for the info! As I said,I have already taken the NUT height down,and the SADDLE to improve the intonation.(All those years on guitars were not a total waste!) And I changed the strings for some RotoSound,which were all that was available! I had read about decent string makes,but was unable to get anything else. I appreciate the your view on Aria's , I had been led to believe they were a reasonably good 'starter/newbie' uke to own? I am travelling to the nearest decent shop soon,(we have none here!), and looking at what is available,within my price range! Many Thanks. Last edited on Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 07:53 pm by luthien ____________________ Mahalo U30 Soprano Kauai KUC-70B Concert Mahalo U320T Tenor Handmade Ukulele Banjo Ozark Resonator Guitar |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Sun Mar 22nd, 2009 09:28 pm |
|
4th Post |
|
UkeForever Approved
|
Sorry I didn't read your post thoroughly. If your nut & saddle are set up right, then it's the placement of the bridge which is difficult to do anything about. Let me say then that intonation is likely to be imperfect on any uke sub $300 (unless you get a steal on an old Gibson or something). I know there are exceptions, and I know many will disagree, but if you look at it from a guitar POV, you'll get what I'm driving at. Under $300 is a cheap instrument, and instrument issues are far more likely on instruments that were not made with the individual care of even other factory instruments. I'm sure there are those weird circumstances where folks have had intonation issues with Kamaka, KoAloha, Kanile'a, Ko'olau, Martin, Gibson, etc., but in general, the bigger brand names gain their good reputation for a reason. I think as an in-between brand, Pono ukes generally do very well intonation-wise, but they are big-factory instruments, so keep that in mind. Of course, maybe the tuners are slipping. You can get better tuners online and replace them. But better tuners may cost more than the instrument itself!
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 01:42 am |
|
5th Post |
|
Neal Approved 
|
If it's going out of tune after being in tune, how many winds of the string are around the post? Are you using friction tuners? From your description, it sounds like a string question, not an intonation problem. The more winds around the post, the longer the bedding of nylon strings. Friction tuners can be tightened by the screw in back. If it plays in tune at first, and then goes out, these are your options. Although I have used strings that go out of tune from the friction of fingers sliding up and down the fretboard. Worth, Aquila, Fremont, new Martin fluorocarbon. Good strings.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Mon Mar 23rd, 2009 09:46 am |
|
6th Post |
|
luthien Approved
|
I think a combination of things may have been at work here,and I believe that the 'end is in sight' as it were! Having adjusted the saddle,the nut and changed the strings, I tightened the screws at the back of the machine heads,and retuned last night. I played for a couple of hours,and the uke stayed in tune,aside from one slight readjustment about an hour in,which I have found even with guitars,from the playing itself. I think the finger action is constantly affecting the tensile stretch of the strings, and being nylon,they take a lot longer than the steel strings I am used to (on guitar) to 'bed in'. If last night is anything to go by, I believe that the problem may have been a combination of all possible factors, and by a 'process of elimination'I have worked through them, and solved my problem! So thanks to you both for the tips,as with any instrument, I guess it's a learning process,in more than fingering! I suppose every uke player has opinions on which instrument is .....( fill in the gap) and how to..... (again!) just like any musician! I still love the sound of the uke though,and probably today,(monday) I intend to travel to a nearby town,where the local music shop shows a good selection of uke's on their website,and have a good look at some! Our three local shops are pitifully inadequate,offering between one make (Mahalo) and...none! So thanks again, I will just keep on keeping on,I reckon!
____________________ Mahalo U30 Soprano Kauai KUC-70B Concert Mahalo U320T Tenor Handmade Ukulele Banjo Ozark Resonator Guitar |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue Mar 24th, 2009 11:56 pm |
|
7th Post |
|
seaguy Approved
|
After those new strings stretch out they will do much better about staying in tune. I have owned a soprano. I recently bought a mk-c which is "concert" size. A little bit larger than the sop. and I find I like it much better. Came with Aquilla strings and an oil rubbed rosewd fret board. I love the tone and action. I have read that many wind up moving to the concert size. Rich
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Mar 26th, 2009 09:47 am |
|
8th Post |
|
luthien Approved
|
Thanks for that seaguy. I like the fact that advice is available here for newbies like me! Although I have played guitar for a long time, the different tuning and sound of a uke really grabs me, and I think this will become another favourite,if it isn't already! The cheap Mahalo is finally starting to respond, and I really like it when I play, but I am still searching for a better one. I travelled to look at some in a different town the other day, as the website showed plenty in stock.When I arrived there, they had ONE uke in stock...a Mahalo soprano,identical to mine! So I checked a bit more on my local shops, and found that one of them held a choice of about six different models,mainly Kala , and I intend to check them out soon. Price is a consideration,although I am not 'stuck' at beginner level if I find the right one. So thanks again one and all, I will report back if and when I choose a new instrument.
____________________ Mahalo U30 Soprano Kauai KUC-70B Concert Mahalo U320T Tenor Handmade Ukulele Banjo Ozark Resonator Guitar |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Mar 26th, 2009 12:11 pm |
|
9th Post |
|
luthien Approved
|
So, I went to town and checked out a shop that has very little on display,and even less on their website;BUT... a careful query to the staff,elicited the information that they did in fact, carry a reasonably good selection of Uke's,shop space preventing the full display.I checked through what was available, and settled on a Kauai KUC-70B Concert Ukulele,in the end. The deciding factors for me, were the tone and volume which knocked me out, (compared to the Mahalo) and the plastic sound bowl,as I have owned a couple of Ovation guitars over the years (still have one actually!).The full spec of my new Uke is: Solid Cedar Top Plastic bowl back Rosewood fingerboard & bridge Plastic saddle & nut Nickel silver frets Mahogany neck Mahogany veneer headstock Aquila strings Now add the solid top and the aquila strings to what had already impressed me, and there you have it! I believe I will be very happy with this instrument,for a long time to come. I even went mad and treated myself to an electronic chromatic tuner! So it seems as though 'happy days are here again!' for me. I have since been informed that the Kauai is virtually identical to a model known as The Clearwater UCW7R ; except that the Clearwater is a electro/acoustic and mine is strictly an acoustic model! Last edited on Sat Mar 28th, 2009 04:35 pm by luthien ____________________ Mahalo U30 Soprano Kauai KUC-70B Concert Mahalo U320T Tenor Handmade Ukulele Banjo Ozark Resonator Guitar |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Mar 26th, 2009 04:18 pm |
|
10th Post |
|
seaguy Approved
|
Good for you Luthien. Glad you found something you liked so quickly. Happy plunking!
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue Apr 7th, 2009 07:45 pm |
|
11th Post |
|
luthien Approved
|
Thanks,Rich! I have been exploring a bit on the old Googling device, and found that aside from the Clearwater UCW7R I mentioned above, another model known as the Ohana RoundbackCK-70RB looks identical to mine! The Ohana has a spruce top where mine is cedar,but otherwise,look exactly the same. The price of the Ohana varies but in UK sterling,comes out around £130 +/- so I am well pleased,that my Kauai cost £49.95! In any case, I just love the Kauai and have barely put it down for the past week.Even cracked the fingering on the dreaded 'E Major' chord that freaks a lot of folk! And...(on 17th April) had a fiddle with the original Mahalo today.Took the nut down a tad more,about the thickness of a piece of tissue to be fair,and found a saddle insert that I had knocking about,from a guitar job I did a while back. Trimmed the (bone) insert to size,slipped it into place and ka-pow!!!! The difference was amazing. The Mahalo has had Aquilas on for a couple of weeks now,and I had already 'tweaked' both nut and saddle,but this is a revelation. The sound is suddenly fuller, 'rounder' if thats what I am trying to say,and the intonation,as near 'perfick' as could be found on an absolutely bottom line instrument! It has given it a new lease of life,in fact. Pity I then spent the afternoon strumming away, instead of doing various things I had planned...oh well, thats what the 'Uke thing' is for,isn't it???? Last edited on Fri Apr 17th, 2009 07:20 pm by luthien ____________________ Mahalo U30 Soprano Kauai KUC-70B Concert Mahalo U320T Tenor Handmade Ukulele Banjo Ozark Resonator Guitar |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Current time is 03:21 am | |
| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Beginner Questions - Ukulele > Newbie Query | Top |
Copyright © 2007-2008 Data 1 Systems
Page processed in 0.5426 seconds (7% database + 93% PHP). 25 queries executed.