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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
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| Please help a frustrated person - General Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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ezmember Approved
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It's not often I need to switch out strings on anything but I actually looked forward to putting a low G on my Kiwaya long-neck Soprano ukulele because surely this would be simple, right? Wrong. The low G is a fat plastic string, which I want (because the wound strings are too noisy), but the string is so stiff and slippery it's almost impossible to tie a tiny knot at the end to go into the little slat on the bout end. I've managed to tie two different kinds of knots and getting them in the slots but both of them mysteriously untied themselves and jumped out when I tried winding them at the other end. Is there a tiny little gold thingy I can put on the end of the string to slide into the slot, or....what's the trick here? I'd sure appreciate knowing. I've never had so much trouble getting a string on an instrument. I almost shed tears over this, until I remembered there are some people in the world with worse problems than this. Can someone help me with my insignificant but very frustrating problem?
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TomHB Approved 
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I use pliers to help make a tighter knot with thicker unwound strings. Just keep the pliers AWAY from your uke, and ONLY use them behind the knot. The "playing" side of the string, just grab tightly with your bare hand, close to the knot, then pull the other short end with pliers to make a tight knot. And don't sue me if you slip and scratch your uke ;o)
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ezmember Approved
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This is too funny. My husband is an expert knot-tier (surgeon) so yesterday I had him help me. I had to tell him NOT to grab the long end of the string with the hemostat or he'd weaken or break it. hahaha We did just what you said and STILL the knot un-did itself. How it does that AND jumps out of the slot is beyond me. I was amazed. Okay, give me some more good advice. 
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TomHB Approved
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Hemostats are pretty fragile, aren't they? Maybe use some channel locks... Or do you have a vise on your workbench? Go put the short end of the string in a vise, then tie the other end to your car's bumper... and GO! ;o)
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Neal Approved 
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Tie a double knot. Surely he can do that. Pull it tight with the hemostat and your teeth or hand, then put it in the slot.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.indiependencemusic.net/paisleylawler http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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theBlackman Approved 
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Try a FIGURE 8 knot. If that fails, do one of the fishing knots. Fishermen use them all the time for nylon leaders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure-of-eight_follow_through http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure-of-eight_knot http://www.troutlet.com/Fishing-Knots-W21C54.aspx Last edited on Tue Sep 23rd, 2008 12:30 am by theBlackman ____________________ Let each day start as a blank page for life to write upon. http://ezfolk.com/audio/dusty http://cdbaby.com/all/theblackman http://youtube.com/DustinFLeer |
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Bean Sprout Approved 
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I had the same problem. I was using an acoustic nylon guitar string for my low G (I forget which one now) but the problem was that it is very thick. Soooo, a friend and very accomplished uke player gave me an idea to use Seaguar-flourocarbon-80lb lead which is sold at Cabela's outdoor store. I purchased it online and they sent me a roll. It is still thick but much thinner that any I have seen and is much easier to install. Pliers is a good idea for tying the knot still, and yes keep the pliers away from the uke. I learned that one the hard way. I now use this material for all my strings (It is very close to Worth Strings) I use Seaguar 30lb for#1 (A) string and #4 (high G) sting, I use Seaquar 40lb for #2 (E) string. I use Seaguar 60lb. for #3(C) string. Hope this helps! Heidi
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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Last resort - tie the knot, then place a drop of superglue on it. DO NOT put the string into the slot until the glue has DRIED!!!!!!!
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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ezmember Approved
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TomHB, I'm gonna put you in the vise! haha the Blackman, The first knot I did was a fisherman's knot. I thought for sure that'd work. It didn't. I'll go learn how to do the figure 8....thanks for the tip. Heidi, now that's a new idea....Seaguar-flourocarbon-80lb lead which is sold at Cabela's....I'll try that for sure, especially if it works for all the strings. Thanks for the tip and the special info for each string! Thanks to everybody except ThomHB, who is now in the vise and screaming for mercy.
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ezmember Approved
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Glue...there's another good idea!
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TomHB Approved
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So, ez didn't like my ad vise? ;o)
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Smiffy Approved
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Have you thought of putting a crimp sleeve round the string just north of the brass ferrule you mentioned earlier? I've had this work with guitar strings but haven't tried it with uke. PS Any Electrician will be able to supply the tool and crimp lug (suitably trimmed to size.)
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Smiffy Approved
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I popped down to Peter Stephen's workshop just in time to watch him stringing a ukulele. When I mentioned your problem with knots he recommended the figure-8 and promptly achieved it. I know this won't help you at all, but it all seems to be in the technique. PS Peter advised me to stop thinking like an electrician and to throw my stock of crimp sleeves away.
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ichadwick Approved 
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I have experimented with tying a glass bead to the string end. It's a bit finicky but once you figure it out and get the knots set up so the string doesn't slip, it works quite well. Like this:  Comments on the process here: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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Tonya Approved 
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I've seen the craft bead option used, too.
____________________ http://ukuleletonya.com |
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ezmember Approved
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Smiffy, yes, take Peter's advise! TomHB, you're ad vise...get back in the vise! (How did you get out?) I'm off now to learn to do a figure 8
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theBlackman Approved
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Figure 8 is easy. Take the end of the string and make a loop with the short end UNDER the length. Now pass the short end OVER the length. Now put the end of the short end UNDER the first loop you made. Pull it through the loop and OVER the bend. See the diagram. Then just pull tight. Attachment: Figure 8.GIF (Downloaded 92 times) Last edited on Thu Sep 25th, 2008 10:45 am by theBlackman ____________________ Let each day start as a blank page for life to write upon. http://ezfolk.com/audio/dusty http://cdbaby.com/all/theblackman http://youtube.com/DustinFLeer |
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ichadwick Approved
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Tonya wrote: I've seen the craft bead option used, too. I've used it on a few ukes now and I kind of like it. I'm not sure if it significantly affects the sound, but I like the look and it can add some colour. I have experimented with glass and metal beads, too. The glass are more colourful, but the metal are more consistent in size and hole diameter.
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
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theBlackman Approved
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So... Did you get it strung, and which method did you finally use. 
____________________ Let each day start as a blank page for life to write upon. http://ezfolk.com/audio/dusty http://cdbaby.com/all/theblackman http://youtube.com/DustinFLeer |
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ezmember Approved
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Sorry, I got lost for a while. No, believe it or not, I still haven't got the thing strung. But I will, I just got busy.... I promise to come back and let you know my solution. Thanks to all who helped here!
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > General Ukulele > Please help a frustrated person | |
