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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Breaking Strings | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29th, 2009 08:40 am |
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1st Post |
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Joe F. Approved
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Hi, This is my first post to this forum. I bought a Pono Tenor PTO-E from a local music store last February and absolutely love it! I've been playing Ukelele for about a year and am simultaneously learning accoutstic guitar as well. My question is about the the uke strings. It came strung with Ko'olau Gold strings. The very first day the A string broke while strumming. After replacing it the new one broke a short time later. The third replacement broke while installing and the fourth break occurred while in the case. They all seemed to break near the top of the neck. Today the guy at the store filed the saddle (the one at the top) a little although no bur was evident. Does anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening so often? I play with both picks and with just my fingers. Also, what is the benefit to having the G and or C string wound? Thanks, Joe
____________________ Leolani Soprano Uke Pono Tenor PTO-E Uke Indian Scout Acoustic Guitar Dean Key Largo Acoustic Guitar |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29th, 2009 07:40 pm |
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2nd Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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Is it possible it's breaking at the tuning peg? If so, check that the holes don't have sharp edges to cut the string.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29th, 2009 09:04 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Will Approved 
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The metallic windings on the strings provide the necessary extra mass to allow them to achieve a lower pitch. Without the windings, the strings would have to be inordinately thick in diameter, resulting in a string that doesn't vibrate very well, with a dull tone. Tenors have a longer scale than concert and soprano ukes, and tend to have one or more wound strings (same goes for baritones, except that baritone tune is lower, DGBE). Some tenors have the so-called "low-G" string with the metal windings, while other tenors have a plain string that plays one octave higher (the so-called re-entrant tuning).
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29th, 2009 10:55 pm |
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4th Post |
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Neal Approved 
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Worth makes a set all fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon is denser, thus the string isn't so thick. I like these for the C string on a tenor in re-entrant (high G), but the wound does give a richer sound. Low G, I'd stay with a wound, I find the fluorocarbon a bit "thuddy". If the nut was filed properly, the problem should be gone, if not, adjust your plectrum use. Ukes, while some use a pick, should be played with fingers or a felt or leather pick. As the A is your thinnest and highest tension string, a hard plastic pick rocked out at high speed is not a good thing, not saying your doing that, but "just sayin'". Good luck, and welcome to here.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29th, 2009 11:42 pm |
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5th Post |
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Joe F. Approved
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Ok I'll check the post and thank you for the info on windings! Do you all think the brand of strings is good or are there better sounding ones out there? Joe
____________________ Leolani Soprano Uke Pono Tenor PTO-E Uke Indian Scout Acoustic Guitar Dean Key Largo Acoustic Guitar |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 29th, 2009 11:52 pm |
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6th Post |
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Joe F. Approved
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Hi Neal, I started off with the plectrum, but didn't think I was strumming too hard, but could have been. I am now playing just with my fingers and like the sound better anyway and I have more control. Just out of curiosity, they have new plectrums out made of rubber. Do you have any knowledge about those? I'll stick with my fingers on the Uke, but may try those on my guitar as they are supposed to eliminate almost all the noise associated with picking. Thank you, Joe
____________________ Leolani Soprano Uke Pono Tenor PTO-E Uke Indian Scout Acoustic Guitar Dean Key Largo Acoustic Guitar |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30th, 2009 12:12 am |
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7th Post |
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Neal Approved
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Strings, try 'em, you'll find one that you like, some names worthy of mention are Worth, Fremont, Aquila. On the Guitar, it's like anything else, technique/practice will bring out tone, and diminish unwanted sound from the pick. Try to use at least a medium pick or hard. Thin picks are ok for some strumming, but if you find you want to dig in, they're useless. I have no experience with rubber picks, sorry. Try it if it's not too expensive, and let us know.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30th, 2009 12:22 am |
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8th Post |
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Joe F. Approved
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Ok will do. Thank you Neal! Joe
____________________ Leolani Soprano Uke Pono Tenor PTO-E Uke Indian Scout Acoustic Guitar Dean Key Largo Acoustic Guitar |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30th, 2009 12:43 am |
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9th Post |
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DaveVisi Approved 
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I have a few rubber picks. They're called "Wedgies" and can be bought from Amazon and if you're lucky, you *may* find one at your local Guitar Center but don't hold your breath. They work, and don't scratch, but I still prefer a thin nylon pick. The rubber ones have too much friction on the strings and gives it a sort of "thunk" sound which is hard to control.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30th, 2009 05:11 pm |
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10th Post |
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Joe F. Approved
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Ok Dave....thank you for the info! Joe
____________________ Leolani Soprano Uke Pono Tenor PTO-E Uke Indian Scout Acoustic Guitar Dean Key Largo Acoustic Guitar |
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