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| Advice - Baritone Uke - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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gardner321 Approved
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I was just sitting down to post a similar request for help, when I spotted this post by widowmaker. I too have a SA Mach UK70B barritone and love it. I am a nubie and just happened to buy this instrument which was the only uke in the shop. Knowing little of instrument quality etc, I wanted to ask, since I am learning to play somewhat better, if I need to upgrade to an instrument that would have more noticeable tonal quality, or is this about as good as it gets. I purchased mine about six months ago for $150 new. I know little of its construction as would be compared to a better grade uke. Am I apt to get more satisfaction from a better grade selling at less than $400? I enjoy thumb strumming, but seem to get some buzz when chording in the 2nd and third string area. Of course, this could be me causing that as I am elderly and not so limber fingered. I have gone through three sets of Aquilla strings. either because of wear on the wire wounds at the fret, Or mostly because the 3rd strings pop, twice while the uke was at rest. Since I am hearing impaired, I have to use an electronic tuner set at 440hz, so the string tension should be consistent. Do I need a better brand of strings? The strings break at the anchor on the sound box.
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Will Approved 
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gardner321 wrote: I was just sitting down to post a similar request for help, when I spotted this post by widowmaker. If you're breaking uke strings often, it may be because you're pressing too hard on the strings. Aquila strings are prone to abrasion, and the metal fret wires are much harder than the strings. The key is to press down on the strings with your fingertips just behind the fret with just enough pressure to prevent the string from buzzing. A solid top instrument would be a step up from your current instrument. The construction of the instrument top usually has the greatest effect on its sound; the better it vibrates, the better it will sound. A solid instrument top vibrates better than one made from laminated pieces of wood (found on less expensive ukes, guitars, and other string instruments). A solid top instrument generally costs more, but sometimes, you can come across an imported instrument that is a real steal - 5 years ago, I bought a great-sounding $60.00 (sixty, not six hundred) baritone called the Amigo AMB-7, which has a solid Carpathian spruce top, and is made in (of all places) Romania. Or, better yet (and more expensive) would be an all-solid wood wood instrument. Here is an $259 all-solid mahogany baritone with Aquila strings, made by Ohana, sold by Elderly Instruments: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/BK35.htm  Last edited on Wed Mar 26th, 2008 03:04 pm by Will ____________________ 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/ |
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Swirl Approved
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gardner321 said the strings are breaking near the bridge. Could something else be at play here besides pressing too hard on the frets? I agree that pressing too hard can wear them down and lead to breakage, but that doesn't seem to be true in this case. Could the saddle have a sharp edge that's cutting through? Could the sharpness of the angle that the string bends from the knot over the saddle be important? How does the scale of the instrument affect string tension? Not all baritones are built with the same scale and I wonder whether Aquilas would work better on one baritone over another. This could explain why some people can use them successfully for so long while others experience frequent breakage with this particular brand.
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gardner321 Approved
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Will, thanks for the advice. I just ordered my Ohana BK35 from Elderly Instruments. Thanks also for the audio of you playing with Loose Change and accompaying them on the washboard. I did not realize that you younger guys on the forum knew what a washboard was. It seems to me that we all agree that you are the forum's King. Tom
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gardner321 Approved
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Swirl, you may have something there, the strings are breakin at the bridge (#3). There msy be a sharp edge there. Will investigate. Twice the strings broke overnight while the uke was sitting in its cradle. Tom
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UkeForever Approved 
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It's the Nylgut. Their wound strings are notoriously weak, but they sound so nice. It wouldn't hurt to check the saddle and hit it with a touch of sandpaper if it seems sharp, but I've experienced the same thing with Aquila baritone strings, one after the next. Martin makes some cheapo bari strings. I'd try those wound for the D and G strings, and use the Nylgut for the B & E strings.
____________________ Don't let the door hit 'ya where the good Lord split 'ya. John Rockwell's Crazy Songs 
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gardner321 Approved
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Uke forever, I just read where you said the same thing as swirl mentioned regarding a sharp bridge vee. Tom
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| Current time is 05:03 pm | |
| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Baritone Uke > Advice | |
