Search results

I have a soprano that is D5 challenged. When I play that note, generally A string 5th fret, the sustain is greatly diminished and usually requires some degree of fretting gyrations to coax an acceptable tone. Even more so if playing softly. It is a teardrop body and I have gone to the extent...

For most people this has no value. But I have wondered if there was an inexpensive way to measure individual string tension. There are very expensive measuring instruments that are available but the cost is so prohibitive. Racquet string tension gauges, for tennis, are too far out of the...

I have mentioned in other threads that going to fishing line, specifically fluorocarbon leader, is not something I recommend. I currently have 14 rolls, different varieties, of Seaguar leader. At an average cost of around $25 a roll it represents a pretty large investment for something that...

A little backstory... About 5 years or so ago, I picked up a Fred Shields solid wood 3 string soprano ukulele. Not to argue about the legitimacy of a ukulele with only 3 stings, I found it to be the ultimate instrument for those motivationally challenged moments. I play instrumentals and with...

Let me preface this by saying that over my whole life I have been a tinkerer. And even with 30 years in aerospace, I did Govt contracs not engineering, so my tinkering has been of my own accord. I'm also not stupid where I would take a dremel to a high end instrument to make a side port. A...

I'm looking for an electric ukulele. I played the Godin Multiuke a few years ago and it was pretty nice. But the Pono looks pretty sweet. A few questions... Does the top wood make any difference since it is solid/chambered? Sound difference between Pono passive pick-up vs. MiSi? With no EQ...

Does anyone know when Kamaka went from a 19" scale to a 20-1/8" scale? Thanks! John

I recently picked up an old Harmony that has what appears to be Aquila Nylgut stings. But when I try to find them I can't find any sets that come with a single wound D string. Also the diameters don't match anything out there. 1st - E = .58mm/.0225 2nd - B = .75mm/.0295 3rd - G = .92mm/.036...

Just wondering if anyone has done any tinkering with Glenn Frey's You Belong to the City for the ukulele. I think it would be a great instrumental for the uke and an even better duet with a u-bass. John

This is not a High G Low G debate, but more of an observation. In the next year or so, I am planning on retiring. At that time, or sooner, I really want to find, or have made, on wait list, or ??? a new High G tenor. So I am trying to get an idea of the different brands/luthiers out there...

This may be better directed to luthiers. I'm not talking about the standard ukulele scales of 13-1/2" soprano, 15" concert, and 17" tenor. But I've wondered if the perfect ukulele design would lead to tweaks of the scales based on different woods and designs/bracing. For instance, instead of...

Whenever I am in the San Diego area I always make a point to stop in a Moze Guitars in La Mesa. In additional to having a nice selection of new and used guitars and amps, they also sell ukuleles. One of the brands of ukuleles they sell is Fred Shields, who is a local luthier. On this...

Whenever my wife and I go on a trip or when I have to head somewhere on business I always set aside time to search out some local ukulele/acoustic shops. Over the years I've stumbled upon Dusty Strings in Seattle, Tejon Street Music in Colorado Springs, Gyphon, McCabes and Buffalo Brothers in...

I have so many interests and I've been in and out of this forum over the years, but as I have meandered through pastimes there has been one constant... the ukulele. There have been times when I may not pick it up for a month or so but for the most part I play it everyday. So as much as I like...

For a number of years I have locked my ukulele case when I was traveling. I would usually use a bike cable and secure it so something secure in the hotel room. I recently did a little internet searching on bike locks and I was blown away by how easily thieves can steal a bike. This has...

I have a pretty bright tenor ukulele. I have tried Aquilas but they get too brittle. I don't care for Worths on this ukulele. I had tried the regular Southoast string, and I didn't care for them either, but the Southcoast mediums are keepers on my concert. So I went found inexpensive...

Here is my take... In the 90's I ran a classic car club... newsletters, events, etc. After a few years of putting up with the reality that there will always be those who are not going to be happy, I just couln't take it. We even had dues so we could pay our bills... but I just didn't want to...

I see more and more ukuleles have a fret marker at the 10th fret and I am curious why? There's usually one at the 5th, 7th, and 12th just like a guitar, but I can't figure out what makes the 9th fret special for a guitar and the 10th special for a ukulele. John

I really like Jake's version of Hallelujah so I thought I would at least tinker with it... well butcher it is a better way of putting it, especially that 2-9 fret stretch that cramps my hand when I try to reach for it. I stumbled upon ukejon's version in the UU Videos, it is fabulous, and Jon...

A few week ago I picked up a Fluke looking ukulele made by a guy in San Diego. I was asked to provide a sample so here goes... I hope I am running a sophisticated recording setup consisting of a Rock Band mic sitting on an Ikea computer desk into an older version of Mixcraft 4. The uke...