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Joe Stewart
Aloha
USA
8 Posts |
 Posted - 03/21/2004 : 04:21:03 AM
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Aloha Fellow Uker's!!!!
Just a quick question for any of you seasoned (i.e., "veteran") uke players out there . . .
I received a great little (Koaloha) soprano uke as a birthday present a year or so ago, and I absolutely love it's sound, but I've only recently had the time to start learning this awesome little jewel. And unfortunately, while beginning to learn, I've noticed that it has a particularly difficult time holding tune (i.e., the tune seems to slip over a fairly brief period of time (30-minutes), with or without playing it).
The instrument has these rather "trick" looking (and supposedly locking) geared ivory tuners, but the tune still degrades quickly, and although the problem applies to most (or all) of the four strings, it seems worst on the third (C) and fourth (G) strings.
Does anyone have any meaningful insights for me? Is this phenomenon characteristic of ukeleles in-general? Are the Koaloha-brand tuners inferior to others? Should I consider replacing the present tuners?
Mahalo in advance for any insights provided, but in the meantime, color me . . .
"Konfounded in Kailua"!
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
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Kahalenahele
Lokahi
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2004 : 1:55:44 PM
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It could be the tuners themselves. If you have friction tuners, there's a little screw on the back that controls the amount of friction used to hold the tuners in place. It's a delicate balancing act to get them set perfectly (not too tight, not too loose) but I seem to find a happy medium on all 5 of my ukes.
Do the tuners have the big "dial" on the back, or a screw? |
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Joe Stewart
Aloha
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2004 : 5:29:43 PM
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The tuners are the standard (Koaloha brand) ivory/ivoroid type with large flathead stainless-steel locking screws in back which cannot be tightened any further. Hence, it's not occurring by way of tuner(s).
As for "string stretch" or the "seasoning" of the instrument's nylon strings, no, I'm afraid it has nothing to do with that either. I own (and have been playing) vintage acoustic nylon guitars for over thirty-years, so I'm quite familiar with this rather "basic" concept. The current strings are 12-15 months old. They're well-seasoned!
Moreover, if the problem stemmed from simple string stretch, all four strings would fade, not just two (as stated), and that's not what I'm experiencing with this instrument. So, the answer lies elsewhere, but mahalo nui loa for the feedback. |
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Mainkaukau
Lokahi
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 02:46:59 AM
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| Hello, how are you? Maybe it's the uke itself? A change in temperature or humidity can really throw of a tuning. I perform outdoors but my dressing room is kept sometimes 20 degrees below the outdoor temperature (usually 65 vs 85 degrees). The expansion/ contraction of my guitar/uke is immediate and requires me to retune. I have no problems with staying in tune when playing in a stable environment. I play a nylon string Takamine Hirade. Stay healthy and happy now...alohas all. |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 1:27:52 PM
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Hi Joe,
I have several ukes, including three I built myself, with all types of tuners on them. I have to retune, at least a tiny bit, every time I pick one up, especially on the ukes with friction tuners. I think small guage short strings are more sensitive to slight changes and go slightly out tune very easily.
Since most of us are guitar players who tune string to string, sometimes we end up chasing around the strings to find a balanced tuning.
Some ukes have heavy strings and high string tension, which a lot of us like, and that contributes to the problem. Uke usually vary in tension from string to string, and often it's that darn third string that goes flat on mine.
Fortunately it only takes a few seconds to bring it back in tune.
I know my comments don't help your problem, but the joy of playing isn't diminished by those wandering strings.
Here's my newest homemade uke:
http://www.imbris.net/~jessehj/ukulele/finishdolphinuke.jpg
Jesse Tinsley |
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chica
Aloha
Germany
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2004 : 5:06:14 PM
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| I have a friend from Palau who plays the uke. Imagine how happy I was to hear that light and airy music floating down the hall when I arrived in Germany! Anyway, Meluat is leaving soon, and I'd like to get him a gift. He loves his uke. Any suggestions? |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2004 : 01:08:20 AM
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Gutenabend, Chica. Wie geht's? Aquila Strings have become very popular here in California. People just love them. They come from Italy. I bet your friend would love to have a couple of sets.
Auf wieder sprechen...
Julie (Ich bin Hollanderin und spreche aber ein klein bischen Deutsch) |
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chica
Aloha
Germany
10 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2004 : 09:48:57 AM
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Aloha Julie!
Wow! I've been here in Babenhausen Hessen for over a year and you sprechen more Deutch than me! Whereabouts in Holland? I am going this spring for the tulips (and Van Gogh Museum). Please feel free to email me with any suggestions on where to visit! AND, I'm gonna hit Italy too, so Meluat will have a couple of sets of strings to take back to his island with him. Thanks for the great tip!
Mahalo and Tschuss!
Corrina
cmari7 @ excite.com
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2004 : 1:42:44 PM
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Aloha e Corinna,
I play uke, too, and I think a great gift would be any CD or DVD of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. He inspired so many uke players with his quiet style.
I recently bought a DVD of "Hawaiian Rainbow", the 1988 Hawaiian music documentary. It's a bit dated, but gives a taste of various ukulele styles (and some history) from people like Auntie Genoa Keawe, the Ho'opi'i Brothers and others. And it's only about $10 from Amazon.
Jesse Tinsley |
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Chango
Aloha
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2004 : 4:31:16 PM
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my silly oscar schmidt does this too and I had always been wondering if it was just mine or if all ukes were like this.
oh and since we're speaking dutch, één bier tevreden |
one dirty haole |
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Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2004 : 9:49:23 PM
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Hi Joe Stewart,
You said, "The tuners are the standard (Koaloha brand) ivory/ivoroid type with large flathead stainless-steel locking screws in back which cannot be tightened any further. Hence, it's not occurring by way of tuner(s)." Italics mine.
This sounds like it is a tuner problem to me. My understanding is that tightening the screws on tuners is an easy does it process, a quarter turn at a time. If they are cranked all the way down, something is wrong. I have no idea whether they can be repaired or must be replaced.
So, have you been living with this problem for the month since you posted, or have you taken action? What did you do?
Aloha, |
Pauline |
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Craig
Aloha
USA
21 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2004 : 2:12:54 PM
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Hi, guys. New member from sunny San Diego.
I got a Koaloha soprano the last time I was in Honolulu from the Ukulele House (or maybe it's House of Ukuleles... I forget). Anyway, it's a beautiful little instrument.
I can get it in tune with itself but it's hard to keep it in tune with a guitar. I guess due to the shorter scale length it will fluctuate from the guitar's tuning. Not by much, mind you, but by a teeny little bit... which I think is even more maddening.
Anyone else experience this? Suggestions? |
Craig P. |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2004 : 3:18:20 PM
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julie, du kannst Deutsch un auch die Hula tanzen? toll! how come you weren't part of the hui doing "hamburg by the sea" last year?
um, tuning ukes. all my ukes are wild creatures and are hard to keep in tune even with well stretched strings. i have a steel stringed one that is the exception to the rule. i end up tweaking the string often. does anyone *not* have to do this?
gifts for uke players: i've loved the first two issues of the "ukulele occasional", on sale at jim beloff's "flea market music" site. jim's books are nice too for a wide range of abilities. umm, my friend's mel bay book "understanding ukulele chords" (reviewed here) would be a great gift for someone a bit advanced. if you *really* like your friend a lot, you might look for a black bear uke on google, or go visit ko`olau ukes...
GCEA, keith |
Edited by - marzullo on 05/06/2004 3:52:38 PM |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2004 : 5:22:21 PM
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I just put new Aquilas (with a low G) on my ukulele and the 1st, 2nd, and 4th strings settled fairly quickly after some stretching but the 3rd is being a lot more stubborn.
It wouldn't be so bad if they all drifted out of tune together! |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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