Converted Concert Ukulele in a solo gig setting

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Several years ago my wife bought me a fairly nice concert ukulele for my birthday. I decided to learn it as a discrete instrument and gave it a go.

But it stayed largely unplayed.

There was a thread here a few months ago discussing the conversion of uke to 5ths tuning. So I investigated and discovered the Aquis makes a set of strings purposely for converting concert uke to CGDA.

I gave it a shot. It took while for my uke to settle into the new tuning, but it finally did. And now I play the 'ukudola' quite a bit.

It's like getting a new mandola for the price of a set of strings.

I've used it for rhythm tracking a couple of new songs I've written and recorded.

Last night I played at for the first time at a solo gig. It worked great for both songs and tunes. I got a positive response from audience members who had seen me before.

Highly recommended, especially if you have a uke and are on the fence.

Daniel

[Ray(T)]

I bought a concert uke a few years ago but have never really got on with it - I automatically revert to mandolin chord shapes on things with narrow necks! I also bought a set of Aquilla strings for mandola tuning but I've never actually got round to fitting them.

I suppose it'll happen one day. Did your conversion involve much nut filing or did they simply fit?

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Hi Ray,
They simply fit. No fuss no muss.
Having said that, my Lanikai is factory-made instrument. Comparable in quality to a low end Kentucky mandolin. So it ought to have a proper set up. And truth be told, I am now wondering if I should get a high quality concert uke!

Daniel

[trodgers]

I have a fairly nice concert uke re-strung like a mandola. Its clearly not a mandolin, but has a nice voice and I enjoy jamming with my ukulele playing daughter. It hasn't left the house but its been real fun to mess around with.

I used the Aquila 31U stings. I watched a Youtube video on how to change uke strings, easy-peasy. They fit fine in the existing slots. The nylon strings did take a couple of days to play in and keep on pitch. After the initial 48 hour tune/retune/retune again period, they have been very stable.