Re: GDAE tuning and strumming uke/guitar style
Originally Posted by
cunparis
I have my GDAE strings on my soprano uke for a week now. I must say that the E string is very high. I think the regular uke tuning sounds better for strumming, but at the same time I love being able to play melody on it. My E string broke twice but fortunately it was at the end and since I hadn't trimmed it I could restring it. The last time I made a triple knot and that seems to be holding it.
Its hard to get used to the new chord shapes but I'm working on it.
Had the same problem with the Aquila soprano uke GDAE set on a RISA Solid Soprano uke. Sometimes the E lasts forever, other times they seem to pop quickly. Have tried replacing the Aquila E with 20lb-test 0.018"/0.044mm monofilament fishing line and it works well. Have cut a few lengths from the line spool to keep as spares in the gig bag, but so far the one line has held well.
As an experiment, got a Diamond Head DU-150 soprano uke (made by Saga, the Rover/Kentucky mandolin maker) for $32 from one of the big box stores and put Aquila soprano GDAE strings on it. The goal was to see if it really worked well enough to use the uke as a 4-string "travel mandolin" instead of the RISA. Bottom line is that it does work, feels/sounds like a mini tenor guitar, and makes either the RISA now expendable or my Fender FM-101 trade bait for another uke (concert or baritone) to restring CGDA or GDAE as appropriate.
So, if the need is there for a quieter alternative, a 1-pound in-the-suitcase traveler or office/car quick-grab where storage space is premium, then a GDAE-converted, inexpensive soprano uke may fit the bill.
...Steve
Current Stable: Two Tenor Guitars (Martin 515, Blueridge BR-40T), a Tenor Banjo (Deering GoodTime 17-Fret), a Mandolin (Burgess #7). two Banjo-Ukes and five Ukuleles..
The inventory is always in some flux, but that's part of the fun.
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