 |
|
|
Original Post By:
mLKauai
|
Date: 4/17/2010 4:08:07 PM
(Updated: 4/17/2010 4:08:44 PM)
|
Any comments (Players/Luthiers) on string spacing for various styles of play on tenor ukes?
What is your favorite?
What is standard?
I try to copy guitar solos a lot, mostly jazz standards, and in assessing the situation, the visual difference shows that guitar strings are much closer together than the uke of course.
This obviously makes a difference.
I guess my question really is would smaller spacing help with certain types of playing solos and runs? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Rose City Jeannie
|
Date: 4/18/2010 12:54:17 AM |
Hi ML, You know me; string spacing (i've only experienced two) are both just fine.
Just wondering, what 'scale' is your favorite at this time?
My King from you is still one of my VERY favorites to play. There's just nothing like it, except maybe that Talsma I didn't get from you!
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Ed B.
|
Date: 4/18/2010 7:02:28 AM |
For fingerstyle playing, I like a wider spacing for the strings. With narrow string spacing, it's too easy to accidentally damp an adjacent string during a fast passage. For just strumming chords, string spacing doesn't matter so much.
Can't say what's "standard", since it varies so much from one builder to another. Here's a few measurements for G-to-A string spacing on a number of different ukes that I've played. I listed all of the dimensions in 32nd of an inch to make comparison easier.
...nut.......bridge.....
1-1/32.....1-12/32.....Bushman tenor #1
1-2/32.....1-13/32.....Lanakai tenor
1-2/32.....1-21/32.....Koaloha tenor
1-2/32.....1-21/32.....Koaloha Pineapple Sunday
1-2/32.....1-19/32.....David Gomes tenor
1-3/32.....1-18/32.....Bushman tenor #2
1-3/32.....1-17/32.....Risa Uke-stick concert
1-3/32.....1-22/32.....Martin tenor
1-5/32.....1-18/32.....Beltona soprano
1-6/32.....1-31/32.....Morena soprano
1-6/32.....1-21/32.....Kamaka soprano
1-7/32.....1-19/32.....LD Zerone tenor
1-8/32.....1-17/32.....Kamaka tenor
1-8/32.....1-21/32.....Pono tenor
Check out that Morena soprano. Almost 2" across the strings at the bridge! A soprano uke with lots of room for your fingers. I really like that uke, even though I'm usually a tenor guy.
Notice that the string spacing at the bridge doesn't necessarily correlate with the string spacing at the nut. That is, some narrow-nut ukes have a narrow bridge, while other narrow-nut ukes have a wide bridge. So, even though a Lanikai and a Koaloha have the same string spacing at the nut, I find the Koaloha a lot more playable because of its wider string spacing at the bridge. Even the left hand work is easier, since the strings get wider as soon as you get above the first few frets. The Lanikai is fine for strumming or chord melodies, but for fingerstyle it just doesn't work for me.
But, that's just me. Everybody can have a different set of likes and dislikes on this topic.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
mLKauai
|
Date: 4/18/2010 5:15:13 PM |
thanks Ed,
forgot about how the saddle spacing can vary and how it affects overall spacing.
yeah damping is an issue, but again look at steel string guitars and who plays what.
amazing how your examples vary at the nut from 1/32 to 8/32!
Jeannie,
My favorite has changed a bit and I have an order with W King now for a 17.35 or 17.44 "... still pondering.
I love my 18" and my 17.6" Kings, but I also have a Kelii tenor that is aroung 17.25" and I can get a more general coverage with that without being limited to the conventional 17" scale. .. oh the tribs of the idle rich... I wish.
Actually measuring the exact scale length is a bit tricky.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Craig
|
Date: 4/18/2010 7:35:56 PM |
| You guys are so far over my head!...;) For the inexpensive ukes, I love the Flukes and Fleas because of their wider string spacing as compared to most of the Chinese imports: Bushman, Lanikai, etc... Of course, I love my Ko'olau's spacing and Cali's Pono's (early model) has the same spacing, just no radius. The wider spacing allows me to make the chords more clear and fingerpick more easily. I really therefore really, really dislike most of the Chinese imports with the skinny necks.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
William
|
Date: 4/20/2010 12:58:02 AM |
Lehua tenor---35mm nut with a full 10mm between strings to 12mm at the nut.
I think we need to remember that what ever Fred Astaire did, Ginger Rogers did it backwards and in high heels. HuH?? Go play with some mandolin player sometime before starting to whine [:~) about skinny necks and Fanger pickin'
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Gerald Ross
|
Date: 4/20/2010 10:07:43 AM |
I prefer a 1.5" or 38mm nut width on my tenor ukes. This is one of the widest nut widths available on a tenor. I find it comfortable for fingerstyle and strumming. I currently have four ukes that have this width.
1. Talsma redwood tenor (custom).
2. Talsma solid body Les Talsma tenor (custom).
3. Earnest Tululele tenor (custom).
4. aNueNue Gerald Ross Signature Model (retail).
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
mLKauai
|
Date: 4/20/2010 3:21:16 PM |
GR, do you like the current string spacing, and does it differ on each tenor?
would you have them closer together?
I know you play mostly fingerstyle on uke so wideness is good.
I'm thinking about more of lead solo lines mostly one note at a time; would narrower be better in your opinion?
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Gerald Ross
|
Date: 4/20/2010 4:18:34 PM |
I like the 1.5" spacing. That's my preference. With the wider spacing I can do more with individual strings (i.e. vibrato, sliding, hammer-ons, pull-offs) without worrying about touching other strings.
Everyone has different sized hands and different preferences. One size doesn't fit all.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
mLKauai
|
Date: 4/20/2010 5:37:07 PM |
GR, not sure you get my question; I am not exactly talking about the nut width. I mean, you can have any nut width and widen or narrow the distance between each string.
I remember back awhile, i think Koaloha concert, had made one with narrower space between strings, leaving a bit more room on the edges (which helps string or finger from sliding off the edge).
There is plenty of room; so maybe not in your case or style, but for say a flat picker, I imagine less room between strings would help for speed of runs.
Aren't some guitars built that way for flat pickers?
|
|
|
|
|
Posted By:
Gerald Ross
|
Date: 4/20/2010 6:07:41 PM |
| In terms of string spacing at the nut on my 1.5" ukes. I like the spacing to be as wide as possible without the danger of the string falling off of either side of the fingerboard when playing.
|
|
|
|
