Bulletin Board: Tahitian Ukulele Strings

Original Post By: Queequegowitz Date: 4/20/2008 8:22:06 PM Other than fishing line, what strings are best on a tahitian ukulele? Posted By: Ed B. Date: 4/21/2008 4:47:37 AM I've never seen anything other than fishing line used on a Tahitian ukulele. But my experience isn't that broad, so maybe there are other options out there. I did try switching from the fluorescent nylon fishing line to fluorocarbon fishing line, on the theory that Worth fluorocarbon ukulele strings sound better than ordinary nylon ukulele strings. I did like the sound better -- fuller, a bit less shrill (for lack of a better descriptive term). I was sorry to lose that bright green color, though. One thing about strings is that you'll need to find really long ones, since the doubled courses are usually just one continuous string looped back. That's one reason why fishing line works so well -- no problem with the strings not being long enough! Posted By: Queequegowitz Date: 4/21/2008 5:53:37 AM Ed, What test fishing line did you use? Did you use the same test for all the strings? What brand fishing line was it? Posted By: Ed B. Date: 4/21/2008 7:46:10 AM Unfortunately, I'm in Hawaii right now and the spool is in California. I chose a diameter the same as the original strings (same size for all strings), but I don't remember the brand or test. Posted By: Brudda WUZ Date: 4/21/2008 8:13:29 AM what IS a tahitian ukulele? well, I googled it and got some info. "The Tahitian ukulele is uniquely tuned. Eight strings made of local fishing wire, usually a 30-pound nylon, create a fun and unmistakable "Tahitian" sound. Tuning from the top string down runs from G - C - E - A (SOL - DO - MI - LA). Instrument is slightly varnished. Our musician/carver carefully works to create the best tone for each instrument. " http://blackpearldesigns.net/tahitian-ukulele.html Posted By: feedajane Date: 4/21/2008 6:19:45 PM "Unfortunately, I'm in Hawai'i right now" LOL! Posted By: ukemaker Date: 4/22/2008 1:20:22 AM You've got to be careful with the tuning - even though it is the same notes as a regular uke, the G is a low G, and the A is in the same octave as the C, or consider it a low A, a whole step above the G. That is why one thickness of fishing line works for all the strings. Posted By: Ed B. Date: 4/22/2008 3:42:47 AM The Tahitian ukes I've played were tuned with a high G, and with the C and E strings up one octave from a standard uke. So the intervals are as ukemaker describes them, but an octave higher. This gives it that distinctive high-pitched percussive sound. A fun instrument. Posted By: MKnut Date: 4/22/2008 2:16:36 PM Is the "one string doubled back" standard? I would think that would be impossible to keep in tune. The Ayers ukes I've played (IIRC) were strung with 8 single non-green nylon strings. Posted By: Doug Skinner Date: 4/22/2008 6:48:29 PM When one of my strings broke, the closest match I found was Sufix Superior fish line, 25 lb. test. I hope that helps! Posted By: Ed B. Date: 4/23/2008 3:17:45 AM It's not difficult to keep in tune. The string pair is tuned in unison, so the tension is equal on both sides. Posted By: berean_315 Date: 4/24/2008 9:49:42 AM Queequegowitz: As far as strings, I use 20 lb test line. The guy I bought the uke from said to use a specific diameter line. When I went to the sporting goods store, the diameter of 20 lbs test line was close to what he recommended. If you use a bigger size it probably won't fit into the slot in the bridge (and or nut). I guess you could always widen them if you want. You use the same test line for all strings. MKnut: The string is doubled back. If you put new strings on I've noticed the EE string needs to be retuned more often since it is tuned pretty high. After a while it's not bad though. Posted By: berean_315 Date: 4/24/2008 9:53:52 AM   (Updated: 4/24/2008 9:54:08 AM) Forgot to mention about a pdf document I put together with some info about the Tahitian uke and language. You can access it from the link below: http://files.meetup.com/158468/Tahitian_Ukulele_&_Language_Doc.pdf Posted By: pineapple man Date: 4/24/2008 6:35:31 PM Wow, what a wonderful site !! So much info and links. You da best ! Posted By: MKnut Date: 4/25/2008 2:47:54 AM   (Updated: 4/25/2008 3:01:57 AM) I guess I'm not picturing this correctly. The string is held in place at the tuning post, goes down the neck, over the bridge, down to the tailpiece hook, then comes back up over the bridge, over the neck, and to a DIFFERENT tuning post? edit - now that I look at your friend's ebay ad, I think that WAS how the Ayers was strung. Wow. Posted By: berean_315 Date: 4/25/2008 9:36:56 AM MKnut: That's right about the string routing. Posted By: MKnut Date: 4/26/2008 7:51:36 PM berean/others: Is the string tied (i.e. with a knot) at the tailpiece, or does the tailpiece act as a pulley/pivot point? Posted By: Ed B. Date: 4/26/2008 8:40:30 PM It's tied. The tailpiece can be a simple part, just a heavy piece of wire. Each of the four string pairs is tied next to each other on the wire with a lanyard hitch. Posted By: pineapple man Date: 4/26/2008 10:43:39 PM Guess I'll be finding out first-hand. Just bought the tahitian berean315 tolds us about. Can't wait to challenge the old gray matter ! Posted By: Ed B. Date: 4/28/2008 4:54:07 AM Have fun with it Pineapple Man! Kaota Puna just posted a series of tutorial videos that do a good job of leading you through the basics of the Tahitian uke. Check out http://youtube.com/user/kanua8 Posted By: berean_315 Date: 4/28/2008 9:55:56 AM MKnut & Ed, The string ends on mine are passed through a loop and then go up the fretboard to the tuning pegs. Maybe this is what Ed B meant by lanyard hitch??? I didn't think of this as a knot. You may be able to see it on the picture of the uke on the Kanua ukulele webpage. http://www.kanua.com Pineapple Man: I hope you enjoy the uke. Gerald Posted By: Ed B. Date: 4/29/2008 2:43:36 AM Yep, that's a lanyard hitch, also called a lark's head, cow hitch, or girth hitch. Some people say that a hitch is different from a knot, but then again some people say that a tenor uke is not really a ukulele (just joking! no flames, please!) Posted By: MKnut Date: 4/29/2008 3:44:32 AM   (Updated: 4/29/2008 5:59:01 AM) I suppose I should have said when you get hitched you tie the knot. :) Posted By: David Smith Date: 10/4/2008 9:50:51 PM   (Updated: 10/4/2008 11:15:17 PM) What is the string length of a typical Tahitian ukulele (the distance from nut to bridge)? Posted By: berean_315 Date: 10/4/2008 11:25:00 PM On the 2 that I have, they're both about 16". Posted By: berean_315 Date: 10/4/2008 11:35:13 PM Also came across some YouTube videos of a tahitian ukulele competion in the Cook Islands. See the links below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1m3o9ejI0E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SVtNYQGmFA I've also updated some info in the Tahitian Uke pdf document. Threre are 6 songs now with chords and links to video or audio to hear what they sound like. http://files.meetup.com/158468/Tahitian_Uke_Sep_2008.pdf Posted By: musicguymic Date: 10/5/2008 8:57:06 AM You can use flourocarbon fishing line string in the test you find works and that will vastly improve the sound over mono filiment Posted By: David Smith Date: 10/7/2008 8:56:02 PM The Cook Island videos show the Tahitian style of playing and the pdf file has tons of information on the instrument, music and language.

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