Not a fan of Aquila nylon strings as to me there is a dead quality to every set I have ever tried. Daddario titanium work well on my Kanile'a concert and the difference with all the Daddario sets here from the Aquila ones was very marked in as much as glissandos were much more positive and not stilted. I also find that Worth strings are pleasing to my ear and have and will use both the various clear and brown grades. Although not tested here I have a set of Fremont blacks on one of my Tenors ( a Mango wood DaSilva which I know originally passed through your hands ) and Ken Middleton's living Water strings seem to work best if you want a low G setup on a Concert. Ya just have to find what's right for each Uke and at the end of the day strings don't exactly cost an arm and a leg. I've even tried Baz Maz's fishing line recommendations but I've yet to catch anything worth landing 😬
Wow, super helpful, Alex...and that's a lot of restringing! Thank you! I enjoyed them all but both worth browns were my faves right this minute...I bet that would change if I watched again at another time, because they all do really offer something slightly different. Another awesome string video! Thanks again for your exceptional efforts! :)
Yes!! I love this video, I usually like worth’s and titanium but all those d’addario sounded great. I’ve actually been liking the Enya strings too. They have a great percussive sound with out sounding too plasticy. I’d love to see some other brands, maybe less heard of ones 👍
Nice compilation video Alex. For the strings in this video my favorites were. 1. Aquila Lava 2. Worth Brown 3. Aquila AG X AQ You have officially piqued my interest about the new ukulele.😁
These are my three favorite strings period... maybe not in that order. I think Worth Browns are currently in first for me. And this is after obsessive experimentation, guess this video could have saved me some cash.
Great shootout Alex! You should definitely try the Martin M620s on that ukulele. I loved the sound of the Worth CT and was surprised by the Aquila Sugar. Nice as well 🙂
It's very reassuring to hear the same thing from your tests as I hear at home. That is to say the Worth Clear Tenor set just sings and sing. They sound very clear, bright and true yet without being overly percussive. In spite of their clear, bright tone I think they gave you the best chucking of all. I really like them on my vintage Martin tenor. They really help wake up the 80-year-old sleepy mahogany. This test now makes me curious, does Worth offer the same set in Brown?
Aquilla's sound similar as you would expect. I've chosen the D'addarios with a low G plain for my tenor as many brands want the 4th string to be wound. I'm moving away from the OEM Aquilas on my other ukes and moving to fluorocarbons which have a nice musical ring.
My favourites are D'Addario EJ65T clear Nylon and Aquila Super Nylgut - I watched the video like a blind test, only looking up when I heard something that stand out to me exceptionaly. Thank you for doing this!
I know sound preferences are subjective, but that said, I just replaced Aquila Nylguts on my Ohana solid Koa concert with Worth Browns, and the difference is staggering! Every youtube video showed the Browns coming across so much richer with more resonance and sustain. In person, it was even more amazing than the video! You can feel and hear the note ringing and resonating like nothing else! Yes, the Worth’s are fiddly to install when you cut them in half, but I still tied off and had about 3-4 windings left at the top pegs. IMO Nylguts make a laminated uke sound good, but make a solid wood uke sound cheap. Aquilas have this plasticky plinky sound when first struck. The Worth Browns are so rich, it’s all I want on all my solid ukes and might try them on some of my better laminates. Something about whatever they added to make the strings brown make them so much richer in sound than the clears. They are also the slickest strings I have ever felt and sliding chords are now effortless! Even on your video, through my ipad speaker, the richness of the Worth Browns come through like a freight train! That said, I do like D’Addario Flourocarbons becuase they are a light gage and easier for my wife to play, because she is just starting out. But on your video, they come across as a much thinner sound, making me rethink changing those out as well.
You've sold your SUS-T??!! I feel like it's a dark day in the ukulele world 😥 You must have something pretty special on the way, looking forward to finding out what it is 😀👍🤙
@@UkesWithAlex Yeah, I kind of worked that out now after 5 months but thanks for the reply 😂 (that's meant as friendly sarcasm btw 😉) It's quite an impressive line up of SUS exclusives you're building up. Can't wait to see what's coming next. Your Big Island sounds incredible, especially for the price!
@@UkesWithAlex Bloody RUclips! I hate it when it does random stuff like that 😠 Thanks for the great content Alex. Hope you have a great Christmas 🎄 Looking forward to seeing what 2022 brings 😀
I've realized you almost need 16 different strings on 16 different ukuleles. I've put the same strings on my Kanil'ea and my Flight Phantom several times with pretty different results. For example Worth Browns seemed to brighten and add volume to the Phantom but did the opposite to my Kanil'ea over the super nylgut Lavas I had on before. Not sure if it's build, string tension, Acacia VS Koa, silk vs gloss finish or all of the above, but it is very interesting the ways in which they react differently. Either way... great video!
It's not only subjective based on your personal taste but also massively dependent on the build and tonewood... you are totally right. That's the main reason I used a Cedar top because to me it colours ukuleles in the least. Koa and mango both sweeten and Mahogany often darkens. Talk about different strokes for different folks!
Thanks Alex!! I must say I have flipped through a couple of your videos several times trying to compare each, it is so nice of you to put it all in one, less breaks in between playing to compare, really appreciate this!! I love the d’addario black nylon, but I am trying new things, just bought some Aquila sugars to put on my flight travel soprano, it was a close race with the Aquila reds, I may try those next on there. I just tried Martin M600 on my Luna mahogany concert, I think I will try either the brown worths , or Fremont black next on that one. As someone else said in the comments I need more ukes so I can have all my favorite strings on different ones!
Hi Alex 😊 thank you so much for all the thorough comparisons - amazing job. If you find a moment I would really appreciate an advice from you... With which set of strings, in your opinion, I could get the most out of my Flight travel soprano ukeulele (that actually travels)? I play mostly fingerpicking and I am looking for brightness and clear tone. Some good volume wouldn't hurt either. Titaniums maybe? The last set of strings I had on it was Aquila Sugar and they sound great but I found out that their performance varies a lot depending on changing temperatures and humidity and they are not as durable as Super Nylgut (I could see some dents very quickly). Also the squeek comes and goes as it pleases (even after many weeks) and I can't say what's the factor that is causing it. I had two sets of Sugar and in both of them the squeek never left completely. Once again thank you so much for being my source of knowledge about strings! Have a great weekend
Hi Joanna, I saw this message yesterday but wanted to think on what to suggest because you have tried things similar to what I would have suggested. The thing with those smaller scale travel ukes is that the convenience of them overtakes the tones capable of coming out of them. I think I would try Uke Logic H-HG-C strings which are a high tension clear string. It should have a it more balls to it than the aquilas
Thanks so much for your reply! I am currently waiting for the set of D'Addario Titanium strings (well, I wanted to give them a try anyway - never had them before) and then, probably I will try to get the strings you recommended, as you made me curious about them 😄 Unfortunately they are not very easy to get - it seems that I will have to go through the trouble of customs fees to import to EU from UK (from the Store of course) or USA. To be honest, in my opinion this particular travel ukulele (Flight TUS35) produces an impressively nice tone, considering the size and materials it's made of - I chose this model even though I had a significantly bigger budget initially reserved for this purchase. But of course it's a trade-off. Nevertheless, I enjoy experimenting a bit to see how much I can get out of it 🙂 If I don't find anything performing overrally better, I will probably stick to Aquila Super Nylgut. I will let you know about my impressions. Once again, thank you!
PLEASE help!.......... I got a string set with the Low G for my tenor ukulele.(D'Addario EJ99TLG Tenor Low G Pro-Arte Carbon Ukulele Strings). And I am about to despair. that low G string is a slippery eel, and although I watched countless instruction videos and have acutally stringed such instruments before - I am not getting this string on properly. At best attempt it sounds like a howling hound, can't keep a note for even a second, shows on the tuner app how it is oscillatiing between too low, just right and too high.......any ideas other than sending this string set back?
Have you done anything to the nut to account for the change in string diameter? With no offence meant - the string isn't going to be the problem. Please don't send it back to the retailer. Take your uke to a shop that knows how to set up a uke instead 🙂
@@UkesWithAlex thank you! No we have not done anything to the nut....we don't have a uke shop up here. not near..... In the meantime my DIY savvy husband discovered that the little gear screw (headstock tuners) was not tight enough. It's a laugh - I would have never thought about this! - anyway, he tightened all the screws and the problem is if not solved so ten times better than it was.. He also re-did the string...but we agreed, next time it must be wound string, will have a little welcome friction........any DIY ideas what we could do with the nut?
You need a nut file really. I'm not big on suggesting DIY ideas that could make the problem worse. Any guitar shop in the world should have tools to adjust a nut though so not all is lost.
Alex, quick question (and I know it's subjective), but I'm planning on changing the strings on my Kala KA-SMHCE-C. It'll be the first time I've changed strings on a uke. I believe you've mentioned in the past that this very make & model was your first uke (as it is mine). I trust your preference in sound, I'm wondering what strings you've found work best with this ukulele? Thank you and I love the channel!
Thanks David... I did have that Kala in a lefty version briefly about 12 years ago now. I'm surprised I ever mentioned it in a video so fair play to you for remembering 😄. I find Mahogany can either be quite warm and honky or quite clear and wooly. For a warm, honky sound try a good fluorocarbon set... maybe Worth BM or Anuenue as-bwsc. For a brighter clearer wooly sound try the Martin M600 strings. All of these strings sound good... just slightly different. Take care
Thank you so much for this video, Alex. I am a newbie to the ukulele, and I love to watch all of your videos on strings and tonewoods. I have learned so much! I have a carbon fiber Enya Nova U concert for travel, and I was wondering which string you thought might help make the tone a bit sweeter than the stock fluorocarbons without dampening the sound. Thank you for your help!
Honestly I've been asked so many times but I really don't think you can do anything to change the tone of the Nova U. I don't have an opinion on that one
@@UkesWithAlex That makes sense. No way to make carbon fiber sound like wood. : ) Still, it's lovely to have a uke I don't have to worry about when traveling, so it serves an important purpose. Thank you for your quick response.
Not a fan of Aquila nylon strings as to me there is a dead quality to every set I have ever tried. Daddario titanium work well on my Kanile'a concert and the difference with all the Daddario sets here from the Aquila ones was very marked in as much as glissandos were much more positive and not stilted. I also find that Worth strings are pleasing to my ear and have and will use both the various clear and brown grades. Although not tested here I have a set of Fremont blacks on one of my Tenors ( a Mango wood DaSilva which I know originally passed through your hands ) and Ken Middleton's living Water strings seem to work best if you want a low G setup on a Concert. Ya just have to find what's right for each Uke and at the end of the day strings don't exactly cost an arm and a leg. I've even tried Baz Maz's fishing line recommendations but I've yet to catch anything worth landing 😬
Wow, super helpful, Alex...and that's a lot of restringing! Thank you! I enjoyed them all but both worth browns were my faves right this minute...I bet that would change if I watched again at another time, because they all do really offer something slightly different. Another awesome string video! Thanks again for your exceptional efforts! :)
Aquila Sugar, Reds and Carbonblacks, Worth Browns and Fremont are my favorite ones at the moment. Thanks for the video!
Yes!! I love this video, I usually like worth’s and titanium but all those d’addario sounded great. I’ve actually been liking the Enya strings too. They have a great percussive sound with out sounding too plasticy. I’d love to see some other brands, maybe less heard of ones 👍
Nice compilation video Alex.
For the strings in this video my favorites were.
1. Aquila Lava
2. Worth Brown
3. Aquila AG X AQ
You have officially piqued my interest about the new ukulele.😁
These are my three favorite strings period... maybe not in that order. I think Worth Browns are currently in first for me. And this is after obsessive experimentation, guess this video could have saved me some cash.
@@143jeg I have not tried Worth Browns. After watching this video I may order some to try out.🙂
Great shootout Alex! You should definitely try the Martin M620s on that ukulele. I loved the sound of the Worth CT and was surprised by the Aquila Sugar. Nice as well 🙂
daymn another string video. :) alooooooot restringing. Ty.
all my ukes works well with clear fluo, i dont need to punch my uke to get good volume.
It's very reassuring to hear the same thing from your tests as I hear at home. That is to say the Worth Clear Tenor set just sings and sing. They sound very clear, bright and true yet without being overly percussive. In spite of their clear, bright tone I think they gave you the best chucking of all.
I really like them on my vintage Martin tenor. They really help wake up the 80-year-old sleepy mahogany.
This test now makes me curious, does Worth offer the same set in Brown?
It would be great hear Martin stings included in the next ‘string shoot out’!
Aquilla's sound similar as you would expect. I've chosen the D'addarios with a low G plain for my tenor as many brands want the 4th string to be wound. I'm moving away from the OEM Aquilas on my other ukes and moving to fluorocarbons which have a nice musical ring.
My favourites are D'Addario EJ65T clear Nylon and Aquila Super Nylgut - I watched the video like a blind test, only looking up when I heard something that stand out to me exceptionaly.
Thank you for doing this!
I know sound preferences are subjective, but that said, I just replaced Aquila Nylguts on my Ohana solid Koa concert with Worth Browns, and the difference is staggering! Every youtube video showed the Browns coming across so much richer with more resonance and sustain. In person, it was even more amazing than the video! You can feel and hear the note ringing and resonating like nothing else! Yes, the Worth’s are fiddly to install when you cut them in half, but I still tied off and had about 3-4 windings left at the top pegs.
IMO Nylguts make a laminated uke sound good, but make a solid wood uke sound cheap. Aquilas have this plasticky plinky sound when first struck. The Worth Browns are so rich, it’s all I want on all my solid ukes and might try them on some of my better laminates. Something about whatever they added to make the strings brown make them so much richer in sound than the clears. They are also the slickest strings I have ever felt and sliding chords are now effortless! Even on your video, through my ipad speaker, the richness of the Worth Browns come through like a freight train!
That said, I do like D’Addario Flourocarbons becuase they are a light gage and easier for my wife to play, because she is just starting out. But on your video, they come across as a much thinner sound, making me rethink changing those out as well.
Never thought i would say this but titanium nylons are really growing on me since i got my millar ta260 quite a change from reds and browns
Those Worth strong's put out some volume. I can't believe I'm saying this but the Aquila reds sounded pretty darn good to me.
Thanks for the comparison 👍🏻
Still like the Worth Browns for warmth and Clear for crispness, (is that a word???)
Definitely
I have same TABASCO shirts, bought it at Target. Thanks for the video!
Can't beat Worth Browns and Cedar. Put a Fremont soloist low g on it and its better again. Even on the Kala ATP CTG i have.
Thanks for that video it was really informative to see a side by side comparison. Cheers, Andy
I like the Aquilla nylgut, andthe and the Worth Brown Strong
You've sold your SUS-T??!! I feel like it's a dark day in the ukulele world 😥
You must have something pretty special on the way, looking forward to finding out what it is 😀👍🤙
I replaced it with a Big Island Uli-T. Having the Manako, I wasn't really playing the SUS model anymore.
@@UkesWithAlex Yeah, I kind of worked that out now after 5 months but thanks for the reply 😂 (that's meant as friendly sarcasm btw 😉)
It's quite an impressive line up of SUS exclusives you're building up. Can't wait to see what's coming next. Your Big Island sounds incredible, especially for the price!
I saw your comment was 5 months old before I replied but youtube randomly hid a few comments for ages until today... sorry about that.
@@UkesWithAlex Bloody RUclips! I hate it when it does random stuff like that 😠
Thanks for the great content Alex. Hope you have a great Christmas 🎄
Looking forward to seeing what 2022 brings 😀
You too my friend and thanks for watching and commenting from time to time.
I've realized you almost need 16 different strings on 16 different ukuleles. I've put the same strings on my Kanil'ea and my Flight Phantom several times with pretty different results. For example Worth Browns seemed to brighten and add volume to the Phantom but did the opposite to my Kanil'ea over the super nylgut Lavas I had on before. Not sure if it's build, string tension, Acacia VS Koa, silk vs gloss finish or all of the above, but it is very interesting the ways in which they react differently. Either way... great video!
It's not only subjective based on your personal taste but also massively dependent on the build and tonewood... you are totally right. That's the main reason I used a Cedar top because to me it colours ukuleles in the least. Koa and mango both sweeten and Mahogany often darkens. Talk about different strokes for different folks!
Why the Aquila Red strings are looking transparent on the video? Otherwise really well arranged comparison!
Thanks Alex!! I must say I have flipped through a couple of your videos several times trying to compare each, it is so nice of you to put it all in one, less breaks in between playing to compare, really appreciate this!!
I love the d’addario black nylon, but I am trying new things, just bought some Aquila sugars to put on my flight travel soprano, it was a close race with the Aquila reds, I may try those next on there.
I just tried Martin M600 on my Luna mahogany concert, I think I will try either the brown worths , or Fremont black next on that one.
As someone else said in the comments I need more ukes so I can have all my favorite strings on different ones!
My pleasure... Happy to help
Great comparison! Thank you!
Hi Alex 😊 thank you so much for all the thorough comparisons - amazing job. If you find a moment I would really appreciate an advice from you... With which set of strings, in your opinion, I could get the most out of my Flight travel soprano ukeulele (that actually travels)? I play mostly fingerpicking and I am looking for brightness and clear tone. Some good volume wouldn't hurt either. Titaniums maybe? The last set of strings I had on it was Aquila Sugar and they sound great but I found out that their performance varies a lot depending on changing temperatures and humidity and they are not as durable as Super Nylgut (I could see some dents very quickly). Also the squeek comes and goes as it pleases (even after many weeks) and I can't say what's the factor that is causing it. I had two sets of Sugar and in both of them the squeek never left completely. Once again thank you so much for being my source of knowledge about strings! Have a great weekend
Hi Joanna,
I saw this message yesterday but wanted to think on what to suggest because you have tried things similar to what I would have suggested. The thing with those smaller scale travel ukes is that the convenience of them overtakes the tones capable of coming out of them. I think I would try Uke Logic H-HG-C strings which are a high tension clear string. It should have a it more balls to it than the aquilas
Thanks so much for your reply! I am currently waiting for the set of D'Addario Titanium strings (well, I wanted to give them a try anyway - never had them before) and then, probably I will try to get the strings you recommended, as you made me curious about them 😄 Unfortunately they are not very easy to get - it seems that I will have to go through the trouble of customs fees to import to EU from UK (from the Store of course) or USA.
To be honest, in my opinion this particular travel ukulele (Flight TUS35) produces an impressively nice tone, considering the size and materials it's made of - I chose this model even though I had a significantly bigger budget initially reserved for this purchase. But of course it's a trade-off. Nevertheless, I enjoy experimenting a bit to see how much I can get out of it 🙂 If I don't find anything performing overrally better, I will probably stick to Aquila Super Nylgut. I will let you know about my impressions. Once again, thank you!
@@joannajewstrat9481try violin strings. Yes, strings for violin.
@@miguelgamero5677 whoa! 😳 if you say something like this... do elaborate a bit, don't leave me with this bizarre nugget of information, please 😄
@@UkesWithAlex do you know anything about that? Have you ever tried?
PLEASE help!.......... I got a string set with the Low G for my tenor ukulele.(D'Addario EJ99TLG Tenor Low G Pro-Arte Carbon Ukulele Strings). And I am about to despair. that low G string is a slippery eel, and although I watched countless instruction videos and have acutally stringed such instruments before - I am not getting this string on properly. At best attempt it sounds like a howling hound, can't keep a note for even a second, shows on the tuner app how it is oscillatiing between too low, just right and too high.......any ideas other than sending this string set back?
Have you done anything to the nut to account for the change in string diameter?
With no offence meant - the string isn't going to be the problem.
Please don't send it back to the retailer. Take your uke to a shop that knows how to set up a uke instead 🙂
@@UkesWithAlex thank you! No we have not done anything to the nut....we don't have a uke shop up here. not near..... In the meantime my DIY savvy husband discovered that the little gear screw (headstock tuners) was not tight enough. It's a laugh - I would have never thought about this! - anyway, he tightened all the screws and the problem is if not solved so ten times better than it was.. He also re-did the string...but we agreed, next time it must be wound string, will have a little welcome friction........any DIY ideas what we could do with the nut?
You also need to give strings a few days to settle.
You need a nut file really. I'm not big on suggesting DIY ideas that could make the problem worse.
Any guitar shop in the world should have tools to adjust a nut though so not all is lost.
@@UkesWithAlex ok thanks!
Alex, quick question (and I know it's subjective), but I'm planning on changing the strings on my Kala KA-SMHCE-C. It'll be the first time I've changed strings on a uke. I believe you've mentioned in the past that this very make & model was your first uke (as it is mine). I trust your preference in sound, I'm wondering what strings you've found work best with this ukulele? Thank you and I love the channel!
Thanks David...
I did have that Kala in a lefty version briefly about 12 years ago now. I'm surprised I ever mentioned it in a video so fair play to you for remembering 😄.
I find Mahogany can either be quite warm and honky or quite clear and wooly.
For a warm, honky sound try a good fluorocarbon set... maybe Worth BM or Anuenue as-bwsc.
For a brighter clearer wooly sound try the Martin M600 strings. All of these strings sound good... just slightly different.
Take care
Thank you so much for this video, Alex. I am a newbie to the ukulele, and I love to watch all of your videos on strings and tonewoods. I have learned so much! I have a carbon fiber Enya Nova U concert for travel, and I was wondering which string you thought might help make the tone a bit sweeter than the stock fluorocarbons without dampening the sound. Thank you for your help!
Honestly I've been asked so many times but I really don't think you can do anything to change the tone of the Nova U. I don't have an opinion on that one
@@UkesWithAlex That makes sense. No way to make carbon fiber sound like wood. : ) Still, it's lovely to have a uke I don't have to worry about when traveling, so it serves an important purpose. Thank you for your quick response.
@kathleensimonds1438 I love using the Aquila sugar strings, it warms up my non-wood ukulele. I love the feel of them too.
@@cherifennell Thanks for the suggestion!