Not the greatest instrument in the world but a great test bed for improvements.
I ordered some machine heads from Hong Kong via eBay and a set of Aquila Nylgut strings:
Whip off the existing rubbish machine-heads and fit lovely Gibson style versions:
I had to drill the post holes out to 8mm so the ferrules fit.
A moment's inattention, a slip with the drill and I scratched the logo on the headstock.
No problem I thought, I just use a razor blade to clean the rest of the logo off and all will be well.
Wrong.
Any cosmetic advantage the lovely new machine-heads bestowed has been ruined.
Fortunately I do have something in a tin that will restore the colour, if only I could remember where I put the tin.
I added a jolly paper label to the interior:
2 comments:
Fixing a paper label inside changes the sound as does paint, laccer, snot and peanut butter.
I like the strings. I have some expensive "I'talian" strings, that I can't remember the name of, that have been on mine for years and they still sound great.
You do understand don't you that my hearing is deteriorating.
The label I put in replaced the original makers label and although I willing to concede it does have an effect on the overall sound I'd suggest it's negligible
(I'll take your word on the snot and peanut butter).
Fact is this is a budget uke and I wanted to find out if there was anything that could make it sound better than it did.
The Aquila Nylgut stings are really good!
It's taken about a day of playing, retuning, playing, retuning until they're nicely bedded in and are a vast improvement on the original strings.
The machine-heads are also a great improvement on the originals so I've ordered some more.
The next step is to apply the findings of this research to my beloved baritone uke.
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