Melbourne @aussie.zone bull⚡ @aussie.zone 12mo ago

Daily Discussion Thread: Tue 14 Nov 2023

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What the actual fuck.

Ukulele fuckups right out of the gate

Ok, I bought the cheapest $30 ukulele from Manny’s because it cost the same as the Big W one but would possibly be better quality. I didn’t want the $15 from Kmart because apparently thick layers of paint dull the sound.

It’s a Mahalo Kahiko series, soprano size because I wanted to go with something very standard. So it’s this plain little guy. Apparently other budget ones are much better, there are criticisms, but this is considered ok for the very low price. Just a barely decent starter for schools who bulk buy for kid students but can’t stretch the budget to the Dolphin.

And yeah, even with hearing that the default strings are bad and should be upgraded, it sounds actually… okay? It kind of rings? Not as plunk as the more novelty ones but not so expensive that I’d be devastated to break it or not stick with it. (Honestly the most likely outcome.)

Buttt… I went to the Mahalo tuning guide, saw the diagram for soprano, began playing the note to tune the first string. However the string meant to be C doesn’t sound like a C. The E string is making the C sound! Dead on!

It this just a matter of tension? However I see the strings are different thicknesses which matters. Have I made some mistake already?

The peg for the C string is near the M of the logo so I’m not holding it backwards.

Did they mix up the sound clips? Or did they string it backwards? Will I need to restring it?

I know one thing and one thing only. That sound from that string matches the clip exactly but it is coming from the wrong string.

The G string now sounds about right though. It’s a little sour and flat still but I kept tightening it and rechecking the sound and I’ve got a rough approximation.

Edit: I have now tuned 1 (one) string correctly by ear.

😿👍

Edit 2: I don’t fucking believe this. I don’t think this can be right. But I know how to listen carefully, I’ve been tuning, and if I can trust the sound clips on the manufacturer’s website are right - it sounds like this ukulele arrived with the C and E strings swapped.

I’m going to try and tune it all the best I can, consult another guide, listen to notes in isolation on YouTube to check, and then it may be I have to learn how to restring this.

Edit 3: Ok, something is going on with the tuning pegs too. I have to turn these ones in a different direction to tighten them than the ones on the opposite side? But I press my finger to the string and turn in the direction where I can feel it tighten. Tightening is what needs to happen to make the note higher and brighter. I’ve now got the A string kind of on track.
- Check out the guitar tuna app. It has a uke setting too.
  
  https://yousician.com/guitartuna
  
  Thanks, I’ll check there too
- I'm totes impressed with your musical skills. 👍😸
  
  I am a dumbass noob and basically going like this
- The lower ones are a different direction yes. You turn the E A pegs towards your right to tighten. At least that's what mine does.
  
  Ahh good, ty
- Ahhh that's annoying
  
  I’m not taking crazy pills right?
  
  That’s a factory mistake that can happen with cheap mass manufactured instruments?
  
  You're not taking crazy pills. The strings, played from top to bottom, are G C E A, all within the same octave.
  
  The one in the E position was making the C sound.
  
  Those are the last two left so I’ll tune them… and then maybe that can tell me if it arrived strung wrong
  
  I'd take the ukulele to the shop and make them switch the strings. It's a manufacture defect they need to know about.
  
  and get a free 2 min lesson out of them
  
  I got it online. I really don’t want to go to the shop for reasons
  
  Ah, I hope you can find a good string swap guide online then.
  
  Thanks, hopefully YouTube sorts me out

157 comments