No one can give you the answer as to which ukulele to buy. Just simply note the inherent characteristics between the three types and their different tensions. The debate is endless of course when it comes to strings and so as not to bore you further with the string debate the most important obvious point is to go into a store and try the different types out to see what is most comfortable for your playing style. All in all, the choice of strings is very personal and admittedly the polyurathane strings are going to feel quite different if you have not encountered them before. Round wound strings definitely sound closest to that of a bass guitar. These Aquila reds are less stretchy due to the technology, holding their pitch better than the standard flexible out the box panhoehoe strings.Īnother option for a ‘double bass sound’ is to go for flat wound steel strings. With steel strings you will find that you are going to need to push down a bit harder, but not as much as you would on a bass guitar. The best set-up that I have heard, which sounded nearest to that of a double bass, was with a beautiful Kala mahogany ukulele using Aquila red strings. The flexibility inherent in rubber strings will mean the pitch can shift a little. Consider using Aquila reds or flat wound for this style of playing if this becomes a problem. You will need to watch out for the intonation if you start to slide up the neck on the uke. You will need to push down and play lightly to get the best sound out of these strings. Players who suffer from aches and pains in the wrist might consider this a benefit. Rubber strings have a lot of flexibility and less tension to them so will be ideal if you are looking for something which is easier to play, less physical. There are some options for bass uke strings, different strings give different sounds. This issue should settle down as the instrument is played and the strings ‘bed in.’ The Main Types of U-Bass Strings This is mostly down to the type of strings on the instrument. I have heard of people using rosin or billiard talc to help with this, you can experiment yourself if you feel your hands get particularly sweaty.Īs with all ukuleles, you’ll find yourself tuning the instrument a lot in the early stages, this can be especially the case with u-bass. Rubber strings will feel a bit different at first and some people say they feel a bit slippy, and roll when played. Most typically bass ukes are presented with rubber (polyurethane) strings. If the uke is of a solid body type you would hear the instrument even less, as there is no acoustic chamber to amplify the sound. Do not use an electric guitar amp, you will will overload the speaker. It is therefore a necessity to use a bass amp for amplification to get a decent output. Without amplification, you will be able to hear the instrument, just not very loud, but just enough for a quiet practice session. The electro-acoustic has visible electronics on the side with a hollow body. Check out Kala’s California u-bass if you are tempted with the idea of a solid bass uke. There are two main types, electro-acoustic and solid body models. More and more musicians are beginning to understand the bass ukulele’s potential. Lots of musicians are using ukes on the road to practice with, but increasingly these tiny basses are used on gigs,the sound from a bass uke is surprisingly punchy. This is especially so if they are interested in a double bass or bass guitar but aren’t quite ‘big’ / tall / old enough to cart around a double bass on their own. Why Choose the Bass Ukulele?Īs mentioned in the post about children playing the double bass, I’ve suggested the uke is an excellent instrument choice for kids to start with. You can easily find yourself owning more than one ukulele. Portability gives the no-hassle fun element which people love about ukuleles. Portability is an obvious factor with its popularity. Do a bit of digging and you’ll find that the instrument has grown in popularity and is indeed getting noticed. Initially you might be put off, thinking that this relatively tiny instrument is more of a toy than a serious contender. The bass ukulele is the same size as the baritone ukulele, just under 30 inches in length (76cm), but it is the same tuning as a double bass and bass guitar. Kala and other manufactures have since popularized the instrument to what we know of it today. There was a model previously to this which was the inspiration to Kala’s u-bass launch in 2008. The bass ukulele, uke or to use its Kala brand name the U-Bass has been around in its present form since 2008.
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