[S. cerevisiae]

I can take Americana in small bites.  I used to play mainstream rock in my teens, twenties, and thirties, but found myself playing more of a fusion rock, blues, and jazz in my forties.  Today, my guitars spend significantly more time in their cases than they do being played.  I need to pick my guitars back up, but I would have to go through rebuilding my calluses.

[RPIScotty]

I need to pick my guitars back up, but I would have to go through rebuilding my calluses.

I used to go through periods when I wouldn't play and then try to get right back into playing 11 gauge strings. I started just stringing with 9 gauge again and just keep it that way. Makes coming back a bit easier after long spells away. Pure Nickel strings help out a bit too, as they are a bit slinkier and keep their tone afters long droughts.

I can take Americana in small bites.

I'm actually a big fan of pre-war blues musicians such as Frank Stokes, Lonnie Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, etc. There is a real lo-fi magic to those old recordings and the technique is pretty dazzling. I also like the Jazz singers and musicians from that era too. Some of those standards, "Dream a Little Dream of Me" and the like are pretty intoxicating.

[Phil_M]

I used to go through periods when I wouldn't play and then try to get right back into playing 11 gauge strings. I started just stringing with 9 gauge again and just keep it that way. Makes coming back a bit easier after long spells away. Pure Nickel strings help out a bit too, as they are a bit slinkier and keep their tone afters long droughts.

I've tried 9-gauge strings on my guitars, and can't stand them. With work/school I'll typically go months without playing, but I just can't give in to playing on 9's. I just have to stick it out and get the callouses back, I much prefer the snap/tension of the heavier gauge strings.

[RPIScotty]

I've tried 9-gauge strings on my guitars, and can't stand them. With work/school I'll typically go months without playing, but I just can't give in to playing on 9's. I just have to stick it out and get the callouses back, I much prefer the snap/tension of the heavier gauge strings.

Have you played Nickel strings? If you like big strings, you can often get away with a gauge higher than normal with the nickel, round wound strings. They are a bit mellower and last longer.

[Phil_M]

I haven't. I'm interested in trying them and a few other strings types, but I'm still working off a big pack of D'Addario .10's that I bought years ago. I play so infrequently I usually just deal with the old strings.

[erockrph]

I like 9's for standard or Eb tunings on most of my guitars, but my main guitar is a Les Paul tuned to C#. I have 10-52's on that one or else everything sounds like mud. But it's still low and soft enough that calluses are never an issue when I randomly pick up the guitar and start playing.

Bass, on the other hand, is a b**** without proper callouses, particularly on my right hand. When friends want to jam, I am usually appointed bass player. If I haven't played in a while I inevitably end up with blisters on me fingers.

[RPIScotty]

Got the Uke tuned up today. Sounds pretty good for a $20 instrument. Contemplating crafting a new bridge and using a bone nut and saddle. Should cost more than $10. Tuners are crappy but hold tun pretty well.


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[denny]

I'm looking to improve the playability of my cheap ukulele. So far I've given it a fairly decent setup (dressed bridge and nut slots). Looking for a solid, cheap set of tuners, maybe craft a new bridge and get some new strings.

Any players out there with suggestions?

Yeah, get a better uke!  Seriously.  I went through a similar thought process recently and decided it was only a little more $$ to get a new one rather than throw good money on one that still wouldn't be all that great.

[RPIScotty]

I'm looking to improve the playability of my cheap ukulele. So far I've given it a fairly decent setup (dressed bridge and nut slots). Looking for a solid, cheap set of tuners, maybe craft a new bridge and get some new strings.

Any players out there with suggestions?

Yeah, get a better uke!  Seriously.  I went through a similar thought process recently and decided it was only a little more $$ to get a new one rather than throw good money on one that still wouldn't be all that great.

That's what a figured and it really isn't much more money to get an infinitely better uke.

That being said, this $20 Stagg AG's well after some fret dressing, nut filing and saddle work.


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