Ohana ukulele string test: Aquila vs Worth Browns

[lodohert]

A guy I met on Sunday said that he thought the Worths were easier on his fingers. Any of you have an opinion on that?

[BaronK69]

@lodohert Well, since I've been playing a lot of steel string guitar, and even upright bass, all ukes are easy on the fingers unless they're strung with barbed wire. But worth might be a bit softer than aquilas - and they are available in several tensions. The reason I prefer worths is that I think they intonate better that aquilas, and they don't "squeek" as much. But I guess you've got to try em out for yourself - I know a lot of people love aquilas.

[papara31]

Thanks. This really helps me.

[BaronK69]

@papara31 Glad it does!

[Yokai671]

thanks for ur time makeing this video its very helpful :)

[BaronK69]

@Yokai671 Glad you like it!

[DEK431]

I have the same ukulele and tried worths today. Didn't work for me so i'm back to aquilas.

[BaronK69]

@DEK431 Yeah, it's a matter of taste really - they're both good strings, but quite different sound.

[Dackycat]

Worth - warmer, but less attack, Aquila - punchy and clear, but less warmth. I like both, Worth for chording, Aquila for fingerstyle. I would love to hear a combo, Aquilas for the high G and A strings, Worths for the middle C and E strings!! There's your next test demo. ;-)

[BaronK69]

@Dackycat Thanks for watching, but I'm a strict worth man these days - aquilas just don't work for me.

[Dackycat]

@BaronK69 Yeah, it's always best to use what works best for you, not what everyone else says...always trust your own ears and fingers. I'm going to try a set of Worths on my old Harmony uke next time I change strings. ;-)

[saope2]

Thanks for posting this. The Aquilas are nice no doubt but every Uke sounds the same with them. When I look at your Uke with the Aquilas all I see are strings and no Uke. The Worth lets the finish of your Uke shine thru and I like the plinkiness - makes the Uke sound old. I'm going to thru a set of Worth's on my Martin O. Thanks again.

[BaronK69]

@saope2 Thanks for watching. I agree with everything you say.

[PhilUSAFRet]

I think the Worths bring out the sound of the wood better

[BaronK69]

@PhilUSAFRet I think so too. Thanks for watching.

[sosuperreal]

can i get tabs on those songs its nice!

[BaronK69]

@sosuperreal Thank you but I'm just playing around a bit. The old timey stuff is from "Hot Tamales" and I stole that lick from Pete Howlett's version. Check out his channel - he might have tabs for it.

[stevepetergal]

The Worth Browns definitely have a fuller, more colorful sound. The Aquilas are brighter. My opinion is that the Worths sound significantly more pleasant for strumming and most chordal playing and accompaniment. The Aquilas give you a marginally better sound for the baroque type picking you do near the end of the vid. Harder to play a smooth sounding line, though. My experience has been that the Aquilas feel chalky. What do you play? What do you like?

[BaronK69]

@stevepetergal I agree on all points. I use worth brown's on all my sopranos, but still have aquilas on my tenor. But I think I will try worths on that too - the aquilas are a bit hard, both in tone and playability. Plus I feel Worth are much more exact in intonation than aquilas. I thought my Mainland Mango had an intonation problem, but after changing to Worth's it intonates perfectly.

[kupchoi]

I like the sound of the worth better but there both nice sounding strings

[BaronK69]

@kupchoi Yes, they are both high quality strings - it's really just a matter of opinion. Right now I feel Worth BM's work best for me so I have them on all my sopranos.

[joshisfair]

what strings should i use on a concert kala?>

[BaronK69]

@joshisfair It's really a matter of taste I would say. Start with aquilas perhaps?

[smyrna5]

Thanks for the review Baron. I just got my SK-35G last week, partly due to your excellent playing of it. I was not disappointed. I still have the Aquilas on it, but may try the Worths next time. The Aquilas definitely give it some bark.

[MrPlatypus70]

Some ukuleles sound so much better with certain strings. When I first tried the brown Worth strings on my mahogany concert uke it was like a whole new instrument, there was a tone coming from it I had not heard with other strings. But other ukuleles I have sound much better with Aquilas or D'Addario pro-arte strings I think it depends on the wood and construction but some ukes just like certain strings.

[BaronK69]

Couldn't agree more! My tenor rings like a bell with aquila's and my kiwaya sounds like a nice vintage martin with worth browns... You just gotta try all strings on all ukes...

[doogey9]

i love aquilas, but i always end up going for the tone on those worth strings in every comparison vid i've watched over the last several months.....

i guess i just like that warmer tone....i can see how some folks like that more 'barky/snappy' tone....but i always end up picking the worths....

i just put some on my fluke....talk about 'mellow' ha ha....

great work Baron,

Todd

[BaronK69]

Thanks Todd! Yeah, well I guess you have to do your own string test with every uke you've got, cause you never know which brand of strings will sound best. I love aquilas, but sometimes the browns give the uke a more complex sound. And think it would go well with your vintage-y style on your petite soprano...

[learninguke]

I would go with the Worth Brown on that one. I kind of think the aquila makes it sound plastic.

[BaronK69]

I think I know what you mean, and I agree the Worths do give it a more organic sound.

[fourteentwelve]

Thanks for doing this Baron! It's like hearing my strings changed without actually changing them. lol I have the SK-35 (without the G) and have always used Aquilas on it. I'd been wondering about Worths, and now you've answered my question. I liked both, and they both had a different sound, but I think I preferred the Aquila sound on this uke. Which surprises me because I love Worths on my Koaloha.

[BaronK69]

Glad I could be of service Michelle. But since I made that test, the Worths have settled nicely, and I think the sound is great! I will soon (when my voice returns after the terrible cold) upload some new vids with the Ohana, and you will see what I mean. It somehow sounds like a more expensive instrument now. Almost like a Koaloha...

[debeussch]

i like sound of white strings, it's less agressive, for guitar i like cedar table more than spruce, you know; i prefer "round sound" (un son rond en français)

[BaronK69]

I love round sound too, that's why I'm now getting a custom made cedar top ukulele...

[nodunce]

Recently got this ohana concert, with Aquila's. This is a great video to hear the difference, thanks for putting it together.

Since most of my playing is outdoors, I think the aquillas punch a little better and are good in a less intimate space, like playing in a marching band. The WB's would be good for a sweeter, indoor sound.

[BaronK69]

Yeah, the WB's are a bit more delicate I think.

[benmealer]

i think i like the worths here. confusing because when ken did this i liked the aquilas. i think he did his on a tenor so that may have something to do with it.

[BaronK69]

Yeah, I don't think I'd change the aquilas on my tenor, but the worths sound good on a soprano - makes it sound more sophisticated somehow...

[wwelti]

Hi Baron! Thanks for the comparison. I can't decide too ;)

[BaronK69]

You can't? You're the one who told me about the Worth BE in the first place.

[wwelti]

Yes! But I also like Aquila! And my Glyph is strung with Aquila as well :)

[BaronK69]

I want a Glyph too! Is it new? What vids are you using it on?

[wwelti]

Yes, it's new! I'm going to upload a vid this evening :)

[BaronK69]

Can't wait to hear and see it. Write a full description of it too!

[wwelti]

I will post a review in the ukulele cosmos :)

[retius]

I like the sound of the Worths, personally.

[BaronK69]

I think I might too.

[LStrachey]

I'd go for the worth (but it could simply be the better light in the video for those strings) -- nice playing on both, but seemed more '[free rolling' with worth.

[BaronK69]

Light and sound go hand in hand...

[boozelele]

yeah. the worths are no nearly as bright are they? or are they, now that ive listened to it a couple times I can't tell.......

[BaronK69]

They are kinda bright, but in a totally different way. It's hard to tell...

[theBradlands]

I think I'm going with the WBs.  Nice rich tone.

[BaronK69]

Good choice.

[Rouyome]

I prefer Aquilas ;) & AC/DC shirt

[BaronK69]

That's a popular combo...

[eerteep]

i like the warmth of the worths...i had to close my eyes to really appreciate them...i like the brightness of the aquilas as well...worths win by a protruding horse's nose-hair...

: )

p.

[BaronK69]

I think that pretty much sums it up Petri.

[africatwin07]

I like the aquilas, but with the ac/dc shirt.

[BaronK69]

You can't have both, you have to choose one...

[africatwin07]

Then i'm not playing anymore.

I want my ball back.

Huff.......

;)

[BaronK69]

Alright then - you can have the aquilas with the ac/dc shirt!

(...cry baby...)

[africatwin07]

don't want it now :(

[BaronK69]

Come on... hey...buddy? You can have a beer too?

[africatwin07]

okay then with a beer, I'll go for the aquilas and the ac/dc tshirt, beer is like my kryptonite, you figured out my weak point. :)

[BaronK69]

Well, you're Irish right?

[africatwin07]

The old stereotypes are the best! We like to drink and play music. And drink. And drink.

[UnluckyMum]

o i dont know :(

[BaronK69]

Ha ha. You don't have to - it's not a contest...

[krabbers]

worth

[BaronK69]

I'm leaning towards those too. Sounds even better now when they stay in tune...

[russbuss415]

i like the AC/DC shirt better.

[BaronK69]

Yeah it sounds better too. But I'm wearing shorts in the vid, and that always adds some extra brightness...

[mjs004]

Both are fantastic. Kind of apples and oranges, and fine wines. Also, like women, too come to think of it!

Worths are more mature, bolder, experienced the type of string you would want to settle down with. The Aquilas are more younger, like to stay out and party and can be changed often.

[BaronK69]

Nice allegory...

[UnluckyMum]

hmm- that sounds a bit sexist to me

[KenMiddletonUkulele]

Nice test, R. Aquilas for strumming and bluesy style pieces, Worths for picking.

[BaronK69]

Thanks Ken! Yeah, but if I want to do both without changing strings in the middle of a song?

[casetone2514]

"extra tension"?

Do you really get extra tension with them? Are they really more taught?

If so, where can I get some?

Thanks for the video Robin.

[BaronK69]

I haven't tried the regular tension, so I wouldn't know. But they're pretty tight and controlled and not as rubbery as other strings I've tried. I got them from musique83 in france.

(I'm thinking you might be joking, but if you are you're shooting over my thick swedish head...)

[casetone2514]

For a change I am not joking. I really feel my new uke could do with higher tension strings and I was genuinely interested. Thanks very much Robin.

When I'm joking, I'll nod my head so you know.....

[BaronK69]

Ah, good. I was afraid my English wasn't as flawless as I thought...

I can really recommend the extra tensions, but the aquilas are pretty hard too I think. Have you tried D-tuning? It makes a great difference.

[casetone2514]

I have a cheap Maholo Soprano tuned to D but I don't like it. I may have to go on a string hunt.

[hoosierhiver]

Good one Robin!

[BaronK69]

Thanks Mike, I guess the effect would be similar on the Mainlands.

[waterdog226]

You went to a lot of work to do this. The Aquila strings are brighter. The Worths speak with a deeper voice with more texture. I can close my eyes and really tell which are which. Both are really good.

[BaronK69]

Good idea listening with your eyes closed! The difference is bigger that way somehow.

[blountation]

good stuff, i'm liking the worths. nice sound quality too.

i've got an idea for a request: After Hours, The Velvet Underground. Would be great.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

[BaronK69]

Thank you. I'll have to check that song out.

[phillipsderek]

Both sound great.

I've done this experiment myself on a couple of ukes. The Worths seem to sound better on some, the Aquila on others. I find Aquila have a better feel for strumming and the Worths for picking.

[BaronK69]

Yeah, its not easy too choose...

[chrisg14mac]

I like the Aquilas. They seem to have a brighter tone.  The Worths sound more traditional.

[BaronK69]

I agree the worths have a more traditional sound. But I don't know if that's good or bad...

[hrlarson]

I think Aquilas fly. The others aren't Worth it. Seriously I think the tone is richer in the Aquilas.

[BaronK69]

Pun intended.... But you might be right.

[deach69]

Best thing to do is get another SK35-G so you don't have to decide on strings.

[BaronK69]

Ha ha. Wish I could, bro...

[av8or519]

I actually prefer the Aquilas...at least on the video they seem to give a richer tone than the Worths which seemed to have a slightly crisper attack but also a more tinny sustain. Just my humble opinion! Nice playing, btw, even just screwing around.

[BaronK69]

Yes, the aquilas are a little louder perhaps. But the worths have a wider range. I think...

[drysdale1979]

it's a tough call,but i reckon the worths sound a little brighter and perhaps cleaner if that makes sense.

[ArgapaUkulele]

Worth. Sven

[BaronK69]

Word.