Aquila Red Series AQ-72 Tenor Ukulele String - Low G - 4th String

I am an old guitar man. Recently (15 months ago) I got a Uke and quickly became the lead break soloist at my Uke Club. Wanting to use my guitar break patterns to maximum effect I choose to “wear my G string low”...so to speak. I have a Kala Cedar/acacia tenor Uke with electrics. It came with Aquila Nylgut with the wound low G. For me that wound G was out of character with the other strings. Very dominant, “different” and “there”.Research led me to the unwound Red...bought as a single string (72U). Put it on...loved it. Sounded like it belonged. 2 days later it broke. Bought 2 more. Next one...loved it...lasted 2 weeks. Found a video on how to install WITHOUT DRAGGING IT THROUGH THE NUT NOTCH...AT ALL. Bingo! Number 3 has lasted almost a year now. Bought 3 more for spares. Still don’t know if they just have a high failure rate and you just have to try till you get to a good one, or whether the magic installation video did the trick. Number 4 will tell...at some point.Now I am noticing that, when I get to soloing riffs high up the neck, the stiff thick Nylgut strings rather lack sustain. Thinking that a full set of reds may do the trick...being thinner and more free to vibrate, and apparently sounding brighter and with more sustain. So here’s the weird thing that is baffling to me...and so many other reviewers. The set of tenor Reds (88U) come with a WOUND LOW G! Why Aquila...WHY? The whole schpeel about the copper and the density and the thinner string that gets a lower frequency seems to come off the rails here! So I have to order an 88U set, throw away the wound low G and continue to buy unwound low Gs separately? Duh! And then there are the many many reviews that say that the other strings are probably going to be “breaky” also. I’m going to try it...shooting for heaven...hoping not to get hell.UPDATE: Got the set of Reds, Low G as discussed. Threw away the wound low G as discussed and put the new Red C,E, and A on with the existing unwound Red G. Stretched them while installing. Did not drag them through the nut slots. Actually these are so stretchable that I was able to reach concert pitch BEFORE the final drop into the nut slot. Actually I got one TOO HIGH, and had to back it off once seated in the nut! Got away with it. Now with all Reds on I am in heaven. As hoped, everything is crisp, clean and clear. Longer sustain everywhere...including high up the neck. Way easier to bend for lead work...AND NO BREAKAGE! Had them on about 10 Days now. Upping the rating to 5 stars. Still think it’s stupid that there is no unwound low G set.UPDATE 2: It’s been a few months now. Playing every day. No more breakages. Love my Aquila Reds now that I have learned how to install them. Upping to 5 stars.

Made a so-so Ukulele sound like an expensive one and not like a plastic toy. The price is on the high side for a single string, but the difference is there to make up for it. Shipping was fast. Thanks, Amazon. -Bud

They break. Their low G strings are made from a brown plastic material that breaks under tension. I had this string as part of a set . It broke after about a month of occasional use. I ordered another and installed it carefully and it sounded good. After a few days it broke. The break was between the nut and the tuning peg. So I knotted the two pieces and re installed it. It broke a day later. The break was not at the knot. I give up on using this type of string.

I have them on all 8 of my ukuleles. I really like the feel and sound of them. Very happy with my purchase.

Been using these strings for a while. They have a great sound and are very easy on your fingers. The low G string is fragile. It wears through relatively quickly. The single replacement string for low G is a much better string and longer lasting. Clearly, it is not the same string that comes with the set. Why not? The A string needs to put on and tuned carefully the first time. It will snap if you tighten it too quickly. All-in-all really good strings if you buy a single low G.

I used these to replace worn out strings on my Mele (Maui) tenor, low G. As any uke player with experience knows, the low G is the problem string. My wrapped low G frayed just before a gig, but these strings saved me. They pretty much settled into tuning about 3 days in, and the non-wrapped, but somehow copper infused, low G string has great sonority. I have used Aquila strings many times, and they usually live up to their reputation. This Red set for tenor low G is equal to the best strings I have used on my Mele tenor. I experiment with different brands and types for my small array of ukes, but the quality of these Aquila Reds stands out.

1. BREAKING. This is a thicker string than other Low Gs. If you are moving to a low G for the first time and you don't widen the nut slot it will pinch and break. You can't simply remove a thin high G and install this string. You will need to get the nut slot widened by a luthier.2. BUZZING. This Aquila Red string tunes at a lower tension than other Low G strings. At a lower tension, it oscillates more (whips), which can cause it to hit a tall fret and buzz. I spent the time to level my frets (#6 was taller than #5 and #7) and still could not fix my buzzing problem. I installed a high tension D'Addario (flouro) Carbon Low G and I have no more buzzing issues.3. NOISE. It is a bit noisy. It is not a wound string, but it has a rough surface. You'll hear your finger slide on the string. Not good if you're amplified.So, if your going to install this string, get your nut slot widened and have your frets checked and leveled by a competent luthier.

The string broke in easily. It has a nice tone and it stays in tune