Strings Aquila 140U ThunderBlack - String-Set For Bass Ukulele

After a few years of using the standard black shiny strings, I have switched to these Black Thinderguts. They hold thier tuning much better. They have a better tone (for me). They are slightly less slippy than the stock strings, sliding is slightly more tricky but can easily be overcome with a bit of adaption. Overall I am pleased that I changed to these. They also settled in quicker than the stock strings. I would recommend them to anyone who is fed up constantly retuning thier U Bass. A good purchase. Do search YouTube for Aquila's video in how to string up using these strings, it is not obvious although thier are instructions on the packet.

So little real information about these on the web, so I assume they are a new development by the Italian stringmaker. Have to say that I think Aquila have come up trumps this time. I've just replaced the standard Thunderguts on my Countryman Bass Ukulele with these. To be honest, bass ukulele strings don't seem to wear out but there's a lot not to love about the 68U standards - the off-white/cream colour for one. These Thunderblacks are what they say on the tin (or packet) - they are black - and smooth, another thing that the 68U's aren't!Another great thing about the Thunderblacks is that you can just fit them like a normal bass string - no overstretching onto the machine heads until they are somewhere near tension. I just wound these on - with one proviso: I chopped about 2 inches off the E string; otherwise it just builds up too much on the machine head with the thickness that they are. The A, D & G's are fine at the length out of the packet.After just a few hours on my uke (on the hottest day of the year so far) they already seem to be settling in. Still tuning them up a bit but I get the feeling they'll be like bass guitar strings in no time and stay in tune well. Time will tell on that front, of course.Tone-wise they seem fine. The E string sound less flabby than the 68U's and the tone and amplitude across the strings sounds fairly uniform. I've yet to really try them out on a decent bass rig or in a gigging set-up yet but, so far, they seem much improved. I guess they are up to the standards of the Pahoehoe strings installed on Kala's as standard but seem not to suffer from the lengthy settling and endless stretching of those.I'll aim to update this in a week or so after they've been used a bit.

Excellent product excellent service

I would like to start by saying that I did not purchase these strings from amazon.I am very happy with these strings : they are easy to fit and unlike the road toad pahoehoe strings do not keep stretching and soon settle down.The manufacturer say there is no need to pre-stretch them, however I found that once I had tuned them up, a couple of the the tuning capstons were full : this is easily cured by removing the string and rewindingYou can see from my pictures that there is now plenty of space on the tuners and the strings are stable needing only the occasional tweak to bring up to concert pitch, as do all stringed instrumentsThe E string is easy to fit : just push it into the slot and wind on.With The A and D strings, I put the string in the slot and trapped it between the next two winds ( see pictures)On the G string I did tie a knot as this string is a lot thinner than the others.I have heard people say that these strings are stickyIn comparison with the Pahoehoe strings, I would just describe as “ not as slippery “ mainly the E and A strings, the other two strings feel the same.I have personally found them not to be overly sticky : I play a fretless instrument meaning. I do slide the strings to hit the correct note at times and I have no problems.The intonation is good , then again I have the fretless ubass and I can always adjust while playing.I would suggest that they are worth a try. they are certainly cheaper and easier to obtain, unlike the pahoehoe strings. I like the colour and so far they are not showing any signs of sausaging, a trait common with the original white thundergut strings.I

Excellent set of strings

Really pleased with the strings, much easier to play than the originals, certainly buy them again.