As we mentioned before, different materials used for the body of the ukulele can affect how it sounds. If you are looking to improve your musical skills, then learning how to adjust the tone or shape of the instrument is important!
If you are thinking about buying a new ukulele, there are some things that you should consider. More expensive models may have higher quality plastic parts, which are better than lower cost ones that use cheaper material.
This article will talk more in depth about what makes up the body of the ukulele and some ways to change the overall sound depending on whether the wood, plastic, or both differ from the norm.
Removing Channels From The Body
There are two main components to most acoustic guitars: the top (fretboard) and the back/body. On a guitar with metal strings like a steel string guitar, these pieces are usually solid. You get one channel at a time unless you buy a double-cutaway model, where you get both pieces at once.
On an electric guitar, however, this is not the case. Since they do not need to resonate, only be amplified, the top and back become less significant. Many professional musicians prefer using non-resonating shapes as they believe them to be easier to play.
The same thing happens when playing the bass guitar. The low end resonance is typically left alone because it does not contribute much to the music.
There are certain things that can affect the sound, such as the type of paint
One thing to remember is that not all types of plastic or wood will effect your ukulele’s tone in the same way. Some materials contribute to the acoustic quality of the instrument less than others.
Some brands choose to cover the top surface with an easy-to-wash clear coat which helps protect the material from getting too hot when you use it to strum the strings. This also allows for more visibility of the wooden components under the coating which help determine how the guitar body resonates.
Other settings opt for non-porous surfaces which have a smoother feel due to the absence of grainy texture and/or natural oils. A smooth surface can aid in dampening some of the higher frequencies of the music being played by the uke.
Touch up paints are available
Although some people say that painting your ukulele can affect its sound, this is not true! The best way to refresh the finish of your instrument is by rubbing it with a good quality brush or piece of cloth.
By spraying an appropriate coat of clear polyurethane onto your surface, the plasticizer in the paint will penetrate the skin and give you a glossy sheen. This is definitely not something to do if you like the acoustic sound that the guitar already has!
Some brands contain chemicals which could potentially damage the wood permanently. These types of sprayings cannot be removed without using strong solvents so make sure you research the correct ones before doing anything.
You should only do a touch up if needed
There is some debate about whether or not painting your ukulele changes how it sounds. Some say that changing the color of the body or adding decorations like special laces can slightly change how the instrument functions, but this doesn’t matter much unless you really want to play mostly chromatic music!
The best way to learn how to play the guitar is by starting with the basics, which are playing chords and strumming. Once you have mastered those, then you can move onto more complicated songs. But before you get too advanced, start off simple and work your way up!
It is very difficult to make an acoustic guitar sound good, so why would trying to paint one be any different? The reason people sometimes think altering the colors affects the tone is because many artists add decoration to their guitars as a fashion statement. However, most musicians never actually touches their instruments except for cleaning them occasionally!
If you really wanted to take things further, you could always buy a second hand used guitar and restore it, but again, most professionals don’t even bother doing that anymore.
Painting can damage the ukulele
One of the most common things people do to their ukuleles is paint the body or apply new lamination (the protective coating) onto the top surface. When painting the body, it is important to make sure you use only non-toxic materials that are safe for your hands!
While some brands suggest baking the painted item before applying laminate as a way to preserve the shape of the instrument, doing this may cause the paint to peel off later. If the painter uses improper tools or equipment they could scratch the finished product, making the guitar less durable.
In fact, some artists even scrape off the old lamination and start over with another color! This could easily ruin the sound quality of the instrument if done improperly.
Painting makes the ukulele more expensive
There is one area where painting your instrument can cost you quite a bit of money, however, it is not to make its sound better!
Ukuleles are already very affordable, but some people feel that they look too plain for their liking. People want to add decorations or design touches to their instruments. These added touches are called “graphics” or “designs”.
These designs can be made using either paint or wood stains or glues. Some experts say that unless you are trained in graphics, doing either of these things will not help improve the tone or enhance the look of your ukulele.
That being said, there are many ways to do graffiti style artwork on your new ukulele. You can buy pre-designed covers at most music stores or online vendors. Or you can take your pick from thousands of images available on Google and other search engines.
Some stores do not allow it
A lot of people are curious about whether or not painting your ukulele will affect its sound. They may even go as far to ask if it is possible to completely remove all trace of color from your instrument so that it sounds identical to what it was manufactured with!
The answer to these questions is no, painting your uke does NOT change the way it produces music! That is definitely an interesting theory but it just isn’t true.
It is very common for professional musicians to modify their instruments by buffing out the finish, adding decorations or trying new colors. Many famous artists have done this such as Mark Knopfler who painted his guitar several different shades of red!
By having multiple finishes in the same piece, they give it a feeling of prestige which makes it more expensive. This is why you often see rich kids owning lots of flashy guitars with lasers and other special features.
But none of those things matter when it comes down to how well the guitar performs its job- making beautiful music!
For this reason, most major manufacturers do not make any difference between newly made instruments and ones that were sold years ago. Even if there is a slight difference, people usually cannot tell unless they are looking closely.
There are risks involved with painting
All instrument repairs should be done by professionals, as there are certain materials used to do it can potentially damage your ukulele.
If you are ever unsure whether or not to paint your ukulele, we recommend leaving it alone. Since most people agree that bright colors look nice, why not add some character to your guitar!
However, there are instances where individuals choose to professionally refinish their instruments. Some claim that changing the color of the body or bridge changes how the strings vibrate which could possibly affect the sound.
This article will discuss what types of paints are safe for altering the appearance of your ukulele and what brands are trustworthy.
You should only get a professional to do it
As mentioned before, your neck size can make a difference in how much control you have over the strings of your ukulele.
If you want more flexibility with your chords, then finding a thinner-necked model is better than buying one that is thicker.
Some people say that painting your own uke changes the sound quality because it allows for tighter bending of the top or front edge. However, this isn’t completely true.
It is possible to slightly bend the top or front edge without ruining the overall look of your ukulele.