The Tahitian ukulele is carved from a single piece of wood (often salusalu or poplar) lightly varnished, has four courses (i.e. eight paired strings) and is strung with 30-lb fishing line. Tuned to the same notes as the older Hawaiian uke, the Tahitian uke's two middle courses are tuned an octave higher than the Hawaiian. Also the Tahitian uke is not hollow but has a conical or tapered hole bored through the body—covered in front with what appears to be a thin circle of wood acting as a diaphragm and bridge-mount. The smaller hole in the back remains open. The sound is thinner and more banjo-like than a Hawaiian uke and generally strummed faster for a sound that is distinctly Tahitian. This very lovely instrument is sometimes called a Tahitian banjo. Like Hawaiian ukes, these too are often fitted with electronics for amplification.