Can you advise me of a good quality uke -not quite beginner but not like a jazz uke pro getting ready for TV?
see by the left side of my page that I love instruments and would like to get out in public asap so I don't want a student model.
28 Comments |
 | 5stringpicker2 says:
2/26/2011 5:37:38 AM
Saga Instruments offers the Mahalo which is a well known brand of Ukuleles and of good quality and Price.
sagamusic.com/catalog/products...randid=22
They even have models designed after The Gibson Flying V, Fender Teles & Banjos
Hamano Ukuleles are a bit pricy but nice.
You can also check out Amazon they carry Laniakai, Kala Makala, Luna a very nice brand and several others.
amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_...=ukuleles
Price wise and playability Mahalo and Luna are great brands. I make all my own Ukuleles from Child size Guitars that I convert.
I'm getting set up to start making Ukuleles soon I hope.
Hope this is helpful. If I can help further please let me know and I will do all I can.
Terry
|
 | gradelyduck says:
2/26/2011 6:26:17 AM
I started out with a uke way back when. At the moment I have a cheapo L&N baritone I've tuned slack key, ie. open G. It's useful to practice scales and work up arrangements quietly. I also have an Italian made Musikalia banjo uke. At the present time it's strung with nylon strings for Formby style playing, but can be strung cavaquinho style with steel strings. I record the uke banjo as a percussive backing track, in place of mandolin.
cheers
Brian
|
 | TonyS says:
2/26/2011 7:16:31 AM
Thanks guys... we'll see what happens........
|
 | Jim Yates says:
2/26/2011 8:57:16 AM
Hi Tony,
I have a Koa Kala concert uke that was very reasonable and sounds and plays great. It cost around $200 Cdn and came equiped with Aquila strings, which seem to make any uke sound better. I know that a $200 guitar, banjo or mandolin would be considered a crappy instrument and perhaps it's because I've not played really high quality ukes, but it seems that you can get a nice uke for a lot less than a nice guitar or banjo or mandolin.
Some folks seem to think that you should be able to get a uke for $30 or $40, but these are toys, not musical instruments.
|
| TonyS says:
2/26/2011 2:01:56 PM
Thanks too Jim - I'll check it out - I had a toy one once so I wouldn't fall for the 30 buck model...
|
 | rendesvous1840 says:
2/26/2011 2:52:02 PM
Mrs.Wanda & I both have Kala ukes, and we are very pleased with them. I also have a Makai CK55 I picked up used for $40. A local school had bought 25 of them, and decided not to have the program after all. The store bought them back and sold them for about half the original price. I didn't need it, but it was too good to pas up, in case someone around me wants to try. The action is pretty good, sound and intonation are ok. The fret ends are a bit sharp, so it probably needs humidity. I like the 2 Kala better, but it's not a bad uke at all. Good enough to learn on, and go to jams etc. I don't think I would use it for paying gigs(if I had some), but I can see it getting used for other purposes. There are a lot of $15-$20 ukes that are useless. I have one on my wall that I was given. It's very pretty, but the neck was installed crooked, and won't play in tune up the neck. Not worth fixing. Stick with brands someone has told you were good. I have seen a couple of Boulder Creek that were pretty nice, also.
|
 | kathy315 says:
2/26/2011 3:01:30 PM
I have a Kala 6 string tenor and love it...
|
| Jim Yates says:
2/26/2011 5:35:41 PM
Above I said,"Some folks seem to think that you should be able to get a uke for $30 or $40, but these are toys, not musical instruments."
I probably should have said," many of these are toys." You might find a playable one for this price, especially second hand. I was thinking of the ukes painted with a thick coating of brightly coloured paint that many music stores carry.
|
 | trapdoor2 says:
2/26/2011 5:37:50 PM
I bought a Koa Pili Koko tenor, new, off of ebay last month. $185 +free shipping. Great uke and the only one I have that both stays in tune and intonates properly (all the rest are either found, given or yard-sale cheapies). Seems to me to be a great uke for the price.
|
 | feldspar1333 says:
2/26/2011 7:13:30 PM
Another happy Kala player here....
|
| kathy315 says:
2/27/2011 4:05:44 AM
The list price from Kala for the 6 string tenor was $290. I looked on their website and found some local dealers..one didn't have one in stock but ordered one for me and charged $185. I really (REALLY)wanted to buy a tweed case for it but I called and emailed everyone and can't find one for sale,so I got a Kala hard foam case for about 50 dollars..Brought it to Joe Val (lots of folks brought them)..It stays in tune better than my Gibson..
|
 | Banjosnob says:
2/27/2011 7:46:46 AM
I have a litte Slingerland "Maybelle" that I am learning "Over the Rainbow" on, but the tuners are old and don't want to stay in tune,,,,,, but it might be my voice that isn't in tune, anyway I keep trying. Nobody around, thank goodness, so I won't get any ripe fruit slung at me. Does anybody know if I need to oil these old tuners? How?
|
| TonyS says:
2/27/2011 8:04:16 AM
How about Fluke? ...Flea?
|
| TonyS says:
2/27/2011 8:04:16 AM
How about Fluke? ...Flea?
|
| TonyS says:
2/27/2011 8:04:17 AM
How about Fluke? ...Flea?
|
| TonyS says:
2/27/2011 8:04:18 AM
How about Fluke? ...Flea?
|
| 5stringpicker2 says:
2/27/2011 10:28:55 AM
For around $150 to $250 you should be able to purchase a very good Ukulele.
I find converting small guitars work well & are every bit as good as a store bought.
I have 2 I've converted. Have you given that a thought?
(I )===='---<::)
|
| TonyS says:
2/27/2011 11:01:24 AM
sorry for the above repeats! Internet probs!
|
 | banjonutty says:
3/1/2011 12:49:41 AM
I have a Samick Gregg Bennett UK-60, very good price and great tone better than some of my more expensive ukes, also just got a Lanikai O-8 which is an 8 string and that is fantastic.
|
| Jim Yates says:
3/1/2011 9:00:46 AM
Lynne and anyone else who has a uke with old friction tuners that are giving them trouble. I had someone suggest making cordboard or leather washers where the tuner touches the wood, on the top and bottom of the peghead. I've tried it (I used leather, because I had a scrap around the house) and it seems to have improved the way they work considerably.
|
 | Ronnie says:
3/2/2011 7:38:29 AM
Daughter has a Luna Tribal Turtle soprano. Less than $100 and a poerful little uke.
|
Pjarn says:
3/2/2011 6:33:20 PM
Glad to see this group! My uke is a no name and sounds like it, but it was all I could afford at the time. Still, have fun trying to learn how to play.
|
 | Diamond Eagle says:
3/4/2011 8:27:53 AM
Check out Luna Ukulele's. Their High Tide Tenor or Concert are great instruments in the $250 to $300 range. I have a couple of their Concert Tattoo models ($89) and are a great value, setup out of the box and good intonation up the neck.
|
| Jim Yates says:
3/4/2011 10:40:33 AM
Hey Kathy, How is a six-string strung? I assume it's still four courses. Which ones are doubled? Are they unison or octaves?
|
| Ronnie says:
3/8/2011 11:24:00 AM
Daughter with Luna Tribal Turtle. youtube.com/watch?v=RbDQg15Ynx4
|
 | revellfa says:
3/10/2011 5:20:24 PM
I am in the market for a good uke as well. Ihave been told of a great company called Mainland. Check them out.
|
 | bigcraig says:
3/12/2011 11:52:24 PM
I got a nice Mele Uke from the factory shop on Maui. They are handmade in the Phillipines from Hawaiian materials and finished in Hawaii. Nice Midrange Ukes.
|
 | Alan Hill says:
4/13/2011 1:48:18 AM
Well I got an Oscar Shmidt tenor made from mango wood two weeks ago and its great and not to dear have a look on amazon.com it got to Australia in 5 days great service
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
