Looking for a ukelele

[knucklehead G]

Looking to get a ukelele for my birthday, in about a week. I don't have any specific requirements as I know almost nothing about them, but they're fairly inexpensive and I'd love something to noodle around on the front porch with.

The sky is the limit, as long as the sky is $50. What should I be looking for? Any brands better than others? Aside from sharp frets are there any quality issues I need to specifically look for when we go to pick one out?

[Terracite]

Other than std stuff you'd check on any guitarlikeinstrument:

For strumming on the porch; just worry about the first five frets, intonation on the rest sucks on just about all of them unless you wanna pay $100+.

Check the tuners to make sure they tight. The most stable ones often feel like they're too tight, and might squeak a little, but that's ok.

Other than that, get a cheap one. Ukes get passed around a bunch, and if it gets left on the porch, no biggie.

[Terracite]

Just a head's up, in case you're thinking of playing it like a mini-bass for practice. The tuning is really dumb. Guitar/bass skills don't crossover much.

[Papa Dangerous]

Check out Kala Ukes. They are quite popular for a low price. Personally, I do not ukes, and I cannot give an opinion on them based on use. But A LOT of people buy them at my store.

www.altomusic.com | Ukuleles

[knucklehead G]

Originally Posted by Terracite

Just a head's up, in case you're thinking of playing it like a mini-bass for practice. The tuning is really dumb. Guitar/bass skills don't crossover much.

I wasn't, I've just been watching M*A*S*H on DVD and thinking how fun it would be to have something I could leave about the house without worrying about it too much.

[Papa Dangerous]

Originally Posted by knucklehead G

I wasn't, I've just been watching M*A*S*H on DVD and thinking how fun it would be to have something I could leave about the house without worrying about it too much.

+1 on M*A*S*H

I am only 23 and I have a deep appreciation for this show. I remember loving the theme when I was a wee tike.

[knucklehead G]

Originally Posted by Papa Dangerous

Check out Kala Ukes. They are quite popular for a low price. Personally, I do not ukes, and I cannot give an opinion on them based on use. But A LOT of people buy them at my store.

www.altomusic.com | Ukuleles

If you go past the goofy colored ones, the Kala ukes are out of my budget.

[itchy]

I think the tuning pegs are a deal breaker for a uke. Cheap ones go out of tune after 30 seconds, rendering the whole instrument useless. It's common.

Don't be fooled just because the uke is small and you see cheesy toy ones for cheap all over.
In general, they are just like any other instrument = pay a cheap price, recieve a cheap instrument. (of course there are exceptions to this rule)

[jerry]

Originally Posted by itchy

I think the tuning pegs are a deal breaker for a uke. Cheap ones go out of tune after 30 seconds, rendering the whole instrument useless. It's common.

Don't be fooled just because the uke is small and you see cheesy toy ones for cheap all over.
In general, they are just like any other instrument = pay a cheap price, recieve a cheap instrument. (of course there are exceptions to this rule)

+1, save up another 50 bucks and get one that stays in tune, people that hear you practice will be a lot happier.

[251]

I bought a Mahalo for $35 at a local store that caters to Folk Musicians. I deliberately bought a small Uke so my Grandson could play with it in comfort. You've got a bit more to spend, won't bump it as often & might be more comfy with a larger size.

Check this out; Ukulele Underground - Free online video ukulele lessons, tabs, chords, and the largest ukulele forum on the internet!

FWIW, the Grandson strums "The Blue Guitar" with right & left hands while gleefully singing I've Been Working On the Railroad. 8-)

[knucklehead G]

Originally Posted by itchy

I think the tuning pegs are a deal breaker for a uke. Cheap ones go out of tune after 30 seconds, rendering the whole instrument useless. It's common.

Don't be fooled just because the uke is small and you see cheesy toy ones for cheap all over.
In general, they are just like any other instrument = pay a cheap price, recieve a cheap instrument. (of course there are exceptions to this rule)

Originally Posted by jerry

+1, save up another 50 bucks and get one that stays in tune, people that hear you practice will be a lot happier.

If it was this kind of situation, yeah I'd go for a medium-high quality instrument. I'm receiving this as a birthday present from a family member that I know doesn't have much money but wants to get me something because she knows I enjoy music. I picked a ukelele because $50 doesn't mean it'll be made of plastic and it won't need an amp or anything to jack the pricing up, and if I ask for a pack of bass strings it'll be obvious I'm trying to go cheap.

Aria Concert Ukulele: Shop Folk & Traditional Instruments & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

All mahogany, how's that one look? Any experience with Aria uke's tuners?

[One Bad Monkey]

I just bought my third uke this weekend (a concert-sized resonator uke) having only played one since Feb. I would echo everyone else's comments about saving up another $50, because there are a LOT more options if your budget is under $100.

A uke is tuned in a manner that makes it a lot easier to pick it up and figure out a song in five minutes than a regular guitar would. That's probably a reason they were so popular back in the day.

You "can" transfer some bass and guitar strumming over to the uke. The triplet pattern that I learned over the weekend is pretty similar to how I do slap triplets, so I picked it up fairly quickly.

[knucklehead G]

Every thread where someone asks, "What can I get for $XXX.XX?" nearly every response is, "You should spend twice that."

Is there some reason for this? Sometimes, I'd even say often if a budget is posted, that is not an option. It like when people post an Ampeg or Aguilar question and every answer is Eden or Orange or Markbass.


I'm not using this in a band, and getting beer spilled on it or getting rained on because said beer caused it to be left outside are real possibilities. $100 is not an option. $51 is only an option if its the tax that pushed it over. I appreciate the feedback, but randomly doubling the budget isn't going to happen here.

[One Bad Monkey]

Most people that make a thread like this that are looking for something, propose a budget that severely limits any recommendations any of us can offer. Check the link you posted; there are nine options available under the $50 mark. There are twenty-four under the $100.

I don't think any of us are ill-meaning in it, but if you're just looking for a beater instrument that you're going to leave around the house and neglect (getting rained on, spilling beer on it, leaving it wherever), why are you even asking our opinion? Any instrument under the $50 range will probably fit the bill.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by jerry

+1, save up another 50 bucks and get one that stays in tune, people that hear you practice will be a lot happier.

Another +1 a $50.00 uke or at least the ones i have seen are for kids and I would never want one. I have a Fender $115.00 and a Ohana baritone $150 and both have good tuners and decent quality. You asked advice from those who play them and own one and we told you the 50.00 ukes are pretty much junk. Get a decent one at 100.00 or save your money IMO.

[jlane72t]

Originally Posted by bassbully

the 50.00 ukes are pretty much junk. Get a decent one at 100.00 or save your money IMO.

Another vote for that.

I had a $30 uke and liked the concept but it was never in tune so I rarely played it. I played plenty of friends' other $30-$50 ukes and they all were the same story regardless of brand. Then I spent $100 on a Luna - they have slightly cheaper models too - and it's a whole different ballgame. It's an actual instrument instead of a novelty toy.

Asking "what's the best $50 and under uke" is like asking which is the best guitar sold at WalMart. The only right answer is no answer at all.

[TolerancEJ]

If you're not already aware, tuning the Ukelele is different from that of a Bass. Also, there are different tunings depending on the size of the Ukelele.

See this handy PDF document, which is located on the Kala website.
http://www.kalaukulele.com/PDF/KalaT...chure-0810.pdf

[bassbully]

My Baritone is allot of fun since I can play guitar chords on it. It still has a uke like sound as well as an old nylon string guitar sound thats pretty cool too.

[EagleMoon]

Check out Rondo Music. They have a couple for $19.95.

[251]

Originally Posted by knucklehead G

If it was this kind of situation, yeah I'd go for a medium-high quality instrument. I'm receiving this as a birthday present from a family member that I know doesn't have much money but wants to get me something because she knows I enjoy music. I picked a ukelele because $50 doesn't mean it'll be made of plastic and it won't need an amp or anything to jack the pricing up, and if I ask for a pack of bass strings it'll be obvious I'm trying to go cheap.

Aria Concert Ukulele: Shop Folk & Traditional Instruments & Other Musical Instruments | Musician's Friend

All mahogany, how's that one look? Any experience with Aria uke's tuners?

One of those should be fun. You won't have any trouble figuring out how to tune it.

Peg tuners do slowly slip over time & nylon strings are way different from steel. A introductory book with chords & a couple of songs will get you playing. A simple plastic case will keep it dry. Enjoy! 8-)