ukelele

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:28 am

i'm considering buying a ukelele. i found some dirt cheap for like 30 bucks. just wondering if they're even worth it. i mean, it's 30 bucks, how shitty are they? i don't really want to spend a lot on one though, since i just want to mess around with it.(sexually)umm.. j/k...

c_tietze · Post by **c_tietze** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 3:31 pm

Unlike cheap guitars, cheap ukes are decent to learn on because action really isn't a problem and tone woods are not really of a concern unless you become a serious player.

Any of the Samick ukes or Oscar Schmidt ukes are good entry level instruments.

I myself have a Samick, a vintage uke I got in Hawaii, a student uke (about $30) and a typical "tourist" uke that has Hawaii emblazoned on it.

I ordered accessories and a student uke from:
http://www.meleukulele.com

They are very friendly and ship very well.

Most ukes are tuned GCEA and the chord formations are usually one or two fretted (nylon) strings.

Give it a shot, it's a minimal investment and the uke is very portable and always brings a smile to people's faces.

Peace,

Carl

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:48 am

thanks man. definitely gonna buy one.

Davy28 · Post by **Davy28** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:37 pm

ukes are tight. definitely learn one

c_tietze · Post by **c_tietze** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:39 pm

They're really fun and easy to carry. I actually purchased a little chipboard case, some ask me I play the violin. Of course I don't lie and say yes, I mean no. (yeah sure, right).

Stay away form the current Martin uke, it's waaaay to expensive for what it's made out of and it's sad that Martin has put out such a cheaply made and poor sounded instrument.

EDIT:

Btw, I believe Oscar Schmidt makes a soprano uke that has a pickup in it for about 40 bucks.

Soprano ukes are the most common, if you want something that sounds more like a guitar get a tenor uke, they're much larger and deeper in sound.

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:12 pm

i'm looking for the soprano sound.
http://www.meleukulele.com/shopdisplayp ... t+Ukeleles
is that pheonix a soprano? i'm guessing it is, just making sure though.

sacdeez · Post by **sacdeez** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:43 pm

just make sure that you get one that has geared tuning pegs. i bought one from musicians friend and it has friction pegs and never stays in tune and i can actually watch the peg move after tuning.

littlefriend · Post by **littlefriend** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 3:27 pm

Friction pegs suck for any instrument. Of course, you could always try roughing them up with a scrap of sandpaper. That helps for a while. Ultimately you just get tired of constantly retuning.

sacdeez · Post by **sacdeez** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:13 pm

littlefriend420 wrote:Friction pegs suck for any instrument. Of course, you could always try roughing them up with a scrap of sandpaper. That helps for a while. Ultimately you just get tired of constantly retuning.

they do suck and now i never play the thing and in fact its hung up on my wall for decoration.

carter29 · Post by **carter29** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:57 am

yeah my ex girlfrind played he cello and it was way too hard to keep it in tune b/c they kept slipping, get gear tunes

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 2:46 am

thanks for the advice. how do i know which one has gear tuners if i buy it off of the internet? any suggestions off of this site... http://www.meleukulele.com or another site?

GSR · Post by **GSR** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:44 am

I'm a little annoyed that the ukelele thread got more replies than the warwick thread.

c_tietze · Post by **c_tietze** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:33 pm

jrbleiguy wrote:thanks for the advice. how do i know which one has gear tuners if i buy it off of the internet? any suggestions off of this site... http://www.meleukulele.com or another site?

The beginner Phoenix uke looks like geared tuners. Just ask before buying, they should tell you. Friction tuners are junk and frustrating.

Other student ukes:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=h ... id/512535/

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=h ... id/512520/

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=h ... id/514014/

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:49 pm

My eyes are on the oscar schmidt. gonna order it tonight. Thanks for the help.

jaroben · Post by **jaroben** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 1:56 am

my uke has arrived. just have to tune it... i don't have a tuner. is there a way to tune it using a guitar?

EDIT: found sounds for tunings on the world wide web. as well as chords and stuff. fun instrument to play!