OK, I'll Start... Mark, What Should I Know About Ukes?

[Brian]

In the have you ever felt like you wanna retire? (http://www.guitaristpraiseforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2575) thread Sell everything you have and buy a small place on an island far away and just hang around in your hammock and play the ukulele?... We're talking about a 7 year plan to do just that. In the meantime we're collecting some Hawaiian music, and I want a decent Uke. I know I'll am not going to be like the madman of the Uke Jake Shimabukuro (http://www.jakeshimabukuro.com/home.php) but I am thinking about joining SUPA (http://www.seattleukulele.org/).

From what I've heard, I really like the sweetness of 4 string Koa tenors. But Mark, tell me what I should know about Ukes.

[reverbbb]

:guitar7:

Yeah, I would like to know more about Ukes myself. I think that they are cool instruments that can be used in certain passages to add unique character to songs.

I saw Taj Mahal in Fort Worth a couple of years ago. He had 3 uke players. I thought to myself, "I wonder how much they get paid as a touring uke player?".

[SeanB]

Man, my mom can play the uke, but I don't know anything about them. Any of you guys know halvsies on the chord structures? Easily explainable? I'll buy one if I can figure this out.

Oh by the way, I love the beach. I DON'T KNOW WHY!!!!!

[Brian]

Man, my mom can play the uke, but I don't know anything about them. Any of you guys know halvsies on the chord structures? Easily explainable? I'll buy one if I can figure this out. Oh by the way, I love the beach. I DON'T KNOW WHY!!!!!Tuned intervals like strings 1-4 on guitar. Your option if you want the 4th to be an octave higher. That help??

[Mark From Hawaii]

My experience has ony been with the usual small-body soprano ukes. They're tuned:

4th string = G (octave higher)
3rd string = C
2nd string = E
1st string = A

Koa ukes start around $300 these days if you're lucky. If you're looking to just get started, the Flukes and Applause ukes are pretty good instruments. They're well-built and sound pretty good; if anything, they're loud. Mahogany ukes can also be good deals as well. Nothing can beat a nice Koa uke of course. Like guitars, look for frets that are nicely dressed and fitted onto the fingerboard. Make sure the tuning pegs are easy to turn but maintain tension when the uke is tuned. A soprano uke is supposed to sound a bit tinny but not overly so; there should still be some resonance to the sound. As with guitars, make sure the bridge is well-secured (glued) to the top, the strings don't buzz in all positions, and the intonation is correct on the fingerboard. If you go with a quality koa instrument, there are options to the wood choice - curly, light, etc. that could drive up the price. Happy strumming. ;)

[OrovilleTim]

A guy I met over here from Hawaii had really good things to say about the Maui Music ukuleles. I'm a big fan of koa (koa Tele, koa Taylor, someday soon koa Strat), but he said to try a Koa and Mango combination. He said he really dug mango wood (and he even had the word "koa" in his name... Kekoa. ;))

I told myself I wouldn't get a uke until the next time I was in Hawaii, but I do have this little guy on my Musicians Friend wishlist: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lanikai-CKTEQ-Tenor-Ukulele-AcousticElectric?sku=512517

It's definitely a lot cheaper than a Maui Music model. I thought it would be cool to just have it available to plug into my acoustic amp should I ever want a little variety.

Tim

[MadHatter]

lol...I'd love a uke too

but I'd be forever scared that someone would mistake me for tiny tim...

[Brian]

...Koa ukes start around $300 these days if you're lucky. If you're looking to just get started, the Flukes and Applause ukes are pretty good instruments. They're well-built and sound pretty good; if anything, they're loud. Mahogany ukes can also be good deals as well. Nothing can beat a nice Koa uke of course... If you go with a quality koa instrument, there are options to the wood choice - curly, light, etc. that could drive up the price. Happy strumming. ;)Thanks Mark! I don't have a lot of $ to spend but I (and fortunately my wife) appreciate and look for high quality and value. Since I don't buy or sell often they become my working instruments. It appears that quality all-solid Hawaiian made instruments are roughly 15%-20% higher than imports, not really that much so I'm looking to purchase a quality all-solid Koa, basic Tenor or possibly Concert model (but with gloss finish for that extra modicum of surface protection) from a Hawaiian luthier.

I'm looking for the inside scoop. Any notable characteristics about/between Hawaiian builders? Any up and comers trying to build their clientel and their reputation offering quality with good pricing? Looks like there may be some good used instrument values out there too. What does a Kamaka "Gold Label" signify?

[Mark From Hawaii]

...Koa ukes start around $300 these days if you're lucky. If you're looking to just get started, the Flukes and Applause ukes are pretty good instruments. They're well-built and sound pretty good; if anything, they're loud. Mahogany ukes can also be good deals as well. Nothing can beat a nice Koa uke of course... If you go with a quality koa instrument, there are options to the wood choice - curly, light, etc. that could drive up the price. Happy strumming. ;)Thanks Mark! I don't have a lot of $ to spend but I (and fortunately my wife) appreciate and look for high quality and value. Since I don't buy or sell often they become my working instruments. It appears that quality all-solid Hawaiian made instruments are roughly 15%-20% higher than imports, not really that much so I'm looking to purchase a quality all-solid Koa, basic Tenor or possibly Concert model (but with gloss finish for that extra modicum of surface protection) from a Hawaiian luthier.

I'm looking for the inside scoop. Any notable characteristics about/between Hawaiian builders? Any up and comers trying to build their clientel and their reputation offering quality with good pricing? Looks like there may be some good used instrument values out there too. What does a Kamaka "Gold Label" signify?

Kamaka ukes are just about the most sought after - they still have a factory in Honolulu. Don't know what the gold label means - sorry. :dunno:

http://www.kamakahawaii.com/instruments.html

There's another family-run factory in Kaneohe that's supposed to be pretty good:

http://www.kanileaukulele.com/index8.html

I also found Mele Ukes in the phone book:

http://www.meleukulele.com/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1&cat=Koa+Ukuleles

And Fukuba:

http://www.yellowpagesmusic.com/1631/HI/4771/

And GString:

http://www.gstringukuleles.com/default.asp

And Koaloha:

http://www.koaloha.com/mainPage.html

Hope this helps. :D