natchez
Well-known member
"REAL" men and women should indeed play whatever the heck they want!
For me, it is a combination of nut width and the instrument's scale that determines what I am happiest/ most comfortable playing. IMO- any decently set up ukulele will be good to go to the second position, and you only "need" the room of a tenor as you go for much higher terrain. Since I mostly strum and finger-pick up to the second position, or a little higher, my two tenors usually sit underplayed. But, if you want that bigger sound, a tenor will do it. I am happy playing sopranos with ~14" scales and concerts. I travel a lot and have found traveling with a soprano or concert is also a little more convenient.
One thing not mentioned above, is that the price and the corresponding profit margin on tenors for makers and re-sellers is generally higher. Tenors do take some additional materials, and marginally higher transportation costs, but the labor cost to manufacture them is probably pretty much the same as the smaller sizes. Making instruments for most suppliers remains a business.
For me, it is a combination of nut width and the instrument's scale that determines what I am happiest/ most comfortable playing. IMO- any decently set up ukulele will be good to go to the second position, and you only "need" the room of a tenor as you go for much higher terrain. Since I mostly strum and finger-pick up to the second position, or a little higher, my two tenors usually sit underplayed. But, if you want that bigger sound, a tenor will do it. I am happy playing sopranos with ~14" scales and concerts. I travel a lot and have found traveling with a soprano or concert is also a little more convenient.
One thing not mentioned above, is that the price and the corresponding profit margin on tenors for makers and re-sellers is generally higher. Tenors do take some additional materials, and marginally higher transportation costs, but the labor cost to manufacture them is probably pretty much the same as the smaller sizes. Making instruments for most suppliers remains a business.