Stevelele
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 30, 2009
- Messages
- 941
- Reaction score
- 3
I think I have now owned over 60 ukes at one point or another. Played so many customs, special ukes -- there have been some really great ones. I wrote a list of them at one point just to keep track--I think that was my 500th post.
Out of all the ukes I've owned, I've only kept a few. Even though many were amazing, I felt like I didn't really need to keep them--let someone else enjoy it, you know, and try not to become a hoarder. A few of them I regret selling, but for the most part, I'm happy with what I have.
But one thing that I've always felt I've been missing is a tenor uke with a vintage sound that my martin soprano makes. After searching and trying different brands, some Japanese ukes, and after going through several vintage ukes, I came close to giving up. Figured that it's impossible to get that kind of sound out of a tenor.
Recently Bearbike posted his scratched up vintage martin for sale--he had to take the posting down because he loved the uke too much. I had looked at this posting with a lot of interest, because I was talking to a UU'er about buying his 14 fret Martin tenor. Bearbike's post really inspired me to give a martin vintage tenor another try.
I just received it yesterday. Slapped on some southcoast strings. And wow.... I know there is no such thing as a holy grail, but this uke has come close for me! it's bright, twangs just right, resonates beautifully. Also has a nice thin, fast neck. I don't know if it's the age and wear of the mahogany, the construction they made back then or what. But wow, what a great uke! Not saying I won't ever sell it, but I certainly doubt it.
Out of all the ukes I've owned, I've only kept a few. Even though many were amazing, I felt like I didn't really need to keep them--let someone else enjoy it, you know, and try not to become a hoarder. A few of them I regret selling, but for the most part, I'm happy with what I have.
But one thing that I've always felt I've been missing is a tenor uke with a vintage sound that my martin soprano makes. After searching and trying different brands, some Japanese ukes, and after going through several vintage ukes, I came close to giving up. Figured that it's impossible to get that kind of sound out of a tenor.
Recently Bearbike posted his scratched up vintage martin for sale--he had to take the posting down because he loved the uke too much. I had looked at this posting with a lot of interest, because I was talking to a UU'er about buying his 14 fret Martin tenor. Bearbike's post really inspired me to give a martin vintage tenor another try.
I just received it yesterday. Slapped on some southcoast strings. And wow.... I know there is no such thing as a holy grail, but this uke has come close for me! it's bright, twangs just right, resonates beautifully. Also has a nice thin, fast neck. I don't know if it's the age and wear of the mahogany, the construction they made back then or what. But wow, what a great uke! Not saying I won't ever sell it, but I certainly doubt it.