Best ukulele for beginners...Wirecutter

Well, it certainly has been fun! Today, they actually sounded as though they were playing together. 4 of the gals fingerpicked some tabbed songs with me. Tomorrow they all give us a concert, and then they get their diplomas. We'll have about 20 graduating from the 1st Summer Camp!
 
1) Yes, Wirecutter gets much of its revenue from Amazon affiliate links. We're very open about that. We couldn't afford to do what we do if our revenue were based solely on networked ads. If you look around on the site, you'll see that we work with other affiliates as well, and we've even recommended products for which we didn't have an affiliate relationship.



---BB

When you say 'couldn't afford it' - I've been writing reviews for 9 years and dont get 'paid'. My issue is not with the amazon use (I have used it, and I use Google ads) - its more about the fact that each uke is linked to an amazon page. Many of these are available in real bricks and mortar stores that amazon are putting out of business.

Added to which one of the 'reviews' bases it's justifcation on the amount of stars it has on Amazon. Surely anyone in their right minds knows that Amazon reviews are deeply flawed?
 
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When you say 'couldn't afford it' - I've been writing reviews for 9 years and dont get 'paid'. My issue is not with the amazon use (I have used it, and I use Google ads) - its more about the fact that each uke is linked to an amazon page. Many of these are available in real bricks and mortar stores that amazon are putting out of business.

Added to which one of the 'reviews' bases it's justifcation on the amount of stars it has on Amazon. Surely anyone in their right minds knows that Amazon reviews are deeply flawed?
If you are not getting paid to do reviews of all those ukuleles and ukulele related products, why do you do it? I've gone to your site many times and it is impressive to say the least. I'm thinking that it is much more than a hobby to maintain such a site. As far a Wirecutter, which I never heard of before this thread, that's the way they make a living, and I'm okay with that. I take that into account when I read it. I take a little exception to calling it a review of the "best ukuleles for beginners" though. I mean, how can you even determine what is best for someone? Ukulele reviews are a dime a dozen. There are so many people out there reviewing ukuleles that it just gets confusing to even try to get something out of them. I ran into that when I was looking for my first ukulele. Now that I have a bit of experience and actually know what I like, sometimes they are fun to read, but I don't give any of them much weight. As I grow in my ukulele experience I realize that most people reviewing ukuleles are not on the same page of the book that I am anyway. I often times don't buy into their justifications for giving a particular ukulele whatever they give it, be it stars or bars or numbers to rate them. Anyway, neither here nor there. I got no problem with Amazon. The times they are a changing. But I still think that the customer ratings on Amazon are worthless as a guide to buying any product.
 
Are Amazon customer reviews really worthless?? That's not my experience of them at all but I would agree that their validity should always be questioned and that they are best treated as indicative rather than definative. The 'customer' review system is open to some abuse both to praise someone's product or dam a competing one so 'Caveat Emptor' applies, one has to read the comments too and get a feel for how well placed the reviewer is to usefully judge the particular product. As with all things YMMV.

Edit: Rllink: "I got no problem with Amazon. The times they are a changing. But I still think that the customer ratings on Amazon are worthless as a guide to buying any product."

Edit: 'one has to read the comments too and get a feel for how well placed the reviewer is to ...... ' to read: 'as well as looking at the star rating one has to look at the comments too and get a feel for how well placed the reviewer is to .... '

Reason for edits: clarification of what I was responding to and of my answering comments.
 
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For fun? For something to do? Because I enjoy it? My day job is a Partner in a property consultancy.

But you missed my point. My concern was NOT about sites trying to make money - I take money it helps pay for hosting and keeping site going (though not as a living, more as self sufficiency). My concern was how all of the 'best' were amazon sourced. Despite me disagreeing with some as I think they are dreadful, my concern is to do with turning people to amazon when I think some great ukulele specialists will serve them better.

I too dont like the 'best' tag. There are many on there that are not featured. It also pays no regard to scale choice and assumes constant quality control across all brands, which is rarely the case.

There ARE a lot of reviewers - i am one of them - been doing it for years. But I dont review to try to cover EVERYTHING. I cant - there isnt the time to make that possible. I review in the hope that people search reviews before buying, find mine and read. They dont have to agree with them, and that's fine too. But I dont review for money.
 
Are Amazon customer reviews really worthless?? That's not my experience of them at all but I would agree that their validity should always be questioned and that they are best treated as indicative rather than definative. The 'customer' review system is open to some abuse both to praise someone's product or dam a competing one so 'Caveat Emptor' applies, one has to read the comments too and get a feel for how well placed the reviewer is to usefully judge the particular product. As with all things YMMV.

'Worthless' was probably an over reaction - but certainly they need some care taking. They are often the reviews of people who jump quickly to review with short experience of the product I find. I've seen enough truly dreadful instruments with 5 stars saying 'brilliant' to know that they are questionable.
 
For fun? For something to do? Because I enjoy it? My day job is a Partner in a property consultancy.

But you missed my point. My concern was NOT about sites trying to make money - I take money it helps pay for hosting and keeping site going (though not as a living, more as self sufficiency). My concern was how all of the 'best' were amazon sourced. Despite me disagreeing with some as I think they are dreadful, my concern is to do with turning people to amazon when I think some great ukulele specialists will serve them better.

I too dont like the 'best' tag. There are many on there that are not featured. It also pays no regard to scale choice and assumes constant quality control across all brands, which is rarely the case.

There ARE a lot of reviewers - i am one of them - been doing it for years. But I dont review to try to cover EVERYTHING. I cant - there isnt the time to make that possible. I review in the hope that people search reviews before buying, find mine and read. They dont have to agree with them, and that's fine too. But I dont review for money.

The fact that you don't review for money is why I read your reviews. Your views aren't skewed by greed. I DO have a problem with Amazon, I'll go there to save money on a book, or too buy something i can't find here, but I'd NEVER buy an ukulele there.
I constantly try to steer beginner uke players AWAY from Amazon. There are plenty of honest, caring, and decent folks with B&M stores selling ukes at very close to their cost, just barely paying the bills. But, our economy sucks, unless you're a mega-corporation.
And, Barry is right, no uke is best for everyone. As much as I love my uke, not everyone would. (One friend tried twice to trade me a uke worth twice as much for it). I suggested she buy her own, and she did.
I think Barry's hobby is very cool, and very generous. He doesn't ask for anything in return. I think slamming him is in very poor taste and you who do it can just sod off for all I care. He doesn't need to defend himself at all, IMHO.
 
Maybe a better title would be "Best beginner ukuleles sold by Amazon as reviewed by someone who makes money promoting Amazon".
 
This thread is so predictable.

Same bias, same conclusions. Same BS.

Only one opinion matters to the fan base here. It is pathetic and sad. It taints the entire site.

I give honest Amazon reviews. I read enough Amazon reviews to know how to interpret them too. But at the end of the day it doesn't matter because Amazon will give me my money back without a hassle if I am not happy.

The important thing is to get an instrument and start. High action? No worries, you are beginner and it will make you stronger later. Bad intonation? It will teach you how to play in tune when your instrument isn't. Read up on tempered instruments if you have a minute https://www.google.com/search?q=tem...7j35i39j0l3.6226j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

My recommendation for a beginner uke? The one that you can afford and appeals to you. I have two Caramels that serve me well.
 
Excellent link, thanks. It's going to take me, at least, quite a while to absorb it all, but I'm certainly going to try.

Also, I like Southcoast's series of articles on tuning: http://www.southcoastukes.com/019-1.htm,
as well as Paul Guy's "Tuning the Guitar": http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/handbook/Tuning/tuning.html

Thanks, Tenor. Some good info there. I learned to play on horribly set up instruments. Learning to compensate for problems can make you a stronger player but it would be nice if stringed instruments were more like electric pianos. :)
 
Hello, this my first post and I purchased the Donner DUC1 from amazon. Pretty much what RLLink stated were my reasons. I wanted to try a ukulele but did not want to spend a lot on something that might be a short term adventure. I have had the Donner for about a month and have enjoyed playing it. I am still learning to strum and learn the chords but it has been a good investment at this point.

I too bought a Donner DCU1 ukulele from Amazon. It was $42 on Prime Day. It came with a case, strap, extra set of strings. and tuner.
Its my second ukulele in two weeks, so my opinion is a n00bs, but I thought is sounds great for the money and way better then my buddies Kala Waterman.
The soprano is quite a bit harder to fret than my tenor but that is to be expected with my big hands.
 
I too bought a Donner DCU1 ukulele from Amazon. It was $42 on Prime Day. It came with a case, strap, extra set of strings. and tuner.
Its my second ukulele in two weeks, so my opinion is a n00bs, but I thought is sounds great for the money and way better then my buddies Kala Waterman.
The soprano is quite a bit harder to fret than my tenor but that is to be expected with my big hands.

I am still playing the Donner almost daily but have added Martin 600 strings to it(very happy with the sound).I also have Purchased a scale ruler and checked the string height at 1st and 12th frets. The Donner was at the lowest amount as I have read is recommended here on UU. I also added a second Uke, an Ohana concert 70RB (solid spruce top). I am trying GHS strings out on it. Scale ruler showed it slight higher on the saddle side than the Donner but I have not adjusted either one.
 
Hi, everybody. I'm the one who wrote the article on Wirecutter. Thanks for your feedback here, it's helpful. To answer a couple of your questions:

1) Yes, Wirecutter gets much of its revenue from Amazon affiliate links. We're very open about that. We couldn't afford to do what we do if our revenue were based solely on networked ads. If you look around on the site, you'll see that we work with other affiliates as well, and we've even recommended products for which we didn't have an affiliate relationship.

2) TMK, none of the ukes we tested were clones. I don't have the samples handy right now, but as I recall, the only ones that looked at all similar were the Oscar Schmidt and Cordoda concerts, and the Oscar Schmidt (at least the sample we got) had inferior tuners. Of course, some of them likely came from the same factory, but that's the way of the world these days.

3) I tested models that either got great reviews somewhere on the web, and in general that I was able to get samples of, although we bought a couple we felt were important to include but weren't able to get a response from. Eventually we will do an update on this article, so if there are any models you think we should test, please let us know in the comments section of that article.

4) We decided to limit the price to $120 because dealers (even McCabe's!) told me $100 is about the max that a beginner would normally spend on a uke.

Thanks for reading the article!

---BB

I have read many reviews on different things on wired and enjoy the site. Amazon has flea and fluke ukuleles under $200 that are great ukuleles for a beginner.
 
My first ukulele was the Hal Leonard starter pack like this one https://www.amazon.com/Hal-Leonard-650804-Starter-Ukulele/dp/1458491269

It was ok, it has a nice tone. However, I think I would still be playing it if the action hadn't been high, if it didn't have a buzz, if my strumming finger wouldn't get caught up in the strings, and if I could play it longer than 30 minutes at a time.

Yeah it cost 40 bucks, and yes I have considered putting 40 more bucks into it so it plays nicer.
 
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