Sorry, another first Uke thread

bsfloyd

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First, I hope it is considered acceptable etiquette using the term Uke. If not, please let me know and I will certainly refrain.

Yet again, another first Uke recommendation thread - and for that I apologize. I am a long time guitar player, winds player, drummer / percussionist, etc., though I have never owned a ukulele. After playing a friends, I find a sure soft spot for the instrument. The one I have played is a concert size and I found it quite comfortable.

I would like to purchase my own and was thinking of starting in the $200 price range. I’m hoping I can find a quality instrument in this price range that will last me a while through learnings?

I was looking at the Mainland instruments and thought they were a good price for an all solid wood construction. Then, I also seen that an entry level Pono can be had in the $375 price range. Though this is over my budget, if the Pono is a superior instrument I could consider the extra funds.

I also have experience with Córdoba intermediate level classical guitars and find them quite nice. Are their Ukuleles in the $200 price range worth considering along with the others?

I would greatly appreciate your assistance! Thanks.
 
As a multi instrument musician you can appreciate the difference a good instrument makes. If you can swing the cost the Pono is a very well made good sounding instrument made by a dedicated team of luthiers in the Pono plant in Indonesia. I have owned 4 Ponos and never been dissapointed with any of them.
 
I always suggest a Kala or an Ohana as a first uke, & recommend starting with a concert scale, buy it from a dealer who will ensure that it is set up properly, (unless you have the expertise).

Mims ukes is a good place to start looking, (& HMS).
 
Welcome to the forum, and no need to apologize: Most people here love to spend other people's money, i.e. giving advise on what to buy. Mine would be to skip the $200 range and go straight to a decent high quality instrument which you get from Pono. I hve gone through several instruments that cost multiple times as much, but I keep coming back to Pono and what an amazing value they offer.
 
You’re an experience musician and having played a guitar you already have much overlap with Ukes, as such you will know that it’s the skill of the player that makes all the difference. This tale is often told but remains forever true: a student complains to his teacher about the poor quality of his instrument and how he would do better on something more expensive, the teacher then picks the said basic instrument up and makes really good music.

When I decided to learn to play a Uke I came across YouTube videos of John Bianchi playing (he's an in-active member here), example: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd6lrpoR920. John was playing a laminate plus solid top Ohana that’s priced well within your budget, it kind of shows you that you don’t have to spend a lot to sound really good and that it’s the player that makes the difference.
 
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I have 2 Mainlands. They are both lovely. And a great bang for the buck. I have a Mainland super concert (tenor neck on a concert body) pineapple and a tenor cutaway. You just can't go wrong with a Mainland.

Welcome to UU.
 
HMS, Mim, Uke Republic, Elderly ......all of these will do an inspection & set-up on your ukulele. The nice thing about HMS is that they have sound samples on almost every ukulele. You can have a listen to get an idea of what different brands & woods sound like. Uke Republic has some sound samples, but not on every ukulele. Mim has a lot of sounds samples on You Tube, and HMS has more on Vimeo. Do some listening, then see who carries the ones that stand out to you in your price range. Have fun!
 
I, for one, think you'd be very happy with the Mainland. The Pono is probably worth the price, but the Mainland is just as playable and has a very nice sound. I think a Mainland will never get in the way of your progress, as might a lesser instrument. You'll never have to step up, though at some point you may choose to do so. Then get a Pono or better.
The other really great thing about Mainland is you will get the very best customer service in the business.
 
My first purchase wad a Mainland. I also have two Ponos. Kala is a good start as well. You can’t really go wrong with any of them.
 
I say just get one and dive in! After you get to know that first uke, it will inform your subsequent uke decisions.

That said, I would recommend a mid-level Ohana for a starter in your price range. They sell solid mahogany ukuleles for $200-$300, good quality instruments that look and sound beautiful. I purchased one from Mim on the recommendation of others here and I love it.

Also, if you really want an overload of information to inform your decision, I direct you to Barry Maz's YouTube channel, GotAUkulele: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDBZqnt_ynx8y6_kb0fIm-w. Barry has done many dozens of short review videos for various models and brands. You are bound to find something there that fits your needs.

Good luck and welcome to ukedom!
 
Thanks for all the wonderful replies, everyone!! Very good information here and I learned new things I didn't already know. I will a fun time sifting through the information and visiting the new sites I didn't know about before.

One thing that intrigues me from the start is this:

http://ukerepublic.bigcartel.com/product/romero-creations-gt-solid-spruce-top-mahogany-tenor-ukulele

Being a guitar player, the name Pepe Romero is surely familiar. The design looks interesting of this instrument, and I love the simplistic, matte look. The brand's mentioned above I have heard of before and surely have a good reputation, but the Romero Creation I never heard of. Curiosity gets the best of me on this one - and for this price I can surely get into the Pono range for just a little bit more. Any comments on the Romero instrument?

Thanks again to all, and I can see this is a great place here!!
 
Thanks for the reply, Croaky Keith. I did see the Tiny Tenor as well and I admit to liking the unique body shape (I'm actually growing fonder of the pineapple shape - even though the TT is not a true pineapple shape), and it is less $$ to boot! I hope others will chime in on their experience with it.
 
Agree with all the above. Personally, I found Ohana and Kaka gives you the most bang for your bucks if you want to stick within your budget. The most important thing is, get it from a good seller that will do a decent set up. It makes a significant difference.
 
I always suggest a Kala or an Ohana as a first uke, & recommend starting with a concert scale, buy it from a dealer who will ensure that it is set up properly, (unless you have the expertise).

Mims ukes is a good place to start looking, (& HMS).


I say Kala too, stay away from Ohana, their workmanship at times isn't so great. They tried passing a bad instrument off to me as new, and then made excuses over it.

I see more consistent quality with Kala.


OHANA :deadhorse:
 
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I say Kala too, stay away from Ohana, their workmanship at times isn't so great. They tried passing a bad instrument off to me as new, and then made excuses over it.

I see more consistent quality with Kala.


OHANA :deadhorse:

I haven't had good luck with my Ohana either, but lots of people do. I didn't get it from Mim, but she still has offered to try and fix it for me.
One of my friends, a former band member, loves her Ohana. But it's a different breed of uke from any other. Probably not suited for everyone, just as Ponos aren't.
My Kala required a bit of work by my luthier to make it playable, for me. It's a very good uke.
Mainlands are very nice, one of our band members plays hers all the time.
 
Romero Creations might be a good way to go. In my experience, their quality is very good, better than Kala/Ohana. But all of the Romero production models are designed to fit a niche, like an ultra small or an extra large tenor. If this is a niche that suits you, perfect. If you're looking for a somewhat more traditional/typical ukulele, then you might be better off with Pono or KoAloha Opio.
 
Thanks for the added replies and info, everyone! The TT links are very helpful!!

To be honest, I am a bit overwhelmed at the moment. I am learning so much quickly, my personal taste in the instrument is evolving by the hour, and I keep upping my budget as I go (which I have yet to discuss with the boss!). The TT and Mainland still seem to be very much of interest to me, but I am also appreciating the vintage style simple look of the ukulele as well. I am very much a ragtime / Dixieland music lover and I love the sound of the rags played on the ukulele. I think a vintage aesthetic would lend nicely to this. I know, just jump in and get one already, but I just want to take a little more time to research and be sure to get what I really want.

I have a somewhat tandem thread started on the general forum as well regarding the more vintage-y ukulele's. I'm sure I will learn more from that as well.

Many thanks to all!!
 
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