Guitar Player found a Ukulele

jerrysimon

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Played acoustic guitar for years mainly singing and playing 60/70s folk/pop S&G, James Taylor etc. Happy struming and finger picking.

A week ago someone asked me to tune a small ukulele. I actually found it fun and quite easy to play.

Having played acoustic for so long I have realised how a reasonable quality guitar makes all the difference. I eventually settled on Taylor guitars the small Concert (x12)sized ones and love my 312 solid spruce topped ones with solid Hog back and sides. I also love the feel and playabiity of ebony fret boards.

So I find myself looking for a beginners Ukulele. Would it make sense that I would like a simlar construction i.e. Spruce and Hog back and sides. I am told and having played this small cheap Soprano Ukulele that a Tenor would probably suit me better ?

Guitar wise I prefer stock shape i.e. no cutaway and to fit electrics (e.g. K&K, LRBaggs) later if required.

I think I should spend at least £100 but to take me up to the quality of my Taylors I would probably be looking at £500+ :( Maybe once I am sure I wan to take Ukulele playing further.

A few I have been recommended (phoned the shop) /read about in order of cost

https://www.dukeofuke.co.uk/snail-ukt-528e-zebrawood-tenor-ukulele/

https://www.southernukulelestore.co...1-concert-ukulele-mahogany-free-snail-gigbag/

https://www.southernukulelestore.co...-sitka-spruce-top-tenor-ukulele-gloss-finish/

https://www.southernukulelestore.co...lander-kstcut-tenor-ukulele-solid-spruce-top/ (But Cutaway)

https://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/cordoba-cor-32t-all-solid-spruce-rosewood-tenor-ukulele/

https://www.southernukulelestore.co...td-deluxe-solid-mahogany-tenor-ukulele-gloss/

I was looking at trying a £50 Amazon Donner but realised after reading, its worth paying a bit more. I tempted most by the Snail Zebra laminate first one listed above which I saw it reviewed very well on Youtube by GotAUkulele. If not then maybe the third one listed the Kala KA-STG which is probably closest to my requirement listed above but without an ebony fretboard. After I am sure I want to continue then I might be tempted further down the list above.

Thoughts ?
 
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"I am told and having played this small cheap Soprano Ukulele that a Tenor would probably suit me better ?"

I read this so much mostly talking of cramped soprano fretboards. In reality the fret space isn't very much different but you have a longer scale on the larger instruments, more notes. The larger bodies lose the punchy ukulele sound quickly.

Ukuleles are small so plan on buying a few.
 
I played guitar for almost fifty, then 4 1/2 years ago I bought ukulele because it looked like my Telecaster just to be a wall hanger next to it. A couple weeks later I received a postcard for the annual Music Center summer play-along, this time it was for ukuleles. Since I had one, I joined, but when I practiced the chords, I found my fingers to be very cramped. I discovered it was a soprano, so I went to my local Sam Ash, tried out a concert and tenor, the tenor was for me. I haven’t touched my guitars since.

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7 tenor cutaway ukes, 3 acoustic bass ukes, 8 solid body bass ukes, 7 mini bass electric guitars

• Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children's hospital music therapy programs. http://.www.theukc.org
• Member The CC Strummers: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/videos
 
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Of those options, I'd get the Mahogany Pono. I haven't played Cordoba ukes, but the Cordoba looks nice too. I'm also quite partial to the Spruce top Islander there, but like you, I'm not partial to cutaways.
 
First off, welcome to the forum! From the choices you presented, Pono looks to be your best option, of course it is the priciest; the Kala and Snail are great options for lesser expensive ukes. Stick with a reputable site that does a good setup, unless you prefer to do the setup yourself. The southern ukulele store provides this service if I’m not mistaken.

As far as which size will suit you best, that is a personal preference based on playability, sound, and your own preconceived notions on what an ukulele means to you. Try playing concert and tenor and see how they compare to the soprano. In lieu of that, simply realize that you might eventually be getting one (or more) of each down the road.
It’s a great journey!
 
Welcome, Jerry. :)

I think you'll have to try every size as well as quite a few models if you really want to zero in on what you like. It'll be the same process you went through with guitars to find what you like best. It is very much a personal preference kind of thing.
Ideally you'd be able to play quite a few in person to get an idea of what you like.

I know coming from guitar a soprano feels ridiculously small. Once you play around with it a bit you get used to it, then a guitar feels really large. If you play both regularly the switch won't be so bad. The soprano sounds and plays the most different from a guitar. I say that as a positive if you're after variety. You wouldn't have as much room to work on up the fretboard for solos and such, but with the playing style you mentioned you might not need it. So don't rule out the soprano size.
Concert scale is a good middle ground I'd say, if you can't play all sizes in person to get an idea of the feel.

Here's to hoping you find something you enjoy.
 
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Hi Jerry, welcome to the lifestyle!

If you are willing to spend a few days or weeks trawling the Marketplace subforum, you might just find something very nice at a very reasonable price. I know there's no substitute for handling and playing an instrument to evaluate it before you buy. However, the deals that present themselves in the Marketplace are sometimes really sweet--and if you score on one of those, you should have little trouble selling it through the marketplace at a minimal loss if it turns out not to be for you.

For example, this sale is probably too late for you to snag, but it is a great deal and others like it are not uncommon.

Happy hunting for your new baby!
 
I'd take the Pono out of those listed. Another one to consider is a highly regarded Mainland all solid, great quality and won't completely break the bank. Eaglemusicshop sells them and will set them up too. http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/cat/t...f14/order-PRO/page_number-1/items_per_page-24 I think that a Mainland will be my next upgrade, the Tenor Mahogany one sounds really rich and amazing to my ears on sound samples i've heard.
 
Hi Jerry,

I am in Yorkshire, UK and over the last few months have been slowly selling off many of my ukes. In that time I have sold four through this forum and all buyers have been extremely happy and have provided glowing references which I can link you to upon request.

The links below are to two of my Tenors for sale. They are both fantastic buys as the purchaser would be buying a virtually unused instrument at a price well below the brand new price but in all honesty they wouldn’t know the difference. Anyway, please check them out and let me know if you are interested.

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...olid-Fishman-AG-passive-pickup-Mint-UK-seller

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...r-Redwood-top-Rosewood-back-amp-sides-UK-sale

Finally, if you are a guitarist you might prefer Baritone size and tuning (top four strings of a guitar). If so then please check out this link...

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...ever-used-Basically-brand-new-UK-based-seller

Another bargain for someone.

Thanks for looking.

Ernie
 
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Welcome aboard. :)

As a guitarist, most people would recommend a tenor, but I always recommend starting with the concert scale, it sounds like a uke, has a bit more finger room than a soprano, can sound good with a low G fitted, & has a few more frets than a soprano, if picking or playing up the fretboard.

(For a first uke I recommend Kala or Ohana normally.)
 
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From what you said about your Taylor guitar, it sounds like you know how to appreciate an all solid instrument from a well-respected brand. So from your list, I'd go straight to that Pono MTD. They come from a small family business deeply rooted in the ukulele community, and they build very nice instruments with all solid hand-selected tonewoods. You'd probably outgrow the overloaded, plastic-bound, laser-etched stuff quickly.
 
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From what you said about your Taylor guitar, it sounds like you know how to appreciate an all solid instrument from a well-respected brand. So from your list, I'd go straight to that Pono MTD. They come from a small family business deeply rooted in the ukulele community, and they build very nice instruments with all solid hand-selected tonewoods. You'd probably outgrow the overloaded, plastic-bound, laser-etched stuff quickly.

This is bang on, Pono is very well respected for good reason. If you did not want to spend that much then the Kala KA-STG is a very good instrument for the money. I own the super soprano version and it is a surprisingly good sounding instrument for the price. Overall build quality finish and finsh of the Kalas are excellent as well, comparable to instruments 3X in price.
 
Welcome to UU Jerry, glad you joined in.

If you are a guitarist then you can appreciate the you get a better instrument ( hopefully) for the more you pay. There are lots of junk out there in the lower price range which will sour your learning experience. Find a reputable seller and ask questions. You can get a very playable instrument in the $300 US range.

First is do you want a high G tuning? Many guitar players are use to a low G which points to a tenor. If you want to try high G with the option of switching then a concert would work

Happy hunting and enjoy
 
Welcome to UU Jerry!
As you can see there is a lot of help here.
I think your best bet is to contact Mim's Ukes, and tell her what you need. She does an excellent setup, and can get you what you need pronto, for a great price.
Lots of us here have ukes from Mim.
 
Sorry been on the road so only just had chance to read and respond. Thank you all so much for your replies and recommendations. What a friendly forum you are!

I am from the UK so some of the store recommendations are a little too for for me to travel to!

I am going to try and visit some shops in the UK to try a few first. I will report back!
 
Yep,
get to Southern Uke store if poss, and have a play, see what strikes you. Maybe something other than Spruce and 'hog will grab you!
Alternatively, if you cannot visit a shop in person, visit a local uke group, and try some of the ukes there that interest you. Most ukers don't mind being asked to try their uke!
Where abouts in the UK are you based?
h
 
I am visiting Canterbury so popped into a local music shop who had about 40 Ukuleles primarily Kala models.

Probably a bit limiting but they were very friendly and pretty much put up with me for over an hour trying them all out lol

As I said this post/search started with me tuning a saprano £15 Ukulele and to be honest all these were a huge step up in terms of sound, feel and tuning/quality. They started around £80 going up to £350 but most were around £150. I also tried a few Concert models and as others have said didn't notice a big different between them having come from guitar.

Strangely I really seem to be drawn to a Kala KA TG which although all laminate sounded good and had a lovely finish in gloss Mahogony with white binding. I noticed the action really varies and I think again as well as sounding nice the action was great. Maybe it had just been well set up ?

https://kalabrand.com/products/ka-tg

At £110 I think it was a bargain and would probably do me to start with. I can always pass it on to my grandkids later if it sticks and I want to upgrade or if it doesn't take.

Then I also tried and ws drawn to a £129 (we pay so much more than our friends across the pond) Tanglewood TWT9E which again sounded good (though not as nice as the Kala) but had built in pickup and tuner.

http://www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/product/twt9e/

If I had been forced to buy one there and then I think I would have gone with the Kala. I guess you could always add a pickup later and like my guitars I don't like big chunks cutout of the side for controls and tuners.

The Kala really seem to say buy me. Maybe I ws also drawn to it because it looked a little like my Taylor's with its nice gloss finish. Having played most of them in the shop it did sound good to my ear though. Would buying this model on line be the same or is it perhaps that I found one well set up and it just clicked with me ?

I am in town for a few more days so could pop in and get it later :drool:
 
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I bought a Kala KA-T, (from S.U.S. online), slightly cheaper than normal & it's a good player too, well worth the price.

Thanks. I am impressed with all your answers given you must get so fed up with the many which Ukulele should I buy posts.

Much appreciation to you all :bowdown:

PS of course the model to which I refer is the KA-T you mention just with the G for gloss (embarassed look). The description on the S.U.S site sums it up as being a popular seller for beginners.
 
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