shroomshade
Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2018
- Messages
- 16
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Hi all,
Let me preface this by saying that I don't have the opportunity to play ukes before buying--no stores around here--so I need to buy online (probably the Ukulele Site) unseen. They do have a decent return/exchange policy, if it comes to that.
I bought my first Ukulele in 2013--a Lanikai LU-21C concert from Amazon. I played around with it for a few months but didn't make much progress...the action is incredibly high, I get some buzzing, and it was just not fun to play on, so I kind of stopped playing it. The sound was also not very nice--a bit tinny and artificial sounding, if that makes sense.
I started playing again a few months ago, and got a bit more into it, and my wife got a uke as well--a Kala 15S. I played that some and wow--way easier to play and the sound was incredible. At least way more incredible than my Lanikai.
I love the soprano sound, but it is a bit cramped for me for some chords. Compared to the concert though, some chords are much easier (like the traditional E--I can play that easier on the soprano and it's a bit of a stretch on the concert.)
I have also realized I like fingerpicking a lot. That is easier on the concert than the soprano.
So that brings us to now. I am wanting to buy a good uke and am torn on size. I want to put in the time to get better, but both of these ukes are frustrating to play on--the action on the concert is 5.5mm at the 12th fret, for instance, which seems incredibly high.
I love the soprano sound, but people seem to think that sopranos don't have the best sustain for fingerpicking. I think I like the concert sound (based on videos I watch) but the sound on my concert is tinny and terrible; I suspect that is due to this specific uke and not the concert size itself.
I have also considered a tenor, but am worried about those stretches...seems like picking would be easier, but stretches are hard enough on the concert.
I generally consider myself to have big hands, or at least average, so maybe I would be able to get used to the tenor in time? I still think I like the soprano sound more, but I would want sustain for the fingerpicking aspect.
Is there really a wrong answer here? I am kind of leaning towards a long neck soprano or concert, but just want to get some input from you all to help make my decision. I am leaning towards a Hawaiian made uke, so I can grow into it and it will last me for a long time, instead of feeling the need to upgrade in a few more months.
Thanks for any input!
Let me preface this by saying that I don't have the opportunity to play ukes before buying--no stores around here--so I need to buy online (probably the Ukulele Site) unseen. They do have a decent return/exchange policy, if it comes to that.
I bought my first Ukulele in 2013--a Lanikai LU-21C concert from Amazon. I played around with it for a few months but didn't make much progress...the action is incredibly high, I get some buzzing, and it was just not fun to play on, so I kind of stopped playing it. The sound was also not very nice--a bit tinny and artificial sounding, if that makes sense.
I started playing again a few months ago, and got a bit more into it, and my wife got a uke as well--a Kala 15S. I played that some and wow--way easier to play and the sound was incredible. At least way more incredible than my Lanikai.
I love the soprano sound, but it is a bit cramped for me for some chords. Compared to the concert though, some chords are much easier (like the traditional E--I can play that easier on the soprano and it's a bit of a stretch on the concert.)
I have also realized I like fingerpicking a lot. That is easier on the concert than the soprano.
So that brings us to now. I am wanting to buy a good uke and am torn on size. I want to put in the time to get better, but both of these ukes are frustrating to play on--the action on the concert is 5.5mm at the 12th fret, for instance, which seems incredibly high.
I love the soprano sound, but people seem to think that sopranos don't have the best sustain for fingerpicking. I think I like the concert sound (based on videos I watch) but the sound on my concert is tinny and terrible; I suspect that is due to this specific uke and not the concert size itself.
I have also considered a tenor, but am worried about those stretches...seems like picking would be easier, but stretches are hard enough on the concert.
I generally consider myself to have big hands, or at least average, so maybe I would be able to get used to the tenor in time? I still think I like the soprano sound more, but I would want sustain for the fingerpicking aspect.
Is there really a wrong answer here? I am kind of leaning towards a long neck soprano or concert, but just want to get some input from you all to help make my decision. I am leaning towards a Hawaiian made uke, so I can grow into it and it will last me for a long time, instead of feeling the need to upgrade in a few more months.
Thanks for any input!