"Must have's" for a ukulele collector.

1. Martin 3M or 3K
2. A well-made tiple
3. Gibson UB2
4. Johnny Marvin Professional Tenor with Aero-Bridge
5-20 unnecessary :)

Here's my updated list since the last go around. I would be happy with these, and would never want another musical instrument. In fact, I'd sell or trade all of my current instruments to have this lineup if it were possible.
 
Only one - Lyon and Healey Shrine uke with green binding and end cap and that gorgeous gondela bridge. Can't be beat for style and sound :)
BTW - thanks to all those who put me on their lists. I'm humbled.
 
1. Pete Howlett Concert Vita
2. Martin 3M soprano
3. Kamaka Ohta San concert
4. Moore Bettah Super Soprano Pineapple
5. Pohaku Concert 10
6. Ukiyo Vita soprano (have)
7. Graziano Selmer Style tenor
8. Compass Rose LeJazz tenor
9. Maui Music Deluxe tenor
10. Eric DeVine tenor
11. Rollo Scheurenbrand tenor
12. Mike Pereira tenor (have)
13. Luis Feu de Mesquita Ukaferri (have)
14. Harmony Roy Smeck Vita soprano
15. Mya-Moe Myrtle tenor classic
16. Collings UT3-K tenor
17. Silber and Fayne Frisco concert
18. Ken Timms Style O soprano
19. Boat Paddle ML tenor (have)
20. Kerry Char tenor

Other brands I would love to own:
Kawika, Glyph, William King, Mike DaSilva, Joel Eckhaus, Dave Talsma, Tim Laughlin, and John Kinnard
 
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this is "Kinda" easy.

If I were only limited to 20. 1st, all my current would go away to start fresh.

#1) Vintage Martin 5K
#2) Left open for whatever my "Have to" is at the time.
#3) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#4) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#5) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#6) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#7) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#8) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#9) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#10) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#11) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#12) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#13) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#14) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#15) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#16) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#17) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#18) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#19) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.
#20) Don't matter, just a decent uke to pass out to a deserving kid in my area.

That about sums it up..

Very sweet, Tony. I have a boxful of Makala Dolphins and Sharks currently looking for kids who will love them.

For the sake of the thread, though (and violating the only one of each brand rule):

1. Moore Bettah tenor
2. Kamaka HF-3 tenor
3. Kamaka HF-4 baritone
4. Kamaka FF-38 eight string tenor
5. Kamaka HF-48 eight string baritone
6. May-Moe tenor
7. Compass Rose tenor
8. Compass Rose steel string baritone
9. Compass Rose octave GCEA baritone
10. Mya-Moe six string baritone
11. Kamaka FF-2 concert
12. Makala Dolphin
13-20. Makala Dolphins and Sharks to give away.
 
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I've pretty much got a rule: I buy vintage whenever possible, *except* for instruments and vehicles! Getting my first new Kamaka was like driving my first new car (after 20+ years of driving vintage American beasts) - absolutely no going back.

That being said, my list might look something like this:

1) Kamaka Ohta-san concert
2) Kamaka longneck concert
3) Kamaka tenor 4-string
4) Kamaka tenor 6-string
5) Kamaka standard pineapple
6-20) a bunch of Makala Dolphins to hand out to people randomly when they look like they need a reason to smile :)

How fun to see this thread resurrected - nearly three years later, Nos. 1 and 6 are still on the list, and that Ohta-san just may be in my near future. Maybe. Happy to say I can scratch Nos. 2-4 off the list since I've since learned that tenor necks and I do not play well together... and No. 5 has been in my possession for almost three years.

But I do have a new object of uke desire: the National Style 2 "Wild Rose" resonator. That, and the Ohta-san, and I'll consider myself uke satisfied.
 
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I'd replace my Martins with a fine 30's vintage 3K soprano, add a Koaloha Concert, a Compass Rose and a Moore Bettah, probably both concerts and as far as anything else, I don't know 20 brands!
 
1. Mya Moe soprano
2. Kamaka pineapple soprano
3. Moore Bettah pineapple soprano
4. Collings concert
5. Black Bear concert

all the rest would just be garnishes....
Yeah, interesting to see this resurrected for sure. My list 3 years on is similar but a little different.

I am fortunate enough to own a Mya Moe soprano and a Black Bear soprano.

But my new list would look like this:

1. Black Bear soprano. check.
2. Moore Bettah figure 8 soprano.
3. Ono concert. check.
4. Big Rusty resonator. check.
5. Ono baritone. check.
6. Gerard Guasch soprano. check.
7. Ken Timms soprano. check.
8. Collings UC2 concert.
9. vintage Martin O or vintage custom Regal soprano.

so yeah, I am satisfied as I've ever been. Just looking for that elusive Moore Bettah soprano, perhaps a sweet vintage mahogany soprano and a nice custom Collings sometime, someday...
 
"9. Sukie's flamingo Morre Bettah"

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's MB.....LOL

The only things I can think of would be:

1. Concert size Southern Cross banjouke

2. Moon Bird Anue anue

3. Any concert size MB or Devine uke

4. Ken Timms soprano

5. Bass uke, solid body, with a pre-amp for my wife

and 15 other playable all laminate wood ukes, soprano or concert size, to give away to kids.
 
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I would consider provenance as well as the uke. So first on my list would one of George Harrison's Kamakas. Next one of George Formby's banjoukes. Then there's Elvis's uke from Blue Hawaii and Marilyn's white painted uke from Some Like it Hot. With those I would not need twenty. I could play the George's and look at the others.
 
Struggle to make it to 20.

1. Kamaka Koa Tenor - Have met Chris, Chris Jr. and Herb Ohto Jr. (That was a fabulous evening)
2. Pete Howlett Tenor
3. Beansprout Tenor Banjolele
4. Ono Maple Tenor
5. Mya Moe Tenor
6. Pono Pro Classic Mahogany Baritone
7. Moore Bettah Tenor
8. Loprizi Concert
9. KoAloha Koa Tenor
10. Blackbird Clara
11 .Kiwaya Mahogany Soprano
12. Romero Creations Spruce/Rosewood Grand Tenor
13. Godin MultiUke

That's all for now, but UAS never sleeps.

Cheers,

Steve.
 
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