I have a good friend that wants to play ukulele and his wife asked me what she should buy him. I need to recommend a soprano that is in the 200-300 dollar budget, what should I suggest? Thanks for the help in advance!
Igor is right on the money here. Pretty much anything you buy from any of these folks will be money well spent. My personal preference are the Fleas and Flukes, easy to play and so much fun!
I don't think she'd go wrong with either a Mainland or a Flea/Fluke. Both are really nice for the money. Not everyone likes the shape of a Flea or Fluke, but they're easy to care for and come in cool colors and designs. But if he is more of a "traditional" guy, she ought to look at Mainland. I have a mahogany soprano (and also bought one for my niece a few years ago), a red cedar Pineapple soprano, and a banjo-uke. I bought them all direct from Mike (a member here: hoosierhiver is his UU handle), and he was a joy to buy from.
This isn't that expensive, but would be a fine buy. An all solid uke by a maker with a good reputation for making good sounding ukes. Equivalent in quality to Kala. Too good to pass for a decent soprano. Seller right here........
fluke's are cool but i look at those being like as your 2nd or 3rd ukulele. unless im wrong at least in canada they are like 150ish. I don't own a mainland but they look great and have fantastic reviews. I'd go pono MS (their cheapest and at the top of your price range hms sells em for 300) but that thing is AMAZING it feels like heaven i can't stop putting her down and have neglected my fender a lil. Sounds fantatic, and i such much fun to play. it isnt the sharpest looker but sounds great and is amamzing. my profile has some pics of her
OldePhart's Mango Soprano (http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?94404-Mainland-Mango-Soprano-with-Pickup-and-Case) might be the best thing on the market for that price range. (I would buy it myself if I didn't buy so many sopranos in one month hahah) HMS' Pono MS will actually be a bit further out of your price range, considering shipping will take it over $303. If you were dead set on the MS but you wanted a cheaper one, you can get one from MickeyRat on the forums from San Fran (I got one a few weeks ago for $170)... really awesome and helpful guy. They're micro-blems, and I think they're from before Pono moved their operations to Java (the inside still says Made in China, Final Assembly in Hawaii). Another recommended soprano would be an Islander cuz of the wider neck (http://www.theukulelesite.com/islander-soprano-mahogany-ms-4.html). Also, HMS' new Cordoba 22S looks pretty neat as well! (http://www.theukulelesite.com/cordoba-22s-solid-spruce-top-soprano.html)
I second what a few others have said re Mainland or Flea/Fluke.
I own a Pono MS, and although it's fabulous in most every way, the absolutely thicker neck, esp. on a soprano, feels unnatural and makes it a ukulele that I seldom play (it's in my truck now). It's not just my sensitive hands, but rather one of the known characteristics of Pono, love or hate it.
John knows ukes and sets them up well, if he's selling a mango soprano, I'm going to check it out.
Oh, and if you youtube search ukuleles for 200 dollars, HMS uke, excellent retailer (a thread praising them on UU now, in fact), has two videos sampling 10 ukes each in your friend's price range, fast fab. Mandatory viewing.
I would like to thank you all for your input on this subject! I was able to gather links to all the suggested ukulele's and forward them to my friends wife for her review. I am sure after this groups help that he will be getting a great uke no matter what model she chooses.
There is a line of ukuleles designed by Bob Gleason of Pegasus Guitars and Ukuleles in Hawaii, which are solid Acacia blackwood, and made in Portugal. The name is Lehua. They are well built and reasonably priced. If interested, send me a Private Message please.
Check out a Martin 0XK. Nice uke, built in Mexico using the same techniques as the Nazareth factory. High pressure laminate body and paralam neck. Smells, sounds and plays like a Martin! (In case you hadn't figured, I LOVE mine.)
