SteveZ
Well-known member
Do you have one ukulele that seems to be getting more "love" than the rest?
While sitting outside, playing a few Eagles tunes, started to think about the ukulele stable and which is used the most. So, am defining "favorite" as the one which receives the most playing time.
The current at-home ukulele inventory stands at five. Using my self-defined criteria, the "favorite" ranking comes out as follows:
1. Flea Soprano - 40% playing time. Simply the most convenient, especially when on the couch or sitting in the yard. It's durability outside and being able to stand on its edge on an end table just make it the handiest. With Aquila Reds (low-G, tuned reentrant CGDA) it sounds sweet, and also put a piezo pickup on it for the occasional amp times.
2. Lanikai Monkeypod Tenor - 30% playing time. The tenor size feels good, and this uke has the Fishman Isys+ electronics installed. The convenience of the built-in chromatic tuner is neat. With Aquila Nygut @ CGDA this uke rocks well. It's the easiest to take to jams and beat up a little.
3. Pono Pro Classic Tenor - 15% playing time. The Pono sounds great, feels smooth and looks sharp. However, probably because it's the best sounding ukulele in the stable, it is used mainly when I want a handy substitute for my tenor guitar and is saved for those occasions.
3. Kala Travel Pocket Sopranino - 10% playing time. This is the toss-in-suitcase, leave-in-the-car convenience ukulele. The sound is "okay" at best, but it's size makes it a decent travel companion. Will be adding an under-the-bridge pickup to it as an experiment.
5. Gretsch 1883 Concert Banjolele - 5% playing time. Have not warmed to the banjolele that much, but that may change over time. Got it to be a "convenience banjo-ette" when I didn't want to drag out the tenor banjo.
So, by the numbers, the Flea is the "favorites" winner for now. It just reinforces the belief that ukuleles are for fun, and the Flea definitely is that.
While sitting outside, playing a few Eagles tunes, started to think about the ukulele stable and which is used the most. So, am defining "favorite" as the one which receives the most playing time.
The current at-home ukulele inventory stands at five. Using my self-defined criteria, the "favorite" ranking comes out as follows:
1. Flea Soprano - 40% playing time. Simply the most convenient, especially when on the couch or sitting in the yard. It's durability outside and being able to stand on its edge on an end table just make it the handiest. With Aquila Reds (low-G, tuned reentrant CGDA) it sounds sweet, and also put a piezo pickup on it for the occasional amp times.
2. Lanikai Monkeypod Tenor - 30% playing time. The tenor size feels good, and this uke has the Fishman Isys+ electronics installed. The convenience of the built-in chromatic tuner is neat. With Aquila Nygut @ CGDA this uke rocks well. It's the easiest to take to jams and beat up a little.
3. Pono Pro Classic Tenor - 15% playing time. The Pono sounds great, feels smooth and looks sharp. However, probably because it's the best sounding ukulele in the stable, it is used mainly when I want a handy substitute for my tenor guitar and is saved for those occasions.
3. Kala Travel Pocket Sopranino - 10% playing time. This is the toss-in-suitcase, leave-in-the-car convenience ukulele. The sound is "okay" at best, but it's size makes it a decent travel companion. Will be adding an under-the-bridge pickup to it as an experiment.
5. Gretsch 1883 Concert Banjolele - 5% playing time. Have not warmed to the banjolele that much, but that may change over time. Got it to be a "convenience banjo-ette" when I didn't want to drag out the tenor banjo.
So, by the numbers, the Flea is the "favorites" winner for now. It just reinforces the belief that ukuleles are for fun, and the Flea definitely is that.
Last edited: