Personally, I think that Fender is the least qualified to be commenting on ukuleles, nevermind making them (or rather likely subcontracting a Chinese factory and licensing the headstock sticker)
Fender is like a 'MEEE-TOOO" company with their ukes, they are very late to the game, and just riding the bandwagon hoping for a cash cow.
I've played both the Nohea and Pihea ukes and they were 'meh' at best, but heard good things about the T-Bucket uke, which I am skeptical about and will reserve comment until I can play one in person.
Personally, I think that Fender is the least qualified to be commenting on ukuleles, nevermind making them (or rather likely subcontracting a Chinese factory and licensing the headstock sticker). Fender is like a 'MEEE-TOOO" company with their ukes, they are very late to the game, and just riding the bandwagon hoping for a cash cow. I've played both the Nohea and Pihea ukes and they were 'meh' at best, but heard good things about the T-Bucket uke, which I am skeptical about and will reserve comment until I can play one in person.
Personally, I think that Fender is the least qualified to be commenting on ukuleles, nevermind making them (or rather likely subcontracting a Chinese factory and licensing the headstock sticker)
Fender is like a 'MEEE-TOOO" company with their ukes, they are very late to the game, and just riding the bandwagon hoping for a cash cow.
I've played both the Nohea and Pihea ukes and they were 'meh' at best, but heard good things about the T-Bucket uke, which I am skeptical about and will reserve comment until I can play one in person.
The comments came as the company launched Fender Play, an online music tuition platform, after discovering a large slice of its sales were coming from beginners buying a guitar for the first time.
While video sharing website YouTube is saturated with guitar tuition videos, Mr Mooney said its subscription-based model would prove successful because there remained a customer appetite for premium content.
The iconic guitar maker is also hoping the digital product will fuel demand for its musical instruments and hardware.
...I was listening to the Jive Aces, and what struck me is how the ukulele isn't used as gimmick but instead becomes a critical part of their jazz sound.
...Not to contradict you (too much), but I thought Fender ukes have been out for quite awhile, and since they have the traditional Fender headstock, they must be made specifically for them. I never played the Nohea or Pihea, but I did play a T-Bucket, which I thought looked great, but found it to be lack-luster, not really good projection or sustain.
Actually, I think the article was pointing out Uke sales are soaring globally. It just happened to be Fender. At least that's what I got out of it.
TOTALLY with you here 100%. It's a marketing article from a brand that treats the ukulele like 'commodity'. You'd never see a news piece like this put out by Kamaka.. (I too have played a couple of Fender ukes that I thought were dreadful)
I would really enjoy seeing the uke become more widely thought of .......
I am growing weary of being an evangelist.........
Being different has its advantages too, you get noticed more often.
I don't mind being different, in fact, I rather enjoy being so.
Being different has its advantages too, you get noticed more often.
I don't mind being different, in fact, I rather enjoy being so.
Patience, my friend. Patience, exercise, a healthy diet and younger friends. The people who remember Tiny Tim are dying off and a better world awaits. Whenever someone brings up Tiny Tim, I respond: "You know, nobody younger than 50 has ever mentioned him to me. How's the Viagra working out for you?"I would really enjoy seeing the uke become more widely thought of as something other than a 'toy guitar', since I am kinda sick and tired of explaining myself to folks who only know of Tiny Tim...