In Praise of Cheap Ukes

pdxuke · Jan 8, 2010

We already know that Deach loves his $99 uke.

And I've said ad nauseum how much I ADORE MY DOLPHIN(S).

I also play the bejesus out of my Kala watermelon.

Both of these, under 100 clams.

So. Who has got a favorite cheap uke? Ground rules: under 100 smackers, not including shipping.

At the end, I'll put together the whole list.

kenikas · Jan 8, 2010

I love my Makala tenor, and I play my grandkids Makala Dolphins quite a bit too. Now I'm not quite as excited about my Hilo baritone, but as soon as I get around to putting the Aquila's I bought for it on that may change.

Doug W · Jan 8, 2010

I have a Harmony that my wife found at a rummage sale 10 years ago and picked up for $3.00. It is one of those plastic fingerboard Harmony ukes from the 50s. Currently it is out of commission until I fix the bridge but I used to pick it up and play it fairly often. Not incredible in the tone department but it does play in tune.

Toucan Mango · Jan 8, 2010

Kala $79.00 Pineapple owner here, I said it before, it gets played the most.

gp-ak · Jan 8, 2010

Old Gretsch soprano, 60 bucks!

carpekd · Jan 8, 2010

Well, I don't have it anymore, but I learned on a $12 souvenir uke!

kalmario · Jan 8, 2010

picked up a makala dolphin as a christmas present. threw on some kala reds and thats some cheap uking. my question is why is there no makala dolphin club to join, this is a grave injustice!!

Sambient · Jan 8, 2010

I love cheapies, period! But right now I'm especially madly in love with my Mahalo ULP-30 in the vintage sunburst finish. Just wrote a review for it this morning on Amazon.
That's my favoritestestest at this time, but there's much good cheap company for this ukulele here at Casa Sambient.

Sic_Rob · Jan 8, 2010

I bought my Lanikai LU-21 Soprano Ukulele off Amazon in October for $59, on sale. It came with Aquila's and once they strectched I was able to spend more time playing then tuning. It sounds pretty darn good too for that price.

Ahnko Honu · Jan 8, 2010

My first pineapple from over 12 years ago a Mahalo U-320P Mahogany laminate here pictured between her sister my R&L Koa, and Waverly Street #51.

pdxuke · Jan 8, 2010

kalmario said:
picked up a makala dolphin as a christmas present. threw on some kala reds and thats some cheap uking. my question is why is there no makala dolphin club to join, this is a grave injustice!!

I hereby start a Makala Dolphin Club. You and I are the first members!

phanzo · Jan 8, 2010

Lanikai Pineapple LU-21. Although it doesnt get played much anymore, it's what got me into this whole thing. And it looks perdy, hangin up on my wall.

I'll be gettin 3 Dolphins at some point this year. I have 2 baby nieces that will need to start playing and I (of course) have to have one for myself. I need something to do while driving and I just dont like taking my Mainlands out around the town.

With that being said, if my Lanikai had been set-up by MGM, I might actually play it nowadays. Instead, my brother got it for me as a bday present a few years back, from some shop in Hawaii. The action is pretty terrible, so I assume it just came out of the box and on to the shelf.

I wish it sounded better, I like that little thing. (It doesn't even sound good enough to be my "car uke")

Ronnie Aloha · Jan 8, 2010

Leolani tenor, all Mahogany laminate, Rosewood fretboard, plastic(?) binding on body and fretboard with some darker woodlike purfling around body. Same plastic and pufling material around sound hole I picked it up last week at Sam's Club in Hawaii. $100 bucks with a Lanikai style case, cheap clip on tuner and an extra set up Aquila strings.

micromue · Jan 8, 2010

8 Years ago I bought a Brueko No. 6 for about 100$. I still love its pluncky sound and play it a lot.

SamWise · Jan 8, 2010

I have a Kala Watermelon that I won in Deach's MmmBop contest. Aside from being a proud trophy, it's my go-anywhere uke. I mean, I have good cases for my better ukes, so I don't mind taking them on the road, but if I'm going camping, or to the beach, it's the Watermelon. It's also the uke that lives on the sofa/floor, which my 2 year old son will strum, which my wife has learned a few chord on, visitors plunk on, and I pick up and play when I'm passing, so it gets a lot of use. I've made videos with it too. It's not my favourite uke, but I like it a lot, and I'm glad to have it.

kissing · Jan 8, 2010

Im quite fond of my Mahalo Les paul Soprano with electric pickup.
Well under $100

deach · Jan 8, 2010

pdxuke said:
We already know that Deach loves his $99 uke.
...

That uke is hand painted and I bought it for $99. The uke itself probably cost $40.

I also had a pineapple Kala uke that I loved.

Nothing wrong with cheapies.

Pukulele Pete · Jan 8, 2010

I love my vintage Martin style 1 that I bought from Ebay for 66 bucks. It had a bunch of cracks, a hole, was missing the nut ,and someone painted desiigns all over.
It's all fixed and sounds nice.

UKISOCIETY · Jan 8, 2010

I love my Makala Dolphin - I take it everywhere. But my faves for under 100, and usually under $50, are my T.V. Pal pals!

heyjude · Jan 8, 2010

Mine would be an Ohana SK35G that I bought on ebay for $51.00 with a small 3" long stable crack in the top.

Jude

In Praise of Cheap Ukes

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