Ukulele player wants

MGM

MGM

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Many stores carry other instruments as their main focus and usually have a few ukuleles as a sideline. Other than good ukuleles...what items oiher than strings would you wish store had more of that you would get for your ukulele.
 
I wish a store in my area had a case. I have this excellent new tenor, but I have no case for it and I cannot see any in person to see if they fit my uke well and whatnot. Thats the big one for me.
 
Believe it or not but there's only 1 music store in Hayward. First of all, they should carry more ukes and strings. :D They have 1 set of La Bella tenor and 1 set of Martin concert. And about 10 Mahalo ukes.

But aside from that, they usually dont carry the accessories needed to make an internal pickup. It's more of a main music store so they should at least have it for guitars, but sadly they dont.

And they have about 3 people who work there. And one of the ladies don't understand too much english. She didn't know what I was talking about when I asked about pickups :confused: So I ask for better service and people who know about installing, fixing, etc.
 
probably ukulele brand stickers, ukulele related t-shirts not too fond of the floral pattern button ups tho, cheaper "headstock vibration tuners" i dont know what they are really called, and uke building kits, oh and more soft padded gig bags, most stores around here jus have those hard shell cases.
 
...a shop assistant that does not stare blankly at me when I ask for strings, then call two more assistants and the manager over, all have a discussion about it right in front of me, then tell me they don't have any, then openly laugh when I point to the display of soprano ukes in the window and then say "Yes we have those but we only stock strings for real instruments"

There are only a few music shops round me, none of them really know anythig about Ukuleles so I have to travel to get any kind of understanding.

Ho Hum.

Jack33
 
Jack33@ said:
...a shop assistant that does not stare blankly at me when I ask for strings, then call two more assistants and the manager over, all have a discussion about it right in front of me, then tell me they don't have any, then openly laugh when I point to the display of soprano ukes in the window and then say "Yes we have those but we only stock strings for real instruments"

There are only a few music shops round me, none of them really know anythig about Ukuleles so I have to travel to get any kind of understanding.

Ho Hum.

Jack33
Click to expand...



I feel your pain. Except instead, its just one lady who doesn't know english staring blankfully at me.

And actually, the manager tried to force me to buy a Mahalo uke like it was one of the best around. No hate, but he tried selling me a Flying V Mahalo uke for 100+ :confused: and even a Mahalo soprano for 59+.
 
Ukulele_Junkie said:
probably ukulele brand stickers, ukulele related t-shirts not too fond of the floral pattern button ups tho, cheaper "headstock vibration tuners" i dont know what they are really called, and uke building kits, oh and more soft padded gig bags, most stores around here jus have those hard shell cases.
Click to expand...

Everything ukulele junkie mentions here I second.

more stickers
cool uke themed tshirts or other apparel
cheaper clipon tuners
DIY uke stuff
more selection for gigbags and straps
 
Jack33@ said:
"Yes we have those but we only stock strings for real instruments"
Click to expand...

ouch, at that point i would of picked up the flying V uke and start playing stairway ...that would of shut their ignorant mouths up. do a little face melting, some ear splitting, etc.
 
Great customer service where the customer feels like their hard earned money was well spent. No hassles for the customer.
 
Jack33@ said:
...a shop assistant that does not stare blankly at me when I ask for strings, then call two more assistants and the manager over, all have a discussion about it right in front of me, then tell me they don't have any, then openly laugh when I point to the display of soprano ukes in the window and then say "Yes we have those but we only stock strings for real instruments"

There are only a few music shops round me, none of them really know anythig about Ukuleles so I have to travel to get any kind of understanding.

Ho Hum.

Jack33
Click to expand...

I too share your pain... probably the best music shop in Toronto knows nothing about ukuleles. Collectively, they know (and have probably forgotten) more about most mainstream intruments than I will ever be able to learn but that's where it ends. They've told me a uke is strung and tuned like a guitar, they only carry Hilo, Mahalo and Oscar Schmidt (which they endorse as the top of the line in the world of ukulele - not hating on Oscar Schmidt or any Oscar Schmidt owners but there are higher-end ukes out there) and they've told me that soprano strings would be just fine for any size ukulele. And while there are hints of truth in their sales pitch, they don't know how to tune a uke (other than a baritone - which they don't even know exists) and they sell only what they stock. They have 6-8 different models of soprano, concert and tenor ukes. You'd think they would at least know the basics.
What do I want? An ukulele instructor.
 
It's not that bad here. There's one shop that has some Brükos, Lanikais, and Stagg, and of those, you want the first one. The guy is nice and doesn't pretend to be hugely knowledgable about ukes, but takes in what the uke crazy customers tell him. He knows about the bigger uke meetings and lamented missing out on Rigk's Blues Workshop last year.

Prices are atrocious, but that's Finland - he's probably not making a huge profit after his own costs.

I wish the mid tier stuff was more accessable. Guitar players aren't asked to plonk down 1k sight unseen and unheard unless it's their own choice. For us, there's usually no choice in the matter.
 
A 10 minute drive to me for me is to Kennelly Keys. Great store; if you play a band instrument. They do carry a few ukes though (Oscar, Mahalo, and a few others) but the prices are atrocious. They do carry strings for all sizes (Martin and D'adderario) and felt picks although that is the limit there.

Now 45 minutes away is a store called Dusty Strings. (The greatest store in the world!) They carry TONS of ukes, from new Kamakas to old vintage Martins. (just the other day I played a 10 string Martin, yes 10 string!) What they also have are cases, strings (Aquilas, Freemonts, D'adderario, Martin, Hilo, etc) and books. Now not only do they have all of this, but their customer service is simply outstanding.

So the purpose of my post is what a uke player wants (at least me) is all the supplies (cases, ukes, strings, books, etc) with the great customer service.
 
My only music shop is 25 minutes away. Great for guitar. BUT they only sell one uke, the mahalo u30. The strings they sell I hadn't ever heard of. I would just like a specialised uke shop. That would be nice.
 
Lanark said:
Actual hardshell cases like you get for guitars.
I'd be interested in having more than some nylon and styrofoam between my big monetary investment and the world.
Click to expand...

YES!!! someone needs to talk to the guys at SKB and have them make a hard case for da ukes. sure it would be about $100 but IMO well worth the money.
 
NukeDOC said:
YES!!! someone needs to talk to the guys at SKB and have them make a hard case for da ukes. sure it would be about $100 but IMO well worth the money.
Click to expand...

I have a hard case for my G-String that I got from a local music shop. 60 bucks for it. (They threw it in for free for me though :D)

Here is a pic:
IMGP0941.jpg

IMGP0942.jpg


This is exactly the type of reasons why I love this store and it is definitely a thing that uke players want! :love:
 
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