Hi -
I've played guitar for a few decades, now mostly play mandolin - and looking to pick up a ukulele mainly for my wife and daughter. My daughter is still a toddler, but I can see it in my wife or my hands quite a lot - and as such, not interested in a toy.
I visited a few stores today, played some intro-level ukes and I guess I just wasn't impressed. Once things hit around $100 it seemed like some actual instruments were available - one decent at Guitar Center and a few at a local music shop [that spends a few minutes on setup].
It's around the house with a Breedlove Mando and a USA Tacoma Guitar [pre-Fender] ... so it's in the company of $1k instruments.
While looks aren't really a factor - a spruce top and satin finish would match the other instruments [and for my young daughter, having something that looks like Papa's instruments doesn't hurt] ... thus the choices I'm looking at here.
Really, playability and volume are probably the top two considerations - as you're only getting so much tone at the $100-150 range. I really can't spend much more [unless free shipping] ... and could spend less, but have concerns there.
My preliminary search yielded two things:
http://cgi.ebay.com/KALA-KA-SC-soli...240?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56413bdb38
Kala KA-SC [solid spruce top, concert size]
MGM instrument ... a little over my budget [esp with shipping], but tempting. Shipping ain't cheap, either.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lanikai-LFM-S-S...298?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3362f3a722
Lanikai LFM-S [spruce top, concert size]. I don't mean to be suckered by looks, but the flamed maple is a nice match for my mandolin and my daughter would eat that up. Then again, it's an unknown Ebay seller and setup is up in the air.
We do have a local instrument repair shop I could take it to for a setup if necessary, then again - that adds to the price.
The local shop had some Ohanas, though I didn't see any that really got me. [Perhaps it was the $600 uke I started playing made them all seem poor]
Anyway ... I'm new to these fine instruments, and would love to get an instrument we can enjoy and that my wife can grow into a bit before needing an upgrade.
Would the laminate nature of these back/sides be a bad choice, is spruce a bad uke wood [how's it do on volume?] ... where does these rank in your recommendations.
I could go traditional color and all if someone has a `great great uke' to point me at - or another that has lighter wood. Officially it will be my daughter's, but as it hangs nice to my nice spruce tops the dark mahogany I don't think will cut it - her pre-school tastes might be a little superficial yet.
All advice appreciated ... thanks!
I've played guitar for a few decades, now mostly play mandolin - and looking to pick up a ukulele mainly for my wife and daughter. My daughter is still a toddler, but I can see it in my wife or my hands quite a lot - and as such, not interested in a toy.
I visited a few stores today, played some intro-level ukes and I guess I just wasn't impressed. Once things hit around $100 it seemed like some actual instruments were available - one decent at Guitar Center and a few at a local music shop [that spends a few minutes on setup].
It's around the house with a Breedlove Mando and a USA Tacoma Guitar [pre-Fender] ... so it's in the company of $1k instruments.
While looks aren't really a factor - a spruce top and satin finish would match the other instruments [and for my young daughter, having something that looks like Papa's instruments doesn't hurt] ... thus the choices I'm looking at here.
Really, playability and volume are probably the top two considerations - as you're only getting so much tone at the $100-150 range. I really can't spend much more [unless free shipping] ... and could spend less, but have concerns there.
My preliminary search yielded two things:
http://cgi.ebay.com/KALA-KA-SC-soli...240?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56413bdb38
Kala KA-SC [solid spruce top, concert size]
MGM instrument ... a little over my budget [esp with shipping], but tempting. Shipping ain't cheap, either.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lanikai-LFM-S-S...298?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3362f3a722
Lanikai LFM-S [spruce top, concert size]. I don't mean to be suckered by looks, but the flamed maple is a nice match for my mandolin and my daughter would eat that up. Then again, it's an unknown Ebay seller and setup is up in the air.
We do have a local instrument repair shop I could take it to for a setup if necessary, then again - that adds to the price.
The local shop had some Ohanas, though I didn't see any that really got me. [Perhaps it was the $600 uke I started playing made them all seem poor]
Anyway ... I'm new to these fine instruments, and would love to get an instrument we can enjoy and that my wife can grow into a bit before needing an upgrade.
Would the laminate nature of these back/sides be a bad choice, is spruce a bad uke wood [how's it do on volume?] ... where does these rank in your recommendations.
I could go traditional color and all if someone has a `great great uke' to point me at - or another that has lighter wood. Officially it will be my daughter's, but as it hangs nice to my nice spruce tops the dark mahogany I don't think will cut it - her pre-school tastes might be a little superficial yet.
All advice appreciated ... thanks!