AncientMatingCalls
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2011
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- 448
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Introspection: Yesterday my fiance said something that really resonated with me. I had showed her a video of James Hill playing Billie Jean (she loves that song).
She made a comment that "that could be you doing stuff like that."
I retorted that I couldn't ever play like James Hill.
To which she replied "Well you could if you focused on one instrument."
That idea has been stuck in my head all night. The more I think about it, the more I begin to like the idea of it. The most productive I had ever been in terms of learning music was when I had to sell all of my electric guitar equipment and was left with only my acoustic. So I think there is some truth to what she said. I have a few different instruments, but I don't really feel proficient as I should on any given one. I do play and enjoy playing my uke more than any other. So over the course of the night (I work 3rd shift) a crazy idea began to develop.
I want the next level: This not only pertains the my level of playing, but more specifically to the point of this thread, the next level in uke.
Here's what I mean. As I said I've got a few different instruments. Namely a guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo. The mando rarely gets played (its a right I'm a lefty yadayadayada...) and the banjo is on eBay as I type. The idea was to buy a tenor banjo and string it up uke tuning with nylon strings. My crazy idea is that perhaps I shouldn't get that tenor banjo. Maybe I shouldn't hang on to that neglected mando. I'm thinking that if I am really serious about devoting my time to mastering (or getting as close as I might) one instrument, then just maybe I should invest in an ukulele that I can be proud to call my primary instrument. An uke head and shoulders above my previous ukes.
I get by with a little help from my friends: Now comes the fun part for you guys. I am asking you all to bestow your extensive knowledge of ukes upon me. I very well can't test most ukes available, as I'm in Wisconsin. But I think I have the next best thing. The ability to ask those who have experience with a number of different makes and models.
Here are some requirements that might help you guys help me.
Tenor size
Solid wood
No cut aways (remember, I'm lefty)
It would be nice if it had a pickup (preferably passive)
Budget ~$750 possibly could be extended to $800 given the instrument.
And above all "next level" quality. I'm coming from a Pono MTDX-E that I hate to say just isn't my uke. It's a great instrument, but its just not for me.
I've noticed that the Honu KTE-ER seems to fit my requirements, but I've never heard of Honu and don't really know anything of their quality. http://www.bigislandukulele.com/products/index.html
So my friends, what should I be looking at?
(sorry for the long read)
She made a comment that "that could be you doing stuff like that."
I retorted that I couldn't ever play like James Hill.
To which she replied "Well you could if you focused on one instrument."
That idea has been stuck in my head all night. The more I think about it, the more I begin to like the idea of it. The most productive I had ever been in terms of learning music was when I had to sell all of my electric guitar equipment and was left with only my acoustic. So I think there is some truth to what she said. I have a few different instruments, but I don't really feel proficient as I should on any given one. I do play and enjoy playing my uke more than any other. So over the course of the night (I work 3rd shift) a crazy idea began to develop.
I want the next level: This not only pertains the my level of playing, but more specifically to the point of this thread, the next level in uke.
Here's what I mean. As I said I've got a few different instruments. Namely a guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo. The mando rarely gets played (its a right I'm a lefty yadayadayada...) and the banjo is on eBay as I type. The idea was to buy a tenor banjo and string it up uke tuning with nylon strings. My crazy idea is that perhaps I shouldn't get that tenor banjo. Maybe I shouldn't hang on to that neglected mando. I'm thinking that if I am really serious about devoting my time to mastering (or getting as close as I might) one instrument, then just maybe I should invest in an ukulele that I can be proud to call my primary instrument. An uke head and shoulders above my previous ukes.
I get by with a little help from my friends: Now comes the fun part for you guys. I am asking you all to bestow your extensive knowledge of ukes upon me. I very well can't test most ukes available, as I'm in Wisconsin. But I think I have the next best thing. The ability to ask those who have experience with a number of different makes and models.
Here are some requirements that might help you guys help me.
Tenor size
Solid wood
No cut aways (remember, I'm lefty)
It would be nice if it had a pickup (preferably passive)
Budget ~$750 possibly could be extended to $800 given the instrument.
And above all "next level" quality. I'm coming from a Pono MTDX-E that I hate to say just isn't my uke. It's a great instrument, but its just not for me.
I've noticed that the Honu KTE-ER seems to fit my requirements, but I've never heard of Honu and don't really know anything of their quality. http://www.bigislandukulele.com/products/index.html
So my friends, what should I be looking at?
(sorry for the long read)