Little Plink
Active member
Hey, everybody!
It's my first post here on the UU forums, but I've been reading them for a few months now. I'm only 14 years old, but I've slowly grown to love the 'ukulele.
To understand my problem, you need to know that my parents are strict in the way that if I diligently save up for something for months, they will not let me buy it. This is because I have played the violin since I was 5 years old, and they say I'm stretching myself too thin with all the instruments I play... Which I suppose is believable. Over the years I've amassed and taught myself to play guitar, bass, piano, alto sax, tenor sax, drums, and 'ukulele.
Even so, if I earn what I play, why is it necessary to keep me from expanding my repertoire? I'm not falling behind in my violin lessons, and I earn the money from doing odd jobs and chores for my neighbors.
I have one 'ukulele, and it's kind of a cheapo, but I still love it. It's a Kohala HU212, which, if you're not already aware, is entry brand for Lanikai which is sort of an entry brand in itself. The point is, I'm ready for a major step up, I've been playing this thing for months, and I'm getting some major UAS.
Obviously, the ultimate goal for most players is a K-Brand (My fave is Kamaka, cuz I'm old-school like that.) The prices on these are a bit steep, and, well, really, it's a pipe dream. It's like the time I tried to scrape together $1700 for a Rickenbacker bass. DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. So I'm going with the cheapest solid koa tenor I could find. (Actually, I'm not sure they're in production anymore, but I found a few online.) It's a Kamoa, from before they changed everything when it was still solid koa.
Three problems stand in my way;
-The cheapest price I found was just over $500. Which, really, If I worked hard enough, I could come up with that money over a period of time, so, it's not so much an obstacle as an inconvenience. You know, I don't have like bills or mortgages and stuff like that... Yet
-My parents refuse to let me get another 'ukulele because they're convinced that 'ukuleles are nothing more than toys. They don't understand that a $500 ukulele is NOT a toy. (Forgive them, they're naturally violin snobs. I was one, too, once upon a time.)
-As I stated before, these ukuleles are, as far as I can see, no longer in production, so while I hoarde cash and try to convince my parents, supplies are dwindling. By the time the conditions are ripe, all of these will be gone, and I'll have to wait months to save up for a real K-Brand, which in my humble opinion, would better serve a more skilled player. Which isn't to say I'm bad, I can play some Shimabukuro songs pretty much flawlessly, but I'm no Ohta-San.
Sooo... any advice?
It's my first post here on the UU forums, but I've been reading them for a few months now. I'm only 14 years old, but I've slowly grown to love the 'ukulele.
To understand my problem, you need to know that my parents are strict in the way that if I diligently save up for something for months, they will not let me buy it. This is because I have played the violin since I was 5 years old, and they say I'm stretching myself too thin with all the instruments I play... Which I suppose is believable. Over the years I've amassed and taught myself to play guitar, bass, piano, alto sax, tenor sax, drums, and 'ukulele.
Even so, if I earn what I play, why is it necessary to keep me from expanding my repertoire? I'm not falling behind in my violin lessons, and I earn the money from doing odd jobs and chores for my neighbors.
I have one 'ukulele, and it's kind of a cheapo, but I still love it. It's a Kohala HU212, which, if you're not already aware, is entry brand for Lanikai which is sort of an entry brand in itself. The point is, I'm ready for a major step up, I've been playing this thing for months, and I'm getting some major UAS.
Obviously, the ultimate goal for most players is a K-Brand (My fave is Kamaka, cuz I'm old-school like that.) The prices on these are a bit steep, and, well, really, it's a pipe dream. It's like the time I tried to scrape together $1700 for a Rickenbacker bass. DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. So I'm going with the cheapest solid koa tenor I could find. (Actually, I'm not sure they're in production anymore, but I found a few online.) It's a Kamoa, from before they changed everything when it was still solid koa.
Three problems stand in my way;
-The cheapest price I found was just over $500. Which, really, If I worked hard enough, I could come up with that money over a period of time, so, it's not so much an obstacle as an inconvenience. You know, I don't have like bills or mortgages and stuff like that... Yet
-My parents refuse to let me get another 'ukulele because they're convinced that 'ukuleles are nothing more than toys. They don't understand that a $500 ukulele is NOT a toy. (Forgive them, they're naturally violin snobs. I was one, too, once upon a time.)
-As I stated before, these ukuleles are, as far as I can see, no longer in production, so while I hoarde cash and try to convince my parents, supplies are dwindling. By the time the conditions are ripe, all of these will be gone, and I'll have to wait months to save up for a real K-Brand, which in my humble opinion, would better serve a more skilled player. Which isn't to say I'm bad, I can play some Shimabukuro songs pretty much flawlessly, but I'm no Ohta-San.
Sooo... any advice?