Playing ukes over the phone

Noobie

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I keep seeing threads where it's suggested that if you can't listen to an instrument in person before purchasing, you have the seller play it over the phone.

Why would you even bother with this? The limited frequency response on a phone means you have no idea how it actually sounds, nor can you judge volume since that's totally dependent on the mic in the phone. Most phones are around 300 Hz to only 3400 KHz. Cell phones are even worse, particularly when you add compression. You might as well use semaphore flags.
 
Better than nothing though I suppose and would highlight any serious playing issues with fretting or intonation?
 
There are a lot of strange voodooesque rites people do to ensure they get the best bang for the buck.This is one of them. Doesn´t help, but doesn´t hurt either. :)
 
In some countries, the phones are much more high fidelity than in the U.S. The phones in Switzerland were so good even back in the '70s that the band Yes recorded some organ parts over the phone.
 
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