Is this how it begins?

I'd already got a Brunswick Tenor, my first uke, in October just gone. I like it a lot, its fun to play, and its helped me progress fairly rapidly with learning the uke.

But being in the army, its a bit big to pack in with my kit and take on exercise, or even the next time i go away on ops (I'm probably the only person to ever complain a uke was too big!).

So I'd started looking for a beater uke in soprano size. Something smaller and more importantly cheap, so if it gets destroyed I can just bin it, and not be shedding any tears over its loss. The ideal seemed to be a plastic bodied Makala Dolphin, with a set of Aquilas fitted should allow me to keep going while i'm detached from my trusty Brunswick.

First exercise of the year, and I Left my Tenor uke at home, but after a week, I've been getting withdrawal symptoms. Need something to twang in the evenings. I managed to get an afternoon in York yesterday, there were no Makalas in stock. They did however have a few Mahalo's including the EA Mahalo tele style uke, a Stagg electric uke, loads of Pure Tone ukes going cheap and a Lag soprano.

I was slightly disapointed there were no Dolphins in, so i had a play with a couple of the ukes to see if anything seemed possible. I ignored the Pure Tones, they looked junk without even needing to pick one up. The mahalo's were ok I suppose. The Stagg looks like a one day I'll get one type instrument.

But then I tried The Lag. Its a laminate admittedly, but the fit and finish was lovely, so i decided to tune up, and guess what, the sound was lovely. Its probably best described as a good quality low end instrument. Now its got Aquilas already fitted, but compared to the Mahalo, there was no comparison, the sound was just so much more clear and alive.

And thats when I decided to buy the thing, the price was double what I'd intended to spend on a take away to war zones type soprano. And eventually I'll still probably get a Dolphin for the intended task of being something cheap I can take away.

But that leads me on to the title question, is this how UAS begins, Ive just bought a second uke on the spur of the moment, and am already planning a third. Have I just let myself into a world of hurt, or is there a cure?

aaaah ET...here's 2 sides of the coin to chew on for awhile

the positive
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/f...-justification&highlight=theory+justification

the negative
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/f...nd-Kings-A-Confession&highlight=paupers+kings

I have a Kala travel uke and it is small, thinner than standard, light, and durable and the sound is truly acceptable. It has Aquilla strings and is not expensive at all. Fit in a backpack.

Yup, you got it! Cure? One UU'er identified a 12 step program for UAS.

Step 1: Buy 11 ukes,

step 12: Admit you are powerless over ukes and start over.

:drool: I love it

You definitely have it. Keep your head down and stay safe

I think while i'm sticking to the better end of the cheaper instruments (laminates etc) there cant be too much harm in it. For the moment its good to have options while learning. When I start looking into solid wood instruments, and more expensive fair like banjulele's, then I'll have to look into it a bit more seriously.

Currently, between my Tenor, and Soprano its nice to have the options. I'd still like a Dolphin, as a backup or for taking places like camping or into the odd war zone, where its cheap enough not to be so picky where I play it. I'd also like a Concert sized one as a halfway house, and to gain some experience at this scale length, I'm still finding the soprano scale a bit cramped for my sausage fingers. Then i'll have a fair range of options for learning and developing my playing.

Beyond that I'll hopefully have the experience to specialise with what i pick, thats more in keeping with my style of playing as I develop. But I'll admit the resonator ukes just look so cool, I want to try one in the flesh.

EvilTwin said:

I think while i'm sticking to the better end of the cheaper instruments (laminates etc) there cant be too much harm in it. For the moment its good to have options while learning. When I start looking into solid wood instruments, and more expensive fair like banjulele's, then I'll have to look into it a bit more seriously.

Currently, between my Tenor, and Soprano its nice to have the options. I'd still like a Dolphin, as a backup or for taking places like camping or into the odd war zone, where its cheap enough not to be so picky where I play it. I'd also like a Concert sized one as a halfway house, and to gain some experience at this scale length, I'm still finding the soprano scale a bit cramped for my sausage fingers. Then i'll have a fair range of options for learning and developing my playing.

Beyond that I'll hopefully have the experience to specialise with what i pick, thats more in keeping with my style of playing as I develop. But I'll admit the resonator ukes just look so cool, I want to try one in the flesh.

Click to expand...

In a short while, you will be able to get the new Kala concert or tenor resonator at a very reasonable price!

Yes, that is how it begins.

There is no cure. There is a vaccination you can take beforehand, which is to get really into table tennis. Like, fanatical about it. But, if you get a uke before a ping-pong paddle, you're stuck like the rest of us.