Is the last new ukulele ever good enough to stop buying?

barefootgypsy

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I have to ask this question. I read posts from people who have bought expensive solid wood ukuleles, custom-builds - and immediately look for the next. I've no doubt they all sound beautiful, and different.... but I do have to ask, is there any end to it? The search for the ultimate ukulele?
 
I have to ask this question. I read posts from people who have bought expensive solid wood ukuleles, custom-builds - and immediately look for the next. I've no doubt they all sound beautiful, and different.... but I do have to ask, is there any end to it? The search for the ultimate ukulele?

I understand what you mean Lesley, I've thought the same myself at times... I can only speak for myself here, I don't really have any other financial commitments and nothing to spend money on other than ukulele's. I think for some, including me, different woods/builders/sizes etc produce different sounds. Personally, there are alot of ukes I want and I intend to try and get them! Will it stop? I don't know. I imagine I'll get to a stage where I am satisfied and I'll stop buying more. I hope so anyway. For me, they are the main thing which brings me joy so I'm glad I have it in my life!!
 
My main instrument is Classical Guitar and yet I only have one of those.

As for Ukuleles I now have 20. and All of them are good enough to play. but the pleassure is in how each one is so different and unique.

I was lucky enough to have a bit of casht to spend on this due to a job change transition, and also to get great deals on all the ukes... but now at 20, I really feel very happy and just short of guilty. so I really think this is it for me. ;)

Someday I hope to have a vintage (1920's 30's) uke but that's for the future maybe when I retire. for now I'm done!
 
For me it's not about each successive instrument getting "better", it's just about adding a new look or a new sound to my collection.

A lot of it is just the normal collectors bug thing going on, but there is method in the madness too.

After I bought my most premium uke yet ( a Kanile'a) I went on and bought another cheaper uke and then a banjolele.

It's all good!
 
For me it's not about each successive instrument getting "better", it's just about adding a new look or a new sound to my collection.

A lot of it is just the normal collectors bug thing going on, but there is method in the madness too.

After I bought my most premium uke yet ( a Kanile'a) I went on and bought another cheaper uke and then a banjolele.

It's all good!

I agree with the Baz. My goal is to own a lovely solid wood K-brand someday, but there is umpteen low-priced ukes that I'd love for my collection as well. Finally attaining a $1500 Kamaka won't change my desire for those other ukes.
 
For me it's not about each successive instrument getting "better", it's just about adding a new look or a new sound to my collection.

A lot of it is just the normal collectors bug thing going on, but there is method in the madness too.

After I bought my most premium uke yet ( a Kanile'a) I went on and bought another cheaper uke and then a banjolele.

It's all good!
Yes, I think it is the collector's bug thing, and I do understand the power of it with the ukulele. I think it grabs people round the neck. I have to keep a very restraining hand on myself..... I've still only got one wooden uke, and it's a fairly humble example! I would love at least one more, a better-looking, better-sounding one..... but I would have to explore by playing and seeing more "in the flesh", first, and that isn't so easy....and the next one would have to last a very long time before getting a third, so I just dream and drool! I plan where to go and how to get there to have a decadent uke-playing fest, trying them all out:drool:......! :D
 
And whilst the high end ukes are a real eye opener ( well, they were to me) I still have a Makala Dolphin on hand most times as a quick beater uke!
 
And whilst the high end ukes are a real eye opener ( well, they were to me) I still have a Makala Dolphin on hand most times as a quick beater uke!
I know everyone is going to say "it's very personal" but I'd be interested to know which high-end ukes were the biggest eye-opener, Barry! Something for me to work for - to reward myself when I've achieved my playing targets, and achieved sufficient saved-up pennies!
 
i think a ukefest would be a great idea for all of the brits on here, we could bring friends and club members and have damn good strum on each others ukes as well
 
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For me it's not about each successive instrument getting "better", it's just about adding a new look or a new sound to my collection.

A lot of it is just the normal collector's bug thing going on, but there is method in the madness too.

I agree. I think ukers who want one of each size, or one of each kind of wood, or one of each top brand all have a method to their collection.
My random craving for ukes morphed into my current small collection of moderately priced, hand-built soprano ukes. (Some I get used to stay in my price range.) Then, not only do I enjoy playing the ukes, but I also have connections to different luthiers.

To me, it's interesting to have a focus---it may keep you from wanting everything. The downside is that when you find something that fits into your focused collection, you want it very, very much!


(PS--If anyone has a hand-built soprano they'd like to re-home, PM me!)
 
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I think it depends upon a few things. As my uke instructor told me a couple days ago, you can outgrow a uke. I've done it a couple of times in the almost-3-years I've been seriously playing.

I've been on a search for a soprano that has 17 or more frets AND near-perfect intonation. For a number of reasons, this may not exist off the shelf, so for the first time ever I'm considering a custom, something I never expected. I could care less about "bling" and tonewoods and individuality and all that - I want a plain, simple ukulele that sounds perfect to me. In coming to this decision, I've tried a lot of ukes recently, and every last one of them has had different qualities, good, bad and ugly.

So I can see where if someone has what I call the "collector gene" it would be easy to accumulate multiples. I lack that gene; I also live in a 250-square-foot apartment where space is very limited, so my uke collection is very small. But this could be that the last uke I bought, my Kamaka HP-1 pineapple, is already perfect in every way - except for the fact that it only has 16 frets, and I've got a few things that I'd like to learn that use a few more notes. But that uke has become the standard by which I judge all others, and this limits my buying ability because so far, I've found nothing that compares. So for me, the last uke is definitely "good enough" - I'd rather stick with it and not play the songs that its fretboard can't accommodate, rather than buy a bunch of lesser ukes.
 
I admit it, I tend to go crazy never being content. I have six ukes, and four of them are quite nice, but I'm already trying to find a way to get another one. Now admittedly, it isn't for tone reasons (I don't think I could surpass my KoAloha tenor unless I got a custom), and I love the looks of my Kamaka tenor. But I desperately want to see one of the Kamoa Kauai built koa ukes (I'm hoping to get one when I go to Kauai in a couple of weeks). But that is only because I love Kauai with all my heart and it would mean a great deal to me sentimentally to have a uke that was built on that island (plus Kamoas do tend to have great sound, and they are using some wicked curly koa in those). But I made a promise to myself, and my family, that from now on, in order to buy a uke I must sell a uke. So if I get it, my KoAloha Pineapple Sunday has to go up on the selling block.

So I might never be completely satisfied and have a complete end to UAS, but for me, when one comes in, one has to go out from now on.
 
I know everyone is going to say "it's very personal" but I'd be interested to know which high-end ukes were the biggest eye-opener, Barry! Something for me to work for - to reward myself when I've achieved my playing targets, and achieved sufficient saved-up pennies!

For me it was my Kanile'a Tenor. So so sweet.
 
Just gotta say thanks to everyone contributing to this thread - 'cos I really do find it very interesting! The forces at play, for different people. Because I ask myself the same question - if I got a better one, (I've had my humble but nice Greg Bennett for 6 years! But only played regularly for the last 6 months...) would I still want a better, better?! Guess I probably would - so I'm holding out as long as I can for the best I can afford when I can afford it.....
 
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