Only one Ukulele

Romanista77

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Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for some advice.
I'm a minimalist. Generally the less I have the happier I am. I'm often looking for ways to simplify my life.

During the summer I picked up a Koaloha Koa Soprano that I love. It's been my go to uke ever since. Now I'm seriously considering selling my Pono Mahogany Tenor.

I'm wondering if I'll regret not having the Tenor later on. I'm a average intermediate player and don't do much fancy playing at the moment, but I hope to get there.
I play everything from folk, Rock, and Classical.

Will I miss out only having 12 frets?

I have small hands and so far the Soprano has been easier to play.

The Tenor I have has a passive pickup and the Soprano doesn't. Not something I've ever used yet.


I'd love to hear your thoughts/suggestions!
 
If it makes you happier to have one, have one. You can get a new tenor if/when your situation demands.
 
You have a tenor which I assume you have played. When you play your soprano do you miss those extra frets? - it is not for us decide if you will miss them. It is personal preference - go with whatever will make you happy.
 
With the caveat that this is obviously subjective, I say sell the tenor. Here's my reasoning:

1. Love the uke you play, and play it until it's sawdust. (This is part of the play-more-shop/covet-less theory.)
2. You can always buy another (or the same!) tenor, should your tastes change in time.
3. While the data is still being compiled, recent analysis suggests that the sole reason the economy hasn't floundered is because we, the good people of UU, keep buying, selling and trading ukuleles. It is therefore your civic obligation to adios the Pono.

In the interest of full disclosure: I own four ukes, three of which I play regularly. I have promised my wife I'll sell off at least one of them, but fortunately (thankfully!) the camera is out of batteries.

Good luck with your decision -- the marketplace greedily awaits it.
 
Tough, deeply personal question.

Depending on your needs, your ukes could be seen as duplicates, or as two completely different instruments. Have your goals changed? Is the tenor too hard to play? Or, is it just a bit more challenging than the KoAloha? If one or both of the first two questions are "Yes," then maybe it's time for the tenor to move on.

Have you played the tenor recently, while you're trying to decide on selling it? The newer kid usually gets more play, at least at first (that's how it goes at my place, anyway). A planned "date" or two with the tenor might swing the decision either way.
 
Good advice here. Play it today and if you still feel like selling it. Sell it. On a gut level do what makes you happy.
 
Minimalist here too (although I have more than one uke, there is one that gets played 99% of the time). I've never once regretted selling a uke - if your instinct is telling you to sell it, it's time.
 
I'd say to keep the Pono tenor. There's no reason or rationale to it. Your hands aren't likely to grow, your desire to play a tenor is not likely to change, and you probably aren't starved for cash or you'd not have bought it in the first place.

So, for reasons that are just as unclear to me as they are to you, I suggest you keep it.
 
I say keep the Pono as a spare. You never know when you might run over the new one laying in the driveway...or something.:D
 
sell it to me really cheap. I don't have a Pono tenor, only a Pono baritone. now don't you feel sorry for me.haha . my advice[ which of course I don't follow myself] is if you don't play it , sell it and let someone else play it. most were not designed for being wall art.
 
sell it to me really cheap. I don't have a Pono tenor, only a Pono baritone. now don't you feel sorry for me.haha . my advice[ which of course I don't follow myself] is if you don't play it , sell it and let someone else play it. most were not designed for being wall art.

That's what I love about this place...there are so many willing to sacrifice for the good of others... LOL

John
 
If you need the money, sell the Pono. If money's not an issue for you, find a friend that you trust and that is interested in learning and give them the Pono on "extended loan" with the understanding that you might want it back some day. (Or if they get really good and buy their own Koaloha you can then pass the Pono on to a new beginner.)


Scooter
 
If you need the money, sell the Pono. If money's not an issue for you, find a friend that you trust and that is interested in learning and give them the Pono on "extended loan" with the understanding that you might want it back some day. (Or if they get really good and buy their own Koaloha you can then pass the Pono on to a new beginner.)


Scooter

Hi, I thought it was time I should introduce myself to the forum a little more formally. My name is Afriend That Youtrust and I'm interested in learning to play the ukulele... :)

John
 
It sounds like having two ukuleles is causing conflict with your minimalist lifestyle. If so, I'd say keep the soprano, sell the Pono and be happy!
-joe
 
If you don't play it and don't want to keep it anymore, sell it. :)

I'm a minimalist, too: I only want one uke of each size. Except Bariton that I don't like.

(Right now I own 5. With my purchase of a K brand Tenor next year my ukulele acquisition mission is completed.)
 
Very personal question, but a few things to consider.

I own MANY ukes, but that's mainly because I write about them. How many do I play regularly? Three - one in each body size (exc baritone). I like the different tones they give and the extra space on the tenor. If I was forced to ditch one it would be the concert as they always seem neither one thing or the other to me. There is easy enough difference between tenor and soprano for me to justify / want to play both.

One other thing though. Do you play gigs or shows (and do you plan to do so?) - I would never go to a gig without a spare on hand. A string change mid set is the biggest pain!
 
.... recent analysis suggests that the sole reason the economy hasn't floundered is because we, the good people of UU, keep buying, selling and trading ukuleles.

I'll have to try that argument with my other half :rolleyes:

I generally think that if you aren't going to get more than what you paid for an instrument (or at least the same amount) then what is the point of selling it? You lose the potential of that other sound and only in exchange for a few dollars. However, if you live in a bedsit (single room apartment) and space is of premium, then there is an argument for getting rid of it. Or if you really take the Leonard Cohen principle to heart:

"I choose the room that I live in with care,
There's only one bed and there's only one chair.
Only one Uke that I play when you're not there"

OK... I made that last line up :cool:
 
Hi Everyone,

I'm looking for some advice.
I'm a minimalist. Generally the less I have the happier I am. I'm often looking for ways to simplify my life.

During the summer I picked up a Koaloha Koa Soprano that I love. It's been my go to uke ever since. Now I'm seriously considering selling my Pono Mahogany Tenor.

I'm wondering if I'll regret not having the Tenor later on. I'm a average intermediate player and don't do much fancy playing at the moment, but I hope to get there.
I play everything from folk, Rock, and Classical.

Will I miss out only having 12 frets?

I have small hands and so far the Soprano has been easier to play.

The Tenor I have has a passive pickup and the Soprano doesn't. Not something I've ever used yet.


I'd love to hear your thoughts/suggestions!


I'm a minimalist too. How much for the Pono
 
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I'm a minimalist with 12 ukes, 4 bass guitars, 2 tenor guitars, 20 ocarinas and 6 amplifiers.

I am a minimalist, therefore I must have only one uke. It simply doesn't work that way.
It's more like, have a handful of ukes (eg: 12) that you will genuinely play out of the billions available out there.

In my opinion, you will miss your tenor.
From one minimalist to another, I would keep it :)
You ARE being extremely minimalist already by having two ukes, one soprano and a tenor. A perfect combination that covers both sides.
There are different pros and cons to sopranos and tenors. They complement each other perfectly as a minimalist duo of ukes.
 
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