Eyeguy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2012
- Messages
- 279
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- 49
Age old debate - buying primarily for looks or for sound.
Obviously, it's nice to get both, but we all know that fancy bindings and exotic inlays and the like have no genuine effect on tonal qualities, and that fancier, more exotic tonewoods and designs do not necessarily result in great sounding instruments - Lord knows how many bling laden expensive guitars have sold for a King's ransom but sound dead as a dishrag. Still, how many nonetheless put aesthetics at the top of their priority list when purchasing, ordering, or simply dreaming of an expensive uke.
Asked another way, assume you have won a contest and a uke store is going to give you a ukulele free of charge. Both are hand built by a well known and highly respected luthier. First, though, you are blindfolded and the two ukes are played for you by an accomplished player and you must pick the one that sounds best to your ears. You are clearly and easily able to do this, but find much to your surprise when the blindfold is taken off that the uke you have chosen is a plain Jane with absolutely no bling whatsoever - no binding, inlays, exotic woods, not even a headstock logo, while the one you clearly passed on sound wise was decked out to the hilt with everything from extra sound ports to exotic tonewoods to tree of life fingerboard inlays, etc.etc.
Assuming you must keep the uke and not re-sell it, which do you choose?
There is no right or wrong answer here by the way, just curious about what the uke crowd thinks. As well, some may have already noticed immediately, if not sooner, that I avoided answering the question myself.
Obviously, it's nice to get both, but we all know that fancy bindings and exotic inlays and the like have no genuine effect on tonal qualities, and that fancier, more exotic tonewoods and designs do not necessarily result in great sounding instruments - Lord knows how many bling laden expensive guitars have sold for a King's ransom but sound dead as a dishrag. Still, how many nonetheless put aesthetics at the top of their priority list when purchasing, ordering, or simply dreaming of an expensive uke.
Asked another way, assume you have won a contest and a uke store is going to give you a ukulele free of charge. Both are hand built by a well known and highly respected luthier. First, though, you are blindfolded and the two ukes are played for you by an accomplished player and you must pick the one that sounds best to your ears. You are clearly and easily able to do this, but find much to your surprise when the blindfold is taken off that the uke you have chosen is a plain Jane with absolutely no bling whatsoever - no binding, inlays, exotic woods, not even a headstock logo, while the one you clearly passed on sound wise was decked out to the hilt with everything from extra sound ports to exotic tonewoods to tree of life fingerboard inlays, etc.etc.
Assuming you must keep the uke and not re-sell it, which do you choose?
There is no right or wrong answer here by the way, just curious about what the uke crowd thinks. As well, some may have already noticed immediately, if not sooner, that I avoided answering the question myself.