Hard bodied electric uke recomendations

JayMadison

JayMadison

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I was always kinda down on hard bodied ukes, but I played a few this weekend that were pretty awesome. I was wondering if you folks had any recommendations for them as I really don't know too much about who makes good ones.

Thanks :)

-Jay
 
JayMadison said:
I was always kinda down on hard bodied ukes, but I played a few this weekend that were pretty awesome. I was wondering if you folks had any recommendations for them as I really don't know too much about who makes good ones.

Thanks :)

-Jay
Click to expand...

check out
http://bluestarguitarcompany.com/ (blue star guitar co)
they make an electric ukulele called konablaster. its a solid body steel stringed uke i have one and love it. Their stock models are either soprano or baritone. Elderly music carries them or you can order from him. The stock models have a pineapple or (canned ham) shape with a shiney cover and carpet back with steel strings. I recommend the baritone its much better in quality. And if you want he also does tenor sizes by custom and he can design you one that looks exactly like a guitar with a wood finish. His prices are much cheaper than more expensive brands like risa, mann or monkey wrench. The stock ukes are 300 for soprano and 325 for baritone. hope this helps.
 
JayMadison said:
I was always kinda down on hard bodied ukes, but I played a few this weekend that were pretty awesome. I was wondering if you folks had any recommendations for them as I really don't know too much about who makes good ones.

Thanks :)

-Jay
Click to expand...

You looking for Steel string electric with magnetic pickups, or nylon string with piezo pickup?
 
iamesperambient said:
check out
http://bluestarguitarcompany.com/ (blue star guitar co)
they make an electric ukulele called konablaster. its a solid body steel stringed uke i have one and love it. Their stock models are either soprano or baritone. Elderly music carries them or you can order from him. The stock models have a pineapple or (canned ham) shape with a shiney cover and carpet back with steel strings. I recommend the baritone its much better in quality. And if you want he also does tenor sizes by custom and he can design you one that looks exactly like a guitar with a wood finish. His prices are much cheaper than more expensive brands like risa, mann or monkey wrench. The stock ukes are 300 for soprano and 325 for baritone. hope this helps.
Click to expand...

*drools over a tenor custom order*
 
If your budget allows it, I highly recommend Risa's electric ukuleles.
They have both nylon and steel string models. I have owned just about every model and have been totally satisfied!

https://www.ukulele.de/shop4/en-RISA

(note: when you register and make an account, your prices get 19% reduced due to European tax being deducted)

Their steel models sound like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkpn5bN2l1M

(Risa soprano steel-string electric + a tiny, cheap VOX AC1 amp)



And here's me playing their Nylon string model:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNIimZxy3iw
 
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kissing said:
If your budget allows it, I highly recommend Risa's electric ukuleles.
They have both nylon and steel string models. I have owned just about every model and have been totally satisfied!

https://www.ukulele.de/shop4/en-RISA

(note: when you register and make an account, your prices get 19% reduced due to European tax being deducted)

And their steel models sound like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkpn5bN2l1M

Their nylon models sound like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNIimZxy3iw
Click to expand...

wow those are pretty amazing, guess I better start saving my pennies :)
 
JayMadison said:
wow those are pretty amazing, guess I better start saving my pennies :)
Click to expand...

Or maybe not. A bunch of us went in on a deal to get some steel string semi-hollow body electric ukes from China. Our esteemed leader has decided to put his up for sale.

It's around $250. I won't lie - I got one in the same deal and took it to a luthier, who made it very, very nice for a couple of hundred. But it was playable from the start.

You can find the listing here. Oh, and I own a Risa tenor stick, which I like, but uses non-steel strings. If you are looking to rock out, the Alida is more appropriate, although the two ukes differ in a whole bunch of ways.
 
greenie44 said:
Or maybe not. A bunch of us went in on a deal to get some steel string semi-hollow body electric ukes from China. Our esteemed leader has decided to put his up for sale.

It's around $250. I won't lie - I got one in the same deal and took it to a luthier, who made it very, very nice for a couple of hundred. But it was playable from the start.

You can find the listing here. Oh, and I own a Risa tenor stick, which I like, but uses non-steel strings. If you are looking to rock out, the Alida is more appropriate, although the two ukes differ in a whole bunch of ways.
Click to expand...

Any idea how they sound?
 
JayMadison said:
Any idea how they sound?
Click to expand...

Normally this is where my pal Berni would jump in with the following link, which has the Alida on multiple tracks, but I'll fill in for him. His Alida has not been to a luthier, as far as I know.

 
Why exactly would one go for a cheapo Chinese Alida of low quality when you can have a German made Risa steel string electric of exceptional quality? You don't need to make any adjustments to make it playable

You said you have a Risa nylon, but they have steel strings too ;)
 
kissing said:
Why exactly would one go for a cheapo Chinese Alida of low quality when you can have a German made Risa steel string electric of exceptional quality? You don't need to make any adjustments to make it playable

You said you have a Risa nylon, but they have steel strings too ;)
Click to expand...

I haven't played a Risa electric, so you might be right about them. But I would not say my Alida is "of low quality". It needed some ignificant set up, but I really enjoy it.

And the reason is price.
 
And I'll +1 iamesper's recommendation of the Konablaster line. Can be half the price of Risa or Monkey Wrench - or the same if you go super fancy. See the link in my sig line.
 
Jim Hanks said:
And I'll +1 iamesper's recommendation of the Konablaster line. Can be half the price of Risa or Monkey Wrench - or the same if you go super fancy. See the link in my sig line.
Click to expand...

I really don't get why the konablaster's aren't popular on here people get this shitty low end chinese electrics but they do want an american made unique amazing sounding one? i dont get it.
 
It may possibly be the looks?
They have their own rustic appeal, but perhaps it doesnt attract eveyone at first sight...hmm.

I wish they had truss rods; thats my only pet peeve.
 
I love the looks of mine, but they also do more "normal" wood finishes if you aren't into the funky awesomeness. I do get what you're saying. By the way, the standard baritone does come with a truss rod. I forgot to ask if my tenor/short scale baritone came with one. I think it does.
 
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