PorkLover
Active member
Just wanted to post about how cool Smiley and Janet, owners of Ukulele Source in Japantown in San Jose, CA are. If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, they're definitely worth visiting.
I was down in San Jose for the NCAA Basketball Tournaments and stopped by to check out their humble shop. On one side of the shop are the "Chinese" ukes: Kala, Ohana, Mainland, and Nalu were well represented. There was also a Flea and a Fluke on the "China" side although I think those are US made. I would guess that there are at least 50 ukes on this side of the shop. All available to fondle and play with.
On the other side of the shop was the Hawaiian made ukes mainly Koaloha and Kanilea. Smiley also had a few Kamaka ukes that I believe were sold as used... one was signed by Jake. There were perhaps 20 ukes on this side of the shop.
Prices were very comparable to what I've seen on Ebay, and other various popular uke internet sellers. Sales tax is added of course. In San Jose, I think its 9.25%.
It took 3 visits to the store and countless fondles of the ukes (lingering longer on the Ohana SK-21 and Koaloha Noah -- cute buggers they are) before I finally narrowed on a Koaloha concert and super-concert. No pressure from Smiley or Janet through it all. On the contrary, I get the feeling that they truly enjoy talking and sharing ukes. Visiting the shop feels like going to some cool people's house that has 100 ukes, all of which you can play with.
I needed a night to think about the concert vs super-concert (as well as get permission from the fiance). Smiley gave me his cell phone so I could call him when I was ready to purchase the uke since I would not be available during their normal business hours due to the Tournament. He said "I'll see you tomorrow". He gets it.
They ended up opening the shop an hour before normal business hours so I could once again play the ukes. At one point Smiley and Janet reached deep into their stock to pull out 3 different Koaloha super-concerts and 3 different Koaloha concerts to test. Janet even handed me her own personal Koaloha low-G concert so I can better compare it to the super-concerts which were strung low-G.
I ended going with a Koaloha concert and have ZERO buyers remorse fully satisfied that with Smiley and Janet's help, I ended up with the uke that was the best for me. All for a price that is comparable to what is available on-line.
Couple other things about the shop: the whole shop is humidified so their ukes are well taken care of. Smiley and Janet also stock Worth and Aquila strings.
Having had horrible experiences purchasing a uke here in Sacramento, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Smiley and Janet's shop in San Jose. Good prices, great people, and tons of ukes to check out. Smiley gets it... he told me on my way out with my new baby, "You'll be back".
I was down in San Jose for the NCAA Basketball Tournaments and stopped by to check out their humble shop. On one side of the shop are the "Chinese" ukes: Kala, Ohana, Mainland, and Nalu were well represented. There was also a Flea and a Fluke on the "China" side although I think those are US made. I would guess that there are at least 50 ukes on this side of the shop. All available to fondle and play with.
On the other side of the shop was the Hawaiian made ukes mainly Koaloha and Kanilea. Smiley also had a few Kamaka ukes that I believe were sold as used... one was signed by Jake. There were perhaps 20 ukes on this side of the shop.
Prices were very comparable to what I've seen on Ebay, and other various popular uke internet sellers. Sales tax is added of course. In San Jose, I think its 9.25%.
It took 3 visits to the store and countless fondles of the ukes (lingering longer on the Ohana SK-21 and Koaloha Noah -- cute buggers they are) before I finally narrowed on a Koaloha concert and super-concert. No pressure from Smiley or Janet through it all. On the contrary, I get the feeling that they truly enjoy talking and sharing ukes. Visiting the shop feels like going to some cool people's house that has 100 ukes, all of which you can play with.
I needed a night to think about the concert vs super-concert (as well as get permission from the fiance). Smiley gave me his cell phone so I could call him when I was ready to purchase the uke since I would not be available during their normal business hours due to the Tournament. He said "I'll see you tomorrow". He gets it.
They ended up opening the shop an hour before normal business hours so I could once again play the ukes. At one point Smiley and Janet reached deep into their stock to pull out 3 different Koaloha super-concerts and 3 different Koaloha concerts to test. Janet even handed me her own personal Koaloha low-G concert so I can better compare it to the super-concerts which were strung low-G.
I ended going with a Koaloha concert and have ZERO buyers remorse fully satisfied that with Smiley and Janet's help, I ended up with the uke that was the best for me. All for a price that is comparable to what is available on-line.
Couple other things about the shop: the whole shop is humidified so their ukes are well taken care of. Smiley and Janet also stock Worth and Aquila strings.
Having had horrible experiences purchasing a uke here in Sacramento, I HIGHLY recommend checking out Smiley and Janet's shop in San Jose. Good prices, great people, and tons of ukes to check out. Smiley gets it... he told me on my way out with my new baby, "You'll be back".
