Good Ukulele Dealers

[PeteyHoudini]

Also, https://vintage-instruments.com/ in Philadelphia is a great store. They are a brick and morter store but in the past few years they got their online presence much more established. I don't think they do setups, but they are extremely knowledgable and get some great old instruments that they take the time to go over as to accuratly describe the good and bad. My uke teacher got their excellent 1920 Style 2 Martin there. It's a little more niche than the dedicated uke dealers, but it's a great place if you're into old instruments.

What a fantastic stock of cool ukuleles? I’d love to visit and browse their stock.

 

[CPG]

What a fantastic stock of cool ukuleles? I’d love to visit and browse their stock.

It’s really a cool place. I’m only 30 minutes from it but I haven’t been in there for probably 4 years. There currently inventory is even better than usual. Even their less pricey Martins are quite nice and that 5k is pretty amazing. I’d love to hold that 2k style Taropatch they have in too. Wow! It looks amazing. Not that I have $2.5K to spend on a uke right now, but I’d still love to hold it and strum it for a few minutes.

 

[PeteyHoudini]

Their less pricey Martins are quite nice and that 5k is pretty amazing. I’d love to hold that 2k style Taropatch they have in too. Wow! It looks amazing. Not that I have $2.5K to spend on a uke right now, but I’d still love to hold it and strum it for a few minutes.

Start buying those Powerball tickets and go on a mad ukulele spending spree!!

 

[CPG]

Start buying those Powerball tickets and go on a mad ukulele spending spree!!

As one of my best friends in college used to say “But than again, when it’s late at night. I never say never because I know I just might.”

(I think he might’ve gotten that from a book but I don’t know where the original quote came from)

 

[PeteyHoudini]

As one of my best friends in college used to say “But than again, when it’s late at night. I never say never because I know I just might.”

(I think he might’ve gotten that from a book but I don’t know where the original quote came from)

Smart advice. Smart friend! hehe

 

[Joyful Uke]

Places that I have had personal experience buying from & wouldn't hesitate to purchase from again:

Elderly
The Music Emporium (best buying experience I've had)
Mim (fantastic set up)
HMS/TUS

I've only bought strings from Uke Republic, but had great customer service from them.

I have had some email conversations with Ukulele Friend, (didn't end up making a purchase, though), and would highly recommend them based on those interactions. Some day I'll probably find a ukulele I can't resist from there. The Barron River almost was one that I couldn't resist. Glad that someone else has it, and hopefully is enjoying it.

Edit:
While I said that Music Emporium was the best buying experience I've had, I have to say that buying from Mim probably is a tie with it.
And Elderly was very helpful and fast in shipping, and since I also did a trade-in, it's worth mentioning that it all went very smoothly and they were a great experience too.

 

[rustydusty]

I had great service from "Really Useful Music Co." In Great Britain. From ordering to my door in nine days. Same deal when I ordered the case for uke I bought. No hidden export fees, standard shipping...

And Amazon does have fast shipping and an excellent return policy.

 

[SlingshotCannon]

Maybe separate out by categories:
Specialist resellers (Mim, HMS, SUS, etc)
Luthiers & manufactures (Antika, Bonanza, Mainland, etc)
Warehouse stores: Sweetwater, Thomson, (Amazon, though I’d not include them in this list)

You’ll get very different experiences from each set here. I’d steer anybody who didn’t know what they were doing to the specialists and some of the specific manufacturers.

The warehouse stores won’t give a novice useful help and are best for people who already know what they’re doing. They warehouses also don’t need the marketing boost for people to find them - for the most part people who need this list are best served by being made aware of the non-warehouse options.

I wouldn’t lump Sweetwater in with Amazon. You can purchase an as-is uke (at what tends to be a lowish price), like you would get from Amazon, but you also can get a set-up (for an additional fee). I bought a baritone through them and am very happy with the add-on set-up I purchased. Although it was not “free,“ the extra cost on top of the low base price did not end up being unreasonable at all. (And as a general life rule, “free” bonuses are often just factored into the base price anyway.)

 

[badhabits]

I wouldn’t lump Sweetwater in with Amazon. You can purchase an as-is uke (at what tends to be a lowish price), like you would get from Amazon, but you also can get a set-up (for an additional fee). I bought a baritone through them and am very happy with the add-on set-up I purchased. Although it was not “free,“ the extra cost on top of the low base price did not end up being unreasonable at all. (And as a general life rule, “free” bonuses are often just factored into the base price anyway.)

Agree! Sweetwater is sooo much more than amz. Find some videos that tour their facilities, it's unreal. Their cs is great and their sales follow up borders on annoying. They also sponsor musicians and are just a great resource. No comparison.

 

[Arcy]

I wouldn’t lump Sweetwater in with Amazon.

Sweetwater is much closer to Amazon than it is to HMS or Mim. I wouldn’t put either Sweetwater or Amazon on a list of recommended uke vendors. I agree that Amazon is farther off of the list, but it’s a distinction without a difference.

And this is coming from somebody who has had many bags of Sweetwater candy and has several Amazon boxes in reach. I have and will buy a lot (too much!) stuff from both, but I won’t recommend them for ukes and I consider a recommended list including them untrustworthy and next to useless.

 

[PeteyHoudini]

My two cents while waiting for my morning pain meds in my hospital bed and awaiting a BOOST meal replacement drink breakfast:

I live in Ottawa,Canada and have bought ukes online and in person in Canada, USA, Hawaii, England and Germany. I have nothing but good experiences ONLINE with Brüko, Risa, Thomann, Elderly, Musicroom (UK), and Mainland.

My IN PERSON experiences have been just as good with: The Ukulele Site and my local music stores in Canada. Here are my Canada stores:

- Long & McQuade - Canadian chain music store that orders direct from Martin PA and we open the box together uppn arrival st the store. Fantastic service, friendly, great website with App

- Steve’s Music (mainly Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto) - bought about 5 ukes at the Ottawa store by browsing in store. their website isn’t my cup of tea

- 12th Fret (Toronto) - high end guitar shop that had s few Martins and Hawaiian ukes. Bought my Martin 2CK there. Check website for stock

Cheerio!

 

[CPG]

Has anyone here ever dealt with and/or purchased from here?

Legendary Ukuleles.com Home Page

Amazing Vintage Ukuleles for the player, collector and investor.

www.legendaryukuleles.com

They’ve got some interesting old ukes.