Sporin
Well-known member
So I've got 3 ukes, a Dolphin (for the beach and my son to noodle around with), a Kala Concert (a gift from my wife that started it all... but is rarely played) and my Islander Tenor Laminate that I got from HMS with a passive pickup installed (this is my "expensive" uke, expensive for me anyway). The Islander is my main uke.
I'd really like to step up to a really nice uke. I play a lot, I have an appreciation for fine instruments, and would like to purchase a true "lifetime" uke.
It would be a tenor, it would have a good pickup installed, it would be solid wood.
The plan had been to save my pennies and eventually order a Mya-Moe. The way I would want it is close to $2k.
The alternative is to save my pennies but be a bit more budget minded and get something very nice in the $400-$800 range.
So what do you all think? If I'm honest, I doubt that anything short of a financial windfall would allow me to spend $2k on a pure luxury item like this. I live in a world of tight budgets, I'm self employed, and frankly, if I had a spare 2 grand I should be putting it towards extra payments on the house or the boy's college savings.
$600± though is something more palatable. I can save that money sooner, and it's more likely to come to me from a client bonus and be more genuinely "extra." And it's not so large that I'd feel guilty spending it on a frivolous pleasure item.
But will the jump in quality be noticeable enough? I love the sound of my Islander but I find the finish to be very thin and cheap feeling. The uke itself is not particularly pretty and while I know some find that a frivolous thing, i enjoy fine craftsmanship and beautiful woods and if I'm dropping big coin on a nice uke I want it to be really pretty as well. I understand that is totally subjective, so bear with me.
I've played some Mainlands and Ponos and would be checking those out more thoroughly in that lower budget. Other suggestions?
Just wanted to discuss and see what you guys thought. Appreciate the input, thanks.
-Dave
I'd really like to step up to a really nice uke. I play a lot, I have an appreciation for fine instruments, and would like to purchase a true "lifetime" uke.
It would be a tenor, it would have a good pickup installed, it would be solid wood.
The plan had been to save my pennies and eventually order a Mya-Moe. The way I would want it is close to $2k.
The alternative is to save my pennies but be a bit more budget minded and get something very nice in the $400-$800 range.
So what do you all think? If I'm honest, I doubt that anything short of a financial windfall would allow me to spend $2k on a pure luxury item like this. I live in a world of tight budgets, I'm self employed, and frankly, if I had a spare 2 grand I should be putting it towards extra payments on the house or the boy's college savings.
$600± though is something more palatable. I can save that money sooner, and it's more likely to come to me from a client bonus and be more genuinely "extra." And it's not so large that I'd feel guilty spending it on a frivolous pleasure item.
But will the jump in quality be noticeable enough? I love the sound of my Islander but I find the finish to be very thin and cheap feeling. The uke itself is not particularly pretty and while I know some find that a frivolous thing, i enjoy fine craftsmanship and beautiful woods and if I'm dropping big coin on a nice uke I want it to be really pretty as well. I understand that is totally subjective, so bear with me.
I've played some Mainlands and Ponos and would be checking those out more thoroughly in that lower budget. Other suggestions?
Just wanted to discuss and see what you guys thought. Appreciate the input, thanks.
-Dave