Iulia
Well-known member
Truth is, I don't believe it exists. Just like I don't believe that one can ever not have any desires -- and really, it would be dreadfully boring to run out of desire(s), and probably mean one has ceased to exist.
I like to explore and experience, and before I got into ukes, I'd still meet that "need" for new experiences by buying video games, audio electronics of various types, novels (more than I read) and other books, and Go materials. Just something new to look forward to, something new to be curious and playful about, and to learn from. With ukuleles, this is infinitely harder for me to do, though, as the journey quickly leads to expensive instruments. A video game is at most $60 a piece, a novel costs under $20 usually, so if you end up with a dud, or something that doesn't work for you (for whatever reason), it's not a big deal. But ukes cost much more, so there's the wish to "get it right". But you can't get it right without trying, which for many of us means "buying".
Well, you and I talked about it before. In a way, this forum here fuels these desires by constantly introducing us to new makers, new models, new combinations, new strings. It could, and does, also fuel the desire to become a better player, but buying something new is much easier to do and offers instant if short-lived gratification, and the question whether the next uke around the corner might somehow check all the boxes and magically remove frustrations is always present, fueled again by the NUDs, the videos, the gushing accounts of how great the newest acquisition is.
If I had had the financial means, I'd no doubt have experienced more than 12 or 13 instruments over the course of almost four years, though if I had not been able to do even that, perhaps I'd be a better player now and be happier with the first decent instrument I bought at the beginning of this journey. I do think there is ultimately more satisfaction in playing and learning than there is in buying, but the buying is also fun and educating. The money is spent anyway, so for me the question to myself isn't so much whether it's sensible to buy so many ukes, and still dream of trying out some more, but what else I would have done with the money instead. The answer is, in my case, that I would probably have bought a lot of other stuff, most of which wouldn't have had any kind of resell value and wouldn't have entertained me any more or any better than the ukuleles have.
Key for me feeling better was to be(come) willing to sell things, not just buy them. Before I begun selling some of those instruments that I didn't play, I started to feel like a hoarder. I just felt cluttered. Once I sold and rehomed some of the ukes, I also felt more happy with buying new ones, too.
I know, you didn't ask!
My primary instrument is accordion - and when I bought my first good one (20 years ago omg!) it was four and half grand (£) and there was little option to get bored and get another. Funnily enough though, I've never wanted to. It called to me from the top shelf, I picked it up, we were soul mates
Maybe ukes are more expensive than video games, but you can still get a very decent instrument for the price many people would spend for a night out ... or a pair of shoes. Or a TV.
Sometimes the responses to this kind of thread (not just ukes I've seen it on other forums) is sadly just the green eyed monster.
If you don't have the cash, obviously you shouldn't be spending on this or anything else.
If you can afford it, then for my money musical instruments are a much better way to spend than the latest piece of technological crap you don't need, and will be obsolete in 18 months.
If people didn't buy multiple instruments, first of all we wouldn't have the wonderful variety available, both low and high end, and also, each instrument you buy and resell (or gift) is an opportunity for someone else to discover the gift of music making at a better they can afford.
My opinion of course, worth what you pay for it
