Ukecaster
Well-known member
I see all these "Unboxing" videos on YouTube, some where they don't even play or review the uke, like they're big fans of the packaging industry! Kinda weird, if you ask me. Am I alone?
There is cardboard and then there is cardboard. It can affect the tone of the uke, especially on a long flight in an aircraft hold. Old cardboard is obviously the best, the paper fibres have aged and will make the uke resonate with some astonishing timbre that often takes time to absorb.
Also the air inside the bubble wrap bubbles is important. If they get it from the little bubbles in the ice from deep under the surface inside the Arctic Circle, it is much cleaner and older and imparts a softer and less harsh character to the uke's strings.
And I hope you don't get trapped in the rookie error of tearing brown packing tape, it has to be cut with a collectible Case Canoe Pocket Knife. I once used my little Puma Paro to cut the tape and the results were disastrous. The red tape is much better, especially if it has non-English writing on it that looks ancient and mysterious, even if it does just translate to "fragile handle with care".
The best thing is to avoid exposing a recently unpacked uke to a camera lens, it will subtlety affect the tone for sure, you need to wait at least 72 hours before taking a picture, you may as well play the uke I suppose.
The best part of the unboxing is when they work out where the box actually opens up.
I agree, when I've seen a couple of them and they don't actually use the item, I felt like I wasted my time. Stopped looking at them a long time ago.I see all these "Unboxing" videos on YouTube, some where they don't even play or review the uke, like they're big fans of the packaging industry! Kinda weird, if you ask me. Am I alone?
Some day, I'll post a picture of the dozens of boxes in my garage.
I put away all the boxes from my modest collection of various instruments in the attic, in case any should ever need re-homing. But were I to store even that small amount in the garage, we would have no room to park our vehicles or do the laundry! Some of you must have huge garages, or else be forced to park in the driveway or street!
bratsche