First Ukulele, Which one to choose?

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polarboar

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I've decided I wanted to learn ukulele. I'm very knowledgeable about guitars but clueless on ukuleles.
I value the appearance of my instrument a lot and am looking for that vibrant koa top.

Here are the ones I'm considering

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alulu-Teno...ssical-head-with-Hard-case-BU508/372663584480

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alulu-Solid-Acacia-Koa-Tenor-Ukulele-mop-abalone-inlaid-UKT123/381381182415

https://motorcityguitar.com/product...pod-tunauke-ukulele-tenor?variant=45057377038

https://vipoutlet.com/product/hilo-...g97kHTDMj47R0u9PaE-6MI0awELixgkxoCeAoQAvD_BwE

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Lanikai/Smp-tca-Ukulele.gc

https://www.theukulelesite.com/kala-ka-sa-t-solid-acacia-tenor.html

I was prepared to buy one of the first two by Alulu but would like some feedback on if there are better choices. The guitars are in order of most appealing to me. The Lanikai Smp-tca seems like a very good uke from what I've heard, but lacks the appearance I'm looking for.
 
I bought an alulu as first uke and it was horrible not useful for playing. Fortunately I got a partial refund that I used to buy a Gretsch that served me well for several years. Do yourself a favour and start with a reputable uke. Fancy looking woods, and unnecessary features like electronics and cutaways are warning signs that fundamental quality is likely missing. Good uke tends to be plain and simple and many are reviewed here.
 
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Are there any ukulele shops near you? Trying different sizes, companies, price ranges, etc. will educate you much better on your preferences. Ask here if you should choose A or B uke and 1/2 will say A, 1/2 B, and 1/2 neither.

I do agree that The Ukulele Site and Mims are great to order from with a return policy that will allow you to return one if you do not like it (essentially costing you return shipping).
 
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Just for the setup alone, I would go with the Ukulelesite or Mim's. The rest you showed don't have setups as part of the deal. A well setup uke with marginal materials will give you better results than a poorly setup pretty uke from Ebay or Guitar Center.
 
Patrick Madsen said:
Just for the setup alone, I would go with the Ukulelesite or Mim's. The rest you showed don't have setups as part of the deal. A well setup uke with marginal materials will give you better results than a poorly setup pretty uke from Ebay or Guitar Center.
Click to expand...

+1

This is the way to go do get one set up by a Luthier.

Additionally a Hard Case for storage will be far superior to a soft case since it will offer better humidity control as well as protection.

Please do not get hung up on appearance, it is tone, neck comfort, the setup, the overall feel of the Uke that are far more important than looks.

A $400 Uke is not even a mid price instrument, its the equivalent of a Squier guitar rather than an American made Strat.

Visit a Uke store if you can and play as many as you can, remember a Ukes tuning is a Capo on the 5th fret of a guitar except that string 4 (the top one) generally is an octave higher.
 
I always suggest a Kala or an Ohana, & concert scale, but if you are used to guitars, also consider tenor scale.

(Don't go on looks alone, some real rubbish ukes 'look' good.)

Buy from a reputable dealer, especially for your first, you don't want to be buying a wall hanger.
 
polarboar said:
I've decided I wanted to learn ukulele. I'm very knowledgeable about guitars but clueless on ukuleles.
I value the appearance of my instrument a lot and am looking for that vibrant koa top.

Here are the ones I'm considering

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alulu-Teno...ssical-head-with-Hard-case-BU508/372663584480

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alulu-Solid-Acacia-Koa-Tenor-Ukulele-mop-abalone-inlaid-UKT123/381381182415

https://motorcityguitar.com/product...pod-tunauke-ukulele-tenor?variant=45057377038

https://vipoutlet.com/product/hilo-...g97kHTDMj47R0u9PaE-6MI0awELixgkxoCeAoQAvD_BwE

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Lanikai/Smp-tca-Ukulele.gc

https://www.theukulelesite.com/kala-ka-sa-t-solid-acacia-tenor.html

I was prepared to buy one of the first two by Alulu but would like some feedback on if there are better choices. The guitars are in order of most appealing to me. The Lanikai Smp-tca seems like a very good uke from what I've heard, but lacks the appearance I'm looking for.
Click to expand...

IMHO it is important for a new musician to have a good, well setup instrument when first starting out. The slight additional cost is more than made up for by not having to replace cheaper but not adequate instruments as you learn how bad they are.

For that reason my vote from your list is the Kala Solid Acacia Tenor (KA-SA-T) from HMS.
 
It seems that everyone unanimously agrees with me.
You can't go wrong with a Kala. I've had one for almost 7 years.
And Mim's or the Ukulele Site are two of the best places to order from.
You'll be treated well.
I'd steer clear of eBay and Guitar Center for my uke!
 
Nickie said:
It seems that everyone unanimously agrees with me.
You can't go wrong with a Kala. I've had one for almost 7 years.
And Mim's or the Ukulele Site are two of the best places to order from.
You'll be treated well.
I'd steer clear of eBay and Guitar Center for my uke!
Click to expand...

If you're checking out Mim's store, the Ohana's are great ukes and good value too.
 
polarboar said:
I've decided I wanted to learn ukulele. I'm very knowledgeable about guitars but clueless on ukuleles.
I value the appearance of my instrument a lot and am looking for that vibrant koa top.

Here are the ones I'm considering

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alulu-Teno...ssical-head-with-Hard-case-BU508/372663584480

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alulu-Solid-Acacia-Koa-Tenor-Ukulele-mop-abalone-inlaid-UKT123/381381182415

https://motorcityguitar.com/product...pod-tunauke-ukulele-tenor?variant=45057377038

https://vipoutlet.com/product/hilo-...g97kHTDMj47R0u9PaE-6MI0awELixgkxoCeAoQAvD_BwE

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Lanikai/Smp-tca-Ukulele.gc

https://www.theukulelesite.com/kala-ka-sa-t-solid-acacia-tenor.html

I was prepared to buy one of the first two by Alulu but would like some feedback on if there are better choices. The guitars are in order of most appealing to me. The Lanikai Smp-tca seems like a very good uke from what I've heard, but lacks the appearance I'm looking for.
Click to expand...

I've bought Kalas directly from Kala. They had very good quality control and the action was good. What's said about the Hawaii Music Site is true. I've ukes from them and the action/setup was great. I've heard good things about Lanakai but don't have one.

For a first Ukulele I wouldn't buy a lesser known brand like the Alulu. Although buying from Guitar Center would not include setup they are easy to return items to. And some Ukuleles don't really need setup.

I own sopranos, concert and tenors. They are each different to play. Ideally try out different sizes.

Be careful about going on recommendations from reviews as each person likes different things. And the reviewer may have different criteria than you would.
Good luck
 
Great advice so far, Mims, The Ukulele Site, or Uke Republic are good dealers to buy your ukulele from.

Some lesser brands market Asian acacia as Koa. Koa by definition is Hawaiian acacia. It won't be cheap.

Also most quality solid wood ukes start around $350, though you can find decent solid TOPs for less.

Stick with a reputable dealer and a reputable brand to start.

That said, I'm a huge fan of decent cheap plywood imports. I think you should have at least one beater.
I've had very good luck with Enya and Kmise brands from Amazon right out of the box, but I also know a little about set up if they aren't perfect.

A budget Ohana from Mims would also fit the bill and be perfectly set up.
 
Great advice in here. To be honest, I'd rather have a $150 uke that is perfectly set up than a $250 uke that has not been set up. Obviously that doesn't make full sense, because you can always set up the $250 uke... BUT if you couldn't, I'd rather have the set up uke. It is THAT important. I have bought 3 ukes on amazon/ebay (in my first year of playing basically) and all have not been set up. Only one of them has comfortable to play while the other 2 were complete messes. Just be careful.
 
Depending on your location geographically, koa might not be a wise choice. There are other woods that are every bit as pretty as koa--or more so, that are easier to keep and have just as good of a sound. Kimo Hussey came from Hawai to buy a ukulele from Les Stansell made of Oregon Myrtle wood. Oregon maple also has good tonal properties, wood stability, and grain figure that beats koa for all three...unless you live in a very humid area like New Orleans (yuk!) Check out what Les makes at Les Stansell Ukuleles and guitars. His ukes have the very lightest geared tuners made...called PEGHEDS. He is centrally isolated in Pistol River, Oregon. He cuts, mills,ages Myrtle for makers all over the world.
 
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