What's your absolute "Deal-Breaker"?

bratsche

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 1, 2017
Messages
962
Reaction score
11
Location
FL, USA
Okay, I'll start a topic.

We all like to talk about what things we love the most about our instruments. But being the diverse group that all humanity falls into, we also know that what one person loves, another may hate just as passionately.

Without getting personal (please, let's not bash any brands or makers here), and assuming the hypothetical instrument is your preferred size, already sounds as great as you'd hoped, and price is no object (don't hate something because you can't afford it!), what specific "feature" on a ukulele would make you wrinkle your nose and say "No, thanks!" more than anything else?

bratsche
 
Built in electronics which, if/when they fail, would not be able to be replaced to have all the features they had to begin with, (not using mass market easily replaceable electronic parts)
 
Very slim neck profile. It's not that I hate it, more that it hates me. After hand surgery a few years back I can't play thin necks without pain. Had to move on a Takumi soprano because I couldn't play it without it hurting. That was the best sounding (and looking!) instrument I've ever owned. So now it's medium to thick necks for me only, which counts out some really lovely ukes.
 
Hi
Assuming it's an instrument in a scale I want, I prefer to have both Fretboard markers and side markers. I'm okay if theses are combined. And I will purchase but do prefer a radiussed fretboards. Also I don't think I'd buy a uke with a nut over 1-1/2". I would get 1-1/2 but Not over and I prefer 1-3/8".
 
Too much bling. I like a fairly simple looking instrument, so just about anything could trigger me to say no thanks. That and weight. If it feels heavy, I lose interest fast.
 
Too much bling. I like a fairly simple looking instrument, so just about anything could trigger me to say no thanks. That and weight. If it feels heavy, I lose interest fast.

I agree with Glenn 100%. Don’t like a lot of excess inlay and bling work. Less is more and that goes for weight as well.
Cheers from another Glenn
 
+1 on the excess inlay and bling. I do appreciate the skill involved in doing the inlay, but that would probably stop me from buying a ukulele, especially depending on what the inlay was. But, if someone wanted to give me a Moore Bettah concert ukulele, and it had naked ladies as inlay all over it, I'd figure out a way to deal with it. LOL.
 
- friction tuners
- tuners that stick straight out of the back of the head rather than the sides of the head
- pin bridge
- knotted bridge
 
Gotta say friction tuners are a bridge burner for me too. Hate them with a passion. A distant second are graphical inlays on the soundboard like turtles, palm tree and the Hawaiian islands. Finally, not too pleased with pin bridges either albeit I'm willing to grin 'n bear if the instrument is great otherwise. Greatly prefer a simple tie block bridge.
 
Neck feel, has to be comfortable.

Narrow Nut width.

Tone.

QA, that passes a bent and twisted neck means a certain manufacturer will never get any business from me.

Cheap tuning pegs.

Cheap unfinished looking Bridge.

Sharp fret edges.

Bad intonation.

Action to high/low.

Fret buzz.
 
I don't go for slotted headstocks. I know lot's of folks love them, but they just aren't my jam. (I won't say never, but I avoid them.)
 
Mine would also be built in plastic looking electronics. I have some pickups installed (misi) and I'm not talking about those but rather the onboard inbuilt ones. Also over the top bling and decoration. I like striking ukuleles but ones where it is the wood and the sound that make you go "wow".
 
visible electronics, slotted headstock, etched designs on bodies, "hawaii theme" inlays or designs on bodies
 
Last edited:
I forgot to add having a sound I don't like. I have to like how it sounds.

And inlay work with nude people or semi-nude. It has to be a ukulele I can show my grandson.

I edited my post to add if I'm going directly to the builder and they don't respond to calls/emails then how can I even make a purchase or discuss a custom build?
 
Last edited:
Cheap unbranded tuners.
 
No particular attribute that would be a deal breaker. Because if I don't like it there isn't going to be a deal to break. But if I do like a particular ukulele, not being able to communicate with someone. It takes me forever to buy something, and the more expensive the longer it takes. I don't need to get on the phone and talk directly to someone, but I need someone to at least answer emails or message me when I have questions. Sweetwater, Elderly, Mim, Mainland, those are places I have bought from and every one of them there is a person who I can communicate with. If I'm looking on a site and I go to the page to contact them and I just get an FAQ page and no way to actually get a response, I'm gone and I'm never going back. There's never anything I want that I can't go somewhere else to get it. That's a deal breaker for me. The second thing is waiting. Probably the reason I will never get a custom ukulele. As I said above, it take me a long time to pull the trigger, but when I do, I want it now. I don't want to wait. I hate waiting.

Edit: After reading the posts before and after me, I guess that I didn't realize that "deal breakers" meant what you don't like. I don't like ukuleles that look like mandolins.
 
Last edited:
Intonation. Oh, you said it already sounds great.
Then there is no deal breaker.
Pretty? Ugly? I am OK.
Tuner style? I have been replacing with Gotoh.
So far, I have stayed away from electronics, but I am not against one.
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom