Uke shopping

Rllink

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One thing that I was thinking about, do you go out and look at ukuleles in stores? I guess that I mean, do you go out and specifically go out to stores with ukuleles so that you can look at them, finger them, play them, and such? I also wonder if you do it while people are being encouraged to stay at home. For me, I seldom go to a store just to look at ukuleles. If I find myself in one, I will take a look of course, but if I were in a hardware store and there was say a Guitar Center next door, I probably wouldn't go there expressly to look at them, unless there was something particular I was looking for and I thought that they had it. If I was travelling and I was in another town for some reason, I wouldn't go in search of ukulele stores. That's just me. Not that I am noble or immune, I just hate "shopping" in stores for anything and if I happen to get trapped into it I just want to get it over with and go somewhere else.

But I bring it up because an acquaintance is off to Minneapolis today and he is making it a point to hit a couple stores there that carry ukuleles. I hope that they are open, he is very excited about it. Or maybe I hope they aren't, because I wouldn't want him to catch something because he had to make a side trip to a music store. I don't know, it is up to him. Okay, just something to talk about. I'm holed up.
 
All the music stores in California are closed to walk-in customers (mail order is still allowed). I think that is the right thing to do right now.
 
All my ukes have been bought online, after having listened to as many videos as I could, to get a fair idea of how they sounded, not been disappointed either.
 
In normal times, yes-ish. Right now, heck no.

I'm only going out for essentials and having those delivered or curb-sided when I can. A new instrument (uke or otherwise) isn't essential. I haven't paid strict attention, but I think the local music shops near me are all closed. I hope they survive to reopen.

By "yes-ish" I mean that shopping wasn't really my thing anyway - I definitely stopped and shopped in several uke shops when I was in Hawaii a year ago, but that backfired as everything I really liked was way out of my budget. I'll check out ukes if I'm in a music store already, and I'll duck into a store if one's nearby and I have time to kill, but I don't generally make a special trip. That said, I did go early to one of the last events pre-shutdown specifically to check out a U-Bass in the music shop next door to the cafe we were to meet in. For better or for worse, I wasn't impressed and didn't bring the one I expected to walk out with home with me.
 
In normal circumstances, I'd kill for a local specialised uke shop. I very much prefer to test out a uke (or any other instrument for that matter) before I buy, but I don't think there's a single music shop in the whole country that stocks a single uke I'd want to buy. I do know one shop that stocks the Mexico-made Martin ukes so those are the highest-end I can find. I did buy an S1 there but I've since sold it, so now all the ukes I own have been bought online.
 
Rollie,

You know me. I've never met a ukulele I didn't like. If I am at a store with ukuleles, and it is a situation where I can play the ukuleles, and I have the time, I will play every ukulele. It allows me to try new ukuleles, and also to confirm or challenge my pre-existing opinions.

I was in a Guitar Center the other day with Ukester Brown (before all of this virus stuff hit the fan), and I was all over the ukuleles. Most of the ukuleles they are carrying are Mitchell, and I have a belief that Mitchell makes some very pretty ukuleles, but they are generally overbuilt with very thick tops that keep them from being as resonant as they should be. Fifteen minutes in a Guitar Center verified that for me--again (I keep hoping they'll change how they build their ukuleles--everyone else has improved).

Incidentally, Guitar Center was selling a very cheap ukulele (not their entry level Mitchell brand) and it was truly awful...friction tuners with cardboard as a way to stop the turning. It was as if I had walked into a time machine!

It was this Rogue. Truly horrific. And it is $50. I am working with a plastic Kmise ($26) at this moment that is four times the ukulele than the Rogue. The Rouge is a USO...Ukulele Shaped Object.

And the best part is that I take great joy in finding these things and experiencing them!
 
Well I have gone into shops specifically looking for ukulele's. A local shop was selling out their high end Kala's. I went to see what I could find. They had sold several so the one I was looking for was gone. But I tried a tenor on the wall. Something interesting in the sound. I did not buy that tenor but after a lot of research online and about 6 to 8 months later and I did buy a tenor. I've taken both my brother and good friend to Willie's American Guitars in St. Paul MN. Fun for all: guitars for my brother, uke's for me and my friend. Also have hit some shops with my son and brother. Again my son and brother into guitars and me the uke's. Two local stores one focuses on guitars usually has a few uke and the local family owned music store recently was taken over by bigger chain store (owner died and family was not interested in keep the store going but its a good location and lot of local customers with school band and orchestral instruments) noticed walking by Saturday that they had 3 ukes prominently displayed so one sees them as one walks in the door. If I'm in the area, have time and even if just looking it can be fun to go in and see who has what. Might find something I really like and might buy.
 
I pop into HMS from time to time. Their selection and expertise is head and shoulders above your typical weekend warrior rock shop or Guitar Center. Being able to see, touch and play the instruments is so much better than shopping online. You read specs and watch videos but they pale next to actually seeing and playing the instruments. I usually walk in the shop with a particular instrument in mind but walk out with something else...
 
Where I live, I can't find much interesting even if I look, so not much incentive to just walk in a local store for no reason. But if I wanted to kill time and it was right there, maybe I'd walk in.

I did go through a phase where I'd look for stores in other cities I was visiting, but I probably wouldn't make the effort unless they were known for their ukulele selection or had brands I really wanted to try.

For the time being, I hold off on grocery shopping until I have a long enough list, despite living a 5 minute walk away.
 
Before the coronavirus, I would visit all of the music stores within 60 mile radius on a regular basis. The local stores, maybe once a month; out-of-town stores, every couple of months. While most of them don’t generally carry much in the way of higher end ukes, you never know when something special will show up (second hands, commissions, etc). I just love being in music stores, and I feel the same way about bookstores. Been that way my entire life. I just can’t resist them. For me, time spent in a music store or a book store is a slice of heaven on earth.
 
I was in a Guitar Center the other day with Ukester Brown (before all of this virus stuff hit the fan), and I was all over the ukuleles. !

You must have a different Guitar Center. Most of the ones I've entered seem friendly and engaging right up to the point when you ask about ukulele stuff.

I love popping into the local shop. The shop owner is a gigging musician and great conversationalist. Most often I'm just looking for an accessory or strings, but I'll always take some time to peruse the selection on the wall. I think I've bought more cases than ukes from him, but that's largely because I was usually looking for a specific uke and he didn't carry the brand.
 
I don't know where I would find a store with good ukuleles. On the other hand, I have the world at my fingertips searching online. I currently have enough ukuleles, and I have no plans to buy any more, at least not until I sell a bunch - someday, maybe.

I've heard that some music stores are not letting customers handle instruments, and they are not accepting instruments for repair. Nikon is not accepting photo gear for repair. It's a moot point because all non-essential stores in NY are closed. Despite that, Lowe's and Home Depot are serving hundreds of customers a day so they can by flowers and garden supplies. Ridiculous!
 
Rollie,

You know me. I've never met a ukulele I didn't like. If I am at a store with ukuleles, and it is a situation where I can play the ukuleles, and I have the time, I will play every ukulele. It allows me to try new ukuleles, and also to confirm or challenge my pre-existing opinions.

I was in a Guitar Center the other day with Ukester Brown (before all of this virus stuff hit the fan), and I was all over the ukuleles. Most of the ukuleles they are carrying are Mitchell, and I have a belief that Mitchell makes some very pretty ukuleles, but they are generally overbuilt with very thick tops that keep them from being as resonant as they should be. Fifteen minutes in a Guitar Center verified that for me--again (I keep hoping they'll change how they build their ukuleles--everyone else has improved).

Incidentally, Guitar Center was selling a very cheap ukulele (not their entry level Mitchell brand) and it was truly awful...friction tuners with cardboard as a way to stop the turning. It was as if I had walked into a time machine!

It was this Rogue. Truly horrific. And it is $50. I am working with a plastic Kmise ($26) at this moment that is four times the ukulele than the Rogue. The Rouge is a USO...Ukulele Shaped Object.

And the best part is that I take great joy in finding these things and experiencing them!
Well, you have a professional interest Chris. We can't use you in as a data point. Smiley.
 
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Yeah... my incoming order is one of the last they shipped. I talked to Mike yesterday morning and he said closure was imminent. I’ll tell the whole story of my shopping experiences over the last few days in a NUD post when I have Ukes in hand.


Scooter

(Now go wash your hands!)
 
In the before times, yes, I would visit my local music store to browse and play ukuleles regularly. Of course I am cheating because I live about 15 minutes from Elderly Instruments, and they carry a huge range of instruments. I went there every couple of weeks to see what was new or to compare a couple of instruments. They have a huge showroom and you can play pretty much anything you want.

Sadly, as someone else pointed out in this thread, they are currently closed due to the virus situation. I have very high hopes that they can weather this storm and will reopen in a few weeks, but I am worried for them, and for all small independent music shops.

Things are going to be tough for a lot of businesses. When things reopen, I encourage everyone to shop at and support their favorite places as much as they are able. The Amazons of the world will survive just fine without our support. The local places will need us.

(Sorry to have gone a bit off topic there at the end...)
 
Elderly Instruments in Michigan has closed down it's store AND all online sales

Looks like they'll still take online orders, but not ship during the shelter-in-place. That makes sense to me.

They are one place I've liked ordering from, so I hope that they weather this crisis safely and in good health.
Same wishes for everyone, though. I hope that we all get through this difficult time in good health.

My state has a shelter-in-place too for now, but even without it, I wouldn't venture into any place that isn't essential for now. So, I wouldn't go somewhere just to try out some ukuleles, (even though I consider ukuleles essential in my life, LOL), and am cautious about things ordered online, too. The virus can last on cardboard for 24 hours, so I set aside anything for at least that long before opening - and wash my hands, and wash my hands, and wash my hands.

But I'll sure enjoy playing the ukuleles that I currently have, and try to support stores and musicians once that's an option again.
 
In the before times, yes, I would visit my local music store to browse and play ukuleles regularly. Of course I am cheating because I live about 15 minutes from Elderly Instruments, and they carry a huge range of instruments. I went there every couple of weeks to see what was new or to compare a couple of instruments. They have a huge showroom and you can play pretty much anything you want.

Sadly, as someone else pointed out in this thread, they are currently closed due to the virus situation. I have very high hopes that they can weather this storm and will reopen in a few weeks, but I am worried for them, and for all small independent music shops.

Things are going to be tough for a lot of businesses. When things reopen, I encourage everyone to shop at and support their favorite places as much as they are able. The Amazons of the world will survive just fine without our support. The local places will need us.

(Sorry to have gone a bit off topic there at the end...)

Not a music store, my neighborhood store just up the street here a half dozen blocks is a locally owned sporting good store. At one time I did this thing called the Bicycle Fisherman of America. A bunch of us would ride bicycles the six miles out to the lake and go fishing. The manager of the store was just a teenager back then and he was in the BFA. He also went to school with my kids. So I go up there once a week to pester him so that he can't get any work done. If I find something I think that I need on the internet and they carry it he will always meet the internet price. So it is one stop shopping for me. Anyway, they closed for the duration last week. I hope they can hang in there through it. Keeping this about ukuleles. He asked me once about Outdoor ukuleles and wondered if they would sell in his store. I told him that I thought they would. So he said that if I came to work for him and sold them he would get them in. I told him I didn't like to work. It never went beyond that. But I do think they would sell in a sporting goods store. I would have put them up by the kayaks and canoes. Just seems like something kayakers and canoers would buy.
 
Yeah... my incoming order is one of the last they shipped. I talked to Mike yesterday morning and he said closure was imminent. I’ll tell the whole story of my shopping experiences over the last few days in a NUD post when I have Ukes in hand.


Scooter

(Now go wash your hands!)

I hope he deals with incoming products and sends them out.
 
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