trafficjelly
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Hi!! I'm a (primarily classical) flutist who has been casually learning ukulele for about 7 years. Last year I joined an acoustic folk/avante garde/cross genre band and we have started writing music together, which has brought me a lot closer with my ukulele, as it's where I feel the most comfortable composing. This whole time, I've been playing on a $40 Makala dolphin soprano.... and it's definitely past time for an upgrade.
I've been looking around online for a reliable tenor that is around $400 USD and could be used for playing in a chamber folk setting-- something intermediate that I can use for writing, live performances, and recording sessions. I have gone through the extensive process of testing and buying a flute but I don't really know anything about the process for ukulele (or for any string instrument)- my flute knowledge makes me want to try out a lot of them to compare, but that doesn't seem like something people do, and it doesn't seem very possible either. A few weeks ago I went to GarageCenter and bought a Breedlove Pursuit Exotic Tenor with a solid Myrtle top and laminated Myrtle back and sides plus their in-house brand of pickup for $300. It came with Aquila Nylgut high G strings, but I plan on at least getting a low G string if not an entirely new set-- I know some people don't like them but honestly I didn't replace the original strings of my soprano until a few months ago so any strings sound really nice to me. (Full disclosure, it was the only tenor they had, but they have a 180 day return window so I decided to take it home and just see.) I really enjoy it both aesthetically and sonically. It seems to have been constructed very well and it feels comfortable and the right weight. I think it has a good ring, but I don't feel like I know what to look and listen for. Does anyone have thoughts on my purchase choice? Should I return it and get something of higher quality for the same price or a little bit more?
So TL;DR, I bought a Breedlove Pursuit Exotic Tenor with a pickup for $300 and I'm wondering if I should return it and get something with more bang for my buck. Also, what are some good low G tenor strings to buy?
I've been looking around online for a reliable tenor that is around $400 USD and could be used for playing in a chamber folk setting-- something intermediate that I can use for writing, live performances, and recording sessions. I have gone through the extensive process of testing and buying a flute but I don't really know anything about the process for ukulele (or for any string instrument)- my flute knowledge makes me want to try out a lot of them to compare, but that doesn't seem like something people do, and it doesn't seem very possible either. A few weeks ago I went to GarageCenter and bought a Breedlove Pursuit Exotic Tenor with a solid Myrtle top and laminated Myrtle back and sides plus their in-house brand of pickup for $300. It came with Aquila Nylgut high G strings, but I plan on at least getting a low G string if not an entirely new set-- I know some people don't like them but honestly I didn't replace the original strings of my soprano until a few months ago so any strings sound really nice to me. (Full disclosure, it was the only tenor they had, but they have a 180 day return window so I decided to take it home and just see.) I really enjoy it both aesthetically and sonically. It seems to have been constructed very well and it feels comfortable and the right weight. I think it has a good ring, but I don't feel like I know what to look and listen for. Does anyone have thoughts on my purchase choice? Should I return it and get something of higher quality for the same price or a little bit more?
So TL;DR, I bought a Breedlove Pursuit Exotic Tenor with a pickup for $300 and I'm wondering if I should return it and get something with more bang for my buck. Also, what are some good low G tenor strings to buy?
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