Just One Ukulele?

[Jerryc41]

I don't know if this has come up, but does anyone have just one ukulele?

I've been helping a woman find a ukulele. She wants a "good quality" tenor, solid wood, for $500. I've offered several ideas, but she's still looking. She says it will be her one and only. Is it possibly to be a ukulele player and have just one uke?

[Croaky Keith]

It is possible for some......but they aren't on this forum......

I'd point her to a KoAloha Opio acacia......

[Jerryc41]

It is possible for some......but they aren't on this forum......

I'd point her to a KoAloha Opio acacia......

I did. I also suggested a Martin koa tenor for $539. I haven't heard from her about that.

[RLM3121]

I don't know if this has come up, but does anyone have just one ukulele?

I've been helping a woman find a ukulele. She wants a "good quality" tenor, solid wood, for $500. I've offered several ideas, but she's still looking. She says it will be her one and only. Is it possibly to be a ukulele player and have just one uke?

I have just one. I have a Kanilea tenor that fits my needs perfectly. I like to play finger style and the tenor size lends itself nicely. I preferred to have one really nice ukulele rather than a bunch of lessor ones. Everyone is a little different. It’s all good!

[Counter]

It is possible for some......but they aren't on this forum......

I think this is the key thing - I'm sure the vast majority of those who own a ukulele only own one and don't feel the need to talk about ukuleles all the time. My wife for example is a much better guitar player than I am a ukulele player and she only has the one guitar. She does not go to any guitar forums.

[ukantor]

I've given some thought to the question of how many ukuleles I really need. In my more lucid moments, I conclude that three would be my minimum number. One sturdy cheapie to keep in the car, and two really nice ones for regular use. I reckon I need two because if a string breaks then that uke is, effectively, out of commission for a day or so while the new string(s) settle.

So how come I've ended up with a dozen really nice ukes, and another dozen (or so) lesser ones?

And I've only ever had one string breakage - years ago.

My name is John Colter and I am a uke-aholic.

[CPG]

I could get by with either one of my sopranos. That doesn't mean that I don't WANT more. But I certainly don't NEED more.

Though I must admit, I told myself I was going to stick with the two I have but I've been eyeballing a lot of ukes lately. LOL. Kinda want a taropath, kinda want a tenor to tune dGBE, kinda miss having a concert sometimes, kinda want more sopranos for no other reason than I think they are cool. But with a 2nd kid on the way I'm really trying to stick to two.

[Jerryc41]

I think this is the key thing - I'm sure the vast majority of those who own a ukulele only own one and don't feel the need to talk about ukuleles all the time.

I understand, but just owning a uke isn't the same as being a UU member and obsessing about ukuleles twenty hours a day.

I'm sure there are hundreds of poor, neglected ukuleles hidden away in closets, yearning to be loved - and played.

[dwizum]

I think it's definitely possible to be a serious, enthusiastic player and have only one. But maybe it depends on how strictly we define "having only one" ukulele. I would consider myself to be enthusiastic, if not serious. And while there are always a lot of ukuleles here in the house, there's only one that I think of as "mine."

Jerry - one thing to consider if someone is picky like that and rejecting off-the-shelf models - if she has something specific in mind, $500 probably gets you at least close to in-range for some custom builders.

[Jerryc41]

Jerry - one thing to consider if someone is picky like that and rejecting off-the-shelf models - if she has something specific in mind, $500 probably gets you at least close to in-range for some custom builders.

Thanks. A custom build never occurred to me. Bonanza is well under $500. I don't know if anything would satisfy her, though. I think limiting herself to just one uke for the rest of her life is a big part of the problem.