How many here have started with a Makala Dolphin or own one?

I started on a black doplphin. My wife fell over and landed on it. I still haven't fixed it. :(

I bought a sunburst blue one as a replacemtn travel uke. It's intonation is not as good as the first. I have loaned it to a friend who now has it as his first uke :)
 
I owned one for a while, but it wasn't my first. It was a good beater uke, and once I set it up decently it even sounded good! It's on indefinite loan to my cousin. Wouldn't mind another one, though!
 
I have a chocolate Dolphin from Uke Republic. It goes in the car if I think I'm going to get stuck somewhere. My 1st one though was the Lanikai I bought for my daughter when she first had her kids. She gave it back to me to keep until they got old enough to have it around. Then my wife found an Airline "Victory" birch uke with a plastic fretboard for $5.00 at the Goodwill store (about what they cost new in 1952). In almost new condition and looked like original strings. It's red so I put red Aurora strings on it but it's mostly a wall hanger unless one of y'all can recommend some strings that might give this birch plywood some life. Volume and tone are pretty thin.
The oldest grand kid is 8 now and I taught her some chords when she was here last month so I'll be giving up the Lanikai and Dolphin soon. I'll be looking for a uke that can stand the desert air up here around Denver. Current humidity inside is 21%.
 
I just got a candy apple red one in January. It's my travel/throw in the car when I'll have a few extra minutes uke now, and it's already traveled with me from CT to Texas for a conference, where it worked wonders at reducing my pre-presentation anxiety. I still prefer my zebrawood tenor, but the dolphin is now in #2 territory.
 
I have a shiny black dolphin strung with Aquila's. I got it from Uke Republic around January of this year. Set-up was great, and delivery was timely.

To me, who has ~6 months of playing, it looks and sounds GREAT. I switch off with my entry-level Makala concert.
 
I have a Mainland Gecko. I wanted an ukulele that I could play at the beach or leave in the car and/or not cry if something happened to it. It now lives in my desk drawer at work. It was not my first ukulele...
 
I have a few dolphins but they were not my first and actually I inherited them all from students. LOL! But they all came from UR.
 
I started with a Red Dolphin and thought it was fun, but never really appreciated it until one of my grand-daughters made a video of me playing it. When I saw the video I was amazed at the sound of the thing! Since then, I've bought several more and given a few away. I've found they look good in every color, and they're all cute and fun to play. However, each one sounds and plays slightly different, and some are better than others, especially when it comes to intonation. A good setup is essential for them.

Here are my top three Dolphins, all purchased from Uke Republic and set up just for me:

009-4.jpg


The Red Burst sounds clear and bright, with excellent intonation. The Blue Metallic sounds more mellow, also with good intonation. Intonation isn't as good on the Yellow one, but it's hella loud. I hear MGM does a great setup on Dolphins, but I think it's hard to beat Uke Republic when it comes to Dolphin ukes. Thanks Mike! (Thanks to all you Mikes that is) :)
 
I had one to play at school/loan to students. I played it at school; I loaned it to a student; she sat on it.

It's neck awaits a new life on an upcoming Frankenuke build.
 
Not my first,but my second,its a Red Burst
Dolphin and is my 'go anywhere' uke!
 
Not my first, nor my second, but I have a black one, from Uke Republic!
 
Started with one, stille have one.
A poll would be nice with this thread.
 
My first and thus far only 'uke, metallic blue, and her name is Fifi Bonne-Soirée. :D I learned to play on this 'uke, and we've travelled all over. Here we are in Miami in January:

photo 26.jpg

I dd not buy her from you, Mike, but I wish I had! I think I lucked out but a good set-up would have been much better. I'm working toward getting a higher quality in the next few months, but I enjoy my Bluekulele!
 
I own 3 dolphin ukes (2 for vendor booth demos and teaching), and one for autographs. I have given as gifts 9 dolphins. They weren't my first ukes, but they serve a good purpose.

–Lori
 
Purple, Red, Yellow, and my first:

attachment.php
 
I read about all the hype on these ukes on this site, so when I saw a discounted blem at SamAsh on the cheap, I picked it up. I got it home, performed a full set-up and new strings, and any time I picked it up to play it, I kept thinking... "I don't get it." I have never liked the sound of it. I played other floor models in case I got a dud, but I haven't found a one I liked yet.

I eventually had to get it out of my house and gave the dolphin to my niece who loves it, so no loss on that one.

Dan
 
Uke Republic said:
We see a lot go out our doors. For some I know it's their first ukulele and for others it;s another addition to the pod.
Click to expand...

I have one that I bought for my son but mostly it was for me as a travel uke. i really like it and very often by pass my more expensive Islander to play the Dolphin as I love the sound it makes with the Martin 600 strings, so bright and happy. It is the uke I'll take to the beach with me in May.
 
I have a black one, and it is my first. Got from highly strung in the uk. It sounds great, I do want to get a concert soon when I get better. Makala should do a concert dolphin.
 
dhoenisch said:
I read about all the hype on these ukes on this site, so when I saw a discounted blem at SamAsh on the cheap, I picked it up. I got it home, performed a full set-up and new strings, and any time I picked it up to play it, I kept thinking... "I don't get it." I have never liked the sound of it. I played other floor models in case I got a dud, but I haven't found a one I liked yet.

I eventually had to get it out of my house and gave the dolphin to my niece who loves it, so no loss on that one.
Click to expand...

Dolphins are cheap, and generally playable. And they're fun with the dolphin bridge and all the color options. IMHO they don't do well side by side soundwise against ukes that cost 2x or more. The sound of the plastic dolphin I have is pretty dead. It *does* have a rounded fretboard some people may like (I personally prefer flat).

I guess a dolphin is a "bare minimum standard" anyone can play. I wouldn't mind a pink or baby blue burst to go with my yellow burst.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Four Strings
How many folks here have come to the ukulele from the guitar?
2
Replies
35
Views
1K
ploverwing
ploverwing
mm stan
How many old timers are still here
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
Vintageukes
V
C
Hello I'm a beginner at Ukulele, looking forward to learn many techniques here :)
Replies
9
Views
618
Cadia
Cadia
D
  • Locked
FS IN AUSTIN TEXAS, many ukes, vintage Regal and Harmony added here
Replies
0
Views
411
Dionysis
D
D
Many thanks for all the great info! Google kept landing me here with my uke questions
Replies
6
Views
344
hendulele
hendulele
Top Bottom