When I can do it, I prefer to play the ukulele for myself - sound, feel, etc.
However, I do purchase online (Ebay) and most of those purchases are based
on what the uke looks like.
That's how I now have an Ohana Willow soprano on its way. I'm going by brand
reputation so I hope it sounds good to me.
I recently tried purchasing 2 Koloa Concerts on Ebay since I had such good success
with a couple of Koloa Sopranos. However, although offered by 2 sellers, each had
to inform me that they cancelled the orders because they did not have the ukes on
hand. That was OK. It got me thinking about the made in Mexico Martin CK1.
Then, last night, local luthier Kerry Bannister showed me a concert uke he had built from
1800s Mahogany and it sounded so good I asked him to lower the action, apply a
couple of transparent strum guards (my thumb and index fingernails are rough on the
upper bouts of my ukes). If all goes well, I should have the uke in hand
tonight! Yay!
as an aside, I've been looking for the ONE Uke to rule them All, and I think I'm coming
to the realization that I may actually need TWO Ukes as co-Regents to rule the Kingdom
that said, I'll be looking for a double-tennis racket bag to hold both so I can have a
reentrant Soprano and a low-G Concert for gigs and lessons and song circles
keep uke'in',