 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Not logged in - | |
| Moderated by: Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
|
|||||||||||||
| Buying Guide On A Budget - Beginner Questions - Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
| Author | Post | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
|
kram66 Approved 
|
Hi there I am very keen to get myself a Ukelele, however I uderstand that cheap Ukeleles are often not woorth the bother. When searching the internet i came across this site http://www.musicroom.com/Browse/Arrangement.aspx?category_id=store5_category32_arrangement78&kbid=1143] which i suspect sell ukeleles of suspect quality. My question is this. Being on a budget, what is the best price/quality balance for a beginner, keen to have a go? I am curently studying in higher education so money is rather tight, as I currently am learning to drive. Any advice would greatly be appreciate. 
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
ChiyoDad Approved 
|
What specifically is your budget? I'm assuming that you're shopping in the UK or the EU?
____________________ Best Regards, - ChiyoDad |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
kram66 Approved
|
Yes I am cureently in the UK, what i would like to know is what the cheapest possiable price for a Ukelele that is of a decent quality. I then have a price to save up for rather than getting a cheap knock off.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
Tin Ukulele Approved 
|
kram66 wrote: Yes I am ...in UK, ...what the cheapest ... of a decent quality... then ... save up ... It seems like after shipping costs, fees, duties, taxes... that (despite exchange rates) budget ukes there cost about as many pounds there as they do dollars here. If you were here in America, I'd probably recommend the basic Flea (approx $125) and an electronic tuner (approx $25). So how's about 150lbs as a budget goal for a cheap Ohana soprano or something like that w/ tuner?
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved 
|
From personal experience, I'd recommend a Lanikai S-C (solid spruce top and mahogany concert uke), which sells for about $100 U.S. I just found this web site, "Links for UK Uke Players" with a list of many uke dealers in your area: http://www.ukuke.co.uk/links.htm Hobgoblin sells the "Blue Moon" line of Romanian solid mahogany top and solid spruce top ukes (known in the U.S. as the "Amigo" brand). These instruments sound excellent and are great bargains (I own an Amigo AMB-7 baritone), all under 60 pounds in price: http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/cartfret.htm Last edited on Thu May 10th, 2007 08:45 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
Vortek Approved 
|
Hey Will, That is interesting about Blue Moon. We don't sell as big variety as in the States and the Ukulele Shop is very low on all makes. But if the Blue Moon Uke's are good that is a good price. Have you ever heard of Ashbury? They make the Baritone for about $280 and I was wondering if they were any good.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
az123 Approved
|
Also, don't forget about ebay.co.uk. While you have to exercise caution, I've had good luck purchasing items from sellers with integrity on Ebay. It also might give you some ideas about products you might not have previously known about. Also, another vote for the Lanikai S-C; good value for the money, especially with the solid top.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved
|
Vortek wrote: Hey Will, Ashbury is not a brand that I've heard of in the U.S., but from the photos displayed at the Hobgoblin site, they appear to be very similar to Oscar Schmidt ukuleles (some are made in the same Indonesian factories). The Ashbury baritone that you referred to is probably has a laminated koa top, not solid koa (which is very pricey). The general rule is this: if the wood description of the instrument doesn't say "solid," then it's probably laminated. I'd say that the solid spruce top Blue Moon baritone (it looks identical to my Amigo baritone - and it's also made in Romania), changed over to Aquila Nylgut strings, will give you a very good sounding uke at a better price. http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/bigpic.php?ID=GR3607  Last edited on Thu May 10th, 2007 10:23 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
kram66 Approved
|
Thanks for all the advice! I am now planning on buying a Blue Moon/ Amigo Ukelele, however i have a few questions: What is the difference between Maogany and a Spruce Ukelele? What difference is there between a Baringtone and Soprano?
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
Vortek Approved
|
Thanks for that Will. Kram, the smallest is the Soprano, then the Concert, then the Tenor, and the largest is the Baritone.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved
|
kram66 wrote: Thanks for all the advice! I am now planning on buying a Blue Moon/ Amigo Ukelele, The composition of the top of the uke has the greatest influence on the sound of the instrument. A solid top vibrates better and sounds better than a laminated top; over time, the accumulated playing time causes a solid top to "open up" and improve its tone. Mahogany and spruce have different tonal characteristics. Given the same design and construction, a spruce top will give a brighter sound than a mahogany. However, mahogany tops are much more common than spruce tops amongst ukuleles, and mahogany tops give what may be considered the traditional uke sound. My uke recordings at ezFolk are all recorded on solid spruce top ukes (Lanikai S-C concert, Amigo AMB-7 baritone, and Oscar Schmidt OU53S baritone). All of these ukes have Aquila Nylgut strings installed. Here are recordings made on the Amigo baritone: Shady Grove http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=297&song_id=2613 Aura Lee (Love Me Tender) http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=297&song_id=1034 These recordings were made on the Lanikai S-C concert uke, with low-G Nylgut strings: Aloha Oe http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=297&song_id=1033 I've Been Working On The Railroad http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?mode=song_hifi&band_id=297&song_id=1066 Last edited on Fri May 11th, 2007 01:49 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
plknj Approved 
|
Will... a little off topic. Just played your songs and they were great. I recently switched over from a guitar and was wondering what you might recommend in the way of books or DVD's to put me on the road to create a rendition of, 'I've Been Working On The Railroad' as you have. Your other songs were great as well.. but for me to get excited about 'I've Been Working On The Railroad' is incredible. Great strumming and picking! Appreciate the help. Peter
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved
|
plknj wrote: Will... a little off topic. Just played your songs and they were great. I recently switched over from a guitar and was wondering what you might recommend in the way of books or DVD's to put me on the road to create a rendition of, 'I've Been Working On The Railroad' as you have. Peter, Thanks for your compliments. I play by ear and I don't know exactly how I am able to find the melody notes while playing the chords, so I may have to create a video in order to explain how I play.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
sano Approved 
|
I just came across the Blue Moon brand again and remembered I'd read something favourable in this forum. So I searched it and voila! Back to you again Will! Those are the clearest audio recordings of a baritone uke I've heard yet, and I'm impressed by your playing and the sound of that lovely Amigo. If the Blue Moons are indeed the same then I've really got to get one. Found them at Hobgoblin. Amazing price! Wow. Thanks!
____________________ sano |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved
|
sano wrote: I just came across the Blue Moon brand again and remembered I'd read something favourable in this forum. So I searched it and voila! Back to you again Will! Those are the clearest audio recordings of a baritone uke I've heard yet, and I'm impressed by your playing and the sound of that lovely Amigo. If the Blue Moons are indeed the same then I've really got to get one. Found them at Hobgoblin. Amazing price! Wow. Thanks! Sano: Thanks. I know that you live in Canada, but the Amigo AMB-7 baritone uke (the same model that I own and play) sells for as low as $42 US, and the exchange rate is much in your favor nowadays. The Amigo AMB-7 has a solid spruce top, and usually sells for about $50 to $60. This dealer is selling the Amigo baritone for $42: http://www.harmonyonline.com/amigo-baritone-ukulele-p-8258.html
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
sano Approved
|
Wow, these are the same as the Blue Moons and made in Romania as well (sure look the same)? Did you buy a hardshell case for your baritone?
____________________ sano |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved
|
The Amigos and Blue Moons appear to be identical ukuleles. Blue Moons are normally sold only in Europe, but Hobgoblin, a UK dealer, has created a USA store. No, I got a chipboard case and a padded baritone gig bag. The Amigo baritones have a different shape that is not like regular baritones, with square shoulders like a mini-dreadnought guitar, and will not fit a conventional hard case. This excellent gig bag is only $10: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Musicians-Friend-Baritone-Ukulele-Gig-Bag?sku=545212  Last edited on Thu Jun 5th, 2008 06:55 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
sano Approved
|
No word yet from HarmonyOnline whether they even ship to Canada. No one answers the phone but I left 2 messages today and emailed as well. No mention on their site about mailing outside the lower 48, so I may be out of luck! Hobgoblin USA ships to Canada but doesn't know if they have the ukes in stock. The UK site doesn't and the US site says they get their stock from the UK, so if UK says they don't have it then the US probably can't get it. Period. UK is not expecting new Blue Moons till September at the earliest. What a drag if I can't get one of these.... Hope I find out tomorrow that I can.
____________________ sano |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved
|
sano wrote: No word yet from HarmonyOnline whether they even ship to Canada. No one answers the phone but I left 2 messages today and emailed as well. No mention on their site about mailing outside the lower 48, so I may be out of luck! Why not just order the Amigo AMB-7 from the other U.S. dealer? If they are of the same design, the only difference between Amigo and Blue Moon may be the price and the paper label inside the sound hole. At least a few folks here at the forum already own the Amigo baritone (myself included) and seem to like how it sounds. Last edited on Fri Jun 6th, 2008 05:08 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
sano Approved
|
That's just it; I didn't know if harmonyonline would ship to Canada. But I just got an email from them confirming that they do. Don't know the price of that yet but must be in line with the others. So I'll be ordering the Amigo AMB-7 and maybe the Amigo soprano also with spruce top. I say "maybe" because I just heard your demo of your $100 Lanikai SC and was impressed. A second soprano would be for my wife who's letting me choose as long as it's a traditional style (which unfortunately rules out the fluke or flea). I wonder about the fretboard of the sop. amigo. It's supposed to be rosewood but has a very light colour. I thought rosewood was always dark. Have you or anyone else played the sprucetop soprano Amigo? I was also reading with interest the thread on Baritone strings. The Nylguts may have the best tone, but perhaps there's a recommended tougher string for learners who may be more prone to wearing them out through general misuse  . I think I've read about some carbon fibre (?) or something (?)It's going to be fun switching back between the soprano and baritone. I wonder if I'll get messed up. If so, I'll just put the baritone down for a bit till I get a fix on the soprano. I'd really like to know a website or good dvd to teach me about the fretboard. Every guitar chord I've learned is basically memorized without relating it to any theory. I really want to get the basics down right. At this stage in my life, I want to learn to play well, not just noodle around. I tried to find a newer thread that dealt with this but can't so I might start a new one... Thanks again!
____________________ sano |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Current time is 07:32 pm | Page: 1 |
