 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Not logged in - | |
| Moderated by: Richard Hefner |
|
||||||||||||||
| decisions, decisions! - Beginner Questions - Ukulele - Ukulele - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
| Author | Post | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||
|
bsting Approved
|
I've just become interested in learning the uke now that I've moved from Hawai'i to the mainland because the sound of it makes me happy! I've been strumming away at a Tahitian ukulele I picked up in Tahiti, but would like something a bit better. I've also been playing the guitar for a bit over ten years, so I know it's better not to waste money on really cheap instruments! I've pretty much narrowed my choices down to the following, but would love some input from those more experienced than myself! Any help with a decision would be greatly appreciated! Kala Koa Tenor http://cgi.ebay.com/KALA-KA-KTE-Koa-Tenor-Ukulele-w-pu-case-Chordbook_W0QQitemZ250239121809QQihZ015QQcategoryZ16224QQcmdZViewItem Kala Mango Tenor http://cgi.ebay.com/KALA-MANGO-TENOR-CUTAWAY-UKELELE-w-case-Aquila_W0QQitemZ230246347240QQihZ013QQcategoryZ16224QQcmdZViewItem or my first choice... Keli'i Koa Soprano http://cgi.ebay.com/KELII-KOA-Soprano-UKULELE-Hawaiian-Made-w-case-imt-500_W0QQitemZ250241496306QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101 as you can see, my price range is around $300. I prefer something actually made in Hawai'i, which is why the Keli'i is my first choice, but am open if the other options sound better. The Kalas appear to be electric and have a cutaway, which sounds nice, and very guitar-y, for the same price! I'm also interested in the mango wood body, has anyone played a mango wood uke? It's very pretty, but of course sound is most important. If only I'd picked up this hobby in Hawai'i, then I could try and buy :/ Any help would be great!!! Thanks in advance!
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
ichadwick Approved 
|
The Kalas are great ukes. I chose the spruce top cutaway tenor myself. I find the tenor neck easier to play than the soprano, and even the concert. I like the cutaway because of the style, but I find I really don't go that far up the neck very often where it makes a difference in playing. Up at that end, even on a tenor, the frets are very close together. My fingers seem to stumble aorund up there. Can't say which wood is better - I liked the look of the mango best and seriously considered it for myself. MGM told me it was a 'sweeter' sound than the mahogany. Good luck - let us know what you select. the your next one. And the next one after that. And the one after that, too...
____________________ Ian ------------------------------------------- Ukulele reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/ukuleles.htm Harmonica reviews: http://www.ianchadwick.com/essays/harmonicas.htm |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
frnkrsdo Approved
|
I'd go with the SOprano, if this is your first uke. Handcrafted in hawaii and has that traditional Hawaiian sound. I'm just a rookie myself, but my first was a soprano and I just got a concert this weekend. My next will be a tenor. I'm starting small and moving up! I'm sure others will give more valuable advice, as I'm new to this also. I'm just sharing my gameplan.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
bsting Approved
|
Hi guys, thanks for your input! I've got one more uke on my list - a Harmony baritone, on craigslist.org. any opinions on this instrument? i'm seriously thinking about picking it up tomorrow! i noticed aquila sold baritone strings that could be tuned like a regular ukulele - would i really be sacrificing the traditional uke sound? it just seems like a good deal - http://nh.craigslist.org/msg/632191305.html any thoughts?
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
ezmember Approved
|
The Baritone ....you'd be nuts not to get that Harmony and for that price I think it's a steal. I had one many years ago and it was a wonderful uke. It sort of disappeared somewhere along the line. I so wish I had it back....or could find it (wherever it is). That Kelii Soprano is SWEET! And 16 frets to the soundhole...just looks better than 12 to the body like most. So get those two for sure. Then get a Concert and a Tenor. Collect 'em all!  Edit....if you like Ukes, you might want a Baritone just to have for your collection even if you end up playing your other ukes more. Baritones are tuned like the bottom 4 strings of the guitar (DGBE) and sound closer to a tenor guitar and the other ukes are normally tuned GCEA. I've got at least one of each kind, but I mostly play my Kala Concert tuned to low-G and KoAloha Long-neck (concert) Soprano with the high-g. Last edited on Tue Apr 29th, 2008 04:00 am by ezmember |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
bsting Approved
|
yay, i got my first uke!! i bought the harmony baritone off craigslist, and i absolutely love it! it's in great shape. i've been playing for hours today haha. 2 complaints...maybe someone can help me solve, though they aren't huge issues and to me seem unsolvable... firstly, the action is a bit high...is this something i will have to just live with? i dont know the last thing about bridge adjusting and wouldn't ever trust myself to do it. secondly, it's falling out of tune easily, but only slightly and all the strings shift down consistently enough that it stays in tune with itself. i guess this might get better as the strings adjust, right? i just put new ones on (aquila, concert not baritone tuning), the uke didn't come with any, and probably hadn't had strings on it for a while. it sounds like i'm complaining, but i really love this instrument!! one day i'll get that keli'i. maybe when i'm back in hawai'i. i can see how this is addicting.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
ezmember Approved
|
Now that you've got that Baritone....you caught the UAS (Ukulele Aquisition Syndrome) from it. And there is no known cure. The symptoms (sweats, chills, fever, agitation, etc) can be relieved for a short time only by buying another Uke. So eventually you'll have to purchase that Keli'i or some other uke or suffer the consequences. Stick around here, we're all in the same boat and have lots of sympathy.  As for the high action, that's a common problem that usually can be fixed so others can chime in here and tell you how. Most music stores have good repairmen who can quickly and easily adjust the action. Falling out of tune...if the tuners have a screw on them you can carefully tighten them a bit so the strings don't slip. Otherwise, someone here with more knowledge about this needs to answer. I'm so glad you like your Baritone. You'll probably have it forever. You definitely need to get one of the smaller ukes for that GCEA tuning that's so ukey sounding. I settled in on the concert size, not as deep sounding as the Tenor and slightly larger than the soprano and with more frets. Anyhoo....congratulations and keep sharing your experiences and purchases with us! Ain't it fun!
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
bsting Approved
|
Haha you know, i honestly didnt think the ukulele would be THIS addicting...but I just bought that Keli'i soprano too...and i'm so excited that I can't help but post this
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
|
Will Approved 
|
bsting wrote: yay, i got my first uke!! i bought the harmony baritone off craigslist, and i absolutely love it! it's in great shape. i've been playing for hours today haha. To lower the string action on your baritone, the strings have to be untied (or at least loosened) from the bridge, so that the saddle (the white piece of plastic or bone that sits in a groove on the bridge, over which the strings sit) can be removed and made lower by grinding the bottom with sandpaper by about 1/16" of an inch (or a bit more, if necessary). If you haven't done this before, and you don't feel confident enough to try this, take your uke to a guitar or musical instrument shop and ask them to lower the string action. If you want to tackle the project yourself, you will need some medium grit sandpaper, a straight edge, and a felt-tip pen or marker. Use the straight edge to mark a line near the bottom of the saddle so that you know how much to grind it down. After making the line mark, hold the saddle firmly and press it down on the face-up sandpaper while making short back-and-forth grinding motions. You will want the bottom of the saddle to be ground as flat as possible so that it makes good contact with the bottom of the bridge. After grinding is done, wipe away the ground up dust, put the saddle back into the bridge slot, re-tie and tune up the strings again.  Last edited on Fri May 30th, 2008 08:07 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 |
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Current time is 08:32 pm | |
| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Beginner Questions - Ukulele > decisions, decisions! | |
