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ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Beginner Questions - Ukulele > Anyone buying a uke for someone else for Xmas? |
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Anyone buying a uke for someone else for Xmas? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Dec 2nd, 2008 10:23 am |
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1st Post |
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leakydesk Approved 
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Isn't anyone buying a uke for someone this year? Usually there are a few threads from someone looking to buy for Xmas. I enjoy those posts.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 2nd, 2008 01:45 pm |
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2nd Post |
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grc Approved
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Not quite sort of. I'm getting myself one, having been introduced to them by my dad a couple of weeks ago. He's loaned me a uke and a banjo uke and I've been practicing on those. I play not-very-good chord strumming not-barre-chord playing rythm guitar before this but I'm a vocalist and keyboardist really. I'm leaning towards the ukelele rather than the banjo version as I prefer the sound. I don't know what brand he loaned me, but it's concert size and cost new £99 (so about $150). All the time I've been playing (admittedly, not very long!) I've learned to play lots of songs on the gCEA tuning so I'd rather not unlearn. I like the idea of the baritone but again I don't know if I could get one and have it tuned also to gCEA . I think for the moment I'll stick with getting a concert of some kind and move on to something else later if I feel the need. My favourite music style is undoubtedly English and Irish trad, mostly Irish (though I'm learning bodhran as well and that's hard to play at the same time as the uke!). I say mostly Irish because that's what I know most of. I do like english trad. folk and modern folk (possibly more so than the Irish stuff) - it's just that I know far fewer songs. I think I'd like to spend up to about the same, a hundred pounds or so on a Uke. I tried a V uke today, wasn't impressed at all! No volume, hateful strings. It was made by SpongeBob Squarepants of all things. Maybe not representative of V ukes :-) So then. What would be recommended for a beginner 37 year old folkie from North East England? edit: The uke I have on loan is labeled Vintage VUS40 and that it's a Soprano, not a Concert. Told you I didn't know much about these things! Last edited on Tue Dec 2nd, 2008 04:04 pm by grc |
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| Posted: Wed Dec 3rd, 2008 07:34 am |
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3rd Post |
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grc Approved
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Actually, I think I'm going for a Hudson Aloha tenor...
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| Posted: Fri Dec 5th, 2008 03:27 am |
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4th Post |
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Customstox Approved
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I am looking for one for my son. He is in college in Bellingham Wa and decided he wanted to learn to play a ukulele. I don't have a clue what to look for. I was looking on eBay and decided to look for some information and found this great site. I would like some suggestions please. He said he is looking for a concert uke but we don't know the difference. Looking to pay around $100. Could go up if needed. Thanks in advance for your help.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 5th, 2008 12:28 pm |
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5th Post |
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Neal Approved 
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Go up a few dollars, contact musicguymic on ebay. A lot of us have purchased from him, and for a first uke, he'll do you right. For a second or third he'll do the same. His inventory is second to none, and the prices are reasonable. The thing you don't want to do is buy a cheap instrument that doesn't intonate or play well, and there are plenty of them out there. A soprano uke has a scale length of 13 inches, a concert has a scale length of about 15, a tenor is 16-17, baritone is even more.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 5th, 2008 09:22 pm |
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6th Post |
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Customstox Approved
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We are looking at an Oscar Schmidt OU5. Is this a good one? It has Grover tuners, are they adequate? Or is there another model or brand we should look at?
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| Posted: Fri Dec 5th, 2008 09:58 pm |
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7th Post |
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GaryC1968 Approved
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Neal wrote: Go up a few dollars, contact musicguymic on ebay. A lot of us have purchased from him, and for a first uke, he'll do you right. For a second or third he'll do the same. His inventory is second to none, and the prices are reasonable. I got my early Christmas present from musicguymic. I picked up a nice tenor Bugsgear Eleuke. It's really a present for my Wife, as well. Now I can play in the living room and plug in the headphones so she doesn't have to listen. 
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| Posted: Fri Dec 5th, 2008 11:03 pm |
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8th Post |
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Neal Approved
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Customstox wrote: We are looking at an Oscar Schmidt OU5. Is this a good one? It has Grover tuners, are they adequate? Or is there another model or brand we should look at? No. The Oscar Schmidt is at best a hit-miss. Some like 'em, I've never played one that I would give to anyone. I've played a lot of them at a few stores I frequent, and even bought one a few years ago, because they looked good. In my opinion, they are bottom end toys. I know I'm gonna get flamed here, because some have them. The frets come sharp, the intonation is poor, the setup is shite. But they look good. Grover tuners are the most expensive thing on that particular uke. Friction tuners a good, too. I prefer them, and they're very easy to use. I know it's a gift, there are thousands of low cost options out there masquerading as musical instruments. But if you want someone to play it, the instrument should have these basics: 1. Proper setup. Fret ends filed so they don't cut your hands, saddle and nut adjusted 2. Good intonation. When you play after the third fret, it's still in tune. 3. Proper build. Not too heavy, not loaded with polyurethane finish 4. Not a toy. A lot of folks buying a uke for someone feel the uke is just that, a toy. It can be, just like those cheap harmonicas or the guitars they sell on TV, but those get put in a closet or drawer and never see the light of day again. But there are low cost options for a good starter uke that will pass muster. Consider going to 150. Seriously, give musicguymic a try, he won't cost you an arm, and he will steer you right. I have no affiliation other than I've trusted him on numerous purchases and always had good results, as have many others.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| Posted: Sat Dec 6th, 2008 12:21 am |
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9th Post |
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Customstox Approved
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Thanks Neal, I will do that.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 9th, 2008 04:10 pm |
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10th Post |
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Da Boy Approved
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I'm thinking of getting my girlfriend a Mandolin. the plays the fiddle now and thought the transition would be easy.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 10th, 2008 12:21 am |
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11th Post |
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Tinpan Approved 
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I order this (New Kala KA-S Mahogany Soprano Ukulele STARTER PACK) from Musicguy Mike for my 7 year old niece. Everytime she visits we sit down and watch her perform a rouwsing rendition of " My Dog has Fleas" . I hope it gets here in time Tinpan
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| Posted: Tue Dec 23rd, 2008 11:54 pm |
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12th Post |
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Old Harry Approved 
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I just got myself a Tanglewood Banjo Uke and I'm going to get a Resiophonics Uke. Merry Christmas All.
____________________ http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/harry |
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