Jammer RECOMMENDED Ukuleles
Considering the ukuleles you have or had,
which one(s) DO YOU RECOMMEND?
which one(s) DO YOU RECOMMEND?
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Send a photo/selfie of you with your recommended ukuleles, and include the following for each uke recommended. |
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1. Brand -
2. Model - 3. Approximate price - 4. Size preference(s) - 5. For what skill level is it appropriate - 6. WHY you recommend the ukulele(s) - |
Just copy
and paste the items to the left in your email to me. |
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I'll post your recommendations, photos, stories, tall tales and reasons below with most the recently received at the top. |
TCUC Jammer's Favorite Ukes from 2020-2022
are below My Recommended Ukuleles
are below My Recommended Ukuleles
OK! Spoiler Alert!
Want to sneak ahead to my all-time favorite ukulele,
go to the absolute last entry on this webpage - Tony
Want to sneak ahead to my all-time favorite ukulele,
go to the absolute last entry on this webpage - Tony
TCUC Loaner/Test Ukuleles - You are likely to see Magic Fluke Fleas and Flukes, Enya Nova U, and Kala Waterman ukuleles mentioned below. The Twin Cities Ukulele Club has a Fluke concert loaner/test ukulele. If you would like to try it, let Tony know - [email protected]. All TCUC Jam Leaders have either an Enya Nova U concert or a Kala Color Chord Waterman soprano. Just ask the leader to use or try one at a jam. We have them for our Twin Cities Ukulele Club jammers!
Steve Hardy
4-3-24
4-3-24
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Click on photo for Martin webpage
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Click for Life is Good webpage
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Steve Hardy
4-3-24
4-3-24
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Click for Firefly Webpage
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- For what skill level is it appropriate - A good uke is good for both beginners and more accomplished players, because it'll be more satisfying to play, even if your skills aren't developed yet. What makes some better than others is nice tone & sustain, being well setup with the strings as low as possible without causing buzzes, and good intonation - not only for chords near the nut near the tuners but also further up the neck. Being well set up makes playing a whole lot easier
- WHY you recommend the ukulele(s) - I like the tone of this a lot. With 3 banjoleles, I'm a banjolele nut. My previous favorite one is a Nu-Way soprano from the 1920s. I still love that one too, but the Firefly has a wider neck that makes it an easier soprano to play. I also have a Lanikai soprano. It plays well, has a wide neck, but lacks the tone & sustain my others have. (I don't think the Lanikai is being made any more, but one that appears made in the same factory is the Recording King, tho it lacks the classy beauty of antique brass hardware and the realistic-looking fiberskin Remo head.) People say this is a really loud banjo-uke. If it's a problem, I hold the open back against my body tighter and it'll quiet down some. Banjoleles aren't for wallflowers. Another important factor for me (an old piano tuner) is good intonation. Playing in tune with itself is a big deal, and both the Martin and the Firefly do that pretty well.
- For what skill level is it appropriate - A good uke is good for both beginners and more accomplished players, because it'll be more satisfying to play, even if your skills aren't developed yet. What makes some better than others is nice tone & sustain, being well setup with the strings as low as possible without causing buzzes, and good intonation - not only for chords near the nut near the tuners but also further up the neck. Being well setup makes playing a whole lot easier.
Jane Dugan
3-11-24
3-11-24
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My favorite (and only) 2 ukes
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Click on photo for Kala Elite webpage
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- Size – Tenor and concert
- For what skill level is it appropriate – Any level as far as I know
- WHY you recommend the ukulele(s) – Easy to play, good sound, which varies depending on strings - I favor Worth clear. The slightly smaller concert is easier on my arthritic hands than the tenor, which I play only when I need the high G. I keep a low G on the concert, which I play most of the time.
- Background - I started playing uke on a mid-range Ohana, to see if I enjoyed it. I did, but was about to stop due to increasing pain, when Tony advised me to try a better instrument with a wider neck. The Kala elite solved the problem, and now, several years later, I have no need to expand my collection beyond two – one Kala Elite with a high G and one with a low G have made me a pain-free, happy ukulele player!
Click here for a GotAUkulele.com review of the Kala Elite Tenor.
Gene Janicke
3-8-24
3-8-24
I added a low/high G-string combo creating a slightly bassier* sound (see photos). *I'm not sure "bassier" is even a word🤪. Had to move several tuners around in the headstock to make room for the extra tuner. Plugged old holes with wood dowel rod. |
Click on image for Luna website
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I'm using Fremont Black Line strings which are slightly smaller in diameter (1st=0.023; 2nd=0.027; 3rd=0.031; 4th=0.025). For the low G I'm using a bronze wound classical guitar "D" string (0.029) from D'Addario. Got the matching extra tuner from Stewmac, online.
Click on photos below for larger version
Barb Jensen
3-4-24
3-4-24
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Click on the photo for the KLOS website
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Tom Sweeney
3-4-24
3-4-24
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Click on the photo for the Pono website
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- In general I would recommend KALA for ukes under $300,- PONO for everything else up to $1000, at which point you might consider a ‘ made in Hawai’i model.
Tom Ehlinger
3-3-24
3-3-24
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Click on photo for Outdoor Ukulele website
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- Size preference(s) - Tenor fits my hands better than soprano
- For what skill level is it appropriate - All levels
- WHY you recommend the ukulele(s) -It is durable and can be left in the car summer or winter (which means that I can have it with me whenever I want/need it.) Doesn’t need humidification during winter. The action/setup is among the best of any ukulele I’ve played. Its' intonation is true up the fret board. I use Worth Brown Low G strings, they give it a little mellower sound. NOTE: this uke is more than adequate for most jamming situations. If you intend to play solo or in groups or in more formal situations (e.g., gigs), you should probably also get a decent quality wood (solid or laminate).
Dan Rooney
3-2-24
3-2-24
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Click on photo for Enya website
Available in black, purple and white
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I have a more expensive Koa Tenor from SoundSmith (which is a great family-owned business producing ukuleles, guitars, and mandolins), but the Nova Pro is the one I play the most.
Sherri Campbell
2-29-24
2-29-24
General Uke Buying Thoughts - I want to recommend first---- 1) BUY LOCAL, and save your local music store....Also, that way, you can hear the sound you want, the uke should be player set up and ready. You may need to use a strap (I don't), it should be the right size and weight for you (soprano, concert, tenor,/heavy, light). Aquila strings are "soft", so may be best for arthritic hands. Get two ukes , one with high G (Reentrant tuning--it sounds more" Hawaiian") and a low G (lower guitar sounding and play lower notes). My local music store has women sales clerks, men don't help me as much. Also, it should have some helpful ukulele books, I learned to play from a Mel Bay book, FUN WITH THE UKULELE.
My Recommended Ukuleles - I have several favorites based on their sound. - Price is irrelevant next to sound and feel. One music store dealer told me that of ten instruments, one would be AWFUL, one would be GREAT, and the rest up to the customer. (Maybe he kept the GREAT ones). So "Break a leg"!!!!
My Recommended Ukuleles - I have several favorites based on their sound. - Price is irrelevant next to sound and feel. One music store dealer told me that of ten instruments, one would be AWFUL, one would be GREAT, and the rest up to the customer. (Maybe he kept the GREAT ones). So "Break a leg"!!!!
- $99 Oscar Schmidt koa concert , low G - Click here for info.
- $500 TYDE, (2guys in Tahoe) , it has a banjo sound - Click here for info.
- Mya-Moa Koa/Port Orford cedar tenor I won - Click here for info.
- [Note - My exploration on the TYDE and Mya-Moe websites showed a starting price for TYDE ukuleles of $3000, and the price of a similar spec to Sherri's Mya-Moe tenor as $1700. - Tony]
Michael Horak
2-29-24
2-29-24
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Michael Horak
2-29-24
2-29-24
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Michael Horak
2-29-24
2-29-24
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Tony Anthonisen
2-28-24
2-28-24
Click on photo to see what size ukuleles I play
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After playing ukuleles and leading uke jams, workshops and classes for well over ten years, my thoughts haven't changed. Martin and Magic Fluke ukuleles still rule!
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Size - Concert size is a good mid size for most players and a great learn-to-play size. Once you have some experience, you will have a better feeling for the size(s) you really like. While the Flea uke I list below is a soprano size, it can be upgraded to concert scale length for $16. My Flea is a concert scale length. I have soprano, concert and tenor Martin ukuleles and love all of them.
Beginner and way above - Go Anywhere, Do Anything Ukuleles - I am not much into recommending entry level lower priced ukes for any ukulele players. Under $100 ukes are too often badly subpar with poor wood, components and build quality, as well as tuning difficulties, and poor sound. Good sound, playability, durability and quality are all a very big deal to me. People often say, I'll buy an inexpensive ukulele to start, and if I like playing ukulele, I'll buy a better one. They often don't like playing their ukulele because the playability, difficulty tuning and sound of the under $100 uke is quite often poor. And, how does a beginner know what is good? Or bad?
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The Martin and Magic Fluke Flea and Fluke ukuleles have the desirable features in spades. And, not just for beginners. They can be life-long extremely durable ukulele companions. And, if you don't like them, they have some resale value. I still play my Flea ukulele frequently because it sounds good, plays well and is extremely durable.
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My Concert Scale Flea
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* Click for Info and Reviews
Magic Fluke Flea Soprano Martin OXK Concert
Flea Review OXK Concert Review
OXK Soprano Review
Magic Fluke Flea Soprano Martin OXK Concert
Flea Review OXK Concert Review
OXK Soprano Review
And yes, some/many/most beginners and above don't want to spend what a Flea or Martin costs. Like most music instruments, you most often get what you pay for. However, if you want to spend in the $100 to $250 range, any Amahi or Kala is a good choice. Under $100? Don't do it. Chances are very good that you won't be happy, with a very few exceptions.
The Enya Nova U is one extremely good exception! At $89 with a case and other accessories, it is a buy! The Enya Nova U is also a Go Anywhere, Do Anything Ukulele. Keep it in your trunk year around or paddle a canoe with it. I'm serious. Not quite the sound of the Flea and Martin, but darn good! A safe buy from Amazon.
The Enya Nova U is one extremely good exception! At $89 with a case and other accessories, it is a buy! The Enya Nova U is also a Go Anywhere, Do Anything Ukulele. Keep it in your trunk year around or paddle a canoe with it. I'm serious. Not quite the sound of the Flea and Martin, but darn good! A safe buy from Amazon.
Beginner and way above - Top of the Heap Ukuleles - See my 9-16-20 and 3-4-22 comments below for my advanced beginner and above recommendations and photos. Not a ton of "bling," but the Mexican made Martins are the ones with the best materials, sound and workmanship. They are also proof that you don't have to spend over $500 for one of the best ukuleles available at any price. At the very top, Martin ukes made in the USA.
Twin Cities Ukulele Club Jammer's Favorite Ukes from 2020-2022
Steve Christensen
3-8-22
3-8-22
Well rather than pick just one uke, I thought I would show a family portrait. As a polymer chemist I have a preference for all things plastic, and there is very little wood in my collection. On the left is my Blackbird Farallon ($1492) made of Ekoa, a composite of linen and epoxy. If I could only keep one it would be this one, as by far it is the best sounding. Next to it is a Klos Hybrid Carbon Fiber Uke ($420), with a wood neck and a carbon fiber composite body. It has the lowest action and is the easiest to play of any uke I have seen. (It is so durable that there are videos of a car being driven over the body, but I haven’t tried that just yet.) Quite nice, and if I’d found the Klos first I probably wouldn’t have spent the big money on the Farallon. In the middle is my most recent purchase, an Enya Nova Pro Tenor uke ($120). It’s made of polycarbonate with carbon fibers as reinforcement, and unlike other Enya ukes this one has metal frets. I didn’t need another uke, but I couldn’t resist at that price. It is super comfortable to hold and play, being very thin with nice round edges and great fretwork, but not very loud. Next up is a Magic Fluke Firefly Tenor Banjo Uke ($400). It has an unusual design for a banjo uke, with none of the uncomfortable hooks you usually see on the outside of the hoops. As a result it is both super light and super comfortable – and loud! I usually keep at least one sock in the back to tone it down. And finally we have a Beltona Tenor Resonator Uke ($700), with a wood neck and a fiberglass body. A bit heavy to hold, and certainly loud to play, but has a great brassy tone for blues and bluegrass.
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Of all these, believe it or not the one I usually reach for is the Enya, mostly because is it just small and comfortable to hold while at my desk. It is also one that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great starter uke or one to travel with, AND one that you won’t have to humidify.
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Sherri Campbell
3-7-22
3-7-22
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It is difficult to anoint a favorite ukulele when there are so many (SEVEN favorites), but I love this baritone ukulele because it was given to me by my father-in-law who was a wonderful musician. He and I played and sang at family occasions--
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(the rest of the family pooh-poohed our “noise) — It is a little #43 TEMPO—bought in 1961 at Portland Music for $30 –The strings were D’Addario—and half-way gone. I finally replaced them with GHS—low D. (Baritone is tuned Dog-Gone-Bee DGBE the four high strings of the regular guitar). I looove the deep beautiful sound and the memories of my FIL.
Annie Lem
3-6-22
3-6-22
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Well, I can’t actually decide which one uke I must have if it’s the only one. They’re like children, each unique in their own way. However, I can share about one ukulele I enjoy taking when traveling. It’s the Traveler Soprano Acoustic Ukulele 22", Solid Walnut Wood Body & Neck Y-UK-22S. It looks like a small paddle with notes etched on the fret board and some chords etched on the back.
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Of course, my uke is more special because Jim Beloff signed it at the Minnesota Bluegrass Fall Jam in October 2021. Too bad it got smudged at little bit... [Nice buy from Walmart for about $73.00 with gig bag. - Tony]
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Tony Anthonisen
3-4-22 |
OK, I'm back with some updated thoughts a year or so later. After lots of ukuleles from inexpensive to the exact opposite, I have finalized my opinion on "My FAVORITE Ukuleles!" And, my favorites are from Martin. They are made in Mexico. And, they are all about $550 or less. As I say in the linked thoughts,
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The mid-priced Mexican made Martin ukuleles are an excellent buy and definite keepers with every bit of the quality found in the Nazareth, Pennsylvania Martins. Not a ton of “bling,” but exceptional wood, workmanship and sound!
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Click here to take a look at my thoughts on Buying - Mid-Priced Soprano, Concert or Tenor Ukulele.
John Fedora
1-16-21
1-16-21
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This is the second ukulele John has built. The first was a tenor. When he was selling his first built, he said,
Built this Spring — An early Covid stewmac.com project ukulele that has hardly been used. Reason for Selling — It is too big for my short stubby fingers. I will build a concert size this winter. On January 16, John sent this photo and said, "started building a concert size ukulele this week." Here is John's concert ukulele. Very, very cool!
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Vicki Andersen
1-7-21
1-7-21
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I own 2 ukulele’s but one is a bass so for our jams I play my Kala concert ukulele. I WON it at a bluegrass festival 3 years ago. It was a very happy moment! It was a donation from Jim Whitney. It means the world to me that I benefit from his passion for music and ukulele playing. I’m a beginner so I do not lead, yet. I hope to someday. I soooo appreciate the jams and especially during this crazy time, I love the zoom jams. It’s pushing me and I see progress! Yea! I first heard about TCUC when I served on a bluegrass committee with Tony. I think I had just won my Uke so was very excited to learn about the club.
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I’ve been a member of MBOTMA for over 20 years so obviously love bluegrass music. I also have a mandolin but it sits in a closet. I’m presently in 3 non-active bands, due to Covid. 1) Gloryland Gospel Band. I’m the manager so let me know when your church or organization is ready for upbeat, bluegrassy, Christian music- 2022? 😃 2) Prairie Wind - 5 of us from Gloryland have branched out into a country/bluegrass band, where I’m attempting to play my Uke. We Zoom/practice and play muted/unmuted like Uke jams. 3) Ricky B Band- 60’s, 70’s rock’n roll, I play my bass Uke and sing. My bass, btw, I purchased from Brent, our zoom bass player! 🙂
Karen Olson
11-29-20
Remember the Stephen Stills song “Love the One You’re With”? That’s how I’d describe my only ukulele(s)!
My first "only uke" was a red Flea, from Groth Music - I bought it in 2013, with birthday money from my parents and paid $175.00. It’s a sentimental favorite because I took it to my parent’s house in WA (state) several times that year and even played it for both of them while they were in hospice - they died on November 7th and 18th, 2013.
11-29-20
Remember the Stephen Stills song “Love the One You’re With”? That’s how I’d describe my only ukulele(s)!
My first "only uke" was a red Flea, from Groth Music - I bought it in 2013, with birthday money from my parents and paid $175.00. It’s a sentimental favorite because I took it to my parent’s house in WA (state) several times that year and even played it for both of them while they were in hospice - they died on November 7th and 18th, 2013.
My other "only uke" is a handmade tenor, called a Pololu by Paul Arrington, purchased in Holualoa, Hawaii in 2018 for $1200. It’s so pretty - koa body, mango binding, abalone trim and strung with a low G. The neck is a little big for my hands, so it’s harder to play than my Flea, but I love the sound so much that I just make it work. I’d wanted to go to Hawaii since I was a little girl and it took me 70 years to get there, so buying a ukulele there was a highlight of our trip. It’s high maintenance - needs to be humidified, lives in its case much of the time, and grandchildren aren’t allowed near it. Playing it takes a little more time and effort, but its rich sound is so satisfying and lovely and it brings back great memories of a fabulous trip.
So - how could I pick an only uke? (I have three others, but they rarely see the light of day.) My Hawaiian uke and my Flea are both beloved, give me great pleasure and have strong emotional ties to special times in my life. To paraphrase Stephen Stills’s song, I love the one I’m playing!
So - how could I pick an only uke? (I have three others, but they rarely see the light of day.) My Hawaiian uke and my Flea are both beloved, give me great pleasure and have strong emotional ties to special times in my life. To paraphrase Stephen Stills’s song, I love the one I’m playing!
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Jane Dugan
11-24-20 I have one ukulele – a Kala Elite, which I got on sale when Groth Music decided to stop carrying high-end ukes. Jeff, who used to work there, came to one of our Friday morning jams and told us we had first choice on these ukes. I had started with a mid-range uke about 5 years ago. I played it for a year or so, learning from all the fine teachers online, but my hand hurt so much from advancing arthritis that by the time I made it to a Friday jam at Groth Music, I was ready to quit playing altogether. |
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After the jam I talked to Tony, who advised me to try a uke with a wider neck. So I tried the Kala elite in Groth’s humidified room and played with no pain for the first time – what a treat that was! Lucky for me, I was able to buy it at the newly discounted price, and have been playing pain free ever since.
This still amazes me, as I now attend about 15 online jams/lessons per week, plus Lil Rev's recorded lessons. It feels like going to ukulele school full time – I love it and am learning a lot. I’m thankful for Tony’s advice, especially now during Covid. Without my uke, I’d be in a bad way these days.
Thanks to [the Twin Cities Ukulele Club] for providing us with the link to Ukulele Magazine’s schedule of endless online uke opportunities way back at the beginning of this plague!
This still amazes me, as I now attend about 15 online jams/lessons per week, plus Lil Rev's recorded lessons. It feels like going to ukulele school full time – I love it and am learning a lot. I’m thankful for Tony’s advice, especially now during Covid. Without my uke, I’d be in a bad way these days.
Thanks to [the Twin Cities Ukulele Club] for providing us with the link to Ukulele Magazine’s schedule of endless online uke opportunities way back at the beginning of this plague!
The Right Ukulele & Ukulele Set Up - Just a comment from Tony - Many/most jammers kind of roll their eyes and think a skeptical "sure" when we stress the fact that you most often get what you pay for and make sure your new uke receives a setup before you pick it up or have it shipped. Jane's experience is typical. The right ukulele set up correctly may make the difference between being able to play enjoyably or at all!
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Click here or on the button for a video description of a ukulele setup from TheUkuleleSite.
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TheUkuleleSite on Oahu is one of three online stores of which I am aware that do a complete setup on every ukulele they sell. The others are Elderly.com and MimsUkes.com Most ukulele stores do not do a complete setup! Ask anyone who has had their ukulele "set up" after the fact (about $65) if it makes a difference. And, ask the store before you buy the ukulele.
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From the video - Joel doing a setup at TheUkuleleSite
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Steve Hardy
11-22-20
The challenge was to say which uke would be the one I would pick if I could have only one. Since my banjolele might not really be an uke, here I am with my Luna Honu soprano (with a Lakotah Leathers strap.)
11-22-20
The challenge was to say which uke would be the one I would pick if I could have only one. Since my banjolele might not really be an uke, here I am with my Luna Honu soprano (with a Lakotah Leathers strap.)
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You can't see it in the picture but it has a turtle laser-engraved in the top. While I really love my Nu-Way banjolele, this very inexpensive uke is the one I use when I want an ukulele sound as opposed to the banjo sound. I think it has a really great tone and great sustaining power as well. I bought it at a pawn shop for $30, if memory serves. I did put new tuners on it, and would consider doing that again having found a set I really like - the set on the banjo. It is almost as easy to play as the banjo because the setup is almost as good. I have 3 other ukes: a Fender electric concert and a Lanikai tenor, one that's so bad I won't mention it by name, plus Lanikai banjo.
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The Luna is my go-to uke though. I really enjoy playing the uke. It's not my primary instrument, but it's my first chording instrument. My musical instrument training has never been about playing chords until now. I've mostly been a one-note-at-a-time kind of guy, even though if you knew what I used to do for a living you might take issue with that statement. I've always been a trumpet player, never played piano well enough to play chords at will, and never paid attention to guitar or uke chords in printed sheet music. Discovering progressions as they are used in pop music is a great new experience - one I am very thankful for.
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When I go to in-person jams, I tend to take a concert or tenor size ukulele. As I sit and work around home, I have noticed which ukuleles I pick up most often. Nope! Not concerts or tenors. I usually play a soprano. Easy to grab, easy to set on my desk - ready to play. We have a Goldendoodle, Maggie, and an active Cat, Bruce. I don't dare to leave uncased ukuleles around the house. With a soprano, I can kind of tuck it out of the way, ready to grab and play.
I'm lucky to have a couple of very good sopranos, and they are the ukes I pick up and play most often. They are my Martin Mexican made S1 mahogany and my Nazareth, Pennsylvania built Martin 2 mahogany pictured to the right. They are both winners, and I truly enjoy playing them. They bring brightness and joy into my life! |
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Tim Kowalik
11-20-20 My favorite traveling UKE is my Waterman by Makala because it is small enough (soprano size) to fit inside my suitcase. It is water resistant (you can paddle a canoe with it), portable, durable, made of high grade polycarbonate, nickel plated open gear tuners, and Aquila Super Nylgut Strings. I have taken my Waterman with me when I volunteered to teach English classes in both Cuba and Thailand. Teaching English songs to students was a great way to connect and have fun with them. My Waterman was “free.” I won it as a door prize at the Great Minnesota Uke Gathering at El Rancho Manana in Richmond, Minnesota on June 4, 2016. Thanks Tony! |
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Teri Joyce
11-18-20
11-18-20
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The first ukulele I ever bought was a Fender tenor. I went to Guitar Center and asked if they had any ukuleles. The sales guy said," I don't know, there might be one in the back room." I still have that ukulele. But, one Friday after our jam session at Groth, I started looking at the ukes that were for sale and how they fit my hand. I realized that a concert size was easier to play. And I fell in love with a Kala concert KA ZCT C. It's beautiful and glossy! I went home and looked on Craigslist and found one that had been posted that same day. Plus it has a nice plush case and I bought it for $200.
Of couse it sounds as nice as it looks! A shout-out to the folks who gathered for the outdoor jams in summer. Let's do it again when the weather warms up and our fingers don't freeze to the strings! |
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Gary Erickson
11-17-20 The one I like the best is my Lanikai, model O-8. It has a full sound and stays in tune and plays really nice. I have had it for a while, and I think It cost around $300. I know I won’t spend much more than that on any uke. My other one is the very first uke I bought, and I play it almost every day, I paid $20 for that one. This one stays in tune also and has a really good tone. I have had that well over 15 years. It sits out, and when I walk by I will pick it up and strum a few chords from a song we might be trying to play. Gary Erickson (U Can Jug or Nots)
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Steve Forslund
11-16-20
Hello TC Uke Clubbers!
First and foremost, I really miss "jamming" live with all of you in person...I hope everyone is doing well!
I have four (4) ukuleles...I also have four (4) children...so for me to pick
my "favorite uke" is akin to asking me "who my favorite child is"...can't be done right?!! However, on any given day you might have a favorite
child...similarly, my favorite ukulele changes on a frequent basis!
11-16-20
Hello TC Uke Clubbers!
First and foremost, I really miss "jamming" live with all of you in person...I hope everyone is doing well!
I have four (4) ukuleles...I also have four (4) children...so for me to pick
my "favorite uke" is akin to asking me "who my favorite child is"...can't be done right?!! However, on any given day you might have a favorite
child...similarly, my favorite ukulele changes on a frequent basis!
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Lately, my new favorite uke is also my newest...introducing my tenor size "Flight Diana Soundwave Tenor Electro-Acoustic Ukulele"! It has a solid cedar top with walnut back and sides. The soundwave system (think pre-amp) allows me to add amplified effects (reverb, delay, etc.) with or without plugging into an amp! It came with Worth Brown fluorocarbon strings (my personal favorite strings). It also has a bone nut and saddle and a soft sided deluxe gig bag. Flight Ukuleles are based in Slovenia, I had some questions about the uke, so I emailed the company and found them to be very knowledgeable and responsive to my various questions.
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I bought my Flight Diana at Groth Music (Bloomington) in September for $380. They also have some concert size (in the humidified room), and Flights for sale too!
I also bought an inexpensive amp ($179) and microphone ($39) at Guitar
Center. This is where the REAL FUN happens!! I set-up a small "music
space" in the corner of my basement and pump up the volume on my amp and rock out to my '70's rock & roll!! Every night, in my basement I am "on
stage" playing/singing from my varied song lists! Tom T. Hall songs sound
ESPECIALLY good with a little reverb or delay added to the sound!
Keep on ROCK'IN everyone and hope to be "live" with everyone in the not to
distant future!!
P.S. Our cat (Nala) in the lower left of the pic loves for me to perform "Year of the Cat" (Al Stewart)
I also bought an inexpensive amp ($179) and microphone ($39) at Guitar
Center. This is where the REAL FUN happens!! I set-up a small "music
space" in the corner of my basement and pump up the volume on my amp and rock out to my '70's rock & roll!! Every night, in my basement I am "on
stage" playing/singing from my varied song lists! Tom T. Hall songs sound
ESPECIALLY good with a little reverb or delay added to the sound!
Keep on ROCK'IN everyone and hope to be "live" with everyone in the not to
distant future!!
P.S. Our cat (Nala) in the lower left of the pic loves for me to perform "Year of the Cat" (Al Stewart)
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Susan Karpowicz
11-15-20 I would choose this concert Kala KA-SCG that I purchased at a music store that was going out of business a few years ago. Ukester Brown was browsing in the store, and I did not know WHO he was at the time...but I asked him to try a couple ukes for me and he picked this one! I got it for the sale price of $125.00. It has been my "to go" uke as I love how it plays, sounds, feels in my hands and looks.... |
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Steve Hardy
11-15-20 This is my 1920s Nu-Way banjolele. I have about $250 into it because it needed a lot of new parts and some work by St Paul Guitar. (I paid $80 for the instrument.) It's my favorite for 2 reasons. It has a great setup and is very easy to play, and "because .... sometimes you feel like a nut, and sometimes you don't." (BTW, I took this picture just last week. I wish I still had this much hair.). Oh my! - Tony |
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Norm Johnson
11-15-20 I started playing a concert uke. Later, I decided a tenor would fit my hands better. I happened to find a good looking one at Guitar Center. It happened to be on sale for about half price, less than $100. To me it looks more expensive. I like it a lot. Wish I could play it better. Need to practice more. Don't we all, Norm! - Tony
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Barbara Bellorin
11-15-20 If I had to choose a favorite, I would choose my tenor Fender Montecito ukulele. While not my most expensive instrument, it is the one that I always fall back on when my fingers are tired or I’m looking for an instrument that is easy to play. The set up is perfect for my hands and making chords is especially easy because the neck is quite narrow. |
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The sound is resonant and sweet and works well with most songs. It’s very pretty and durable as well. At $275.00 I think it is a very nice instrument!
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Coco O'Keefe
11-15-20 Hi Tony, I let my family members help choose my favorite 2. My rescue pup Indie loves my Martin OX Bamboo soprano Uke. In this pic we’re playing along with Petey Mac. Cost is around $300. I also have to include the newest member of my collection, the tie-dyed Flea that Tony used to own! It was a great price at $225. My 92 yr old Mom says it sounds better than any of my other ukuleles! I really love it with the Uke Logic strings and a low G. During her recovery from a fall, she joined me for a Tiki Dave play-along while I was staying with her. Both are sturdy, take anywhere ukes with great sound. Cheers! Hey Coco - If this is your mom in the photo below, tell her I'll buy 72, but not 92 - Tony |
Brent Larson
11-15-20
I've been playing bass for fifty years, and about eight years ago I stumbled on to the Kala U-Basses. I had been looking for smaller equipment so I didn't have to carry heavy gear to rehearsals and gigs and picked up my first fretless Kala mahogany hollow-body U-Bass when I first found them at Groth. A year or two later, I discovered that they also had a foreign made solid body U-bass in the $500 range. Since that time, they no longer offer that cheaper style of bass, but now offer American made versions in the $1,000 to $1,500 range, depending on options. One can find used versions of the one I have occasionally on ebay or Reverb from $300 on up.
The two modifications I made to the original bass was to have Lenard Shapiro add a thumb rest along the "E" string so I didn't have to rest my thumb on that string or the body when I'm playing. The other option which cemented me hanging on to the bass, was to switch from the silicone bass strings to the Kala Silver Plated Round-Wound Set. These strings give the bass a similar sound to an old Fender-style Precision Bass that I used to own.
11-15-20
I've been playing bass for fifty years, and about eight years ago I stumbled on to the Kala U-Basses. I had been looking for smaller equipment so I didn't have to carry heavy gear to rehearsals and gigs and picked up my first fretless Kala mahogany hollow-body U-Bass when I first found them at Groth. A year or two later, I discovered that they also had a foreign made solid body U-bass in the $500 range. Since that time, they no longer offer that cheaper style of bass, but now offer American made versions in the $1,000 to $1,500 range, depending on options. One can find used versions of the one I have occasionally on ebay or Reverb from $300 on up.
The two modifications I made to the original bass was to have Lenard Shapiro add a thumb rest along the "E" string so I didn't have to rest my thumb on that string or the body when I'm playing. The other option which cemented me hanging on to the bass, was to switch from the silicone bass strings to the Kala Silver Plated Round-Wound Set. These strings give the bass a similar sound to an old Fender-style Precision Bass that I used to own.
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I currently have eight basses (had as many as thirteen at one time) in my collection and consider each as a different paintbrush in my overall sound. This Kala S-U-B U-bass is technically my only short scale bass.
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Click to enlarge photos -
Check out the photos. Very cool! I hereby declare that Brent is waaaaay more talented than me! - Tony
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I am still in search of a small scale bass that has a fifth low "B" string, to better match the other six 5-string basses I currently own.
Switching between the longer scale basses and this one is tricky. So, if I miss a note now and then, forgive me for wanting to stretch my fingers farther than the U-bass requires.
Switching between the longer scale basses and this one is tricky. So, if I miss a note now and then, forgive me for wanting to stretch my fingers farther than the U-bass requires.
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Suzanne Weinstein claims . . .
11-15-20 "My cousin did this with her dog!" Sure she did, Suzanne! - Tony Click on the dog's photo
for all the action! >>>> |
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Tom Ehlinger
11-14-20
Outdoor tenor is the one I’d take. It’s no fair weather friend, it’s always willing and able to come with me rain, shine, heat, or cold. It sings well and looks good. $155.
11-14-20
Outdoor tenor is the one I’d take. It’s no fair weather friend, it’s always willing and able to come with me rain, shine, heat, or cold. It sings well and looks good. $155.
Click on Tom's photos to enlarge.
I really love my ukulele. She was a birthday gift from my husband, Bob. She is a Kanile’a from Hawaii. A tenor size with a low G string, Worth Browns.
She is a wonderful uke and she feeds my soul. She challenges me and she comforts me. Even when she falls to the floor and her head breaks off, my fault, she is good and she is fixable. This small instrument is huge! Her wonder is endless!
She is a wonderful uke and she feeds my soul. She challenges me and she comforts me. Even when she falls to the floor and her head breaks off, my fault, she is good and she is fixable. This small instrument is huge! Her wonder is endless!
Click on Lynn's photos to enlarge.
Steve “1” Christensen
11-14-20
If I could only keep ONE uke, it would certainly be my Blackbird Farallon Tenor. I retired in June of 2016 and thought taking up the uke would be fun. So I found a used Riptide concert here in town at Music Go Round just to see what ukes are like. After a summer spent learning chords I attended the GMUG that fall and was hooked.
11-14-20
If I could only keep ONE uke, it would certainly be my Blackbird Farallon Tenor. I retired in June of 2016 and thought taking up the uke would be fun. So I found a used Riptide concert here in town at Music Go Round just to see what ukes are like. After a summer spent learning chords I attended the GMUG that fall and was hooked.
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I then decided to treat myself to a much better instrument. After 50 years of playing guitar I found the concert size a bit cramped so I thought I would move up to a tenor. But being a chemist I am partial to “synthetic” instruments, already owning two carbon fiber acoustic guitars.
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Looking around for something similar I found that Blackbird guitars out of Berkeley CA makes a uke out of Ekoa, a linen based composite very much like carbon fiber. I found one to try at Willies American Guitars I St. Paul and was smitten. I would have bought it on the spot but theirs had a pickup installed which I did not want, so I ordered mine from Gryphon Instruments in CA. At $1492 it was not inexpensive, but I’ve never regretted it. To my ear it sounds as good as any of the K brands I’ve had the chance to play (Barry Maz at gotaukulele.com likes it too). And being made of “plastic” I don’t have to worry about humidification.
To be honest though, the uke I reach for most often is probably my ~$500 Klos Carbon Fiber tenor. It’s built like a tank and I don’t worry about knocking it over. It can be seen here in the background waiting its turn.
To be honest though, the uke I reach for most often is probably my ~$500 Klos Carbon Fiber tenor. It’s built like a tank and I don’t worry about knocking it over. It can be seen here in the background waiting its turn.
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Gene Janicke
11-14-20 Here's me and my old Luna High Tide that I refitted as a 5-string. I paired a Low G with the regular High G and now get a mellower tone when strumming, and it also gives me versatility when trying to do some bluegrass pickin'. Had to move a couple of tuners and plug the original holes, then added the 5th tuner. I think I paid $200 or so a few years ago - now about $250. Great Uke if you're stuck on a desert island or downsizing your homestead :-) |
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Tom Sullivan
11-13-20 “My” ukulele is technically my wife’s... she plays 3 nyckelharpas (like owning various ukuleles)... I play/sing campfire guitar (and decent accordion) but when my jamming option with Tony appeared, with permission I dusted off my wife’s baritone Lanikai (as close to guitar as I could get) and the journey began. |
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Don Venne
11-14-20 Regarding which Ukulele I would keep of the several I have, that would be my custom Mya-Moe, which was built about three or four years ago to my specifications. It is all Koa with a cutaway, has a K and K pick up, and was hand built in the Pacific Northwest by Gordon and Char Mayer and Aaron Kim. It is a wonderful Ukulele. If I kept a second one, it would most likely be the Collings Tenor that I bought from Tony. I’ve used it a lot, and it has great sound. Collings no longer makes a regular line of ukuleles, but if they start again, you should think about getting one. |
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Tom Sweeney
9-7-20 That’s easy - a baritone of course! Why, because I’ll likely be the only person with one, someone needs to hold up the low end, - and it’s a twofer- capo the 5th fret and it’s a Uke ! Now the hard part - which one ?? Maybe this all solid bamboo Kala baritone - purchased directly from Kala founder Mike Upton for $200, - they had six made in each size, but decided not to put the bari size into production. Should be pretty durable- they use bamboo for flooring ! Just have to beware of hungry Pandas 🐼 |
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Tony Anthonisen
9-16-20 - Updated 2-22-25
9-16-20 - Updated 2-22-25
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Martin C1K - OK . . . I changed my mind. You jammers are absolutely correct. It is near impossible to select just one - ONLY one - ukulele to the exclusion of all others. While I love my Outdoor tenor, my Mexican. made Martin Koa concert has a special place in my heart. Workmanship is great. The sound full and rich for a concert ukulele. Dollar for dollar, I believe you can't beat a Mexican Martin - soprano, concert or tenor! At about $500+, I strongly believe my Martin C1K concert is a lifetime keeper!
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My Very Favorite Ukulele! Martin C1K! And, Bruce! |
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Questions? - [email protected]
