Source
r/ukulele•
stormborn

Guitar player's first uke, around $200 to spend - confused about choices

I'm a guitar player looking to buy my first ukulele. I'm pretty sure I want a concert size, and I'd like to spend around $200, although there's plenty of wiggle room in that price.

I've been looking at various models at Hawaii Music Supply (mostly Kala), and at Mainland, but I'm not sure how to choose between them. I'm not sure how much the various wood options, scale length variations, etc factor in to the sound of a uke.

Normally, I'd never buy an acoustic instrument without playing it first, but my local music stores have a very limited uke selection, and I'm not familiar enough with the instrument to know what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something that won't leave me wanting to replace it after a year, but I don't want to spend TOO much on my first uke. Halp?

Posted Dec 27, 2012, 3:51 PM UTC

315
bazmaz•

IMHO - Mainland in that price bracket are hard to beat. They have an extra layer of quality control as are finished and checked in the USA, not the far east.

2
stormbornOP•

Thanks for the input - any thoughts about how to choose between spruce, mahogany, cedar, and mango?

1
ClamydiaDellArte•

I'd go with mahogany. Spruce looks too guitar-like, and I've never really liked the tone of mango (although it is a gorgeous wood). I've never played a cedar uke. Mahogany is the most traditional of the 4, and since it's your first uke I'd make it something it something basic and normal.

1
bazmaz•

Different tones, spruce very bright and punchy. Mahogany warmer like cedar. Not played mango but considered similar to Koa and acacia, and kind of a nice balance in tone. Koa is my favourite uke wood.

1
[deleted]•

What's the best stereotypically ukulele-sound producing wood?

(I already have and love my ukulele, but for future purchases...)

1
bazmaz•

That's a very subjective question, and these days ukes are made from a bewildering range of woods,

I suppose though Koa is the most traditional material if you judge ukes based on Hawaiian heritage. That is the wood that gives the Hawaiian sound. That said, the best vintage Martin ukes are pretty much all mahogany, and they are massively revered.

Those two woods are, I suppose, the most respected.

All that said, remember this debate only applies to solid wood ukes. LAminated woods that say they are mahogany, Koa or whatever, are not. It's just a thin outer skin and the outer skin on a laminate has no bearing on tone, only looks.

1
singh44s•

If you're looking for a bulletproof acoustic model for travel, don't discount the Flea/Fluke family. Yes, many of the parts are "plastic" and the soundboard is a "plywood"*, but many professional uke players still recommend them.

* it's role-appropriate plastic (lookit those "plastic guns" the police use), and veneer-ply is much more stable in varying humidity than solid wood

edited for grammar

1
stormbornOP•

Interesting. I had been discounting the Fluke ukes because of my dislike for the sound and feel of Ovation guitars (which have a similar construction). I'll try to find somewhere to audition a Fluke locally.

1
singh44s•

If you're near Massachusetts, you could visit the factory where they're assembled!

1
ClamydiaDellArte•

Yes, many of the parts are "plastic" and the soundboard is a "plywood"*, but many professional uke players still recommend them.

I remember reading about some master luthier who made a guitar out of the cheapest, shittiest wood he could get his hands on, and it sounded just fine. In reality, construction matters at least as much as materials.

1
singh44s•

Taylor Guitars' Pallet Wood acoustic?

2
cptemo•

I have the Mainland Mahogany with Spruce top, and the sound / action is great. Much warmer than others with hardwood tops I have tried, but I'm not a guitar player, and haven't spent a lot of time with higher quality ukes. Timely shipping, looks, and sounds great.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

0