Help me choose a Ukulele

[Joe Time]

For some reason ive been inspired to get a Ukulele.. maybe cause im sick of lugging my martin down to the beach.

 

But I know nothing about them other then there are 4 sizes, standard, concert, soprano, and baritone.

I'm not sure which one to get.

 

Does anyone know the benefits and disadvantages of these sizes? Any recommendations around the 100$ range would be great too!

 

Thanks in advance,

Joe

[Stackabones]

Baritone is the easiest transition instrument, but it sounds too much like a guitar IMO.

 

I'm not sure about standard size, but the other three sizes I've heard about are soprano, concert, and tenor. Soprano is the smallest, and the next two are a little bigger. There is also a pineapple uke, which is usually a soprano with a pineapple-shaped body. These three are in 'C' tuning (GCEA) with the tenor having the ability to go low-G (the G on ukuele is tuned higher than the following C, and its only a second lower than the high A).

 

Most $100 ukes just don't cut it. Problems with tuners, fretboards, intonation, etc. Sub-bill ukes are generally toys.

 

Having said that, the only decent one I've found is a pineapple uke from Musicguymic. Sounds good, tuners work well, fretboard is nice. Decent instrument.

 

Bushman makes a model called the Jenny for around $300, and it's considered a good entry-level uke. Seriously.

[EvilTwin]

I think Lanikai makes a great uke for the buck.

 

I've got this one, the LU-21C:

 

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/LU21C.htm

 

Plays fine, sounds good, built solidly, dirt cheap.

[Rick 381]

I've got this one,

 

 

Oscar Schmidt OU-3. Cost $79.

 

The strings suck. Replaced them with DiVincis and the tone improved 500%

[jerry_picker]

 

I think Lanikai makes a great uke for the buck. I've got this one, the LU-21C: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/LU21C.htm Plays fine, sounds good, built solidly, dirt cheap.

 

 

They are pretty, too. The top of the line Lanikai koa (lami) is a nice uke.

 

Used Martins ($300 and up) and Kamakas ($500 and up) are worth keeping an eye peeled for, too.

 

Vintage 1940's-1960's solid mahogany baritones and tenors by Harmony are often quite playable, for around $100-150. Martins, they ain't.

[VengefulTikiGod]

 

I think Lanikai makes a great uke for the buck. I've got this one, the LU-21C: http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/LU21C.htm Plays fine, sounds good, built solidly, dirt cheap.

 

 

I've got the soprano version of that. Excellent brand, right out of the box the intonation was excellent. Go for the concert though, I bought the soprano not knowing anything about the sizes, and I recently heard another uke player with a concert, and it's really a better sounding instrument. The soprano's not as loud and doesn't have the nice mellow midrange of the concert. I almost bought an Oscar-Schmidt, damn that thing's good looking! How's the intonation/tuners/sound for that price?

[Rick 381]

The sound was horrible until I changed the string. The factory strings on mine where beyond terrible. The tuners are open back metal geared tuners. They seem to work fine and hold tune well. The nut is plastic and seems to be cut with a hot wire and needs to be cleaned up a bit. I haven't paid much attention to intonation as I rarely play that far up that tiny neck. It appears to be acceptable though. By that I mean I don't cringe when I hit a note.

 

Since it was just something to fool around with I didn't want to spend a lot on one. I've had it for 3 or 4 years now and it was well worth the money.

[slider]

from ebay I got an old Roy Smeck mahogany soprano. when it arrived I looked like a toy. it cost 59 dollars. looking closely I saw top and back bracing and nice sized glue block channeling. it sounds great.

then I bought a few more ebayers. all mahogany. the ones without any bracing dont sound as good. they get boomy.

there are many many makers and it is hard to decide. those mentioned are good.

I have a baritone no name. they are nice and deep sounding. but I like me Roy Smeck the best.

I have about five ukes. cool little things.

now I an Gassing for the pro nodels, but cant yet afford 1200$ starting.