Things to Consider Before You Buy
So you want to buy a ukulele. Here are some things you need to consider first.
Ukulele Hunt
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Which size?
The ukulele comes in four main sizes: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Soprano is the smallest and baritone the largest. The soprano has the classic ukulele sound while the sound of a baritone is much closer to that of a guitar.
How much are you willing to spend?
If you're only going to buy a cheap ukulele, that's fine to start with. I, like most people, started playing the cheapest ukulele I could find.
Which brand should I buy?
This depends very much on the amount you're willing to spend. At the budget end, Makala ukuleles are a good buy. Particularly if you can get it well set up by the person you buy it from.
In a slightly higher range are Fluke ukuleles. These have a very distinctive shape and are almost universally popular in the ukulele community. It's rare you'll find anyone with even a small ukulele collection that doesn't own a Flea or a Fluke (I have a Fluke). Alternatively, there are Oscar Schmidt ukuleles (popular thanks to Jason Castro using one in his performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow on American Idol).
If money is no object, you might like to buy a Kamaka ukulele. These are the ukulele of choice for Jake Shimabukuro.
Should I buy an electric ukulele?
Electric ukuleles are great fun. They overcome the problem of the ukulele's lack of volume. Ovation's Applause ukuleles are one of the most popular brands. An alternative to electric ukuleles is to use a transducer pickup.
Should you buy new strings?
Almost certainly, yes. Ukuleles are usually sold with terrible strings. Replacing them with a respected brand such as Aquila ukulele strings and Worth ukulele strings.
The ukulele comes in four main sizes: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Soprano is the smallest and baritone the largest. The soprano has the classic ukulele sound while the sound of a baritone is much closer to that of a guitar.
How much are you willing to spend?
If you're only going to buy a cheap ukulele, that's fine to start with. I, like most people, started playing the cheapest ukulele I could find.
Which brand should I buy?
This depends very much on the amount you're willing to spend. At the budget end, Makala ukuleles are a good buy. Particularly if you can get it well set up by the person you buy it from.
In a slightly higher range are Fluke ukuleles. These have a very distinctive shape and are almost universally popular in the ukulele community. It's rare you'll find anyone with even a small ukulele collection that doesn't own a Flea or a Fluke (I have a Fluke). Alternatively, there are Oscar Schmidt ukuleles (popular thanks to Jason Castro using one in his performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow on American Idol).
If money is no object, you might like to buy a Kamaka ukulele. These are the ukulele of choice for Jake Shimabukuro.
Should I buy an electric ukulele?
Electric ukuleles are great fun. They overcome the problem of the ukulele's lack of volume. Ovation's Applause ukuleles are one of the most popular brands. An alternative to electric ukuleles is to use a transducer pickup.
Should you buy new strings?
Almost certainly, yes. Ukuleles are usually sold with terrible strings. Replacing them with a respected brand such as Aquila ukulele strings and Worth ukulele strings.
