5 Ukulele Buying Mistakes - And How To Avoid Them
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2024
- A discussion of common mistakes made when purchasing a ukulele, and how to avoid potential pitfalls.
From World of Ukes, the North of England's Specialist Ukulele Store: worldofukes.co.uk/shop-ukulel...
Very helpful and nicely presented vid. Thank you.
The honesty in all your videos is the most compelling case for buying from a specialist shop. I'm so glad I've decided to buy from your store and I cannot wait for my ukulele to arrive!
Thank you, I'm glad you did, very kind!
Some very important aspects to consider. When I saw the title I immediately thought of number 4. Much respect for including it as someone who sells ukuleles!
I'd like to sell everyone their last ukulele, the one that's 'the one'. I don't mind if people want a collection but enjoy it more when someone finds their dream uke.
@@WorldofUkes that's an honorable attitude. There are certainly good reasons for owning more than one ukulele, e.g. high and low G or wanting to play in different tunings. For someone just starting out, I think one instrument offers plenty of things to learn. Many people seem to fall into the trap of thinking that owning more instruments will make them better players.
@@UkeAlong Absolutely. And also, if people like them, then why not. People collect all sorts of things so there's no harm in doing that with ukes. But yes, I think people can jump into getting more and more at the start before figuring out what they really like.
And also, if I DID sell everyone just one ukulele, everyone... well I'd be rich enough that I could afford to be honourable!
The Takumi Five Star Koa Ukulele Tenor
that you demonstrated when I visited still tugs at my heartstrings . But I feel Privilaged to have heard it , I still get goosebumps . It was devine .
I purchased a uke from the store this week, the information passed on to me helped me decide which to buy. Well worth a visit if you can go in person :-)
Excellent Matt. I’ve copied the link already to a uke site where someone is asking what should they buy. I loooove my Uluru too❤️❤️
Thanks Eileen, that's great on both counts :)
Go to a reputable store- the Uke chooses you! (Like the Harry Potter wand!)
Having got a really good, and very cheap, travel uke to begin with, my "mistake" was thinking that all cheap ukes were good.
The other mistake that I made when I was looking for my first grown up uke was to believe those high profile CZcams influencers who would drool over any hunk of plywood and tell you that it was the best uke in the world as long as they were being paid enough for product placement,
As someone who was only just starting to get seriously into ukes just before lockdown, what I miss is the experience of going to a store and having the right uke find you - you just can't duplicate that experience online.
I would say that your advice on £80 - £150 for a first instrument is very sound indeed. Whilst it's definitely the case that the more you pay, the better the uke you tend to end up with, it's also the case that, the further up the ladder you climb, the harder it becomes to quantify what you're getting for your money by going up a rung or two. Also, it's very difficult for a beginner to know what really suits them and it's a less hurtful lesson to find out that you should have gone for the wide necked soprano rather than a skinny necked tenor when the lesson only cost you £150 rather than £1,500 to learn.
I agree with the idea that it's better to have one or two great ukes (in the end) rather than a dozen ukes that are all basically different looking version of the same uke. Although I'm not quite on this trajectory, it is something that I could see developing in my self so I have had to take steps to guard against the risk of developing the famous Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome. My policy is:
I'm not going to buy more than one uke per year;
If I do buy something it must complement my existing collection (I currently have a high G tenor, a low G tenor and a concert, if I get anything new next year it'll probably be a soprano,).
I'll only buy an upgrade if I trade in, or get rid of the uke that's being upgraded (it seems ruthless but, if the new uke is supposed to be better than my current one, then why would I want to keep the current one, if I like my current one so much, then why do I want to upgrade it in the first place?).
Interesting stuff. Great comments. I particularly like the inescapable logic of your final remarks!
Ah yes, but only time will tell how inescapable that logic is in practice :-)
Common mistakes are common, hence the name. I do some of the mistakes. If I wouldn't have bought all these nice ukuleles I could have bought one in the region of a Moonbird with ease. But I made some money for WOU and SUS along the way. But now, after a few years I go for less is more, if less means a quality instrument.
I have had good luck with amazon. but my ukulele I paid only 50 for, because I don't know if it is something I want to stick with. I have free returns. But, I will say do your research don't just buy the first thing that shows up. Mine is playable (Kmise, if you are interested, Super bare bones. )
Regarding UAS(Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome.) Repeat after me "Ukuleles are not Pokémon, I don't have to catch them all."
I don't charge for returns.
I understand that people don't want to pay too much if they might not stick with it. And it's good you were lucky. But you don't have to pay much more to get something that a specialist recommends and gets ready so it's nice to play.
@@WorldofUkes I would love to go to a specialty shop but the ones I found online are in no go or lawless zones near my area.
It is not New York bad but not far removed.
I probably would of spent more on my Ukulele but I already purchased a U bass. I have been having a blast learning the thing.
Hi, could you link your favourite strings? Thanks
worldofukes.co.uk/ukulele-strings/anuenue-ukulele-strings-clear-water-black-water
(aNueNue Clear Water for me)
Well Matt, I have to laugh at myself after watching your video because I have made every one of these mistakes! LOL
What strings would you recommend for a mango Tiny Tenor to make it sound a bit brighter. I have the original Romero Creations strings on it. Haven't had it that long.
I'd go for aNueNue clear water... My favourite strings (for now, until my head is turned!)
@@WorldofUkes do they make a low G?
@@christinegeorgenson9842 No, but just pair it whatever low G you usually favour. Probably Fremont Squeakless for me.
@@WorldofUkes Thank you so much. Ooooh, one more question. As it's a Tiny Tenor should I get tenor or concert strings? I've only had it a couple of months and haven't changed them before.
Others mileage may vary but I personally felt the string choice subjective - it's as personal as it gets for your connection to your Tiny T. That's an excellent Uke, so what sound will be an experiment. If I was in the same boat, I'd buy - as Matt said - the aNueNue black/clear waters, also worth browns, D'Addario Titanium's, and maybe some of Ukes with Alex's new range. I'd buy Tenor size strings for that, as you have a tenor scale. Low G (both easily found like Fremont's and unwound flourocarbon in many sets above) and High G option available from World of Ukes and Southern Ukulele Store. Take the same point as buying a Uke for your strings - ask the guys in these stores - after all, they play these EVERY day.
I have 4 good and very different ukes but also another 4 cheaply ones that I can leave about the house, the car, caravan, etc so if I fancy a quick strum I can just pluck one up.
Pluck? I meant pick lol
Great. Certainly not trying to discourage people to get a few!
@@WorldofUkes it helps if you have kids to donate them too.
Really like your last point a lot, very valuable. I used to be underwhelmed by Aquillas immediately for example but I would add to that as a sub-point to check out different tunings. I had an old soprano that I changed strings on, gave it some UPT machine heads, but it really came to life when I tuned it ADF#B as I felt it really worked for that 'Hawaiian' style for me. String choice and tuninga are the personal touches like the colour of your bedroom walls or the wallpaper in your hallways. You like it, it's your style.
I would, though, be so bold as to add a 6th point / disclaimer 'Each to their own', the ukulele is a beautiful thing and if it brings you joy, that's *all* that matters. Too many people worry about 'how many to own' as you say, but also 'how many is too many'. Whatever makes you smile, if you play them all, and keep the joy alive!
Yes I agree with your last point, wholeheartedly. I definitely didn't want to come over as someone saying 'you shouldn't do this' or 'don't buy that'. It's.in my interest that people do after all! But just points to add a little wisdom to choosing.
@@WorldofUkes having shopped with you, I know you put the customer needs first and that really comes across in the video, and such honest advice (even if it does seem counter to 'sales') is welcome... You wouldn't see a Big Box Shipper or drop shipper saying this for sure, they usually upsell!
If I was starting new again, these points would have really helped, as like most, I too made mistakes (lots)! As you get into it, that's where the 'each to their own' advice kicks in I suppose. Ultimately I know it's right because truly smile inside every time I strum a chord or pick a scale. Deep joy like that is the Ukulele's secret to its long success and what pulls me back to your website ☺️
@@mrclumsyishungover Don't get me wrong, I'd like to sell everyone in the world a ukulele, but just one or two really nice ones each - rather than selling one in four people twenty each (if that makes any sense!)
Choose life.
Choose a job.
Choose a career.
Choose a family,
Choose uke!!!
I've missed a trick not adapting that speech at the start!
Not necessarily in that order :-)