What is a good quality Ukelele?

Question

The ukelele has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I've had a 30 dollar one for a about a year now. But since it costs 30 dollars its a piece of crap.
So, I finally raised up a good amount of money to spend on one, but then i realized, I dunno what to look for.

Anyone play ukelele? Does anyone know what I should look for when shopping for them? I currently work at a music store, so I can get them for cheaper then you normally would, but I have around 200 dollars to spend.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

Six Tips to Buying a Good Ukulele

The ukulele is not a complicated instrument. Most ukuleles of today are pretty reliable (unless, of course, you buy a $5 or $10 toy). I know a lot of people think otherwise, and there are undoubtedly some good ukuleles in attics or garages somewhere that are considered junk. I don’t want this to happen to you, so let’s talk about what makes a “good” uke. Remember, as a beginner, you DO NOT have to buy an expensive ukulele.

Tip 1: Tuners

The biggest complaint I hear is that the @#$%^ ukulele won’t stay tuned. Years ago, cheap ukuleles were made with tapered wooden pegs that were tightened by jamming the tuning peg into its hole so that it wouldn’t slip. That didn’t work too well -- the pegs eventually worked their way out and the ukulele couldn’t stay in tune.

Good news, today there are two types of tuners that are used for ukuleles: Friction gears protrude out the back of the head. There is no gearing, so the tuner button and the tuner post (where the string is wound around) rotate equally. Machine Head gears protrude out the side of the head and, when turned, the post rotates a small fraction of the amount of turn, usually about 1/15 the amount the button is turned.

Friction

I prefer the friction gears over machine heads. This is because I want to reach around the nut and attack the strings from an angle and when I play in the first position (low on the neck), machine gears get in the way. Also, inexpensive ukuleles use cheap pot metal machine gears which bend, warp and come loose from the head. Cheap friction gears are fine, provided you don’t tighten them too much.

One more very important thing about tuning. When you first buy your ukulele, no matter how expensive it is, it will not stay in tune. This, my dear, is because the strings have to s-t-r-e-t-c-h! This is true with any stringed instrument. You have to keep playing and retuning until the strings stretch out to the maximum. And...when you change strings you have to go through the process all over again. After a few weeks, your uke will keep its tuning with minor adjustments every so often.

Tip 2: Neck

Examine the neck of the ukulele. Hold it up at eye level with the tuners farthest from you. Look down the length of the neck, past the bridge and the sound hole, all the way up to the nut. The neck should look very straight and quite flat, with no warping on the fingerboard. Make sure that the strings are all the same height. Check the nut to see that it is perfectly straight.

Tip 3: Action

The nut is usually a piece of wood or plastic that is grooved to separate the strings from each other and keep them elevated above the fret board. This defines the “action” of the instrument. The strings should be positioned close to the fret board without touching the frets. If your strings are high off the board, a lot of pressure is required to tamp them down, which can cause hand cramping.

Fixing the grooves is fairly simple, if you do it with care. Simply use a nail file or other small tool to carefully deepen the grooves in the nut. This will improve the action considerably. Be cautious, if you make a groove too deep where it actually touches a fret, you will deaden that string entirely. Remember, however, that the best solution is to purchase an ukulele that has good action to start with.

Tip 4: Sound

Strum the ukulele strings and listen closely to the sound emitting from the sound hole. You want to get as deep a sound as you can. Often the sound of the instrument can be greatly improved with the purchase of quality strings. Mass-produced ukuleles usually have inferior strings. Invest in a good set, and keep the others for spare. Trust me.

Tip 5: Quality

When buying your uke, think first of who is going to play it For a kid under 10, go to the ABC store and get the cheapest one they have. The kid will have fun. If he or she shows any interest, get a student model in your town or on the internet after he or she breaks the first one. For teenagers and adults, purchase a good student model. Cheap and reliable, they can be found at Guitar Centers all around the country and from its website, musiciansfriend.com, on the internet.

Tip 6: Case

Some ukuleles come with a plastic or fabric soft zippered cover (gig bag) and other accessories such as a tuner or extra strings. This is good, and helps you care for your instrument properly. But -- if you invest in a good ukulele, don’t be cheap and settle for a gig bag. Buy a hard case. The modern ones are polyester-covered Styrofoam. They are lightweight and keep the ukulele at a moderate temperature during storage.

Hope this helps!!!