| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| rendesvous1840 |
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 8:19:47 PM
A banjo player in La Grande, OR, contacted me a couple days ago about buying a uke. He had a lot of questions about makes/models/woods, etc. He says there are no major music stores within 250 miles of his home, but he wants to buy a uke. Any players in the area to give better advice than my limited knowledge? I never liked the idea of buying without playing, but he may not have much choice. I could recommend a vacation in Hawai`i, but then he might not be able to afford the uke! Reply to me, and I'll forward.
Unko Paul
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| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Podagee57 |
Posted - 01/17/2010 : 6:00:40 PM
Don't come to Bend looking for ukes. Not much selection here. Eugene does have a good selection however. |
| Earl |
Posted - 01/14/2010 : 07:26:47 AM
As someone who lives in Boise, there are at least two stores that carry a good selection of ukes: Dorsey Music, and Dunkley Music, both located downtown. When I was last in Dorsey's about three weeks ago, they had about 20 different ukes of all types, mostly Kala and similar mid-priced brands.
Music Guy Mike is also superb, as previously mentioned -- 100% honest and easy to deal with. What he described was exactly what I got, and a good deal too. I have dealt with Elderly for more than 30 years, and they are excellent. But they can't seem to keep ukes in stock. Most everything is always on back order.
Buying sight unseen, I recommend the Fluke or Flea ukes. Every single example I have played intonated well and they sound pretty darn good for plywood tops with a plastic back. They run under $200 delivered unless you spring for the fancy graphics. My personal choice was the Flea with a longer concert scale neck, for $16 extra. Soprano scale is just too tiny for these meaty paws. You can also pay extra for a rosewood fretboard and metal frets, if the polycaronate fretboard is an issue for you (mine is holding up well after several years of playing, and if it wears out they will put a brand new one on for you). I also have a Fluke, but I don't play it much. It sounds good and loud, and plays well, but the edge digs into my forearm more than I like.
And when it comes time to learn, I have lots of basic instructional materials and chord charts on my web site: www.boiseukulelegroup.com
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| rendesvous1840 |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 2:21:45 PM
Actually, as both of our ukes came from musicguy mike, I did recomend that. I also recomended Elderly Music as one I trust , though I've never bought any instruments from them personally. I have good references from folks I trust. The closest I've ever beento Oregon was Seattle, in 1971, coming back from Viet Nam. I don't know where anything is in Oregon, let alone distances . If your weather this time of year is like ours, I don't know if this is the time to mount an expedition. I do advise against buying without polaying whenever possible. It's one of lifes great pleasures to go to every available store, and play every available instrument, until one of them grabs your heart and makes you take it home, despite the financial misgivings of your spouse. All this aside, I knew there would be advice here, from some folks closer to La Grande than I am. Mahalo,Y'all. I'll pass along the help. We may have a new uke player in the making.
Unko Paul |
| hapakid |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 1:24:12 PM
It's not often that a song with a uke is on the Billboard Hot 100 (#29 this week) but here it is, played with a "cheap Korean instrument" ;), a Fender Nohea model tenor uke.
Uke only version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-7XPCNrD5Y
Full band version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpv8-5XWOI
Jesse |
| Mark |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 09:24:28 AM
Hi-
Last time I looked, La Grande was 225 miles from Portland and around 150 to Boise. I know it feels farther out there in the Great Basin....
Couple of thoughts
If by "major music stores" he means "Guitar Center," then he may be right. But I wouldn't shop for a uke at Guitar Center anyway... unless you want a cheap Korean instrument.
there are tons of folk music stores in P-land, Eugene, Boise etc etc that will carry ukulele.
Even better, he should got to the Gorge Ukulele Festival next month in Hood River (not all that close, but hey, we western types are used to long drives. "Fire up the pickup, Granny, we's gotta go to town fer some flour. Ought to be there this time next week..."
Details here:
http://www.gorgeukuleles.org/ |
| slipry1 |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 08:56:10 AM
Have him drive over the Cascades to Eugene. There are several good stores there which sell ukes. I'm away from my references, so I can't remember the names, except for McKenzie River Music, which mostly deals in guitars. I played with Mark Nelson at the 2008 Uketober Fest in Eugene, and there were several dealers and makers there. Maybe Mark remembers. |
| thumbstruck |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 06:03:30 AM
Sometimes it pays to mount an expedition. He could head for Boise or Bend or Portland. The last might be the best bet, there are even some builders there. |
| hapakid |
Posted - 01/11/2010 : 05:50:00 AM
Paul,
Many people buying starter ukes or better have had good luck buying on Ebay from the dealer "musicguymic". He's honest, sets up the ukes himself and adds Aquila strings at no extra charge. I have bought one uke and several sets of strings from him.
Jesse
http://stores.ebay.com/Musicguymics-Room |
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