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Absolute
Lokahi
275 Posts |
 Posted - 04/06/2007 : 2:23:32 PM
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These probably sound like stupid questions. They may be, but I'd appreciate any insights you may have or recommendations. I find that I'm frequently surprised by what some people can tell you when you ask what may seem to you to be stupid questions in an area in which you lack the experience to make that judgement.
I bought a Baja spruce top ukulele. It retailed for around $120.00. I got it for significantly less on close-out. It's the last one available. I like it now that I've played it. The manufacturer sells what looks like a gig bag for this concert sized ukulele. It retails for $29.00, but I ordered one at $10.00 on the same close-out deal. Does anyone know if this Baja bag is a gig bag or a semi-hard case? (I haven't tried to call the retailer yet to ask, because it's not in stock, so they can't check. Their site calls it a "case" not a gig bag.) This is a very nice looking ukulele, and probably the only one I'll ever buy. I was thinking of possibly even getting a hard case. A local music store says they can provide one for $35.00. I've got time to cancel the gig bag.
I'm thinking of putting a neck strap on this new ukulele, because the finish is so slick, I can't hold it under my arm without it moving about. (My "Bird house" ukuleles are a lot less tiring to play - because they're easy to hold onto.) The strap, I thought, would stabilize this standard shape concert size ukulele. The music store says they can put a "button" on the back for $4.00, and for around $12.00 more, give me a plain black strap and fast disconnect for the neck (that supposedly goes "under the strings"). I have some vague recollection of reading on some ukulele forum that putting a "button" on a ukulele and a strap wasn't a good idea - or were they simply asserting that it's not necessary with such a small instrument? It's not the weight, its the slippery finish and a need for stability while playing. I also don't want to drop it while I'm learning to play the ukulele.
I doubt that I can find a case on-line without spending a lot on shipping (around $15.00 relative to a $30-$50 case), and I've already ordered the $10.00 Baja concert case that is supposedly made for the instrument. (Once again, they call it a "case" at the on-line source, but it looks like a gig bag.) Is the "button" going to put the ukulele at greater risk of damage? Is a gig bag good enough? Any horror stories? Recommended brand? To "button" or not to "button"? (I hate the idea of drilling into this nice instrument.)
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Retro
Ahonui
USA
2368 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2007 : 5:41:07 PM
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Luthier Ron Saul (RLS Engineering - San Luis Obispo) makes a strap for `ukulele that is a modification of the type used by some classical guitarists. A loop goes around your neck, then on the other end of the strap is a hook; it comes under the body of the uke from behind and beneath, up the bottom front, and clips into the soundhole. Helps to balance your uke, keeps it in place while you play, and you'll need do no physical modifications to the instrument.
No stupid questions, only refrigerator fishy biscuits alphabet klangfarb yoopa-doo stupid answers. |
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sandman
Lokahi
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2007 : 7:18:04 PM
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Ron Saul's products are really nice. I use an inexpensive (spelled c-h-e-a-p) classical guitar strap which is the same idea but is some kind of cord and sells for five bucks or so (or did) at places like Sam Ash. The clip might slightly mar the lower edge of the soundhole, however. Still, no significant mod to the instrument.
Sandy |
Leap into the boundless and make it your home.
Zhuang-zi |
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Absolute
Lokahi
275 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 05:16:53 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions. I think I found what you're talking about here:
http://elderly.com/also/accessories/items/STPC.htm
Now I have to balance altering the instrument with the relative stability of the two options. The strap and button seem more likely to provide greater stability, or am I wrong? |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1583 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 05:38:34 AM
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Led Kaapana and Faith Ako are two `ukulele players I've seen use a conventional guitar strap. I'm pretty sure there are others.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Tonya
Lokahi
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 08:20:57 AM
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quote:
Now I have to balance altering the instrument with the relative stability of the two options. The strap and button seem more likely to provide greater stability, or am I wrong?
FWIW, I have the Ron Saul strap (in blue) for use with my LoPrinzi soprano 'cause I just couldn't bear the thought of popping a strap button on the instrument. In contrast, I have a strap button (I found a nice small one) on my Applause soprano and made up a simple leather strap for it (with a leather lace tie-on on the headstock end). I definitely feel more "secure" with the strap button instrument--it's the one I use when we have our little ukulele group and I end up teaching a beginning lesson; I can walk around the room and use *both* hands to help people but my Applause still dangles safely.
When using the Ron Saul/mandolin-style strap you still need to keep the ukulele in "position" with an arm or it can flip over frontwards and conceivably could drop. I hope I'm explaining that correctly. It's not a problem as long as you're aware of that--you just can't be mindless in keeping it looped around your neck as you can with a standard strap button arrangement. I continue to use both styles--they provide different strapping methods for different needs/instruments.
As far as soft gig bag vs. hard case--I don't know anything about the Baja spruce top's accompanying case so I'm no help there. However, I keep two styles of cases for my instruments--a hard case and a gig bag. Again, both for different purposes (I guess I like choices, just like I do with straps!). The hard case is for use when I travel and have to put the instrument up in the overhead bin of the plane or someplace it could get knocked around more easily. The soft, gig bag style is for the other times! |
http://www.uketreasures.com
http://www.ukuleletonya.com |
Edited by - Tonya on 04/07/2007 12:04:35 PM |
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Absolute
Lokahi
275 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2007 : 5:47:46 PM
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I've got one nice, store bought ukulele, and the two "birdhouse ukuleles" I built. A strap is not an issue with the "birdhouse" ukuleles. That was one of the reasons I built them myself. I remember when I was young considering trying to find a way to learn to play a ukulele, but dismissing the concept because I thought it would be too uncomfortable to play by the time I was grown. (I have no argument with that concern after trying this commercially made concert sized ukulele. I'd strongly recommend no less than a tenor to any large, broad shouldered males out there who have a desire to try one, unless you enjoy collapsed shoulder syndrome, or build your own, large, "birdhouse" style using the "plastic jumping flea" inspiration. Be sure to get some sort of strap as well to stabilize the tiny thing. I'm sure those playing since childhood have developed the capacity to juggle and play the ukulele at the same time, so this is merely for those of us new to it.)
The strap is no issue with the "birdhouse" ukuleles as long as I am sitting, but if I stand up for any time, it might be nice to have some of the weight on a strap. Rather than buy three different straps, I just ordered what is supposed to be a custom "classical guitar strap" for the ukulele through E-bay. They give it the rather disenchanting name of "uke thong". I'll let you know how it works. Its supposed to have some protection on the clip for the finish, which is good with two painted ukueles. There are some similar, colorful choices at fleamarketmusic.com, but for now I'll stick with basic black. |
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Absolute
Lokahi
275 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2007 : 11:06:57 AM
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Got the "Uke Thong" concert style strap today. It works. It comes with a key ring style adjuster, like you can buy for less than a dollar at a hardware store. You have to figure you how to use this adjuster - no instructions. Fine tuning the length could be less than easy if the method isn't intuitively obvious to you. My first solution was simply to tie a knot. I'm still trying to figure out how long this should be to help with playing. The good and bad points of this "Uke Thong" strap seem to be as follows:
The Good:
1. Adjustable - sort of - after you figure out how to use the key ring.
2. Hard hook is covered by nylon material of strap so as not to damage sound hole where it hooks.
3. Angle of neck of ukulele is very adjustable for strumming or finger style playing with this strap.
4. Use of this strap requires no modification to ukulele.
5. Provides a small but important stabilizing factor during play. Even if one's thumb does usually "stick" to the neck of the ukulele, one of these straps can help you fret more rapidly and with more confidence that your ukulele isn't going to go crashing to the ground.
The Bad:
1. Strap is a little on the thin side for comfort, and the ribbed nature of nylon material causes it to chaff on the left side of your neck. I'm not sure I'd want to wear this for hours at a time. (Remember this the next time someone tells you to tie shoe strings to your ukulele as a strap.)
2. Hook can be a little tricky to get out of hole due to string clearance. It doesn't interfere with play at all, but it takes a moment to remove it. If you were excited or flustered, it might take a little longer.
3. Although it's a black strap, there's "UKE THONG" printed again and again along it in bold, white print. The print is so big that its impossible to discretely conceal. Not something you'd want on display in front of serious, classically trained musicians in a formal setting. (Yeah, I know, it's a ukulele...)
4. Although you can use this if you have enough of a mid-life bulge to naturally place the ukulele at an angle backward with no hands, allowing the neck to rest on your shoulder, so long as you are VERY STILL and in a seated position, you'd be wise to keep one hand on it or the ukulele will fall forward. (This should be obvious to anyone encountering it even for the first time.) I don't know if the hook would still keep it from hitting the floor or simply take a chunk out of the sound box around the hole due to the sudden torque of the rotation downward. I don't wan't to have that experience, so I won't experiment.
Overall perspective: I will use this uke strap. If I were going to design one, I'd make the following changes:
1. Add padding in back and on side of strap. You can do this if you've got a spare bandanna or a piece of "lamb's wool" to use to wrap around the neck strap, but who want's to have to buy a spare bandanna? You could probably just lay a piece of "lamb's wool" on your neck - unless you're allergic to wool, or something used to make it (like a dye), in which case you didn't hear that option here.
2. Replace cheap key ring adjustment with a built-in, hard plastic adjusting clamp device, like they use with adjustable dog collars.
3. Add another length of nylon with its own hook permanently affixed to the neck strap with another hard plastic adjuster for its length and a quick disconnect. You could then clamp to the top of the sound hole as well as to the bottom at your favorite angle - and voila! - no worries about the ukulele rotating downward and falling to the floor, and you could still disconnect quickly. (If this is a multi-million dollar idea, just send me my fifteen percent relative to intellectual property rights... ;-). (Of course - you could probably fashion your own second hook - but the method I had in mind involved a small adjustable dog collar with a quick release hasp, a piece of clothes hanger wire wrapped in layers of duct tap to prevent scratching, and a way of combining and using the result that I can't recommend here because it might scratch someone's finish.)
The total cost of this "Uke Thong" with shipping included was $11.00. I was impatient and didn't want to have to wait until I could get to a music store to try to order something. If I were you, and you have better music stores than there seem to be in this area, call and ask if they have something you can try out first, and if you hit the jackpot relative to a store with a lot of concert style straps for ukuleles or guitars, go down one Saturday with your ukulele and find one that works best for you - i.e. that is comfortable and easily adjustable. Don't pay shipping via the internet if you don't have to; it can be almost as much as one of these concert style straps if the strap is all that you're buying.
I'd say this style strap might be for you, if, like me, you're somewhere that isn't very friendly to ukuleles in terms of music store inventories, and can live with something very basic that works.
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