My Recommendation for Buying a 2nd Ukulele

It seems that our first ukulele is normally not going to be the last ukulele. Barbara B. has inspired me to write this entry about relatively inexpensive ukuleles. I ocassionally get a question about what ukuleles are good and what size should I get next. I currently have the following:

1. Mike DaSilva concert koa ukulele (DaSilva strings, high G)


2. Ohana concert, model CK-35G (Aguila strings, low G)


3. Maxwell baritone ukulele (Aguila strings, low D)

I have played sopranino 18", soprano 21", concert 23", tenor 25", baritone 29-30". I really like playing a sopranino once in a while. I like each one in different ways. I have heard that concert and tenors are the most popular in the clubs. The baritone has a limited supply of music that can be found. I would advise you to go to the music stores and try strumming some and getting a feel for the size and how it fits your body.

My preference has led me to the concert ukulele because I want to incorporate some single note melodies and found that the finger stretch on the tenor is longer and my hand couldn't manuever the John King and Steven Strauss arrangements as well as I wanted. Steven gets the most amazing sounds out of his moderately price Bushman concert ukulele. If one is going to be solely strumming then I think the tenor is a good choice. It has good volume and a comfortable size.

Brands in the $180 to $240 range that I like (no particular order):

• Ohana CK-35G approx. $229
• Pono appear to be in the over $400 range
• Kala http://secure.elderly.com/new_instruments/names/kala-curly-mango-concert-ukulele--KAMC.htm approx. $230
• Bushman, search on eBay, Approx. $200
• Hamano (I am not sure about the Concert, excessively wide neck), approx. $250

There's another thing to consider, my friend Judy P., has a wonderful Kala tenor electric ukulele that sounds good acoustically and can be plugged in to an amplifier. Judy has many ukuleles and this is one that she plays quite frequently. It may the all purpose ukulele at $239. See the photo (comes in wood and also black lacquer):

There's an advantage to buying a ukulele from a local shop. If they have a luthier on staff then they will usually adjust the set-up at no extra cost. I bought my Ohana at The 5th string in Berkeley and they set my Ohana up perfectly within minutes.

I think this company has decent prices if you can't find ukuleles locally http://www.elderly.com/departments/ukulele Another thing I like to use on my ukuleles is Aquila Nylagut strings, I like the volume and feel of these strings.