| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Ipu
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
 Posted - 08/02/2003 : 09:43:21 AM
|
 Aloha! I am a teacher of young children. Last year I had some close (crunch) calls while letting kids use my two koa ukuleles. I decided to tempt fate no more.While in Hawaii last month I shoppped (but did not buy yet)for 2 student ukes. I loved something called the Johnson, Paniolo. I also played some Lanikais, sunlights and Hohners. These were all a bit of a stretch for the school budget. Whan I returned to VT, I played a Johnson soprano for $30. Anyone have any info on these models. Where can I get them cheaper? These instruments don't have to be great, just good. I would like sporanos or concerts. Pineapples are fun too. I'd like to get more twang for the school's buck if I could. Mahalo
|
Buddy Dubay |
|
|
OglavyandTuglavy
Aloha
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2003 : 11:47:05 AM
|
Hey Buddy. The Johnsons go for about $30 and don't have terrible intonation but don't expect even decent tone and fret height is not perfect either. For kids that are just learning though these might be ok. Stay away from Gremlin, another cheap uke made in China for around the same price. You'd be surprised how much better the Johnsons are for the same price. I just saw a couple ukes in a store in my hometown also for about $30 made by Samick. I haven't played them but they look much sturdier and better made than the Johnsons. If you're willing to spend a little more a lot of people in the forum speak highly of the flukes. They have a solid wood top and synthetic (kind of like Ovation uses) one piece back and sides. More conventional are the Lanikais, which you could get nato or koa laminate for around $130.
Nick |
 |
|
|
ongchua
Akahai
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2003 : 12:03:58 PM
|
Hilos are okay for student ukes, IMHO. I have a soprano and it has an acceptable tone. Hiram Bell had even mentioned them at a workshop.
They're pretty much in the same price-range as the Johnsons. Here's a link to MusiCity to help: http://www.musicity.com/guitars-5.html
I don't recommend models 2650 and 2649. I tried these while I was in Oahu and they seemed a little lacking in their tone. Anything $29.95 and up should be okay.
Try checking out http://www.ukuleleworld.com for more recommendations. |
|
|
|
Pauline Leland
`Olu`olu
USA
783 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2003 : 12:53:35 PM
|
I have a nicely made ukulele designed/spec'd by RISA, a German firm, and built in China. I had some buzz problems with it until I raised it from C-tuning to D-tuning as Rigk the RISA company guy recommended, and the uke just came alive. They are $65, but are offered for less for school situations. http://www.risa-music.de/English/Products/Acoustics/acoustics.html bottom of the page. The owner is Rigk Sauer.
I'm now about to start looking for higher tensions strings, maybe concert strings, so I can return to C-tuning. |
Pauline |
Edited by - Pauline Leland on 08/03/2003 12:55:22 PM |
|
|
|
Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2003 : 03:20:20 AM
|
I bought two Hohners for $40 each in Hilo, and had them shipped to me in California. One I gave away but had so much trouble with the other one I will never buy one again. First the bridge popped off. I tried to reglue it, but the next time I tried to play it, the bridge broke in two pieces and the strings flung into my face, half bridge and all. I'm terribly dissapointed in this thing, but since I knew the name Hohner from a beautiful harmonica I've had since I was a child, I assumed their ukes would be better than this piece of kaka. (No, that is not a Hawaiian word...) Live and learn. Have you checked with the folks at Mele? They had some inexpensive Chinese student ukes at their store.
A well-known artist friend of mine asked me long time ago why I bought cheap watercolor paper for my beginning paintings. I told him that when I botched a painting, I hadn't wasted a lot of money on good paper. He responded by telling me that when I came up with a really good painting, it was only on cheap paper! (Cheap watercolor paper is probably not acid-free, and so the painting would alter drastically over time.) The lesson: start with a good beginning! There are some reasonably good starter ukuleles around. And just like making an ipu, it's best start with a good gourd. I wish you success. Aloha, Julie |
Edited by - Julie H on 08/04/2003 03:23:02 AM |
|
|
|
marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2003 : 11:30:25 AM
|
hi buddy,
i think that julie is right. a "student" instrument, like a student sax, is a simple instrument, perhaps a bit more rugged, that plays okay but doesn't cost a lot. even though they're attractively priced in these days of vanishing school budgets, the very inexpensive ukuleles aren't student instruments.
a year or so ago keoki kahumoku showed me an ukulele he was having made on maui as a student model. i wonder if he actually got the orders placed? you might try to reach him via his father george, http://www.kahumoku.com/email.htm.
good luck in the search for the cheap and playable uke...
aloha,
keith |
|
|
|
cdyas
Akahai
67 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 09:34:14 AM
|
Howzit Buddy,
As a teacher, have you asked for a donation/loaner/special discount? Maybe you could ask the guys at magic fluke as the flea would be cool for kids.
Later |
|
|
|
hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 08/05/2003 : 5:15:18 PM
|
Aloha...
The Johnson ukes are excellent for learning, especially for children. I have not seen anything cheaper that is acceptable in playability or sound. As a teacher, you should get a break of at least 15% off any instrument. Sometimes you must hagle with the salespeople to get any kind of discount. If not, shop elsewhere if possible. If you buy several instruments, press for a 20% discount. Don't be afraid to talk the price down. You are doing the community a service by teaching the arts and deserve a break for your efforts. Your students can upgrade to better instruments on their own. Stay tuned... Hiram Bell |
Stay Tuned... |
|
|
|
Ipu
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2003 : 11:33:34 AM
|
| Mahalo for all of the ideas. I think I will go with Johnson. The boss at school will go for the price. There's one at a near by store for ?30. For Uke #2 I'm still trying to locate a Johnson, Paniolo. While on the big island I played one at a place call "Just Ukes". It was a bit more and shipping will bring the price up. I would rather find on closer to Vermont to save the postage all the way from Hawaii. Any Ideas? |
Buddy Dubay |
|
|
|
chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 08/11/2003 : 2:02:58 PM
|
| On this same subject, a friend (beginner) is lookng for a good starting uke, but is willing to spend $100 - $200 to get a decent beginner instrument. Any suggestions? |
|
|
|
ongchua
Akahai
USA
92 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 5:53:51 PM
|
| Some of Hiram Bell's students use the Applause Ukulele's. They're nice and bright and you can get them for $120 (acoustic, UA10 or UA20) to $180 (electro-acoustic, UAE10 or UAE20) in soprano sizes. You can probably bargain the acoustic down to about $100. |
|
|
|
cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2003 : 6:18:05 PM
|
| Terry, Keith likes the Lanikais in that price range. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
|
|
|
Hula Rider
Lokahi
USA
215 Posts |
Posted - 08/17/2003 : 1:09:23 PM
|
| Thanks for the MusicCity link - I will definately check into that!, Leilehua |
|
|
|
Rocky B
Aloha
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2003 : 12:48:40 PM
|
Greetings,
The Hilo is good for biginners.
Call: 1-800 888-7502 "Music is elementary... They have great prices-under $30. They go easy on shipping too.
Also try this site: http://waikiki.com/ukuleles/
Those ukes might work ($12-$25)...
Tip: Sometimes putting good strings on an inexpensive uke
makes them much more playable - a good trick for $4.
Rocky |
|
|
|
Ipu
Aloha
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2003 : 8:37:20 PM
|
I ended up getting two Johnson, spanish style (someone in the islands referred to it as a paniolo) and one reg. soprano. The former is a great value the latter is so-so. Mahalo for all of the ideas.
Buddy |
Buddy Dubay |
|
|
|
Will
Aloha
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2003 : 02:08:17 AM
|
Here's a well-kept secret: Rhythm Band makes a very good sounding, inexpensive ukulele. You'll be hard pressed to find mention of this brand on any uke board. I own two of these, and I keep one at work. I've even taken one of them on business trips to play in my hotel room to pass away the time.
This uke is well made, with a nato (a mahogany-like wood) ply body, smooth brass frets, geared tuners, and a slightly deeper body than other soprano ukuleles. I replaced the original strings with Aquila Nylgut low-G strings, and was I surprised by the new volume and richness of sound. You can get this uke for less than $30, and the Aquila strings for less than $8.
Music 123 sells it for about $30;
http://www.music123.com/Item/?itemno=50136
If you order direct from Rhythm Band, their price is only $21.99.
http://rhythmband.com/guitar_ukuleles.html
|
Will |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
