I got a Uke about a month ago for $80 and have come to the decision it’s a bit, well, let’s just call it sub-par. The thing will not stay in tune for more than half a song. So, it’s on its way to become wall-art.
But, in the interim, I’ve fallen in love with its timbre, its heart and its pluck. I really need to get a good ukulele but don’t want to keep tossing money away.
Any suggestions for about $350 or under? I’ve looked at the Martins and the Flukes online but haven’t heard them (and have wondered if there’re some good handmade ones in Hawaii too).
Ok, personally, Im happy with sub par. Right now im plucking a $30 ebay gem, and i dig it. I also own a Martin, but would really recommend the fluke. I have heard nothing but good things about the fluke. One I would not recommend is the Martin Backpacker. Avoid that instrument at all costs. Its not bad per say, but for the price, id rather buy several ebay sepcials and replace them everytime it got broken or stolen while traveling. Ive heard good things about the applause electric ukes, although havent tried them. They do sound wonderful tho.
Depends on what youre looking for.
-PSM
Now, why would they make a backpacker ukulele? The mind boggles.
The good ukes are made of Koa wood, but those are generally expensive.
What kind of tuning keys do you have? That would surely make a difference. Perhaps the strings as well. My advice would be to look into replacing all the widgets, if they are indeed sub-par, before looking towards a new uke.
Ukulele strings slip easily if the ukulele is not strung properly (wind it a good 4-5 times around the post) or if the strings are new.
Flukes are OK, but stand in the same relation to a real ukulele as an Ovation does to a real guitar. The new Martin S-O ukes are underwhelming. I recommend a new or used Kamaka koa uke (hand-made in Honolulu). A new soprano will cost about $425; a used one will cost about $250.
I’m partial to my Martins. I have a 1964 Concert and a 1965 Soprano.
But recently, I went to a ukulele workshop and got to play the new Fluke.
While the tone is nothing compared to my Martin Concert, it is a very passable instrument, very playable and rather interesting looking. In fact, the leader of the workshop, Jim Beloff, only played his Fluke throughout the workshop, although he fell in love with my Martin Concert when he spied it during the workshop.
If you can’t afford a vintage Martin, a Fluke is a good compromise. And stay away from the new Martins, they are nothing compared with the old ones - vastly inferior.