Anyone Ukulele?

[velorush]

I've toyed with the idea of buying a ukulele for years.  We had one of the teenagers sing "Oceans" accompanying herself on ukulele one Sunday service and it blew everyone away.  

At any rate, I'd picked it up and dropped the idea a dozen times until a Gretsch (six-string of all things) popped up on my Reverb feed this week. It took a good bit of research to determine it was MIC and that just ain't my bag when it doesn't have to be.

I've narrowed it down to a Concert size and I'd like to spend somewhere in the $200 - $300 range.  Advice?  Is it unrealistic to expect to find a non-Chinese example in that price range?

[crunchee]

I've been thinking about ukes too recently, it must be because it's Summertime!  Old mahogany Chicago-made Harmony ukes can be found fairly cheaply (under $200 in many instances, and Harmony made thousands of 'em) on Ebay, and they're mostly those made from the '30's through to the '60's.  They're on Reverb too, but the prices there seem to be considerably higher for the same types. 

Roy Smeck was a big endorser for Harmony ukes, lap steels too, BTW:

 

He also was an endorser for Gibson for a deep-bodied acoustic, which I think he's playing in the first video...but, if you're old like me, you probably remember Tiny Tim playing 'Tiptoe' on uke back in the '60's.

Edited June 19, 2024 by crunchee

[velorush]

I saw lots of Harmony examples on Reverb but didn't know what to think of them. I'll do a bit more research. I'm guessing they'd be better built and with better woods than contemporary models.

[Jimbilly]

i had an uncle who know a bunch of cool wwii era Uke songs, that was a super cool moment, then later he claimed to have forgotten all of them, he might have.  My daughter taught herself some uke when she was about 10, that was pretty fun, she's got a video on youtube still I think, she's switched to guitar and bass now. I don't know what sort to buy, sorry.

 she's so little here!

 

[velorush]

What a great voice!  How old is she now?  My daughter turns 29 this year(!).  Good grief.

[Jimbilly]

1 hour ago, velorush said:

What a great voice!  How old is she now?  My daughter turns 29 this year(!).  Good grief.

she's almost 17, yeah, the time goes so fast, I think it's accelerating. Singing is almost like breathing to her, she sings nearly constantly. 

[crunchee]

Check out the group 'GUGUG' on YooToob, they seem to have fun with ukes (and for some reason YooToob doesn't allow imbedding the video here):

GUGUG - UKULELE - CALIFORNIA SUN (youtube.com)

GUGUG - UKULELE & MELODICA - TEQUILA (THE CHAMPS) (youtube.com)

 

[Cboss]

7 hours ago, Jimbilly said:

she's almost 17, yeah, the time goes so fast, I think it's accelerating. Singing is almost like breathing to her, she sings nearly constantly. 

Does she have any other videos on youtube, playing guitar maybe? Congrats, how awesome to have a daughter like that :-) awesome voice

[Jimbilly]

she has a handful of videos, can you subscribe?  Yeah, it's pretty neat, wife and I are blown away sometimes. I joke that she got all the talent I wish I had.  I think this is her newest original, it's a little ironic that she likes sad songs, but she's not a sad person, she's actually pretty hilarious. I'll be heartbroken when she's all grown up and moves out.  A while ago I posted a link on the main HFC page, and didn't tell her, she was really stoked about all the new views!  .  

 

[Cboss]

Thanks for posting, that is really great :-) she's playing the guitar left-handed, uke was right!

[Jimbilly]

11 hours ago, Cboss said:

Thanks for posting, that is really great :-) she's playing the guitar left-handed, uke was right!

She's actually playing righty, it must be her phone on selfie mode or something that reversing it. 

[velorush]

The most interesting option I've seen so far:

Just need some pyrotechnics, a couple of ukulele-wielding friends and a bit of creative carpentry to pull off:

[velorush]

Found a 50's-60's Harmony on Reverb at a reasonable price. I asked the seller if it had any odd smells and was told, "I think this instrument isn't for you."  😕

The search continues...

 

ETA: I asked why and if he had anything more appropriate - apparently my question about smell pissed him off. He termed me a "perfectionist."  So am I to assume the thing stunk pretty bad? I did (sincerely) wish him a better day... 

Is that an inappropriate question on an old instrument? 

Edited June 21, 2024 by velorush

[Jimbilly]

2 hours ago, velorush said:

Found a 50's-60's Harmony on Reverb at a reasonable price. I asked the seller if it had any odd smells and was told, "I think this instrument isn't for you."  😕

The search continues...

 

ETA: I asked why and if he had anything more appropriate - apparently my question about smell pissed him off. He termed me a "perfectionist."  So am I to assume the thing stunk pretty bad? I did (sincerely) wish him a better day... 

Is that an inappropriate question on an old instrument? 

oh, and you're probably 'that guy' that brings a black light when looking at speaker cabinets to check for cat pee...

[velorush]

26 minutes ago, Jimbilly said:

oh, and you're probably 'that guy' that brings a black light when looking at speaker cabinets to check for cat pee...

Only my nose.  🤔

 

Okay, so let me get this straight, it is bad form to ask about:

1. neck spec (on guitars, don't imagine it matters on a uke)
2. weight (again, guitars)
3. smells.

I really didn't think it was unreasonable to ask about such, but the mere asking any of these three produces in (some) sellers an unquenchable vitriolic wrath. 

I can no longer play thin necks.  My 9.4 lb. Lester is great, but that's as heavy a guitar as I want to shoulder any more.  I have yet to have any buying situation equal the disappointment pulling an ashtray smelling guitar out of a box. 

 

But seriously, a seller would prefer I not bother them with the question and then complain when it arrives smelling like a cat-piss filled ashtray?

[DaveH]

No. It's not an inappropriate question. It stinks like hell, and he knows it.

[Jimbilly]

I would ask about weight on any Ash body guitar, especially a T51, - but not a Uke. 

 

Speaking of bad smells, I thought I might be first in line for this, but I'm giving up hope minute by minute.

[Jimbilly]

It doesn't smell as bad as I had feared, but I did get a little headache and sore throat on the way home, even with the windows open. I'll do a proper post on the main page in a day or two.

[crunchee]

On 6/21/2024 at 9:28 AM, velorush said:

Found a 50's-60's Harmony on Reverb at a reasonable price. I asked the seller if it had any odd smells and was told, "I think this instrument isn't for you."  😕

The search continues...

 

ETA: I asked why and if he had anything more appropriate - apparently my question about smell pissed him off. He termed me a "perfectionist."  So am I to assume the thing stunk pretty bad? I did (sincerely) wish him a better day... 

Is that an inappropriate question on an old instrument? 

Inappropriate question?  No, not at all, that's a very valid question, especially for old acoustic instruments regardless of make.  You never know how or where they were stored over the years otherwise.  Some that I've encountered in the past stank of mildew and other unpleasant odors, and makes the thought of owning those instruments unpleasant to say the least.  And like I said before, they made thousands of those old Harmony instruments (and Harmony-made Silvertones, too), so the odds of finding one in better condition are still pretty good.  Just take your time when shopping around, and don't get suckered in by flowery or vague descriptions.

Edited June 23, 2024 by crunchee

[cynic]

On 6/21/2024 at 1:07 PM, velorush said:

Okay, so let me get this straight, it is bad form to ask about:

1. neck spec (on guitars, don't imagine it matters on a uke)
2. weight (again, guitars)
3. smells.

I really didn't think it was unreasonable to ask about such, but the mere asking any of these three produces in (some) sellers an unquenchable vitriolic wrath. 

I’m pretty sure 1 and 2 are only problematic for a couple members here. To anyone else in the world they’re perfectly reasonable questions. 

[velorush]

Occasionally the Google spying is helpful.  An add for this site popped up in the margin as I was reading the news:

https://theukulelesite.com/

Tons of choices made in Hawaii and solid wood.  Tons of beautiful instruments, some ridiculously (for me) expensive, but loads of choices.

[hamerican gigolo]

Ukulele Blues... 😎

[DaveH]

 This always made me want to learn the uke.