Help with picking a ukelele please

[infomama]

I want to get Dd2 a Ukelele but instead of getting a 'toy' I would just as well get a 'real' ukelele for a few bucks more. Anyone know anything about them? What to look for?
Here is an example on Ebay....http://cgi.ebay.com/SOPRANO-UKULELE-OR-UKELELE-WITH-GEARED-TUNERS_W0QQitemZ330386184096QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_ DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cec8d17a0

[bluestarfish18]

My mom plays professional ukelele!

I'll ask her tomorrow am and get back to you ASAP!

[infomama]

My mom plays professional ukelele!

I'll ask her tomorrow am and get back to you ASAP!
Sah-wheet!! thanks

[sadie427]

DS just started ukelele lessons--we got a Mahalo uke, not the very cheapest, about $60, which was recommended by the teacher. We got it at a local acoustic music store--I'd try to buy in person if possible, rather than online, from a store where they can give recommendations.

[ezcc]

ds also takes ukulele lessons and also has a mahalo- I think I may have bought it on amazon, but his teacher recommends this online store- http://ukuleleworld.com/
you can at least check out reviews there.

[Joolsplus2]

Aw, now I want one. I haven't had one in years (Of course, growing up in Hawaii I had to own one, and we had lessons in our music class in elementary school :love-retry:) Someone bought a cheap cheap one for my kids and it was a waste of wood, it wouldn't stay in tune for more than 12 milliseconds :tongue5:

[bluestarfish18]

Finally heard back from my mom. Good timing with the question...she's actually playing in San Francisco this weekend.

She said a great maker to start with is something called Makala. Should run about $50, and are made of great sounding wood.

Just to give you a range of how far your uke spending dollars can go, she's currently has a $2000 Pineapple Sunday from Koaloha (http://www.koaloha.com/Signature_Line/PineappleSunday.html)I bought for her from the maker himself in Oahu. And that's the cheapest one of her collection...ouchie!!

[ahisma]

We just went through this, looking for something for DS, who is 3. He's had a child sized guitar for a year though, and has full access to DH's old starter acoustic so we were looking for something that wasn't a toy, but that we could afford to replace if necessary. He's great about respecting instruments, but, well...he is 3 after all.

I happen to go to school near Elderly Instruments, so I stopped in to check some out. I wound up going with one of these, by Mahalo: http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MU30.htm

I had a really hard time going for the painted wood, but they had a better sound than the other options they had under $60.

ETA: If you have a local store option, it's worth checking out. Tuning is different than a guitar (from what I remember of guitar tuning, that's really DH's gig) and getting pointers in person was very helpful, IMO.

[infomama]

Thanks for your help all!!

[MMEand1]

No help to the OP, but I didn't realize how popular Ukelele lessons were! Sounds fun!

[KBecks]

A ukelele sounds like so much fun!!!! Wooo!!!

[WatchingThemGrow]

DS is getting a Hilo Ukulele from a local music shop. It was $35 and I had a $5 off coupon, so $30, which seemed right for a 2yo. Was that the cheap one you had Julie?

[mamalia]

Just wanted to post a thanks to posters for responses, and a correction...it's UKUlele (aka jumping flea). ;) DD is really interested in my uke (don't know how come that's the shorthand). So great idea for Xmas.

[713abc]

If you ended up getting one of these $30 ones from elderly.com, can you let me know how the quality is? I got a $20 cheap "toy" ukelele from Amazon and it is already broken after 2 weeks.

http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MU30.htm

[WatchingThemGrow]

We didn't get the Mahalo one, but the Hilo from a local music store. I can't TELL you how much DS1 is in love with it. Seriously, he held on to it for 10 hours of riding in the van this weekend, plus almost every waking (and eating) moment. He just plucks away non-stop. It sounds pretty decent too. About $30 decent.