Mr. Schneider's Ukulele Buying Guide

So you're thinking of buying a uke...?

Do I need to buy a ukulele for school?

Awesome! Part of the reason I ever got into ukulele is because they are easy-to-play, they're affordable, and not too difficult to learn. I keep my instrument near my desk so I can just randomly grab it and strum whenever I have a bit of down time.

NOPE! The Kala Brand Music Co. was kind enough to donate a classroom set of their "Makala Waterman" ukuleles so that no student needs to run out and buy their own to participate in class or Ukulele Club. Thanks, Kala!

We still want to buy something though... How much do they cost?

A good-quality, "beginner" instrument can easily cost you less than $50. Try to avoid bargain instruments in the "$30 and under" range because often times you'll encounter instruments with faulty tuning mechanisms, poor construction, and a weaker tone.

As with most things in life, the more you pay, the better quality you're going to get. If you're willing to spend up to $100, you can easily get a nice instrument, but you're going to still need a little more information...

Image from leftyfretz.com

What size ukulele should I get?
Ukuleles come in different sizes and styles and the bigger you get, the deeper the sound will become. Here's a basic run-down of the common options you'll find:

• Soprano - These are the smallest and most common ukuleles sold to beginners. We use this size in class and there is nothing wrong with making this your first instrument. Great for having around for a quick "jam session."
• Concert - Not tremendously different from Soprano, except that you have a few extra frets and a bit more space to move your fingers. Also a suitable beginner option.
• Tenor - This is the size I play on and would recommend to anyone who plans to consider the ukulele as a serious hobby and beyond. It it tuned the same way as a soprano/concert, but you're going to have deeper sounds. Most professionals use this size.
• Baritone - This is the lowest of the standard sizes (I'm not going to go into what I consider "Novelty" sizes). It is tuned differently than any of the other three sizes and it often is described to sound like a classical guitar.

What should the ukulele be made out of?
The most important thing you are looking for is that your instrument is going to be durable. A flimsy instrument isn't only going to be a problem if you drop it, but potentially the strings, tuning mechanisms, and more can pose a problem if they are not made with good quality materials.

The ukuleles we use in class are "Makala Waterman" instruments and they are made of plastic. This is not typical of a standard ukulele and often times a plastic body would indicate a "cheap" instrument, but in all honesty, these sound fine, they are affordable, and they are able to take a bit of a beating.

However, it is completely understandable if you'd prefer a wooden instrument. Traditional ukuleles from Hawaii are made out of native woods like the Koa. If you can't find these within your price range, the next step down would be mahogany. If you still need to step down in wood quality, you can look for spruce ukuleles.

So what brands should I look for?
DISCLAIMER: These are all strictly my opinion and recommendations. You may find people who will say otherwise.
There are dozens of brands out there to try and buy, but there are a few that have always popped up in my experience as trustworthy.

• Kala/Makala - I personally play a Kala brand ukulele and the school instruments are Makala. These two brands are both manufactured by the Kala Brand: typically Makala is a little cheaper than Kala Brand Music Co.. While it may seem a little biased, I can honestly say that I couldn't be happier with what I've seen from this company.
• Mahalo - This was the first brand I started with and they make a decent beginner instrument.
• Lanikai - I've often seen this brand promoted as a good beginner instrument. Having played them, they seem like an alright option for a reasonable price.
  
• Luna - These sometimes look fancier, but they are a great quality instrument.
  
• Kamaka - One of the oldest and most trusted brands.
  
• About known guitar brands... A lot of known guitar manufacturers like Martin, Ibanez, Gibson are jumping on the ukulele trend. If they're known for a quality guitar, they might make a quality ukulele... but I make no promises.
  

Ok, so where do we buy one?
My recommendation... At a store. I know. It seems simple and kind of ridiculous, but your best bet to finding a good ukulele for you is actually walking into a store, picking up an instrument, and then trying it out yourself. This isn't meant to be a knock on Amazon or eBay because you can great deals from those sites. However, by going into a store and trying things out, you're going to end up with an instrument you KNOW you're happy with when you can actually hold it in your hands.

You'll be fine checking out any of these stores below and trying out ukuleles, or if you happen to know of a good local music shop, feel free to wander in and ask the experts there. The links below will take you straight to their online ukulele inventories and tell you the nearest store locations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me and I'll be happy to provide you with more advice! Happy Strumming!