Comments on: Happy Holidays Contest

By: Nate

Nate — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:14:39 +0000

Hey, Julie. The no-name “Hawaiian” was the first uke I ever played, taking me through those first few chords leading up to my first few shows. Lately, I’ve been playing my Lanikai because it’s just so darn pretty.

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:02:44 +0000

Nate: which uke is your favorite?

By: Nate

Nate — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:20:09 +0000

I missed the contest, but I have four ukuleles (only two at the time of the contest, however). In chronological order of acquirement:

1. A concert ukulele with, aside from the word “Hawaii” emblazoned on the body, no markings as to who made it. This was my official “starter” ukulele for Christmas, 2005.
2. An old, beat-up, not-in-playable condition concert ukulele my mother played in high school. Also picked up at Christmas, 2005.
3. A recent purchase, the Lanikai LU-21CEBK concert ukulele with Shadow electric pickup and a nice polished black finish. Purchased January, 2008.
4. A Johnson baritone ukulele I’ll get to strumming on once I get it back from my sister. Picked up on Craigslist for a sweet $30 in January, 2008.

By: davoomac

davoomac — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:56:32 +0000

Wow I can’t believe the collection that some of you have! I only have 2 ukuleles right now:

I have a soprano Hilo and a Kala KTEC. I actually started out with a johnson mahogony soprano then traded it for the hilo ukulele. but I reeeeealy want to get more ukuleles

By: SnakeOiler

SnakeOiler — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:11:25 +0000

I got my prize pack today. Pretty cool, thanks Julie.

I like my archtop just fine. I don’t have much to compare it to, it’s definitely different than my old Sop. You can hear it here:
http://www.myspace.com/snakeoilers

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:40:23 +0000

I didn’t know that Kala made archtops… So, what do you think of it?

By: SnakeOiler

SnakeOiler — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:05:53 +0000

You like me, you really, really like me :p

Or maybe it was a sympathy win, as I was the one with the least Ukes.

My Kala Archtop Tenor showed up the same time that I found out I won, yesterday was the best Ukulele day ever. Thanks again Julie!

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:37:24 +0000

Solana: I’m so jealous of you!! Please email me about your trip when you get back

By: Solana

Solana — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:33:44 +0000

Julie: I was like you. Never really wanted or intended to go. But with the SO winning a trip (yes, she won it for us!) and then getting caught up with UAS, I am EXCITED!

The only scary part is that I have already mapped out a couple of uke luthiers to visit and am afraid that I am putting myself in a position to add to my UAS.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:33:15 +0000

Solana: I had never really had the urge to visit Hawaii until now Now I really want to make the trip! It probably will not be this year, but maybe next year for sure.

Enjoy your new ukes!

By: Solana

Solana — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:16:16 +0000

I missed the contest, but I will go ahead and play anyway.

My favorite uke is the one I haven’t received yet (should arrive by Saturday). It will be my first!

It is a Kala KA-T Mahogany Tenor.

Decided about a week ago to give the uke a try. Based the decision in part due to the fact that the SO expressed and interest in taking uke lessons on our trip in a week or so to the Big Island.

Apparently, I already have advanced stages of UAS as I ordered us both one (only she got a Plum Mahalo Soprano as she is more interested in the color at this point).

I am hoping my recent case of UAS is more controllable than a previous case of GAS that I suffered from!

By: seeso

seeso — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:33:01 +0000

Congrats, Snake Oiler!

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:58:32 +0000

Koa:
Sorry that you missed the contest, but thank you for your list. The William King ukes look very interesting to me… I just checked his site. It doesn’t appear that he’s offering the soprano size these days…

By: koa

koa — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:56:53 +0000

Happy Holidays Julie!

The ‘Ukuleles:
’05 KoAloha concert (KCM-00)
’05 KoAloha tenor (KTM-00, for sale)
’06 KoAlana soprano, the travel go anywhere uke
’06 KoAloha long neck soprano (KSM-02)
’07 William King A5 from stock soprano #008
’07 William King A5 custom soprano #009
on order:
’0? Dave Means Glyph custom extended scale (14frets to body) concert

Tough choice. Each of my ‘ukuleles have a distinct voice. The KTM-00 I have a hard time playing due a thumb & wrist injury. All the ukes that I play except the KoAlana are real nice sounding and easy playing instruments. The KoAlana is not bad. For the price point it is a nice instrument. Just not up to the KoAloha or Kings.

If the house was on fire the two ukes I would grab are the KCM-00 and one of the Kings. King #009 is slightly richer due to the slightly deeper resonance and longer sustain, but #008 is IMHO the Strad of my uke collection. So probably #008. If I was a one armed uke player it would be a tough choice. The KCM-00 like the #008 has a real balanced sound, clean tone and is LOUD. . Both are only 12 frets to the body. Both are beautiful instruments. Do I have to choose? I guess to be compliant with the “rules of the contest” the choice would be the King #008 on even days or the KoAloha on the odd days of the month. Reverse situation on odd number months. Reversed again if it’s an odd numbered year. Reversed again if it’s an odd numbered century.

Opps too late for the contest

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 03:21:46 +0000

And the winner is SnakeOiler!

Thanks to everyone that entered the contest I had fun seeing the lists of your collections. It makes me realize that I need to get busy !

By: posgroup

posgroup — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:53:07 +0000

Hiya — and happy New Year to all!
1. Les Rietfors koa concert
2. No name odd shaped (like the Sceptre) koa concert
3. Pohaku mahogany concert with Betty Boop artwork
4. Pohaku cedar top concert
5. Pohaku koa tenor
6. Royal Aloha mahogany soprano
7. Black Bear koa soprano
8. Earnest Tululele
9. Kepasa koa Hollywood style
10. Kepasa “personality disorder” Hollywood style
11. Maccafari Islander
12. Another Maccafari Islander
13. Mauna Loa plastic uke
14 and 15 – a couple of cheepies.

My favorite? I’d have to pick the Kepasa Hollywood style, spruce top, combination maple and mahogany back and sides, which Kevin calls the “personality disorder” style. Wonderful in every way, and yes, my most recent!

Kindest regards,
Jerry

By: jason

jason — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:34:53 +0000

-Lanikai LU-21 – first ukulele
-Unknown very old banjo uke
-another unkown very old banjo uke
-very old Vega banjo uke
-plastic toy Davey Crockett uke (old) – He’s my wife’s great, great something or other Grandfather
-Old plastic Macafferi ukulele
-Oscar Schmidt concert w/pickup
-Lanikai Koa Tenor
-2 of my own handmade ukuleles – look better on the wall than they sound
-Tyler Mountain banjo uke – sweet!
-Fluke
-and the one I play most often, if not all the time is a handmade beautiful concert koa ukulele that I bought on Maui, made on Maui by someone unkown as it has no markings other than a nice abalone inlay on the peghead. I play that one because it sounds much better than any uke I’ve ever played. It has great tone and volume and is a pleasure to hold in my hands!

By: seeso

seeso — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:44:55 +0000

I only have two ukuleles.

I have a concert Lanikai and a Tenor. I like the tenor better because it plugs in and is louder.

By: strumminsimon

strumminsimon — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:34:46 +0000

Hi,

ooh, i love competitions!
i have a blue mahalo, a nice stagg soprano, just got a ashbury reso this is great apart from the cheap tuners on it. i’ve also got a slingerland banjo uke and a dallas A banjo uke too.

as for my favourite? well the mahalo is very easy to play and sounds surprisingly good, the stagg is also nice. i’d say the reso at the mo’ its a concert, so there is a bit more room on the frets.
the banjoleles are just great for thrashing!
keep on strummin

By: colt38super

colt38super — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:33:07 +0000

Nifty site. Started UAS with a Bushman Englemann Spruce Concert, then a Lanikai 6 string koa Tenor, a Kamaka 6 string Tenor, a Kamaka 4 string Tenor, a Big Island Honu Soprano, and the last one bought in Oahu last October, a Koaloha Concert. The Koaloha Concert is my current favorite as it just plain sings….must be the thin koa construction with the unibrace. It seems 1/2 the weight of the Bushman Concert and really projects and resonates. I changed the original strings to Aquilas in low G. If I never buy another uke again, I’d be perfectly happy with my Koaloha Concert.

By: ukeforever

ukeforever — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:05:32 +0000

Martin Style 0, Martin Style 2, Laughlin Style 3K replica, Ukiyo Vita, UkeBrand, Dominator, Kanile’a. Dominator gets the most consistent play. All standards. What other size is there? For the past few years, I’ve seen many ukes come and go, but I’ve found that consolidating into a few special instruments really makes playing enjoyable.

By: leftyron

leftyron — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:04:45 +0000

My list includes:
Mahalo soprano (natural maple color)
Natural Flea soprano
Tangi soprano
Martin S-O
Martin early type 1 (basket case)
Koaloha concert (to fancy to play)
Harmano concert
Lanikai CK concert
Bushman Jenny tenor (love it but to big for me)
And I just won a plastic Maccaferri Islander on ebay. Five of my ukes are strung left handed for me to play and three are strung right handed for guest to play.
I play the Harmano concert, Martin S-O and the flea the most.
I guess right now my favorite is the Harmano concert, It’s such a sweet uke to play and has a great sound.

By: SnakeOiler

SnakeOiler — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 22:12:12 +0000

19?? (60′s) Silvertone Soprano w/plastic fingerboard.

That’s it. needless to say, it’s my favorite, although I do have a Kala archtop on order from MGM, so talk to me next week.

By: Tonya

Tonya — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:50:24 +0000

My first ukulele was/is an Ovation soprano (red with pickup). I use it for backpacking and outdoor playing.

My second, “main player” ukulele is a LoPrinzi custom soprano (mahogany back/sides, spruce top, detailed rosette/binding/purfling). I will never be good enough to be able to play this instrument to its full capability–but that doesn’t mean I won’t keep trying!

By: djsherline

djsherline — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:20:55 +0000

And just as a note, I started playing in June 2007. This collection is six months old — UAS to the extreme.