Mainland Ukuleles - A New Shop in Nashville, Indiana
I don’t live in a big city and it’s rare to find a ukulele store within 100 miles radius of my town. For that reason, I was super excited when I learned about a new ukulele store opening up only 8 miles from my house! Mainland Ukes in Nashville, Indiana is run by Mike Hater and his wife Tookta. Mike was the instrument setup person for another well known uke company and recently had the opportunity to strike out on his own.
The store itself is in an easy to find location, so if you ever find yourself in Nashville, Indiana, you can find it at 90 Washington Street.
Tookta and Mike in their workshop.
They already have a selection accessories, such as replacement tuning keys…
Chromatic tuners, gig bags, wall hangers, etc.
As far as instruments, they have a few Fluke and Flea ukuleles for sale.
But of course, the instruments that you would primarily be interested in if you visited the shop or the online store are their own Mainland Ukes.
They have a gorgeous matte or gloss finished solid Mahogany model that comes in soprano, concert and tenor. The matte finish looks really nice in my opinion.
They also carry a gloss finished solid Cedar topped / Rosewood back and sides model that looks equally nice. It’s also available in all three main sizes.
If you order online, you can specify different types of tuners, friction, sealed, button type, etc.
Check out that cool rope binding.
Even their logo is the rope binding. 
I didn’t get a chance to sit down and play any of the ukes, but Mike might let me review one at some point.
Before I left the store, Mike took me to the ‘nursery’ where almost 200 babies were sleeping. To be in a room with that many ukes… ahhhh
The affordable ukes look really nice and from what little I played with them, they sound equally nice.
Mike also mentioned that he’s hoping to make a banjo ukulele available soon. I was really interested in hearing that bit of info as I’d like to try one.
Mainland Ukes motto is that “not all great ukuleles are made in Hawaii”. I wish them luck in their new venture.
i’m glad you got a uke store close to you.
so does mike make the ukuleles or do they come from somewhere else?
They are imports. Solid wood. Surprisingly nice. I have the soprano that I will review at some point.
I was wondering how they compare to the bushman imported ukuleles that John Hall was selling just down the street in Nashville IN.
As far as I understand, they are made in the same factory.
I dropped in with some friends to attend the free beginners workshop last Saturday - Mike and Tootka (sp?) were great, and we all had a great time.
Julie, I was just there too! Only 2.5 hrs drive, I will definitely be back. Also, John Hall has a restaurant with a great burger, out there on Country Club Road, and will be hosting his 2nd annual Ukulele Luau on May 8th and 9th. Aloha!
[...] were downsized last summer. Mike was the luthier who finished all the Bushman ukes. He and Tookta opened shop in Nashville recently to much acclaim. His ukes are produced in the same factory in China as the Bushmans to [...]
My wife and I were in Nashville and stoped in to see Mike and his wife and his ukes. They are very good people and we would recommend to all uke lovers to do the same. We picked up a new one,now we have six and one Mexican four string.We hope to get back down to see them (Mike,his wife,& Ukes) soon. The Bluegills Band
[...] to let the cosmos manifest it into existence. Back in January Mike, owner of the recently-opened Mainland Ukes in Nashville, posted on UU that he had a great site for a ukulele campout. There was no planning [...]
why should i buy a mainland instead of a bushman?? any takers??