Things To Know Before Buying A Ukulele
Whatever uke you choose to buy, you are guaranteed to have lots of fun learning to play your first ukulele! Read our five expert tips to help you to decide which is the right one for you.
1. What size ukulele to buy?
It’s important to find a particular size of ukulele that you feel comfortable with. Although Soprano ukuleles are the most popular with beginners, there are other sizes available which may suit you better. Read our step-by-step guide and find out all you need to know about ukulele sizes before you buy.
2. How much do ukes cost?
If you’re a beginner, you can buy a good starter ukulele for a very reasonable price. Depending on how much you want to spend, entry level ukuleles come in at anywhere between £27 and £125.
Working to a strict budget? Look out for ukuleles that include starter packs with a selection of accessories. A ukulele case, tuner and spare set of strings are always useful.
3. How much should I spend on a ukulele?
If you are already a confident musician with performing in mind, it might be worth stretching your budget for a longer-term investment.
There are benefits to spending more on a ukulele. Higher quality ukuleles tend have enclosed tuning pegs and hold their tuning better. Solid wood ukes can sound better than laminate but are also more expensive.
By paying a bit more, you will probably get more out of your instrument in terms of the quality of sound, intonation, and overall satisfaction.
Just looking at having a go and playing occasionally? Then an entry-level instrument is really all you need. However, if you want to learn properly and have a bit more money to play with, it may be worth investing in something that you’ll enjoy strumming for a long time.
Whatever your budget, make sure you always try before you buy and check that the uke you have decided to spend your money on sounds as cool as it looks!
4. Should I buy an electric or acoustic ukulele?
A truly “electric” ukulele is solid bodied like an electric guitar. This will sound a bit dull and non-musical if you play it without plugging it in, but it really does come into its own if you’re playing at gigs or open mic nights.
If you’re just starting out and on a small budget, acoustic ukuleles are cheaper. A standard uke is perfectly adequate for playing at home or round a campfire. Some people like acoustic ukes better and say that they naturally have the best tone, preferring them to be free from any electrical gadgets.
If you sometimes need to plug your ukulele into an amplifier to get a bit more volume, when playing a band say, but don’t want to buy a purely electric uke, then you need to look at an electric acoustic ukulele. An electro acoustic is the same thing as an acoustic, but with a pickup installed. This type of uke gives you the option to plug into an amplifier when needed or play it on its own to sound like a normal acoustic. If it’s versatility you’re looking for, then the electric acoustic is for you!
5. Which tuning pegs are best?
Don’t make the mistake of going to your local music shop and buying the nearest and cheapest ukulele. You are in danger of wasting your money on a uke with unstable tuning that is little more than a toy. Quality tuning pegs are vital to prevent you having to constantly re-tune your ukulele.
Friction pegs
Poorly made friction pegs can be a pain, making fine adjustment difficult. Although they are light, they can slip, and it can become very difficult to keep your ukulele in tune.
Geared Pegs
Look out for geared pegs, they are easier to use and more accurate than friction pegs. Geared pegs are suitable for most ukes and are especially important for larger ukuleles with more tension in the strings.
Enclosed Tuners
Apart from the fact that enclosed tuners are heavier than open tuners, there is not much difference. The smaller the uke, the more impact tuner weight will have. If you are buying a soprano for example, it may be better to go for good quality light weight tuners. Unless you play in dusty environments or have long hair, enclosed tuners don’t really have any extra advantage over open tuners.
Not sure how to tune your ukulele? Read our easy to follow tuning guide.
6. Should I buy a new or used ukulele?
You can save money by buying a quality used ukulele, but if buying second hand, you just need to check the instrument thoroughly for any potential issues.
Every used uke will have some level of wear and tear. Check for any damage, even the smallest scrape can affect the tone and strength of your ukulele. Does it have a nice, bright sound? If you can hear buzzing or it can’t be kept in tune, then try another!
A new instrument will be ready to play and of course, there is always the advantage of being able to contact the manufacturer if there are any problems.
There is nothing wrong with buying a new or used ukulele, it just depends on your budget, what you need and what is available.
Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome
Finally, look at review guides and do some research to get an idea of the breadth and quality of brands. In fact, there are so many gorgeous ukuleles out there to choose from, I guarantee you will want to buy more than one!
Be aware, many ukulele players suffer from a condition known as UAS - Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome. This may only be the start of a much larger collection…
Check out this really helpful video to help you pick the perfect ukulele from the guys at ‘Rock Class 101’.
Happy Strumming 🙂
4 Things To Consider Before Buying a Ukulele
Find more expert tips and practice techniques with our useful guides.