I need a hobby and I’m think of taking up the ukelele.
 

Any ukelele players here? What can I expect to pay for a very good instrument, not a toy? I believe I can learn it just by watching YouTube’s. How did you learn and where’d you buy your ukelele?

I don't know about where you live but around here there is a huge ukulele thing going on. There is the ukulele orchestra where about two hundred people turn out to play.

I borrowed a chicks ukulele to do a mock rock band thing at a friends 50th birthday party and she tried to get me to join the orchestra. I said honestly I've never played a note of music in my whole life, you don't want me there. She said it didn't matter and to join the orchestra anyway LOL

I paid just over$100 for mine. I went to a chain music store (Guitar center) looked at a few and picked one I liked. While the reviews on the model I bought ( a concert sized Luna) aren't the best, I liked the look and I didn't think it sounds bad. I'm not a musician, just wanted to have some fun

I picked the concert sized because I liked the sound best. It looks less like a toy than the soprano. The tenor sized is strung differently so there's less out there on how to lean to play

There are a million books, YouTube videos and apps to learn from. I bought a couple books as the videos go to fast for me. The biggest hurdle for me are changing cords faster and making a bar cord sound like anything at all.

Good luck

I would recommend getting a go anywhere practice instrument that is decently made but not overly expensive.

I would also recommend finding a good music shop and trying out instruments in person.

It can be difficult to judge quality/value online. When you have the instrument in your hands and play it is easier to feel and see.

If you're not in the mood to drop 15 grand on a uke, at least make sure it has good tuners. The really cheap ones have 1:1 friction tuners that can sometimes be not so hot. Make sure whatever you buy can stay in tune.

The accordion polkas and German drinking songs will make you more popular at parties.

Here, it makes you just another local.:(

Well, for the person wanting something off the beaten path for a musical hobby...


Erhu

Parts that come with it will likely be very poor, in addition to get it all right.

(This Bridge will give you the odd south east asian tone)
https://www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Whitewood-bridges-for-Erhu-(Lot-of-5)-柏木码/46

(This bridge will give you a decent sound for European pieces)
https://www.easonmusicstore.com/products/A-shaped-Black-Sandalwood-Bridge-for-Erhu-(Lot-of-5)-黑檀木码/50

(This is something that takes some experimentation to get right for your instrument.)
https://www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Woolly-Woolly-Lamb-Felt-Damper-(2pcs)/227

(Not initially necessary, but nice to have)
https://www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Qianjin-for-Erhu-(Brown)/408

(I find the weight hanging on the string helps take some undesirable noise out on my basic Erhu)
https://www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Wittner-Fine-String-Adjustor-for-Erhu-(4pcs)/238

(Decent lightweight bow)
https://www.easonmusicstore.com/products/Professional-Beijing-Jointless-Erhu-Bow-by-Wang-Xiao-Di/38

(I don't like the sneezy pine Rosin, for Erhu I preferred their Cello Rosin over Violin, both work.)
https://www.amazon.com/Super-Sensitive-9251-Clarity-Rosin-Cello/dp/B0002CZWCM/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1526823214&sr=1-1&keywords=Super+Sensitive+Clarity+Rosin&dpID=41%2 52BbnnK0wUL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Just a FYI: ukes are cool.

We bought a Kala (Model KA-CEM). About $120 from a chain store. Has served us very well.

They really are fun to pick up. Lots of easy things to play. Just messing around you find all kinds of chords through experimentation.

I have a few. A vintage Martin baritone, a Kamaka baritone, a vintage Kamaka soprano (my G'ma's, she played Luaus in Hawaii) and a Luna concert.

The soprano and concert are tuned GCEA and the baritones are tuned DGBE just like the high strings on a guitar. The Luna is great value for the money, this is the one I have https://www.amazon.com/Luna-High-Tide-Concert-Ukulele/dp/B002SSUR4G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526827472&sr=8-3&keywords=luna+high+tide+ukulele

FYI, sopranos are very small with a short neck, go with a concert. If you want a Kamaka expect to spend more than $1k, you can also tour the factory if you're ever in Honolulu, highly recommended!

Today's fun fact, George Harrison liked to compose his songs using a ukulele for this very reason.....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1526827882.jpg

Not going to Honolulu any time soon unfortunately so I'll have to settle checking out a few at Guitar Center. This is my Fathers Day gift for myself. Thanks everyone for your input!

Good plan.

You may also want to check out what other music stores are in the area.

Be sure to check out their room with not new offerings, there is potential to be something really nice in there.

With wood instruments trees are different as climate changes and other conditions change.

Each piece will not be completely the same even from the same era.

A more expensive instrument when new will have spent more time on getting all things right. They will be more consistent one to another.

This does not mean a less expensive instrument will be worse, if similar wood and wood treatment is used there will be outliers that are bad, outliers that are great, and those in the middle.

This is why I consider it important to hold and play what you will be buying, it needs to resonate with you. This isn't a difference that is easy to figure out solely from online advice.

Great advice again. Thanks!

As I get older; I’m trying to focus more on hobbies that keep my ass moving.

I’d do jump roping before I do anything that makes me sit down more. When that’s over, I’ll take up playing the piano. :)

Funny.... I did the same thing a few years ago. I stopped practicing for quite some time during my divorce and recovery. Just picked it up again a few days ago.

Keep this in mind, a new Uke with new strings with go out of tune constantly for about a month. Buy a good tuner and use it constantly.

There are a few songs I really want to learn. Top on my list is Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder. Im going to look for the easiest arrangement and learn it. Love that song on ukelele.