I started out playing guitar as a teen. Right away my dad said, we're getting a decent one, it will help you play better. So he bought me a really nice guitar and I always appreciated that. And I feel the same way about ukes.

Totally agree, unfortunately, I didn't know this before I had bought way too many cheaper Ukuleles. I sold them all to buy one very good one a few years ago now, and have since then, only ever consider buying similar or better. My playing has improved considerably, I don't suppose I will ever be as good as the Ukes are - but I will keep trying!

I recommend people buy what gives them joy and inspiration. I think the cheap ukadelics do a good job of both.

I bought a Kanilea years ago and probably would not have "taken off" on the instrument if it didn't sing. The sound was so beautiful I kept playing it... I bought a few more but wouldn't have gotten the bug if I hadn't purchased a good one in the beginning.

I agree with you. I started about 6 weeks ago and want to get a better uke. I know that I'm in it for the long run so why buy a mid-range uke when I can save up and buy a much better quality uke which will last me a lifetime.

I agree with you about buying quality over quantity. I own a Tenor ukulele from Kala and just recently bought a Grand D-33 McNally Strumstick (3 strings tuned DAD) Like the dulcimer, it combines diatonic fretting with strings tuned to a drone, but it is held like a guitar for ease of playing. I love it so easy to play because there are "no wrong notes".

Good point of view!

I suggest buying high quality on the used market. This way you will pretty much always have an instrument that will not decrease in value. Many times they will increase. Do your homework and look for an instrument that is in demand. Every instrument drops in value as you walk out of the store. You can get a $1400 Kamaka for $800-900 and in years to come as long as you have taken good care of it, get your money back or maybe even get a reward.

I'm going to slightly disagree/have a modified stance and that is that you should buy a BETTER ukulele than your skill, but not necessarily the BEST you can afford. Even if you have the money (unless $1000+ doesn't even put a ripple in your budget), I wouldn't suggest starting with a top tier uke. A good one yes, but you can get good to great at $200-$500. So I agree that you shouldn't wait until you think you're "good enough", but I would recommend buying a uke for how good you want to be in 2-3 years.

Matt, The other thing is a better sounding instrument is more encouraging to keep playing, and you notice that in your playing. I agree with your comments, and sometimes price is not a true indicator of quality. When I bought my first guitar, I couldn't play one, i had the guy in the shop play a whole pile of instruments so i could hear them, and I held other instruments while he played different ones. Only one resonated from the playing of others, so i chose from the two of them they had in stock based secondly on timber grain. I've never regretted that decision. It was a Maton. I've had some private lessons and most of the teachers have commented very favorably on the tonal quality of the guitar and the amazing volume it can produce compared to instruments they have had that have been of similar or higher cost and percieved quality standard. One of the biggest traps in buying an instrument is when the first question you're asked is "what's your budget?" If you say $200, there could be one that costs $210 that sounds and is a better instrument, but not get shown because it's above your nominated budget. What a tragedy! I've now got a Maton concert Uke to add to the stable. Keep up the great videos.

I bought a used soprano, the cheapest of ours, for a bargain $5. It does retail cheaply to begin with but when you're new to stringed instruments, for me anyway, I didn't care about nuanced tonal qualities. It emits a good enough sound to learn on after its tuned and not only can it be played, it also has low action!, to produce recognisable music. Not horrible to my beginner ears. It's not an unplayable toy and not the first one I bought, but I know it's capable to get me interested in moving onto a higher quality instrument. The only issue I can think of is it's smaller size making it harder for finger placement but that's the same for any soprano. People who've gotten more than one are likely to have started developing an interest otherwise they'd just sell the single one they have. That's different to advising someone who has no idea if they're truly interested and are looking for their first uke, to pay hundreds or whatever. I find that excessive.

Well said. I just made the the jump into a better ukulele myself. I hade 6 less inexpensive different sized ukulele and felt the same way after 2 years. I needed a single ukulele that would inspire me to get even better, also one I could apply what I have learned and that I can learn its feel as well as it learn mine. I think it’s going to be a long term forever friendship with my new little friend....as far as friends go! thanks for your suggestion and I am patiently waiting for the mail truck lol.

The more a beginner you are, the better the equipment you can benefit from. Same for cameras, running shoes, fencing gear etc. It pains me to see students use a bunch of poor (badly setup, lousy tuning pegs, sharp fret ends, tinny sound, etc) instruments. So many hurdles other than learning the music....... Another option is to learn how to setup the action of an instrument, maintain/change the tuning pegs, change/experiment with strings for best sound, then a lower priced/used ukulele could sound like a sports car! :) Hopping from one uke to another may not be beneficial for your touch. It takes time to get to know an instrument - each one is different. your playing style may have to adapt to the personality of the instrument to draw out the best from it.

I agree!! Getting the best ukulele you can afford is the way to go.

I only have 3; one inexpensive soprano, and 2 Makala, tenor and soprano pineapple. Right now for learning my chords, I'm using my Makala pineapple

I have to completely agree with you. I have been playing since april on an inexpensive one and it's small and doesn't have the added frets for some of the songs I wanted to play :)

Interesting perspective, I collected various scales to try them out in the first instance, then found that I needed to try different woods, to see how that effected the sound quality. But as you say, getting a better quality uke, once you know what suits you, is the way to cure UAS. :)

Only 4 ukuleles at this time, 1 Kamaka, 1 Pono 8 string, 1 Pono Pineapple, 1 custom Dey Martin Tenor. Matt, see you at Palm Springs Festival !

I don't have a problem. I'm not addicted. I only have 8 ukes with one in transit that FedEx tells me will be delivered today "by the end of the day". I won a sweet Amahi concert uke at 2016 Funky Frets fest; I was given a beautiful handmade long neck uke for helping kids learn the uke; Two of my ukes (including the banjolele) were from "funny money" rewards through Amazon, Another one is a free review copy (The one I"m getting today). I have a $20 Diamond Head which I dropped and cracked and I did a novelty paint job on. Still playable, esp after I replaced the strings. (do they use fishing line on cheap ukes?!?) I also got a Makala Glow in the Dark uke on sale from Funky Frets. So...They're cute, a few were free or sort of free, others on sale, AND THEY FOLLOW ME HOME! That's my story and I'm sticking to it! I actually do use different ukes for different purposes. The low-end ukes are used for public workshops that I present. The Banjolele is divine! I have a 6 string Kala that I use for open mics. It has its own sound, very lovely. It is a little harder for me to play, as I prefer concerts. My new Donner DUC-4E is a darling and will be used for open mic and performances. $78 is amazing price point, and it's a great uke! The Makala is used for outside, especially the shore. Nothing like strumming on the beach! Sooo....Really, nothing wrong with having multiple ukes. Ko'alohas are sheer heaven. But, $2000 is out of the question for me. That's a "someday" uke. My other dream uke is one I find in a yard sale for a song and have refurb'ed. So, 9 ukes. Yeah. I'm just a beginner in UAS. I want an 8 string. D'oh! What is happening in my life! ;o))

I just bought a Kala concert, £93, it felt like such a huge investment but looking around it seems I'm barely into "decent", but I mostly play the £40 Korala tenor I bought on a whim on ebay, for reasons. I do wanna buy a soprano, but mostly just to store the three on an old three-tier sword stand I have xD

My first ukulele was over 1,000 which I love to use at home and I have a plastic one that I like to carry around.

When I've started to play (many years ago), I was totally begginner, but I had the option of buying a good uke (more good than my ability) and this was a good way to push me to paly even better. Now, I'm looking for an other one uke, but before I also played an baritone too just to approach on a different sound, size and all baritone's stuff. So, I agree with you (and also my mother has you same opinion XD ). PS: sorry for my english, I'm from Italy XD

I think owning less in general, avoiding the addictive habit of never-ending consumerism, is a good idea. Like most things in life, there isn't necessarily a straight linear relationship between cost and quality when buying an instrument--but rather a curve of diminishing return. There may be a huge improvement of playability and sound going from a $30 uke to a $150 dollar one, but not that much between $150 and $300. I am a big fan of buying budget high-quality instruments--getting the best bang for the buck, the middle ground between super cheap and expensive. While personally I like learning on "quality" instruments, there are plenty of great sounding musicians on make-do instruments made out of just about anything. For example, have a listen to the Justin Johnson playing a 3 string shovel! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jJ9dn9eB2MjbaZs.html Here is Justin playing a tele-style guitar made from 200 year old reclaimed barn wood at a cigar box music festival: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/itJ2fKljuqrcqXk.html

Wise words...….but, as a hopeless addict, I'd still rather spend money on ukes than squander it. I have cheap ukes that are fantastic e.g. the HPL instruments made by Enya. I also have more expensive ones. I play every day and each day (except one) I try to play things I struggle with. So there are lots of attempts to get different chord sequences. This or that riff either confounds me or gets closer to being sorted. It's all great fun. However, on one day each week I play only songs I know are 'dialled'. That's the day the more expensive instruments are used. They make me sound better as they would with anyone who played them. Because they sound better it makes me take extra care in trying to maximise what I can bring out of them. Those ukes are way better than I can play but as MD points out they are something to grow into. I just wish I could grow a bit faster.

Every uke player needs at least 2 ukes, a low g and a high g ukulele.................and a pineapple................and an electric..............for sure a soprano.............and a travel uke.....ahhh crap.

A ukulele player should always buy just one more always :-] but I do collect but play em all.

Great! Is there a cure for it?

I've ... found... no.. cure...

flack.....