Show off your cheap ukes!

[Captain Simian]

Only rules are you have to have paid less than $75 and it has to be playable, no wallhangers. Extra credit if you got it for free.

L-R:

Homemade banjo uke ($40), Harmony soprano with plastic fingerboard ($30), Harmony soprano painted uke ($5.00), Eddy Finn cigar box concert uke($40), Alic soprano plastic uke ($20).


I’d also like to say this: Those Harmony ukes with the plastic fingerboard are pretty decent for what they are. I feel all uke players should own one, you just might be surprised by it.

 

[Captain Simian]

Harmony soprano solid mahogany ($60), Emenee Flamingo plastic soprano ($15)

 

[Blank Williams]

$50 kala “learn to play” soprano I bought on Amazon in 2018 before I knew anything about ukuleles. I still play it a lot and I think it sounds great for what it is.

 

[Wiggy]

21 Jun, 2019
Caramel CS419 Soprano Acoustic Electric Ukulele
with Aquila Strings, Padded Gig Bag, Strap and Picks
Price: $49.99 & FREE Shipping. Details

Size: Soprano
Solid mahogany top, solid mahogany back, laminated mahogany side
Acoustic/Electric, 3 bands EQ with onboard tuner, LCD color display
Aquila Nylgut string (100U) --> Immediately restrung for GDAE

This was the first soprano I really liked (after at least a half-dozen) and it's still the one I always reach for. When plugged in (Bass EQ set 1/2, Mid off, Trb 1/4), it sounds just like it does acoustically. Only louder. I quickly purchased a 2nd one as a spare... Its only fault is that it's not very loud acoustically. Tone-wise, though, I couldn't ask for more. Just plain lovely.

 

[Veritas99]

I picked this Donner up from Amazon for, like, $24 when there was a sale last year to leave at my parents...

 

[KanePono]

Luna "Daddy-O" concert uke purchased from Musician's Friend for $50. Just an exercise in design - plywood mahogany box. five piece neck. Aquillas, rough edge frets. But amazingly it played real well, stayed in tune and had acceptable intonation. Came with a case and free shipping too. Gave the instrument to a potential daughter in law. Both she and the instrument are long gone.

 

[UkingViking]

I cant participate here, even my cheap plastic ukulele was the equivalent of $100.
Doesnt help that my first uke, a Makala MK-C, was the equivalent of $120 in a shop in my town, even though I understand that they go for half that in the States.

 

[Captain Simian]

Luna "Daddy-O" concert uke purchased from Musician's Friend for $50. Just an exercise in design - plywood mahogany box. five piece neck. Aquillas, rough edge frets. But amazingly it played real well, stayed in tune and had acceptable intonation. Came with a case and free shipping too. Gave the instrument to a potential daughter in law. Both she and the instrument are long gone.

I still want one of those.

 

[Captain Simian]

View attachment 154518
$50 kala “learn to play” soprano I bought on Amazon in 2018 before I knew anything about ukuleles. I still play it a lot and I think it sounds great for what it is.

I like the headstock decal.

 

[badhabits]

A few of the best deal I've gotten (all new and all prices include tax and shipping):

KA-15S $24.67, eventually given away.

Little known KTU-C (thin/travel uke) $70.79, a keeper, road trip uke.

Also, a KA-LTP-MH for $46.86 (slightly used), a KA-SLNG for $55.76, and a KA-CEM for $64.35. All of these are for giveaways.

 

[Poul Hansen]

Geso GC-85 and GT-85 1 & 4 USD on auction. Amazing quality and sound.

 

[Captain Simian]

I cant participate here, even my cheap plastic ukulele was the equivalent of $100.
Doesnt help that my first uke, a Makala MK-C, was the equivalent of $120 in a shop in my town, even though I understand that they go for half that in the States.

I’m always digging through second hand stores. Except for the banjo uke and the Alic, I found the rest in thrift stores. Not that I’m trying to give you a case of UAS or anything like that.

 

[Tom Snape]

How about a couple of Harmony mahogany ukes?

The red label soprano was $29.95 from an eBay auction, which for some reason no one else bid on.
The baritone was $49.95, also from eBay.

 

[Captain Simian]

How about a couple of Harmony mahogany ukes?

The red label soprano was $29.95 from an eBay auction, which for some reason no one else bid on.
The baritone was $49.95, also from eBay.

View attachment 154528

Judging by the label, I think the soprano is from the 40’s. I also have a mahogany soprano and they really have a sound all their own.

 

[Tom Snape]

Judging by the label, I think the soprano is from the 40’s. I also have a mahogany soprano and they really have a sound all their own.

Yes, this soprano is pretty well made and sounds good. I thought the red labels went back into the 20's or 30's, but can't find where I read that. Someone fitted it with some nice tuners, which alone were worth what I paid.

 

[Nickie]

Believe it or not, this was given to me, by a total stranger.

 

[ploverwing]

I cant participate here, even my cheap plastic ukulele was the equivalent of $100.
Doesnt help that my first uke, a Makala MK-C, was the equivalent of $120 in a shop in my town, even though I understand that they go for half that in the States.

Yes. Same issue.

 

[Captain Simian]

Believe it or not, this was given to me, by a total stranger.
View attachment 154530

OK you win.

 

[Blank Williams]

Believe it or not, this was given to me, by a total stranger.
View attachment 154530

Wow! That’s a generous stranger!

 

[Oldscruggsfan]

My one and only uke is the Yowling Tom soprano which began as a DIY kit intended (as I was to learn much later) as a ‘gag’ Christmas gift in 2021.
Labor hours aside, mod expenses totaled $43.75:
$16.00 Bison bone nut and saddle.
$ 5.00 bout-end strap button
$ 2.75 bootlace strap
$20.00 KoAloha friction tuners


NOT just a wall hanger (even if such cartoonish paint were to your taste). Sound sample: