1. Where are the Ukuleles Made?
The Ukulele we have available on our web site are made in Hawaii and overseas.
2. How do I know I'm buying an Ukulele made in Hawaii?
The Ukuleles made in Hawaii are made from solid Koa wood not veneer.They are a lot harder to make compared to veneer wood and that's why they are a little more expensive. You can tell by the price of the ukulele whether it is made in Hawaii or overseas.
**The ukuleles made in Hawaii are mostly seven hundred dollars and up.
**The ukuleles made overseas are usually five hundred dollars and lower.
Joseph Souza makes all of the Hawaiian ukuleles on our web site. Every Ukulele has his name on the label and a unique serial number which is recorded for future reference and tracking purposes.
3. What size Ukulele would be good for me?
It depends on the player and your size or the size of your fingers. People with larger finger usually go for the tenor size. Smaller people and children between 7 years and 12 years old seem to prefer a soprano ukulele or super soprano. Medium size people prefer a concert size or super concert. A super concert ukulele has a concert body with tenor scaling on the neck. Larger people always enjoy tenor ukulele sizes.
4. What makes one ukulele better than another?
The experience of the maker of the particular brand can make a big difference on the sound , style and the look or beauty of the ukulele. Our ukulele makers here in Hawaii (like Joseph Souza) build with pride. Ukuleles made over sea or usually massed produced and sometimes the intonation is off.
5. What is Intonation?
Intonation is how true a note is to pitch as the player moves up the fingerboard. A “true” instrument when properly set up should, at the twelfth fret produce the same note as an open string just on octave higher (e.g. open A string first course 440Hz, twelfth fret 880Hz). Another test is to play a 12th fret "harmonic" and then check it with a fretted 12 fret note. A "true" instrument should hit each note played exactly to what frequency that is required (G=392 Hz, C=261.6 Hz, E=329.6 Hz and so on). Intonation is the most important facet in building a fine instrument. This is followed very closely by playability. Now, how do we achieve perfect intonation? It would be very simple to just double the measurement from the twelfth fret, glue on the bridge and say it close enough. It is said that only a trained ear could hear the difference. Not true! As a player develops they will appreciate having their instrument stay in tune as they progress up the fingerboard. a scale length that has been compensated for the setup and allows for each note to be at perfect pitch.
6. What makes an Ukulele's wood crack after a while?
Simply put they never dry the wood properly or rush the process. If the wood on the instrument would have dried properly it would also have shrank at the same time. The wood has to shrink fully before it is glued together. If it is not allowed to properly shrink and dry before it is glued it will have no room to shrink further causing it to tighten and crack. Keep in mind that any instrument will crack in super cold temperatures and really dry areas. A humidifier can help prevent such things from happening.
7. Do you do custom Ukuleles?
Our ukulele maker Joseph Souza here in Hawaii could do a custom ukulele for you. Send us an e-mail with the size , style etc.. that you want and we will send you a quote. It can take three to six months and starting around $1000 and up depending on the looks that you want to add.
8. Do you warranty your products?
Our Hawaiian ukuleles have a life time warranty for any manufacture defects.
Our ukuleles made overseas have a 1 year warranty for manufacture defects.
9. What's the tuning for Ukuleles?
Standard Tuning
*1st course “A”= 440Hz
*2nd course “E”= 329.6Hz
*3rd course “C”= 261.6Hz
*4th course “G”= 392 Hz
5-string
*Double “A” 1st course at the same octave (440Hz)
or
*Double “A” 1st course with a high/low octave (440Hz/220Hz)
or
*Double “C” 3rd course with a high/low octave (523.2Hz/261.6Hz)
6-string
*Double “A” 1st course at the same octave (440Hz) and a
double “C” 3rd course with a high/low octave (261.6Hz/523.2Hz)
or
*Double “A” 1st course with high/low octave (440Hz/220Hz) and a
double “C” 3rd course with a high/low octave (261.6Hz/523.2Hz)
8-string
*Double “A” 1st course at the same octave (440Hz),
a double “E” 2nd course at the same octave (329.6Hz),
a double “C” 3rd course with a high/low octave (261.6Hz/523.2Hz),
and a double “G” 4th course with a high/low octave (392Hz/196Hz)
Tiple
Double “A” 1st course at the same octave (440Hz),
Triple “E” 2nd course at the high/low/high octave (329.6Hz/164.8Hz/329.6Hz),
Triple “C” 3rd course with a high/low/high octave (261.6Hz/130.8Hz/261.6Hz),
Double “G” 4th course with a high/low octave (392Hz/196Hz)
