Fender Nohea Koa Tenor Ukulele Review!

So it's been over a week since I got the Fender Nohea, and I think its time that I review this ukulele. Now before i start, I just want to say that this is my first ukulele, and I'm very new to the instrument, so this review wont be too technical, and really just more about my experience with the instrument.

 http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0955640021

Price: $199

What it comes with:
The ukulele itself
A gig bag
Comes standard with Aquila Strings (The newer stock, at least)


It you order this ukulele from Amazon, it comes in the gig bag, placed in the box, and inside an even bigger box (almost bigger than me!) with lots of thick paper around it to prevent it from getting damaged in shipping. I was really impressed with how it was shipped to me!


Review

First, I'm going to talk about the appearance of the ukulele. One of the reasons I chose this ukulele over other entry level ukuleles that were cheaper and got better reviews was because of how it looked. It had a laminated koa top, which means its not solid koa wood. It's essentially made out of ply wood, with a layer of koa over it. I have to say that this is one of the most beautiful ukuleles I've seen. Of course, it is nothing like a Kamaka, but it does look fantastic. It has the Telecaster headstock which, to me, is just plain awesome!

The feel of the ukulele is also great. It is a Tenor, so it's a pretty big ukulele. The action is very nice straight out of the box, not too high or not too low. The frets are done nicely, I didn't get any buzzing at all.  The Aquila strings that it comes with are really nice, and make the ukulele sound really bright. Aquila strings really help get strong volume out of laminate ukuleles.

The sound it very hard for me to judge because I haven't played too many ukuleles, so I have very little to compare it too. On its own, it sounds fantastic. Again, the Aquila strings may have a lot to do with this. They really get a lot of volume from the ukulele, and make it sound bright. Overall, it's a great sounding ukulele

Now to the price/performance ratio. A lot of you that are looking at this ukulele may also be looking at other, cheaper ukuleles from other brands like Kala, Lanikai and others, and might be wondering if the $100 you would spend on this ukulele over a $100 Kala Tenor ukulele is worth it. I'm going to have to say it depends. With the Fender, you are paying a bit more for the brand, and for the look of the ukulele. I could have gone for the cheaper option when I was looking for a first ukulele, but I chose the more expensive Fender instead. The reason for this is that I was always leaning towards the fender, and I didn't think I'd be satisfied if I didn't get it. I thought that if i spent the extra cash, and was happier, I'd play the instrument more often. Now, that was the case for me. If the Fender is not more appealing aesthetically than the other, cheaper entry level ukuleles, you should really go for the cheaper Kala or Lanikai ukuleles. They probably sound the same, or even better, for half the cost of this one.

Overall, I think the Fender Nohea is an ukulele that people should consider for their first ukulele. It looks great, and sounds even better! I recommend that you look at all other options, though, as there are many other cheaper (and possibly better) alternatives out there!

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Jake Shimabukuro

This is one of the songs that really pushed my to buy an ukulele of my own. Jake Shimabukuro is truly an amazing ukulele player who's song really inspire people. When I first heard Jake's rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, it really changed the way I looked at the ukulele as an instrument. I did not realize what kind of music the ukulele was really capable of making.

I've been trying to learn this song for a few days now, and hope to get the whole song down really soon. Of course, I don't play it nearly as good as Jake doesn't, but I'm really proud of my progress considering that I only started playing the ukulele for about week, and that I've always considered myself "musically challenged".

This is a video of Jake Shimabukuro playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I'm sure all of you that aren't new to the ukulele have already seen this, but this is for you all that haven't! I'll be posting my progess as I continue learning the song, and I'm hoping ot get some good comment and critisim from all of you to help me improve overall as a ukulele player.


That's all for now! Peace!
Nico

Beginner Ukuleles - What Ukulele Brand Do I Buy?

Beginner Ukuleles - Brands

One of the most common questions people ask is “What is a good beginner ukulele?”. It can be though choosing first ukulele, especially when you have never played the instrument before. There are so many different ukuleles out there to choose from, and it can get really confusing. I’m going to try to outline some of the good choices as first ukuleles. Ukuleles that don’t cost too much, but perform well. I went through tis whole process, and these are some of the brands that I looked at.



Kala Makala (www.kalaukulele.com)

Kala is a very well known ukulele manufacturer. Although they are not hawaiian made, they are very good value for money. They have nice entry level ukuleles that have “Makala” branding, but they are made by Kala. You can but a pineapple, soprano, concert or tenor ukulele for less than 100$! For those of you that aren’t sure if you guys are going to stink with the instrument, this is a very good option for you. The best thing about Kala ukuleles are that you can find them almost anywhere! They sell them on Amazon and may instrument stores around the US. If you aren't sure of the quality, there are a few famous artists that use Kala ukuleles. Christofer Drew Ingle of Nevershoutnever uses a Kala (of course, his costs a bit more than the entry level ukuleles)


Some good models:

Pineapple - MK-P Pineapple Soprano
Soprano - MK-S Soprano
Concert - MK-C Concert
Tenor - MK-T Tenor



Lanikai (www.lanikaiukes.com)

Lanikai is also a very well known ukulele manufacturer, and are also not Hawaiian made. They are very much like Kala ukuleles in that they are available in many places, and have a very good cost/performance ratio. If I’m not mistaken, Jason Mraz sports these ukuleles. These are also available in Amazon and in music stores around the US.


Some good models:

Pineapple - LU-21P
Soprano - LU-21
Concert - LU-21C
Tenor - LU-21T


Kamoa (www.kamoaukulelecompany.com)

Kamoa ukuleles are supposed to be some of the best entry level ukuleles out there. There are Hawaiian made, and guarantee that you get a good product. They have a very affordable E Series, or Economy series, that is perfect for all of you that want a great instrument, but don’t want to spend too much money. They are made with mahogany, and are supposed to be very well built. They have a pineapple, soprano, concert and tenor model in their E series lineup. The E series models range in price from 120-200$. If you’re interested in these models, and do not live in Hawaii, you can get them through ukuleleunderground.com or ukuleleuprising.com!


Some good models:

Pineapple - E-P
Soprano - E-S
Concert - E-C
Tenor - E-T



Of course, there are tons of other brands that you can choose from. Theres Oscar Schmidt, Fender and numerous others. I myself chose a Fender as my first uke. Please understand hate the ones that I mentioned above are ukuleles that I think are good choices for beginners. They are some of the most available ukuleles, and have a very good price/performance ratio. I didn’t really dive into some of the more expensive ukuleles. Lastly, I suggest that you purchase that ukulele that you really like, even if it may not be the best option. I went for a Fender ukulele even if it has gotten a lot of mixed reviews on the internet. I felt that it was the one i really wanted to play, and so I got it. I’m 100% happy with it and cant seem to put it down!


I really hope this helps all of you are are choosing your firs ukulele!

Hello!

Hey guys!

I've started this blog to document my journey as a ukulele player. I've only just picked up the ukulele recently, but I've really grown to love the instruments. I've tried many instruments in the past, but never really stuck to one, and never really got good at any of them. It's different with the ukulele, though. I really enjoy playing it so much so that I don't ever want to put it down. The sound it makes is just so beautiful, and being able to create that sound is such a good feeling. It's not just the sound, though, that I am interested in. It is the instrument itself! I think that they were some of the most gorgeous instruments out there! The small size, and the different wood that are used interest me so much!

I bought a Fender Nohea lest week and I'm very happy with it. I know that a lot of people don't like the fender ukes, and would rather go for a Kala, or Lanakai or a Mainland as there first uke, but I just loved how the Fender looked. I looked at all options possible, but just kept going back to the Fender. I figured that it would be a much wiser decision to buy something that I'm really happy with rather than something that I'm not too happy with, even if it may the the "better choice" because I'd be more motivated to play something I was 100% happy with. I was right! I haven't put down the Nohea. I play it whenever I can!

Anyways, I just wanted to do a brief introduction on why I have decided to make this blog. I'm going to try to upload some photos and videos as I learn more songs. I know that a lot of ukulele players also tend to buy lots of ukes, so I'll also be doing updates on my ukulele, and any ukulele products that I buy in the future!I know that a lot of you guys are in the same position as I am, so please share all the information you can with me, as I'm going to share everything I learn with all of you!

I really hope that you all enjoy reading this blog