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LINKS FOR 

UK UKE PLAYERS

If you have had good experiences with a dealer or luthier or you find a website that may be of interest to other uke players then please let us know.

Buying a uke in the UK?.

Things are improving in the UK.  There are a growing number of uke retail outlets. The following have been recommended by players in the UK.  Also see the SALES ROOM for secondhand instruments on this site

THE UKULELE SHOP  Good quality ukes that one would only normally find in the US. (Bushmans, Vineyard, Risa,  Fleas and Flukes, Brueko, Rock Ukes by Kiwaya, Hohner Lanikai, strings and cases.etc) (Sells on Ebay)

ANDY PERKINS (Faversham) a banjo shop really but usually has a few beginners and intermediate ukes

TECHMATE (Suffolk) stocks Applause Sopranos which can be recommended as intermediate ukes. Also sells the excellent Gator ABS soprano uke cases. (Sells on Ebay)

RESOUND  (Newark) Stocks Johnson Resos and spare cones - very knowledgeable on all reso instruments.

HOBGOBLIN (In a number of towns) occasionally has something secondhand that is decent.

RISA (Germany - OK, it is not UK but at least it is this side of the Atlantic). Beginners to intermediate ukes plus some more unusual styles. The 'Solo Recipe' book is excellent.

THE UKULELE MAN.(Oswestry) - High Quality secondhand ukes. Often has 'figure eights'. 'Knows his stuff'.

THE FIFTH FRET  New Mail order dealer of vintage instruments.

All the above are trustworthy. Beware of glowing write ups on Ebay for ukes that can be bought cheaper across the counter of your nearest music shop or from the above..

UK Luthiers.

PHIL DAVIDSON (Bristol). makes a range of wooden ukes including traditional and resos.

Buying a Uke in the US.

There are a lot of dealers in the US and at the time of writing the exchange rate is favourable to UK buyers but remember that you will also have to pay postage, import duty and VAT (17.5%). It may be that you will still get a bargain. Many UK uke players do buy from the States.

We know UK players who have the following ukes and we can give an opinion on the following. 

Nationals, Gibsons, Martins, Ukebrands, Larrivees, Earnests, Glyphs, Kumulaes, KoAlohas, Kamakas, Lehuas.

Of the current US luthiers we recommend DAVE MEANS (GLYPH UKULELES),    JOEL ECKHAUS (EARNEST INSTRUMENTS)

US retailers - ELDERLY,   BOUNTY,   ROY CONE'S UKULELE WORLD, 

We hasten to add that the above list is based upon personal experience and in no way suggests that other retailers, makes and luthiers are not as good as those mentioned.

Book stores.

Again there is not a lot of choice in the UK but the FLEAMARKET ONLINE STORE website in the US  has a good selection. See Ukeland website (below) for some guidance.

Software

TONAL ALCHEMY does an excellent chord generator that will find all the chords and scales that you are ever likely to need. For a registration fee of $10 it is excellent value. 

SHEEP ENTERTAINMENT is also a popular chord finder but not as comprehensive as Tonal Alchemy - but it is free.

UKEPIX is very useful piece of free software. You write your songs with chords over the lyrics and it puts those chord boxes in for you. It is a DOS program and a little tricky to get used to but worth the effort.

Song Libraries

A lot will depend upon what kind of music that you want to play and any site offering chord sequences for any other instrument can be useful. Try 

Remember that we have a MUSIC ROOM on this site so please send us your arrangements

General Uke Sites

NAKED UKE  - A website from Uke Jackson - one of the great characters of Ukedom and presenter of the only uke show on the radio. (See 'Listening in' below).

HOWLIN' HOBBIT - a knowledgeable entertainer from Seattle - a lot of good practicing material on his website.

EZFOLK - Great site that takes in a number of stringed folk instruments as well as the uke..

ALOHAYALL - Texan Joyce's excellent site particularly for beginners.  A very helpful lady.

KEN'S UKES 4 ALL - Interesting British site that is useful and still growing

UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN. Gig and CD  list etc.  The UOoGB is doing a great job of popularizing wooden ukes in the UK.

UKULELE SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN    Has half yearly meetings in Hertfordshire. Banjo uke bias.

UKULELIA - Keep abreast of what is happening in the wider uke world.

PAUL MOORE - Entertaining band and great CD's from the 'Washboard Wizards' - some MP3 clips.

G4MBY.COM -  If you are into Formby then this only site to have his songs as midis. 

UKULELE WWW. This site has the most comprehensive list of uke links of any web site.

THE UKULELE MAN.  Informative uke site from John Croft who also sells quality old banjo and wooden ukes in the UK

THE UKULELE HALL OF FAME.   Doing a good job of promoting uke playing. Based in the US.

UKELAND -  Some good book reviews for those who do not get the chance to see the books before they buy....and lots of other useful stuff too including Uke MP3s and Ukecasts..

KING DAVID'S UKULELE STATION   Excellent site - and an opportunity to brush up your French

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