Beginner Ukulele Lesson, Salisbury South Australia Old Spot Hotel, 1955 Main North Road Salisbury

Beginner Ukulele Lessons every Tuesday arvo at The Old Spot Hotel, Salisbury. 

See you all at 1pm for some ukulele fun.

Small Class size and personal attention to help you start playing the right way in as short a time as possible.

How to tell if you need to change your ukulele strings

How Often should I change my Ukulele Strings?

I generally recommend giving your ukulele a present of some new strings for its birthday every year.

The Aquila strings fitted to most ukuleles are pretty hard wearing and once a year is generally enough, but if you play for a few hours every day you may want to do a restring more often.

How To Test Your Strings For Wear
To test your strings simply run your finger on the underside of the strings, if you feel duvets/indentations where the strings pass over the frets then you may want to change strings.  

Those wear spots cause the string to oscillate unevenly and even though your tuner may say the string is "In Tune"  they just sound funny and a bit off.  Plus those wear spots are weakness points and they will break there. 

If you want to replace your Aquila Strings we stock a whole range of them, or you may want a SOFTER EASIER PLAYING string then try out the Japanese Worth Ukulele Strings

AQUILA  https://www.ukuleletradingcoaustralia.com.au/collections/aquila

WORTH https://www.ukuleletradingcoaustralia.com.au/collections/worth

Low G String Wears Out Faster, How Come?

A wound Low G string has a nylon multi-thread chore and an outer wrap of Nylon/Silver thread.  The Wound Low g strings are known to wear out much fatsre than the none wound strings, it is "The Nature of the Beast"  The outer wrap wears out over the freats and exposes the inner core.  You string wont oscillate properly, its will sound and feel hottible and is a string break waiting to happen.  I always suggest that if you use a Low G set then purchase some Single Low G Strings as spares.

YES YOU CAN CHANGE JUST ONE STRING, despite what some people say.  You don't need to change out the CEA strings if its just your low g that has worn out.

Aquila Low G Strings https://www.ukuleletradingcoaustralia.com.au/search?q=Aquila+Low+G+Single

Want a Long Long Looonnnnggggg Lasting Low G String?

Then change to Worth Low G Strings, the Worth Low G strings ARE NOT WOUND and wont wear any faster than the rest of the strings.

Worth Low G Strings https://www.ukuleletradingcoaustralia.com.au/search?q=worth+low+g

Ohana 39 Series solid mahogany ukuleles in the Martin Model 3M Style.

A Concert and Soprano ukulele made in the Vintage Martin Style, but without the $3,000 US Dollar price-tags.  

No they are not USA made, nor are they Vintage, in fact they are brand spankin modern made Chinese instruments.  But the premium woods and styling cues are bang on point and the price for such quality is amazing. 

New to The Ohana Vintage Line is the much anticipated Ohana 39 series. Having been introduced at Winter NAMM’17, the SK-39 & CK-39 are modelled after the original Martin 3M ukuleles.


SK-39 & CK-39
The anticipated -39 series finally made its way to the public earlier last month. Inspired by the early Martin 3 ukuleles (known as 3M), these NEW ukuleles are instant vintage classics looks and sound.

The Design  The -39s feature premium solid Mahogany, with a multi black and white rosette and purfling along the top and back of the body as well as down the middle of the fretboard. Pearloid double dot inlays adorn frets # 5, 7 & 10, solidifying the classic aesthetic while simultaneously serving as a visual cue for ease of play.

The -39s also feature a Maple pendalogue (the contrasting triangle maple inlay on the lower bout), complemented by Maple binding which further unifies the look and feel of these ukuleles.

Designed with the discerning ukulele player in mind, these all-solid instruments are the perfect addition to any collection!

DEMO
Friend of Ohana, Rachel Manke, talks about what makes the 39 series unique as she compares and test runs SK-39 & CK-39 in the video below!

SK-39 SOPRANO
The SK-39 soprano is styled after the classic Martin 3M ukuleles from the 1920s and is part of the Ohana 39 series, part of the Vintage Line.

DESCRIPTION
The new Ohana SK-39 features premium solid Mahogany, with multi black and white purfling and Maple binding. Its all-solid construction provides this soprano with a very bright and balanced sound, producing really good sustain and resonance.

BODY
Top: Premium Solid Mahogany with Maple
Back: Premium Solid Mahogany
Sides: Premium Solid Mahogany
Sound-hole: Rosette in black/ white
Binding: Maple with multi black/ white purfling
Finish: Vintage satin
Body Length: 9-1/2"
       
NECK
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Black/ white purfling strip on center; Pearloid Double Dot Inlay on Frets # 3, 5, 7, 10 & 12
Frets: 12 frets to body; Total 17 frets
Finish: Vintage
Nut: Bone
Scale Length: 13-3/4"

GEAR
Headstock: Mahogany
Tuners: Gotoh friction
Strings: Aquila
Saddle: Bone
Total Length: 21“

CK-39 Concert
DESCRIPTION
The new Ohana CK-39, like its soprano counterpart, features premium solid Mahogany, with multi black and white purfling and Maple binding. Its all-solid construction provides this concert with a very bright and balanced sound.

BODY
Top: Premium Solid Mahogany with Maple
Back: Premium Solid Mahogany
Sides: Premium Solid Mahogany
Sound-hole: Rosette in black/ white
Binding: Maple with multi black/ white purfling
Finish: Vintage satin
Body Length: 11"

NECK
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Black/ white purfling strip on center; Pearloid Double Dot Inlay on Frets # 3, 5, 7, 10 & 12
Finish: Vintage
Nut: Bone
Scale Length: 15"

GEAR
Headstock: Mahogany
Tuners: Gotoh friction
Strings: Aquila
Saddle: Bone
Total Length: 24“

The Ohana Story: A Small Family Business making a Big Splash in the Ukulele World

THE OHANA STORY 
Quality . Playability . Value

As an homage to the spirit of family and with a passion for music, Ohana was born. We are a small, community-oriented ukulele company best known for our commitment to quality—every instrument is individually inspected and set up before delivery to our authorized dealers around the world.

That’s because we believe that regardless of your skill level, your ukulele should be functional and immediately playable, so the places you go with it are marked by the experiences that awaken you.

Today, Ohana contributes to interesting lives everywhere, heading out to far reaches of the globe. Bands have formed. Songs have been played. Relationships have been built. Lives have been changed. And whether you are purchasing your first, next, or best ukulele, we’re here to help. Welcome to the family.

Quality, Playability, Value
Headquartered in Long Beach, CA, we at Ohana, believe in the importance of Quality, Playability, and Value. Since 2006, we have focused on making ukuleles from rich tone woods and constructions that yield the best-sounding instruments possible.

From Our Warehouse To You
We are passionate in what we do, which is why we make it our top priority to properly inspect and set up every instrument before being shipped. We believe that an instrument ought to be functional, playable, and most importantly, be able to inspire a person to continue to learn and create music.

At Ohana, we believe innovation is the key to any endeavor, tempered with an appreciation of those who paved the way for the ukulele before us. When conceptualizing a new line, we take everything into consideration— from sourcing and pairing tone woods, to the unique shape and construction of each model.

The Ohana Spirit
As a player, you deserve Quality, Playability, and Value, when purchasing a musical instrument. Thank you for choosing Ohana as part of your ukulele collection. We promise to continue to strive for excellence in our instruments and service.

Start Your Ohana Collection Today

Testimonials from Ohana owners - these instruments are getting a lot of love.

Kala Waterman Ukulele The ultimate Travel ukulele, Rain Hail or Shine

The Waterman Story
KALA Ukulele, known for several brands of high quality yet affordable instruments, has been inspired by the 1950's Maccaferri ukulele and created a new uke with a focus on the outdoor enthusiast.

 "The Waterman" is a ukulele for everyone but pays special tribute to people that live the waterman, outdoor lifestyle.

The Waterman Ukulele pays homage in part to the legendary ukulele designer, Mario Maccaferri. Inspired at the 1939 World's Fair he saw plastic as the material of the future. Mario eventually combined his skills as a luthier and his business of injection molding and invented the Maccaferi Ukulele. After being endorsed by entertainer, Arthur Godfrey, on his TV show, 9 million of the Maccaferri ukes were sold between 1949 and 1969.

The Kala Makala Waterman Soprano Uke takes the Maccaferri concept to all new heights. An affordable, innovative uke with the quality you've come to expect from Kala, the Makala Waterman plays great, sounds great, and stays in tune. From the beach to the mountains and everything in between, the Makala Waterman boasts a durable high-grade polycarbonate construction and a travel-friendly, water-resistant design that makes this uke the perfect choice no matter where you go. Comes equipped with a set of nickel-plated open-gear tuners and a set of Aqulia Super Nylgut strings. Can easily converted for left-handed players. Includes a logo backpack bag.

The Makala Waterman Series by Kala features the latest water resistant composite technology packaged in vintage design and sound. The Waterman Series is designed for playability, portability and durability, making it the ultimate outdoor/travel ukulele.

In addition to being the perfect go anywhere ukulele for the outdoor enthusiast, the materials used in the Waterman’s construction make it an excellent choice for school and community music programs where cleanliness is a consideration. The ukuleles are easy to keep clean which is advantageous in settings where instruments are being shared.

Makala Waterman ukuleles come in soprano size and include a logo backpack/carrying bag. The instruments are made of high grade polycarbonate ABS construction which is durable and weather resistant, and are complemented with nickel plated open gear tuners. Each model is strung with Aquila Super Nyglut Strings.


Features:
Water resistant
Affordable
Portable
Durable
Easy to keep clean
High grade polycarbonate construction
Nickel plated open gear tuners
Aquila Super Nylgut Strings
Logo backpack bag included

FREE UKULELE LESSON WITH EVERY PURCHASE.

As a way of thanking you for your business The Ukulele Trading Co has partnered with Honolulu based Music Instructor Jeffrey Thomas to offer you a FREE Ukulele Lesson. 

Remember to tell Jeff “Aloha” from us.

Happy Strumming
Christopher Carr
The Chief Ukulele Guy at The Ukulele Trading Co Australia

How Does This Work?

The free lesson will take place over Skype. You will need a webcam and a microphone on your Desktop computer so you can communicate with Jeffrey. 

Or use your Laptop, Tablet or IPad.  They are perfect as they have inbuilt microphone and camera.  

How Do I Organise A Time For A Lesson?

Simply contact Jeffery and tell him that Ukulele Trading Co sent you.  You have 60 days to organise a lesson.  

What Time Of Day Is The Lesson?

Jeffrey lives in Honolulu, Hawaii. He has a handful of Australian students already and schedules an entire day to Aussie students each week. He is accustomed to the time-zone difference, so it's no issue finding a suitable time for the lesson 

Who Is The Ukulele Instructor?

Jeffrey Thomas has been teaching guitar, bass and ukulele for over 24 years.

He lives in Honolulu, the home of the ukulele! Jeffrey has a bunch of regular ukulele students from Australia.   Jeffrey prepares all notations before each lesson and can cater for anyone - beginners to advanced players.

How Long Is The Lesson?

Your free lesson will last 30mins. If you wish to continue lessons with Jeffrey,

you are welcome to speak with him

What Is Skype?

Skype is a free software application that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet.  

Simply Download Skype and sign up for a free account. 

Skype is becoming the new classroom for private music lessons. You will be pleasantly surprised at how easy the Skype lesson is. All you need is a webcam and a mic, Your Tablet or  IPad is perfect.  

Demo Kala UBASS-FM-FSEW and Kalas New Metal Round Wound Bass Strings KA-BASS-4

Demo Kala UBASS-FM-FSEW with Kalas New Metal Round Wound Bass Strings KA-BASS-4

New stock arrived today and amongst the regular stuff I got the new to Australia Kala UBASS with the new Kala Round wound Metal Strings for that more traditional Bass sound.

What a fantastic piece of Kit, the nylon core metal round-wound strings brings the UBASS to life. 

Easy on the fingers, and now with a nice punchy tone that is way way louder than the Polyurethane strings.

Regular Bass players will feel much more "at home" with this new UBASS and its Round-wound metal strings.


The Tuner is built in, the German Brand Shadow pre-amp is built in, and nice flamed mahogany body wood. 

And 'Nice' is quite the understatement as the pictures do not do justice to how good this wood looks.

2017 Australian pricing is $915 with gigbag with Setup and includes Postage to your door in Australia.

Hit me up with a message and I can do better for you to hook you up with one.

I love to haggle, Have you seen a price from someone else here in Australia on a Stocked Item ... I will have a crack at seeing if I can do better.

The Strings are available as sets to retrofit your UBASS, they are $72.95 incl postage. Code: KA-BASS-4 and I have those in-stock too.

DESCRIPTION
The Exotic Mahogany Acoustic-Electric was introduced in 2012 and has quickly become Kala's best-selling U-Bass. 

Capturing the same upright bass sound as the Solid Mahogany U-Bass, look no further for enormous low end.

Exotic Mahogany back and sides with a Mahogany neck.  Featuring a well fretted Rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

SO EASY TO PLAY; EVEN FOR NON BASS PLAYERS
Made with a diminutive 21" scale for EASY playing regardless of your hand size, heck any tiny handed Donald  could whizz around this fretboard with ease.  16 chunky profile quality nickle steel frets.

Custom Die-Cast Tuners and the star of the Show the NEW Kala UBASS Round-wound metal strings with Nylon core.

Custom Kala and Road Toad logo inlays, electronic system with an active EQ and built-in tuner.

Includes a Deluxe Custom U-BASS Embroidered Logo Gig Bag

And if you Travel around this Big Brown land by Plane the UBASS meets most airline carry-on requirements.

SPECS
TOP: Exotic Mahogany
BACK & SIDES: Exotic Mahogany
BINDING: Black
FINISH: Satin
NECK: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
BRIDGE: Rosewood
NUT: GraphTech TUSQ®
SADDLE: Composite
TUNERS: Custom Hipshot Ultralite™
HEADSTOCK: Standard UBASS
STRINGS: Kala Round Wounds nylon Core Metal Wound.
ELECTRONICS: Shadow® U-Bass NFX
SHORT SCALE: 20.375 in
OVERALL LENGTH: 29.375 in
INCLUDES: Deluxe Padded Bag


MEASUREMENTS
Scale Length: 20.375 inches, Overall Instrument Length: 29.375 inches, Body Length: 14 inches, Number of frets: 16, Width at upper bout: 7.75 inches, Width at lower bout: 10.25 inches, Width at waist: 6.625 inches, Body Depth: 3.25 inches, Fingerboard width at nut: 1.75 inches, Fingerboard width at neck/body joint: 2.213 inches