Ukulele Finishes – Satin and Glossy

Sometimes it can be confusing on which finish to get when buying a ukulele. Two popular finishes that are used today are satin and glossy. Deciding on which can influence the overall price and is a matter of preference. Both will provide excellent protection and should not adversely affect the overall sound and tone of the ukulele.

Satin or low sheen finish will tend to absorb light rather than reflect light. It has a matte or soft appearance making them attractive to people that like the natural or classical look. A satin finish is easy to apply and lowers the overall cost of the ukulele. With a satin finish, the polyurethane finish is lightly sprayed on and dried without buffing.

Unlike a satin finish, a glossy or high sheen finish will tend to reflect light that will lend to a bright and mirror like appearance. This finish will emphasize the color and grain patterns of the wood. A glossy finish is more expensive since it requires more work to achieve the glossy appearance. With a glossy finish, the finish is lightly sprayed on and then polished and buffed to a mirror like appearance.

The Makai MK-70 Soprano ukulele in our Solid Top Series features the satin finish. It has a solid Spruce top with Mahogany laminate back and sides, beautiful Rosewood fingerboard, Nato neck, black GHS nylon strings, bone nut and saddle and lightweight geared tuners. The Makai MK-70 is very popular in this series.

The Makai LK-80W Soprano ukulele in our Limited Series features a highly polished glossy finish. It has a solid Cedar top with Willow laminate back and sides, beautiful Ebony fingerboard, deluxe Gotoh friction peg tuners, Aquila strings and bone nut and saddle. The Makai LK-80W is extremely popular in this series.

The Makai MK-70 and LK-80W are very popular, have exceptional sound quality and are a great value. These durable instruments are great to take to the beach or to any outdoor activity. You will find these are very affordable instruments that you will enjoy playing.

At New England Music Store we strive to sell only the best ukuleles for sale online at affordable prices. Our board selection ranges from the ukulele for the beginner in our Makai Mahogany Series to our Makai Koa Solid Top Series for the professional musician. For those who want a better sounding instrument, we have the Makai Limited Series and for the seasoned musician we have the Makai Solid Top Series. If you are looking for a truly unique instrument, then check out our Mango Series and if you are interested in a brighter sound than the Mahogany ukulele, then check out our Makai Maple Series.

Shop around, but visit us last at New England Music Store and you will find quality-crafted ukuleles for sale at affordable prices along with durable Armor hardshell cases and gig bags to protect your valuable instrument. Rest assured, when you buy a Makai ukulele from us you will not be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. Thank you for shopping at New England Music Store!

And remember, all the Makai ukuleles we sell at New England Music Store are ready to play right out right of the box!

Satisfaction guaranteed and happy strumming – Aloha!

Makai LK-80W Soprano Ukulele

Is the sound quality of an all-laminate ukulele not what you expect? Are all solid top ukuleles too expensive for your budget? Did you know that the soundboard, that is, the top of the ukulele transmits most of the sound while the back and sides reflect most of the sounds? This known fact makes it ideal to have ukuleles with sold tops and laminate back and sides. Solid woods vibrate more freely than laminates; thereby transmitting a better sound quality. Since the back and sides act more like a reflector, they can be laminates without any negligible loss of sound quality. Laminate sides and backs may even be better than some solid woods in reflecting sound because the solid woods may absorb more of the sound. Obviously, the shape of the ukulele and wood used contribute to the overall tonal quality. However, a solid top ukulele with laminate back and sides produces brilliant tonal qualities and makes the ukulele less expensive.

Our Makai LK-80W Soprano ukulele features a solid Cedar top with Willow laminate back and sides to produce a rich sound quality you would expect at an affordable price! Cedar is a light to reddish wood used primarily for soundboards. Willow looks great and has unique grain patterns making no two ukuleles look the same. Other features include: beautiful Ebony fingerboard, deluxe Gotoh friction peg tuners, Aquila strings and bone nut and saddle. The satin appearance adds to the instrument giving it a more traditional appearance. The Makai LK-80W is fully inspected and is ready to play right out of the box.

At New England Music Store we strive to sell only the best ukuleles for sale online at affordable prices. Our board selection ranges from the ukulele for the beginner in our Makai Mahogany Series to our Makai Koa Solid Top Series for the professional musician. For those who want a better sounding instrument, we have the Makai Limited Series and for the seasoned musician we have the Makai Solid Top Series. If you are looking for a truly unique instrument, then check out our Makai Mango Series and if you are interested in a brighter sound than the Mahogany ukulele, then check out our Makai Maple Series.

Shop around, but visit us last at New England Music Store and you will find quality-crafted ukuleles for sale at affordable prices along with durable Armor hardshell cases and gig bags to protect your valuable instrument. Ukuleles also make great gifts. Rest assured, when you buy a Makai ukulele from us you will not be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. Thank you for shopping at New England Music Store!

And remember, all the Makai ukuleles we sell at New England Music Store are ready to play right out right of the box!

Satisfaction guaranteed and happy strumming – Aloha!

Ukulele Carrying Cases and Gig Bags

So now that you just bought or own a ukulele, how are you going to store it? How do you plan on carrying your ukulele to some outdoor event, strapped over your shoulder? Proper care of your ukulele will prolong its beauty and performance. Extreme temperatures can affect the appearance and sound quality of your ukulele.

Rapid changes in temperature should always be avoided. Never store your ukulele near heaters or inside a car. Extreme prolonged temperatures can cause the glue to get soft and may cause the bridge to pull off or worse yet, the thing may implode! Avoid storing your ukulele in the sun and do not let your ukulele just lay around. One sure way to protect and carry your ukulele is with a quality hard case or gig bag. The hard case is preferred way to protect your ukulele since it is studier than a gig bag.

We offer two styles of the Armor Hardshell Carrying cases that will accommodate most standard ukuleles from soprano to baritone. The first features a rugged black rhino-grip exterior with a plush soft black lining. The other features a vintage tweed exterior with a plush soft red lining.  Both are durable cases that will guard your ukulele from dings and scratches. They have heavy-duty latches that will not fall off and come with a lock and key. The interior lining is thick enough to keep your ukulele warm and snug.

We also offer the Armor Gig Bags as an alternate way to carry and store your ukulele. Although gig bags are not as sturdy as hardshell carrying cases, they may be just what you are looking for easy carrying of your ukulele to some outdoor event. We offer quality gig bags that are 10mm thick and have shoulder straps for easy carrying. Gig bags are ideal for those that are on a budget.

At New England Music Store we strive to sell only the best ukuleles for sale online at affordable prices. Our board selection ranges from the ukulele for the beginner in our Makai Mahogany Series to our Makai Koa Solid Top Series for the professional musician. For those who want a better sounding instrument, we have the Makai Limited Series and for the seasoned musician we have the Makai Solid Top Series. If you are looking for a truly unique instrument, then check out our Mango Series and if you are interested in a brighter sound than the Mahogany ukulele, then check out our Makai Maple Series.

Shop around, but visit us last at New England Music Store and you will find quality-crafted ukuleles for sale at affordable prices along with durable Armor hardshell cases and gig bags to protect your valuable instrument. Ukuleles also make great gifts. Rest assured, when you buy a Makai ukulele from us you will not be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. Thank you for shopping at New England Music Store!

And remember, all the ukuleles we sell at New England Music Store are fully inspected and are ready to play right out right of the box!

Satisfaction guaranteed and happy strumming – Aloha!

Makai BK-55 Baritone Ukulele

Looking for an instrument that is less expensive and easier to play than the guitar? Maybe you are a beginner and feel that the guitar is intimidating and may cause you not play at all? Or could it be you are looking for a different sound and something that is light and easier to carry than a guitar? The baritone ukulele may be just what you may be looking for.

The baritone is the largest of the ukulele family and is typically 30 inches in length. The baritone resembles a min-guitar and sounds very much like a guitar. The baritone has a louder and fuller sound than the smaller ukuleles. It is popular with former guitar players and people who are planning to move on to the guitar. The tuning of the baritone is from low to high D-G-B-E just as the top four strings of a guitar. This unique tuning will require special baritone sheet music, or the instrument will not sound as beautiful as the smaller ukuleles. Special baritone gauged strings are required and then the instrument can play the same music as the smaller ukuleles. Most people who purchase the baritone do it for the unique sound of the instrument.

Our Makai BK-55 Baritone ukulele is an easy instrument to play, much easier than the guitar. It has four strings as in the smaller ukuleles making it much less difficult than playing a regular guitar. You will find that the Makai BK-55 is an enjoyable instrument to play and you will learn quickly. The Makai BK-55 is fully inspected by professional luithers and is ready to play right out of the box! So, if you are looking for an alternative to the guitar, consider the Makai BK-55 Baritone ukulele. Before you know it you will be playing beautiful music on this unique instrument.

The Makai BK-55 features Mahogany laminate top, back and sides, satin finish, beautiful Rosewood fingerboard, black GHS nylon strings and lightweight geared tuners. The satin finish lends to a natural look and the lightweight geared tuners will not cause the instrument to be top heavy. The Makai BK-55 is a becoming a quite popular instrument in our Mahogany Series, has exceptional sound quality and is a great value. Most people tend to start with laminate ukuleles since they do not require the special care as in solid wood ukuleles. The Makai BK-55 is a durable ukulele and is great to take to the beach or to any outdoor activity. You will find that the Makai BK-55 is a very affordable instrument and one you will enjoy playing.

At New England Music Store we strive to sell only the best ukuleles for sale online at affordable prices. Our board selection ranges from the ukulele for the beginner in our Makai Mahogany Series to our Makai Koa Solid Top Series for the professional musician. For those who want a better sounding instrument, we have the Makai Limited Series and for the seasoned musician we have the Makai Solid Top Series. If you are looking for a truly unique instrument, then check out our Mango Series and if you are interested in a brighter sound than the Mahogany ukulele, then check out our Makai Maple Series.

Shop around, but visit us last at New England Music Store and you will find quality-crafted ukuleles for sale at affordable prices along with durable Armor hardshell cases and gig bags to protect your valuable instrument. Ukuleles also make great gifts. Rest assured, when you buy a Makai ukulele from us you will not be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. Thank you for shopping at New England Music Store!

And remember, all the ukuleles we sell at New England Music Store are fully inspected and are ready to play right out right of the box!

Satisfaction guaranteed and happy strumming – Aloha!

Makai PK-55 Soprano with Pineapple Body

In the early part of the nineteenth century the figure-eight was the popular ukulele body shape having the appearance of a small guitar. Since then many new ukulele body shapes have emerged. For example, around 1970 a company produced a triangular shaped ukulele to duplicate a cheaply constructed ukulele manufactured in China. Another shape that can be found is called the ‘Flying V’ that mimics the body of the Gibson guitar. Some ukuleles that have a rectangular shape are called ‘cigar box’ ukuleles. Even the figure-eight body style has gone through some modifications. It is not uncommon to find a cutaway section on the upper bout to allow easier access to the upper frets. Possibly the most common ‘second’ style is the oval or pineapple design. Many companies have copied this body style.

Our Makai PK-55 Soprano ukulele features a Pineapple body style soprano ukulele in our Mahogany Series might be of interest.  The Makai PK-55 has an oval or pineapple shaped body that is made from a special Mahogany laminate (not the cheap plywood with scrap wood glued in the middle) that is durable and will not crack or the grain to split over time. Mahogany is a medium density wood that is reddish in color. Mahogany produces tones that are warm, bright and loud without too much emphasis on either end of the tonal spectrum. Many ukuleles are made with mahogany and it is generally considered the prime tone wood.

The Makai PK-55 Soprano has the classic sound and features the mahogany laminate top, back and sides, satin finish, beautiful Rosewood fingerboard, black GHS nylon strings and lightweight geared tuners. The satin finish lends to a natural look and the lightweight geared tuners will not cause the instrument to be top heavy. The Makai PK-55 is a very popular style in our Mahogany Series, has exceptional sound quality and is a great value. Most people tend to start with laminate ukuleles since they do not require the special care as in solid wood ukuleles. The Makai PK-55 is a durable ukulele and is great to take to the beach or to any outdoor activity. You will find that the Makai PK-55 is a very affordable instrument and one you will enjoy playing.

At New England Music Store we strive to sell only the best ukuleles for sale online at affordable prices. Our board selection ranges from the ukulele for the beginner in our Makai Mahogany Series to our Makai Koa Solid Top Series for the professional musician. For those who want a better sounding instrument, we have the Makai Limited Series and for the seasoned musician we have the Makai Solid Top Series. If you are looking for a truly unique instrument, then check out our Mango Series and if you are interested in a brighter sound than the Mahogany ukulele, then check out our Makai Maple Series.

Shop around, but visit us last at New England Music Store and you will find quality-crafted ukuleles for sale at affordable prices along with durable Armor hardshell cases and gig bags to protect your valuable instrument. Ukuleles also make great gifts. Rest assured, when you buy a Makai ukulele from us you will not be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. Thank you for shopping at New England Music Store!

And remember, all the ukuleles we sell at New England Music Store are ready to play right out right of the box!

Satisfaction guaranteed and happy strumming – Aloha!

Makai MC-70 Concert Ukulele

Have you ever heard terms like warm, bright, mellow and cool in describing the tones produced from ukuleles? Typically these terms describe the type of wood used in the body construction of the instrument and are called tonewoods. Solid woods transmit sound better because they vibrate more freely than laminate woods which are used on less expensive ukuleles. If you are looking for a better quality ukulele with a brighter and louder sound you may want to consider a solid top Concert ukulele made from spruce.

Our Makai MC-70 Concert ukulele in our Solid Top Series features a solid Spruce top tonewood. Spruce is a very close-grained wood that produces a rich, vibrant tone. Many luthiers consider spruce as having the best flexibility for sound reproduction. Spruce is considered to be the premier tonewood for tops.

The Makai MC-70 Concert ukulele also features satin finish, solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, beautiful Rosewood fingerboard, GHS black nylon strings, lightweight geared tuners and bone nut and saddle. The combination of a solid Spruce top and Mahogany laminate back and sides is a very popular design. The satin appearance adds to the instrument giving it a more natural look.

At New England Music Store we strive to sell only the best ukuleles for sale online at affordable prices. Our board selection ranges from the ukulele for the beginner in our Makai Mahogany Series to our Makai Koa Solid Top Series for the professional musician. For those who want a better sounding instrument, we have the Makai Limited Series and for the seasoned musician we have the Makai Solid Top Series. If you are looking for a truly unique instrument, then check out our Mango Series and if you are interested in a brighter sound than the Mahogany ukulele, then check out our Makai Maple Series.

Shop around, but visit us last at New England Music Store and you will find quality-crafted ukuleles for sale at affordable prices along with durable Armor hardshell cases and gig bags to protect your valuable instrument. Ukuleles also make great gifts. Rest assured, when you buy a Makai ukulele from us you will not be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. Thank you for shopping at New England Music Store!

And remember, all the Makai ukuleles we sell at New England Music Store are ready to play right out right of the box!

Satisfaction guaranteed and happy strumming – Aloha!

Mango and Maple Ukuleles

Most stringed instruments, including the ukulele generally use Mahogany wood in the construction of the body. Typically this wood is medium density, reddish in color making the sound quality bright and bassy. However there are other woods that are used in the construction of the body of the ukulele which are the Maple and Mango woods.

The Maple wood is noted for its good density and resilience. There are many types of Maple: flamed, curly burl and quilted. The Maple wood offers beautiful grain patterns. Maple is harder and has a brighter sound than Mahogany.

Although known for its fruit than its wood, the Mango tree contains curly, striped, multicolor grain patterns. The wood is noted for is its distinctive color and grain patterns. This makes each Mango ukulele a truly unique and beautiful instrument.

At New England Music Store we offer these two latest styles that we are quite proud to recommend. The first is from our Makai Maple Series which features a solid Simi Maple body, regular Makai headstock, tortoise binding, lightweight geared turners with white pearloid buttons and Aquila strings. For those that want a truly unique instrument we suggest our Makai Mango Series which features a solid Mango body, satin finish, rope inlay, tortoise bindings (white/black), lightweight geared tuners, white pearloid buttons and Aquila strings.

At New England Music Store we strive to sell only the best ukuleles for sale online at affordable prices. Our board selection ranges from the ukulele for the beginner in our Makai Mahogany Series to the professional musicians in our Makai Koa Solid Series. For the collector, we offer our Makai Limited Series and for the seasoned musician we have our Makai Solid Top Series. Shop around, but visit us last at New England Music Store and you will find quality-crafted ukuleles for sale at affordable prices along with durable ukulele hard cases to protect your valuable instrument. Ukuleles also make great gifts. Rest assured, when you buy a Makai ukulele from us you will not be disappointed in the quality of the instrument. Thank you for shopping at New England Music Store!

Satisfaction guaranteed and happy strumming – Aloha!