Reddit reviews AQUILA 50185 Tenor Ukulele Strings

Low fretwire (9.50)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AX9TUG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Two bridges. I used the bone from the 2nd bridge as the nut. I cut grooves in it and sanded it lower. (7)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0116TFMM4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Tenor Uke strings (8.30)


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K3EGWI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Tuning pegs (7.20)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077FW1XNK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


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Total is $32

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Wood is from Habitat for Humanity restore. Locust was $18 for 5/4 9bf. I used mahogany scraps from a friend at the community workshop I use (college student, $25/month. normal ppl pay $50/month).

Hm, well if you want to perform with it, you're not likely to find anything that sounds pro-quality for $30-40 dollars. The biggest problem you'll run into with these cheaper ukes is poor quality control. So maybe some frets are a little too high and that will create buzzing. Or it's not constructed quite right and the sound is muted and dead. Or it doesn't stay in tune up the neck. Fine for someone learning, but not ideal for performing.

But, in that price range I recommend checking out the lower end Kala ukuleles. Amazon link. The dolphin / shark ukes are plastic and look like toys but are actually really good beater ukes. Even though I have much nicer ukes, I still use my Makala Dolphin when I go camping or to the beach or whatever. You also don't have to worry about leaving them in a hot car. They have a surprisingly full sound and are SUPER durable, and cost about $45. If you don't like the look of the colorful plastic ukes, a laminate wood Kala like this is fine too, but may not be as tolerant of heat or excessive moisture.

Being a bigger guy with (I assume) larger-than-average hands, you'll likely be most comfortable on a Tenor sized ukulele, but those may be out of your price range for a half-decent one. (The ones I linked above are Soprano, the smallest size, which you may find cramped). But here's a $99 tenor you might be interested in. And here are some performance-quality tenors starting at $184.

Whatever you choose, you absolutely must replace the stock stings with decent ones – it makes a big difference on these cheap ukes. I recommend Aquila strings. Make sure you buy the right size (i.e. Soprano or Tenor).

I'm not sure about the left-handed aspect. It seems to me that it'd be easier to just play it in the normal style (fretting with your left hand, strumming with your right). Otherwise you'll have to flip your strings and all chord charts and tabs will be backwards for you. And on some ukes (likely not $40 ones though) you'd have to flip the bridge to get the strings to lie right. Seems like a pain. Or I guess you can just play it upside-down, but all your down-strums would sound like up-strums. But I'm right-handed so take with a pinch of salt!