Who's got a Ukulele on Board?

[surfingminniwinni]

Since we started cruising Ive taken to playing ukulele. I have a guitar as well, but the size of the uke makes it quicker to whip out and much easier to store. Anyone else?

[boatman61]

Nearly bought a beaut hand made one in Nuku Hiva... but I was running very low on personal funds by then and they were asking 230 euro's for it... maybe next time...

[surfingminniwinni]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Nearly bought a beaut hand made one in Nuku Hiva... but I was running very low on personal funds by then and they were asking 230 euro's for it... maybe next time...

230 euro's, I would have loved to see it.

[Waterway Guide]

Uke (cheap), guitar, toy piano, little djembe and lots of other little noisemakers.

[captain58sailin]

230 euros, man the price has really gone up since the 70s, we traded a box of 50, .22 cartridges, for one. They used a .22 for hunting.

[sushirama]

Mine is painted like a watermelon.

[Geoduck]

I've got an old tenor guitar I bought in Mexico a hundred years ago that is about the size of a ukulele. It lives on the boat.
I also just bought a Voyage Air dreadnought with a folding neck that is one hell of a guitar for the money and takes up less room than a standard size guitar. Plays and sounds great!

[cruise]

pretty keen to learn

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by surfingminniwinni

230 euro's, I would have loved to see it.

Actually it was the unique carvings that attracted me... they had 3 for sale at the time... each one different... unlike some I place a value on native labours of love...
It was not one of those George Formby mass produced things.. it was carved out of a single piece of local timber... it seemed worth it to me and that's all that matters.

[Ocean Girl]

Rain dog does :-)

[nwdiver]

I carry a Martin backpacker guitar it's very narrow and easy to pack up

[captain58sailin]

How does that backpacker guitar sound?

[Emerald Sea]

Yup. Last year the misses and I took up Ukulele and we have one on the boat. We downloaded a nr of ukulele song apps, moor up and have a sing-song. We enjoy it (not sure about the neighbours!!).

Im actually a guitarist, with a vintage collection, and we are planning a long term cruise next year (sans guitars!) and looking at which guitar is best to take out on the high seas considering wood and humidity (bit like electronics, isn't it!). Composite guitar perhaps?

Steve
L450

[Geoduck]

I've had guitars on boats for many years.
My old $100 Yamaha has held up well.
I once owned an Ovation because it had a fiberglass body and I thought it would be the one to have, but it has a spruce top and it warped and it always sounded like a garbage can with strings anyway.
I just bought a Voyage Air and I love it - so far, so good and not a lot of $$$.
I picked up a Martin backpacker and got rid of it - no sound at all, never enjoyed it at all.
You can't bet an old Yamaha fg180 red label, if you can find one for around cheap enough.
When they built these guitars, they varnished the insides as well as the out and sealed them up pretty good. I've had mine since 1969 and it was worn out when I got it. It has been on my fishing boat with me from Mexico to Alaska. It has lived in the dessert, mountains, on the coast on several boats and I've never done a damn thing to it and don't really take care of it like one should. It's starting to look like Willie Nelson's guitar as I've almost worn a hole in it, the frets are flat and it is as worn as any guitar ive seen but it plays and sounds as good as any and better than most, even a $3000 Martin doesn't sound any better or play any better. I recently bought a 500l9 Taylor short scale and it has a better one but doesn't play any better and cost me a bunch.
I'd go for another Yamaha, but an old one if you're looking to go cheap (under $500)

[VirtualVagabond]

I've got too many fingers for a uke, in fact for most jobs, but I picked up the ugliest guitar in Christendom for $75. It's the most comfortable guitar I've ever had and has a great tone... just lucky, and half blind I guess