Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?

Subject: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 02:23 PM

I'm looking for a small—quite small—guitar-like instrument. I've thought about a ukulele, and although I know there are musicians who can get some pretty fantastic music out of one of these "jumping fleas," I have mixed feelings about a uke. I went googling, and found that there is such a thing as a "uke-guitar."

I found only one, the Mahalo uke-guitar. As far as I've been able to tell, this is the only one in the mass market. Apparently a fairly rare configuration for a uke, there are others available, but they appear to be custom made and very pricey—much more than I want to spend.

I e-mailed this vendor to ask a few questions about the instrument and they responded, but I can't say I'm totally satisfied with the answers. For example, I asked what notes the uke-guitar is tuned to (I assumed that it might be the same as a guitar but an octave up), and was informed that it's tuned to exactly the same pitches as a guitar. I really doubt this, considering that the pitch length is 14¹/₄ inches. Unless, of course, it's strung with elevator cables. I also commented on the fact that it's less that $50.00, and although I said I wasn't all that concerned about great resonance and tone, the intonation (pitch) had to be right on—this is essential. They said that it sounded pretty much like any uke, and that they were accurate as far as pitch is concerned. They also said they had a 15-day no-questions-asked return policy, so I could try it out and if for any reason I didn't like it, I could send it back.

I also asked about the availability of strings. If the relative tuning is the same as a guitar, I can see that it would probably use regular ukulele strings for the top three. But how about the three "bass" strings? They said they'd have to check into that, but I haven't heard from them about that yet. If I can't get replacement strings, then no deal.

They come in three colors (Hosanna!!). I don't particularly fancy the red or the electric blue, so if I decide to get one, I'd probably opt for this one.

Does anyone have any experience with these things?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 02:42 PM

I've seen Back-pack guitars...sounded 'ok'

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Al
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 02:45 PM

A baritone ukulele is tuned exactly like the top 4 strings of a guitar. It may be just what you are looking for.
Al

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 02:47 PM

a search on "backpack + guitar" will get other items.

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 02:59 PM

and there was this thread a few years ago...

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 03:06 PM

Thanks, but I'm thoroughly acquainted with the small travel guitars available. In fact, I have two travel guitars, a nylon-string and a steel-string made by Sam Radding in San Diego. Both fantastically good instruments (they sound like real guitars). CLICKY.

I'm looking for something that is smaller than these. About uke size, and if it has six strings like a guitar, so much the better.

What I'm asking here is for specific information about the Mahalo uke-guitar. Anybody?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 03:18 PM

For the price, sounds like junk.
Much used in Hawai'i and elsewhere, the Kamaka 'ukulele comes in models including baritone and tenor.
This source can help:
www.ukes.com/kamaka.html

They sell others as well as guitars-
www.ukes.com

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: number 6
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 03:21 PM

Mahalo Ukes are no more than toys. Don't even bother thinking about getting one.

biLL

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Alec
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 03:45 PM

Can't say about their uke-guitar Don but my uke is a mahalo & I've found it to be a good-enough affordable entry level instrument
(Hell I've even become quite attached to the little bugger)
If "good-enough affordable entry level" sounds as though it meets your requirements I would say "go for it" otherwise leave alone.
B.T.W.Agree with your choice of colour.

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 03:50 PM

Well, since I'm well equipped with guitars—two very good classics, an outrageous flamenco (collector's item, actually), and two excellent travel guitars—I'm just looking for something small and handy to piddle around with. To try out chords on a new song I'm working on, pick out a melody line from a song book, that sort of thing. Dink around on. Play when I'm in the bathtub, maybe? Well, probably not. But not to use in performance. A toy would be fine (Schroeder's piano would be okay, except I don't play keyboard), provided it was acceptably accurate in pitch and replacement strings are available.

I don't want to spend a bundle. But I don't want to blow $39.95 on something unless it's at least a halfway decent toy.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Mooh
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 04:02 PM

One of my soprano ukes is a Mahalo and as far as I'm concerned they ruined some pretty good kindling by glueing it together and slapping finish on it. My guess is you'd be happier with a half size nylon strung guitar, or as mentioned, a baritone uke.

Good luck though and let us know how things work out.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Ernest
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 06:15 PM

I`ve seen (and heard) a Yamahe guitarlele which sounded and looked ok to me - google for that one.

And I`ve seen a similar model by Johnson in a shop.

Both had a natural or clear-laquered finish, which looked much better than the Mahalos which seem to come with an extra thick paint...

Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 07:21 PM

I googled the Yamaha guitalele, found a photo or two, and it looks very likely. The problem is that almost all the web sites were in French, Spanish, German, or languages that I didn't recognize. I found one web site in English, but I couldn't tell what country it was. It had an "en" prefix before the body of the URL. England? I've visited a lot of English web sites, but I haven't seen that before. Anyway, the Yamaha guitalele on that site sells for 60 Euros.

I found one on eBay and one on Yahoo auction—both sold. I did learn that it's tuned like a guitar with a capo on the fifth fret (like an "alto guitar"), but nothing about replacement strings. And the interesting thing is that I went to the Yamaha web site and they don't even acknowledge its existence.

It looks very much like what I want. But being in the U. S. of A., where could I find out more information about it, and where could I buy such a thing?

I can't find anything at all on the Johnson hybrid.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 07:41 PM

This page with guiteleles for sale is in English - it's a German dealer..

"en" is definitely not England - it's not a suffix that appears in any list of international suffixes I've come across.

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: GUEST,Captain Colin.
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 08:04 PM

I've seen these- there's a lot about, they are Chinese and good value- may be ok for what you have in mind as long as your expectations are realistic. Main issue you need to consider is that the fingerboard is tiny, with very close string spacing, and will it will be difficult to play chords.

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 10:30 AM

Our kids had a Mahalo uke - a brightly painted toy with very weak sound. I'd be surprised if you would play their Uke-Guitar very much, especially with your real instruments at hand.

That having been said, the brightly painted toy stayed in tune and played ok, at least for open chords.
- Phil

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 11:22 AM

Ukulele's in themselves are serious instruments...I believe Chet Atkins started on one!

But, like anything else...get a good 'un! Baritone uke's are fun and you can use ordinary nylon guitar strings on them, but if you are already a guitarist you might find them limiting.

Better yet, get a banjo~ ukulele!

Have you looked at Vintage?

Best wishes

Pete

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 11:45 PM

Aren't there some decent kid's guitars on the market for not much more? Sears used to carry them and I think Costco does now. Their web-sites will tell you. I unloaded a banjo uke at the side of the road in 1977 while cycling from Melbourne to Sydney. Did you find it Pete?

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 01:08 PM

Thanks a million for all the information and suggestions. It sounds like buying one of the Mahalo uke/guitars might be a real crap-shoot.

As I said initially, the whole idea is to have a small, handy instrument as a strictly practical working tool, not for performance. It should be almost as convenient to carry around as a Master Key chromatic pitch-pipe (slips into a shirt pocket), but a bit more versatile, a stringed instrument as much like a guitar as possible, and if it is too big to carry in a shirt pocket, it should still be small enough to stuff into a tote-bag (Tiny Tim style?). I want to be able to use it to pick out melody lines or try chords with—but not finished arrangements, and as I said, not to use in performance. As long as it can be tuned to a tuning fork or electronic tuner and I can play chords on it (regardless of the chord voicing—the final arrangement would be worked out on the guitar), it will do. And it should be very economical (i.e., cheap).

What I'll probably do is cruise a few used musical instrument stores or pawn shops and see if I can pick up a decent used soprano uke. A uke should actually do nicely, and that'll give me a chance to try it out first.

Again, many thanks!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: GUEST,JOE MCTURK
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 05:49 PM

I have just bought the blue mahalo uke guitar [nice colour].The vendor suggested tuning it to G,C,C,E,A,A.Which was said to be normal 6 string uke tuning.But in view of the neck width this involves very difficult left hand fingering as the nuts not set up in double courses like a mandolin etc. The strings on the instrument received appeared to be for the above tuning,but this vendor also said it could also be tuned in standard guitar tuning[as you will appreciate not with these strings it couldnt]SO,as I wanted to tune the instrument in normal six string guitar intervals I have strung it with D'ADDARIO pro.art classical guitar strings ej44's [VERY HARD TENSION] Tuned a full tone higher than standard ie.F#,C#,A,E,B,F#. from high to low,just like capoing on the second fret in standard tuning.IT SOUNDS GREAT!and chord transpositions are simple.Its a nice little instrument, seems correct in tone up neck and sounds great played fingerstyle.HOPE THIS HELPS....JOE MCTURK

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: GUEST,JOE MCTURK
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:05 PM

Re. previous message,this is the vendor for the mahalo on Ebay,

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:06 PM

Now that sounds good, Joe!

How is the string spacing? Are the strings far enough apart to finger chords comfortably? On such a small instrument, I wouldn't expect string spacing like on a classic, which is what I normally play, but I have no problem managing a steel string neck with a width of about 1 11/16", about standard for a lot of steel string guitars.

I use D'Addario EJ44s on my nylon string travel guitar (24 1/2" string length), tuned to standard pitch, and it sounds darned near like a full-size classic--a little thin in the base, but resonant, and with good sustain. Possibly with different tension strings, one could tune the uke-guitar like an "alto guitar":   standard guitar tuning with a capo on the 5th fret. Lots of possible options.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: GUEST,joe mcturk
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:09 PM

Sorry can't seem to get the clicky accepted but search eBey uk for info plus good photos

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: GUEST,JOE MCTURK
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:29 PM

NECK WIDTH AT NUT 1 14/16" I have VERY big hands with long fingers and can play chords all over neck.I do use thumb and fingerpicks on this instrument to give more definition and stop any slight string rattle caused by pulling the strings a bit if played with just the fingers.The alto guitar tuning is standard uke tuning on first four strings,a fifth semi-tone higher than standard,so this would give a uke sound but with six strings,interesting....JOE MCTURK..

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:45 PM

An inch and tree-quarters. Not bad!

Thanks again, Joe! I'm going to have a real heavy think about this.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: GUEST,JOE MCTURK
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 07:10 PM

At £26.99 NEW, English Money It's been an excellent buy. I wouldn't have worried if it was crap! at this price.IT ISN'T. GOOD HUNTING...JOE MCTURK

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 07:01 PM

Reading this thread set me feeling guilty about having an unstrung ukelele hanging on the wall, so I started playing around stringing it up, using a set of guitar strings I had handy.

I ended up using tuning it mandolin/fiddle/banjo style, GDAE, using the top four guitar strings.

It's really fun to play, what with the frets all being so short. Anyone else tried this?

Now, do I still call it a ukelele, or should I call it "a ukelin"...

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Ernest
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 02:36 AM

Hi McGrath,
I did that with a banjo-uke using mandolin strings - it worked, but the sound wasn`t great. Later I got a banjo-mandolin changed to 4 strings that sounds better. So I got a set of uke-strings (nylon) for the banjo-uke - it sounds much better now(GCEA-tuning).
Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Alec
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 02:56 AM

Mandolele has a certain ring to it.

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 01:36 PM

Can't you hear those Mandeleles ringing out...

Yes, I like it. Or perhaps Mandolele.

On the Road to Mandolele
There are fishes flying gaily...

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 01:51 PM

I'm afraid that by starting this thread, I may have unleashed a monster. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: GUEST,JOE MCTURK
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 07:42 PM

A monster!.............Try playing a baritone uke with a bottleneck tuned.-D,B,G,D. High to low.NOW THATS A MONSTER!!! Nearest thing I can find to a tenor dobro[JOE BROWN has one]Can't find one advertised anywhere.National used to make them[TRICONES]in the thirties but not now.I couldn't offord one anyway.Yes........THE BARITONE UKE does have nylon strings,but it does make a nice old bluesy sound.Like Gus Cannon playing slide Banjo...Well there ya go,maybe I should opologise for this,but I do love uke's.They are great for playing after everyone's gone to bed and you don't want to wake them up.Sorry Don,this will make you wish you had never started the enquiry in the first place.....JOE MCTURK

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Fidjit
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 03:11 PM

They come in other colours. I have one thats BRIGHT yellow.

Tuning is a bugger. As a guitarist I find the chords difficult, but I guess I'll get used to it. (only had it a coupla of days)

Mcgrath. What about open tuning for the uke?? GAGDAD or is it DADGAG/DAGDAD. Whatever it's only 4 strings.
Chas

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 04:13 PM

Yes, bouzouki type tuning (GDAD or ADAD) would probably be fun too. But the mandolin tuning type is better for playing tunes - the thing is with all the frets so small you can reach up as high as the seventh fret without needing to move your hand from the first position.

Subject: RE: Mahalo Uke-Guitar -- Comments?
From: Don Firth
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 12:24 AM

"Tuning is a bugger."

Why is this, fidjit? Judging from the pictures, it looks like the Mahalo uke-guitar has geared tuning keys in a slotted head-stock pretty much like a classic guitar. Is this not the case?

Don Firth