WHATS EXCITING NEW AND DIFFERENT AT ANDY'S UKES.

OK, so this space is usually about new Ukes and Gear.

After 25 years the frame shop is closed, the building is sold and on to the next chapter.

That means I will have a far greater availability.

Still if you can make an appointment a day ahead, or at the least phone ahead a couple of hours.

Not so new now but still pretty important the new shop.

From the start I wanted to create something new, well, really something very old. A true music store. One where there is a great selection of quality instruments. And one where every instrument has been professionally set up for maximum playablility.

"Because every Uke deserves a great set up".

A special place where it is all about the passion for the Ukulele, the Uke community, and music. To expand on that and to improve the customer experience I've built a proper Ukulele shop.

600 square feet that is completely climate and humidity controlled.I gotta say 50 %+ - humidity feels really strange here, but it's what's needed to keep the Ukes healthy.

Finally enough space to have everything out in the open and organized.

Reasonably accessible for most in Albuquerque and New Mexico, right below Intel in Corrales.

#500 Morning Sun Trail Corrales NM 87048

OK so on to a bit of new stuff. I've always had a love hate relationship with Soprano's. I love what they bring to the table and how they work with the other sizes.

They have a special place in Ukulele history, several Hawaiian builders still refer to them as "Standards".

What I hate is that I'm technically challenged as a player, so they are hard for me to get my fingers in the right places.

But the big "hate" are the Tuners. Back when Ukuleles started and long before "geared tuners", they were wooden pegs. They have a 1 to 1 ratio, which means for every rotation of the tuner button, the section that holds the string turns 1 time. It's a simple wooden one piece peg that's all they can do.

Now in keeping with tradition many Soprano's use a "Friction Tuner".

But they are the same 1 to 1 ratio.

So in trying to tune them the 1 to 1 is touchy, very touchy, to sharp.... to flat....to sharp.....

Well you get the picture. I like many, are spoiled by the "gear tuners", many

12 to 1 or 14 to 1 or even greater.

What that means is it takes 14 turns of the button to turn the shaft that holds the string turn one time. I.M.H.O. far superior for ease and accuracy.

To sharp, drop it down and come back up to the note.

The problem for some, they don't look "Traditional", with a rear facing peg and button.

Problem Solved. Gotoh makes 4 to 1 internally geared tuners (Planetary).

They have the button facing the back and the gear box is tiny.

Net result? Huge improvement, far easier to tune and smooth as Butter.

I had a customer bring in a vintage Baritone with friction and tuners that was a handful, read that as damn near unplayable. These would have been just what the Dr, ordered.

OK so the shop isn't really "new" anymore but .....

And now for something completely different.
We are pleased to announce that Andy's Ukes are one of five U.S. Dealers for Ohana's Custom Ukulele's.
These are Luthier built in California and are amazing.
While looks and sound are a bit subjective and everyone has their own preferences. These stack up against the best in the world apples to apples.
My favorite is one that is kind of the Andy's Ukes signature style, plain and simple. Focusing on the purity of tone, beautiful woods, little bling and a thin satin finish. In short the recipe of great resonance, sustain and volume, and a super sweet tone.
This is a project of pure passion from the owner of Ohana, Louis to make the best Ukulele possible. Combining traditional methods and materials with some very cool new innovations.

https://ohanacustomshop.com/collections/dealer-exclusives/products/dealer-exclusive-dtk-1

I have the demo unit's you can try and see it an Ohana Custom Shop is right for you. Other models are available, and all Ukulele's will be hand built for your order.

OK, so these aren't Uke's, and I never really considered being a "Guitar Shop".
But that said my Lanikai Rep. brought one in and I was pretty blown away.
The line is "Walden Guitars" and I am really impressed. The owner is very approachable and really knows his stuff.
I am posting some links, one of the one coming and one about the history in the owners own words.
https://waldenguitars.com/product/g3030rce/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXv6EUcfizc
So, why a guitar line?
Frankly because I really like them, and no one else has stepped up to the plate to represent them.
My hope is that really good "Flat Tops" appeal to many "Folk" players, and I'm sure a few of them are Ukulele players as well.
I have the top of the line Cedar Top / Rosewood back and sides, so please check it out and let me know what you think.

The NATURA G550RE features an Ergonomic Armrest for player comfort.

The G550RE is a solid Spruce top acoustic-electric Grand Auditorium featuring Walden’s novel weight reducing Low-Mass bracing. It has a voice that is both focused and harmonically complex and is suitable for players looking for the volume of a full sized instrument and the comfort of a smaller body. A Glass-fibre reinforced Mahogany neck with Rosewood fingerboard ensure a lifetime of neck stability.

NATURA 500. Distilled to the essence of what a great guitar should be, the 500 series guitar is the most affordable entry into the Natura line. Bookmatched, quartersawn soundboards from the Pacific Northwest provide the richness and tone found only in a Low-Mass braced solid top. Graphtech NuBone nut and saddle, an environmentally friendly UV Cured open-pore satin finish, and D’Addario coated XT 80/20 Bronze strings further contribute to sonic excellence. Walden MG-20 Active Electronics with onboard Tuner sounds great plugged in. 500 series guitars are tastefully detailed with black binding, an inlaid 2-ring rosette, a pearl Walden logo, and chrome die-cast tuners.

I now stock Mi-Si active pickup's. Unlike most active systems these use a power cell, a rechargeable battery that can be charged through the 1/4" output jack.They are active but without the preamp and all the extra wiring.I'm now able to offer Fishman amplifiers in addition to their pick ups and electronics. I now have several in stock.I would love to hear your needs and feedback on amplification, please let me know.

So I now have a few new 96 Art Ukuleles in stock .
These are Luthier built instruments. The really KOOL thing is he will build them to my specs.
Want a Maple neck he can do that. Cherry or Walnut, yep.
He loves Redwood tops and they are amazing.
Myrtle back and sides are killer.
Spruce tops, of course.
He even built me two as demo's.
One all Walnut and one Walnut B & S and a Spruce top.
He'd never used Tortoise (imitation) bindings, one of my favorites, very subtle and elegant.
While it's one thing to have unique killer looks, but instruments are to be heard. And so far people have loved these, very one of a kind, and quite unique. Great tone, sustain, decay and balance. And they feel really nice.
I asked him to built the last batch with a slightly wider neck, his standard nut with is pretty narrow, very Asian like.
Not only did he make them wider but they are more rounded like old guitars. I have both so you can try for yourself.