The Vermont Ukulele Society

Does anyone have a Cordoba Uke? I own a Fender Tenor and am considering also buying a soprano. I played a Cordoba Concert uke in Ithaca and loved it, so I'm thinking I'd like a Cordoba Soprano, but it's so hard to order something online without having a chance to try one. Or, does anyone know of a store in the area that sells a Cordoba Ukes? I think I looked at all the Burlington stores before buying my Fender, and didn't see any Cordobas.

Cathy

Hi Cathy,

Kevin Crossett of GuitarSam in Montpelier had a couple of Cordobas a while back.  They both played very well & had a nice tone.  You might want to do a search on UkuleleUnderground  or FleaMarketMusic.  Another really nice ukulele in that price range is the Mainland.  I love my Mainland concert!   The Kala Acacia and Cedar topped ukes also get nice reviews at this pricepoint.   Have fun uke shopping.. it can be addictive!

Fran

Hi, Cathy-  I love Cordobas, especially the concert ukes.  Like Fran said above, Kevin Crossett had a couple and they did sound simply divine and looked great too.  But I think it's often best to play one before you buy it, to find the one that really 'plucks your heart strings'.  For me, I place Cordoba Concert Ukuleles in high regard, and I hope Santa Claus is listening.  Good Luck and let us know if you get one.   

Hi guys! I thought I'd give you an update on my Cordoba Soprano quest. I really want one, they sound good (at least, the concert does - haven't played a soprano) and are so pretty, but I already have a uke - any my musician husband says he really likes the sound of the Fender Tenor I have with a wound C string. And yet.... So I went looking online today (BTW, Kevin at Guitar Sams says they don't have them in stock right now).

I discovered somthing interesting. It seems like Cordoba has recently changed the ukes - the new ones no longer have the pretty rope binding! Here's the rope binding:

http://www.ukes.com/images/cordoba-25skbody.jpg

But here's the new one without:

http://folk-instruments.musiciansfriend.com/product/Cordoba-25SK-Soprano-Ukelele?sku=512783

I was very very dissapointed. BUT, on Amazon.com, their description says rope binding, and though the picture is very small, it seems like it has rope binding. It also said only 2 left in stock, making me think they are selling it out, then the new ones might not have the rope binding. So I pounced and bought one. I am keeping my fingers crossed until I see it. At the very least, if there is NOT rope binding, it will allow me to return it without paying any return shipping (because it is their fault - false advertising). So we'll see what I get!

I think it is a great shame that Cordoba stopped making the rope binding. It is so pretty. Any thoughts on this?

BTW, I do hope to come to another meeting sometime soon... things have been hectic.

Cathy

Cathy:  I just received a Cordoba Soprano which I ordered online from Guitar Center.  It has the rope binding and Aquila stings.  Quality appears great, and it sounds good to my untrained ear.  Guitar Center has a 30 day money back guarantee, but it looks like this one is a keeper.  Now the problem do I play the Cordoba or my concert Lanaki? 

I got the Soprano and it did have the rope binding. I ended up returning it, though. I just didn't like the sound. Maybe because the only uke I've owned is a tenor. Something just sounded off - I'd tune the strings, each one in tune, but when I played a chord it sounded off. Glad you like yours, though. I just decided that for that amount of money, I wanted something that I liked as well as my Fender.

But I'm also thinking, why do I want another uke? I like my Fender. I found concerts and sopranos to be easier to hold while standing up, but I bought a strap that I like, so that solves that. And yet... I still look.

I saw a Ibanez concert uke at Daddy's Junky Music in Williston. It's beautiful spalted mango wood, and is the only other uke that I've played locally that I liked the sound of as much as my Fender. It's $169, but on March 6 they have 10% off everything and no tax. It's got a little knick right on the corner of the cutaway - they'd maybe take off even more for that.

But I think I'm going to wait a little longer before buying a second uke. I have no complaints about my Fender, so I'm not even sure why I keep looking at other ukes...

Cathy at 11:40AM on Feb 24, 2010

I got the Soprano and it did have the rope binding. I ended up returning it, though. I just didn't like the sound. Maybe because the only uke I've owned is a tenor. Something just sounded off - I'd tune the strings, each one in tune, but when I played a chord it sounded off. Glad you like yours, though. I just decided that for that amount of money, I wanted something that I liked as well as my Fender.

But I'm also thinking, why do I want another uke? I like my Fender. I found concerts and sopranos to be easier to hold while standing up, but I bought a strap that I like, so that solves that. And yet... I still look.

I saw a Ibanez concert uke at Daddy's Junky Music in Williston. It's beautiful spalted mango wood, and is the only other uke that I've played locally that I liked the sound of as much as my Fender. It's $169, but on March 6 they have 10% off everything and no tax. It's got a little knick right on the corner of the cutaway - they'd maybe take off even more for that.

But I think I'm going to wait a little longer before buying a second uke. I have no complaints about my Fender, so I'm not even sure why I keep looking at other ukes...

Cathy:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  You're a smart fox.  If I'm not careful, my playing ukulele hobby could turn into a buying ukulele hobby.  

Larry

When it comes to ukes, strings do make a big difference!!  I will have to look but I got some out in LA for my tenor and they are really nice.  I can't find them but I think they are Koaloa .  Just a thought.