Ukulele Pegs FAQs
Q: Can you change the tuning pegs on a ukulele?
In general, yes. The tuning pegs in a ukulele are extremely important because they help you tune it to the right key. Nonetheless, with heavy use and time, they can break. This doesn’t mean that you will have to run to the music store to purchase a new one, but rather, you can purchase a set of new tuning pegs and replace them. One thing to remember is the fact that you ought to know what you’re doing, prior to trying to disassemble the instrument. If you like to do things on your own, you can search YouTube for a video on “How to Change Ukulele Tuning Pegs”. If not, you can pay a professional to do it for you. Some types of old ukuleles are in delicate condition and a wrong movement can break the entire instrument.
Q: Where can I buy a brand new ukulele?
If you are looking for a brand new ukulele, there are quite several music stores that offer them. Perhaps the best option is to buy it from a store that exclusively sells all-ukulele-related items. For example, if you’re looking to buy one that comes from a Hawaii-based manufacturer, Hana Lima offers a wide variety of ukuleles. They also sell different accessories and parts, such as gig bags, ukulele stands, and tuning pegs. Ukulele World, which is based in Texas, is another tremendous company offering a plethora of acoustic ukuleles and their accessories. If you’re looking for one of those fantastic pineapple-shaped ukuleles, this store is the one you have been looking for. Some of the brands that they carry are the following:
- Hilo
- Ohana
- Aquila
- Risa
- KoAloha
- Oscar Schmidt
Q: How many types of acoustic ukuleles are there?
There are four major types of acoustic ukuleles available. They are the following:
- Soprano – this is the basic ukulele and it’s considered to be the standard one. If you’re a beginnger, this is the perfect ukulele for you. They are extremely inexpensive (you can perfectly find out for about $30) and are easy to carry.
- Concert–first manufactured in the 1920s, this one happens to be just a tad bigger than the soprano. The interesting feature of this ukulele is the fact that it can generate notes at a lower frequency.
- Tenor – with the tuning pegs you will have to tune this one to C. It’s similar to the guitar and a lot of guitar players find it very easy to play the tenor ukulele. Since it’s bigger, it has a higher volume.
- Baritone – manufactured in the 1940s, it’s extremely similar to the guitar and it needs to be tuned to G.
Q: Can I buy a custom-made ukulele?
Yes. Even though some stores are solely distributors, you will find few that actually make their own ukuleles. One known store and manufacturer is Kamaka Hawaii, located in Honolulu. You can contact them to provide them with your very own ukulele specifications, and they will quote you a price for it. Make sure to check their website constantly because when they are backlogged, they don’t take new orders for custom ukuleles.