WE NEVER DROP SHIP!

Every instrument you see on the website is in stock or due imminently at the time of order. When instruments arrive from our suppliers they are checked thoroughly for faults, and any that fail our Quality Check are rejected. Instruments are then stored in our humidity controlled stock room. Before any instrument is dispatched, it undergoes another quality check (visual inspection, tuning to pitch, play test, adjustment of the nut, saddle and frets in our instore workshop) to ensure that the action, playability and intonation are good. Where possible, a second member of staff will also sign off an instrument before it is packed and dispatched.

Every instrument, regardless of price, undergoes this procedure. Even educational orders of 50 starter ukuleles are all checked, tuned, played and adjusted. This does not guarantee that they'll be in tune by the time they get to you, mind, as the strings will doubtless have slipped a little - but they all will have been checked and adjusted! Sometimes, during seasonal changes or extremes of heat or cold, an instrument might shift in transit - whether it's a string pinging off or a little fret buzz, when that happens we will always endeavour to get it back from you and adjusted.

Any problems that mean that we cannot dispatch any part of an order will be reported to the customer, and options like alternative instrument choices, future order fulfilment dates or full and immediate refunds will be discussed.

What we do not do....

We do not automatically set all ukuleles up with the lowest possible action. A low action does not suit all playing styles, and can cause problems such as a loss of volume, projection and sustain as well as string buzz. A high action can cause intonation problems and not be comfortable to play, but might be preferable for certain styles of playing. There is no such thing as "the perfect setup", just what works best for you, and what works for you might not work for the next person.

We can set your instrument any way that you require, and you can leave us a note using the product options with your order if you have specific requirements. In the absence of any instructions, your instrument will be set up to have a medium height action of around 2.5 at the 12th fret. If you would like the best advice on what action would suit your playing style, please call us to discuss. Please bear in mind that if you ask us for a very low action, then strum very vigorously, you may well suffer the dreaded buzz!

Advice on String Choice

All string brands are very different. Some are synthetic gut, some fluorocarbon, some nylon, some composite fibres....they have different tensions, different thicknesses, different characteristics, different feels and different sounds.

Certain brands of strings will not work very well on some instruments. Some brands of instruments are designed at the factory to take thick diameter strings, meaning that the nut slots will be carved quite wide. If you then put a thinner diameter string on the instrument, the strings will rattle in the nut slot causing a noticeable buzz.

Some types of string do not work with some playing styles. For instance, a wound C or Low G string will almost always sound boomier and ring for much longer than an unwound plain string. This can unbalance the sound, and on some very responsive or electro acoustic instruments can sound quite obtrusive.

Some brands of strings are very good at making the starter laminate instruments sound more lively, but can absolutely ruin the intonation on some of the more expensive models.

Changing the brand, tension or material of a string set on any ukulele will affect not just the sound, but the feel, the intonation and possibly the action as well.

For the best advice on which strings would suit your instrument and playing style, and also give you the sound that you wish to achieve, call us or email for free advice prior to your purchase. Or, if you know which strings you want fitted to your instrument, you can add the strings you would like fitted to your order, and using the product options tab, instruct us to fit them to your uke before dispatch.

Fitting Pickups to your instrument

This is a bit of a minefield! Certain pickups will not work well in some instruments, either for logistical reasons such as the pickup element is too wide for the narrow saddle slot, or because the pickup is so sensitive that it can sound microphonic in a very small bodied instrument like a soprano or sopranino. We can advise you on the best match for your instrument, and can fit all styles of pickups in our instore workshop. Please call to discuss details! If you know which pickup you want, you can add this to your ukulele using the product options,

Trade-ins

We take trade-ins all the time. We are only able to offer around 50% of the new price of your instrument, subject to inspection, with a view to selling it at around 70% of the new price.

About our Technicians

Gunsy and Phil are the senior technicians on the team with a combined 25 years experience just in Ukulele set-ups between them.

Phil has built his own Ukulele with Pete Howlett, has great working relationships with the technicians at other stores and is even the first point of contact from brands like Flight, Snail and Kala if they need feedback on production issues.

Gunsy has been with Southern Ukulele Store since 2009. He undertakes the majority of pickup installations and luthiery repairs that we do here on site. Gunsy thrives doing jobs that require patience and careful detail.

If Gunsy or Phil are not responsible for your Ukulele set-up; it will be done by Romeo or Nick. If you visit the store and purchase a uke in the showroom; you will normally see one of them fettling and adjusting instruments for customers while they wait.