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Congratulations on your purchase of a new Ohana ukulele! This musical instrument was made with fine raw materials and has been inspected and set up by a trained Ohana technician. To keep your ukulele looking and sounding like the fine musical instrument it is, Ohana has a few suggestions that tend to be true regardless of model.
When your ukulele is not being played, Ohana suggests that it be kept in a hardshell case with a humidifier. The strings should be de-tuned slightly to minimize tension on the bridge. Use common sense, and don’t bring your Ohana into the shower with you, or leave it on your dashboard over a long sunny weekend. This ukulele is made of quality wood that doesn’t respond well in direct sunlight, heat, extreme temperature changes and humidity. Treat your ukulele with respect and it can last a lifetime.
Your ukulele’s body is made of natural materials, and should be cleaned and handled with care. Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe down the body to keep excessive fingerprints, dirt and oily deposits from building up. For a more thorough cleaning, use specialized acoustic instrument cleaning products that are not abrasive and be sure to follow the instructions. The strings can also pick up small amounts of oil and dirt from our hands, which can impede its ability to create a vibrant tone. It is a good practice to clean the strings of your ukulele after playing it. Fold the cloth in 2 halves and slide one half under the strings, and the other half over them.
Place your fingers on the top of the cloth and slide slowly, up and down the neck with even pressure. Be sure to clean both the top as well as the undersides of the strings. You may want to loosen the strings a bit to give yourself more room during cleaning. Other parts of your ukulele may need cleaning and professional maintenance as well. Consult your local fretted instrument specialists or luthiers when necessary. You will notice how much more playable your ukulele is when it is routinely cleaned and maintained.
If you notice an unusual pitch from a particular string, or that it is no longer intonated, it may be that the string has deteriorated and that its characteristics have become marginal. This may be the time to have the string replaced. Of course string buzzing or intonation issues could be due to other factors, so be sure to consult your local luthier for further advice. Different types of strings react differently to instruments, due to their construction and the particular wood combination used. So experiment with different types of strings if you are able to, and find one that responds well and naturally to your ukulele. And who knows, you might just find yourself invited to play in a far off location, which means...
One of the most endearing qualities of the ukulele is that the instrument is easy to carry. While traveling it is important to protect your ukulele during the journey, and to allow for differences in environment that might affect the instrument.
Should you find that you are traveling via airline with the ukulele, please keep in mind that the instrument will go through many pressure changes, as well as changes in climate. It is important to keep the ukulele in a case, preferable hardshell, with a humidifier. This is especially important if you’ll be traveling to a place with disparate temperature and humidity to the one you are leaving. (These changes in climate are one of the biggest culprits of solid wood instruments experiencing a crack in the body.) Once you land, allow the ukulele to acclimate to life back on the ground by leaving it in the case for a few hours. When traveling by car or train, it is wise to carry the ukulele in a case to prevent accidental damage in transit. Don’t leave your ukulele in a hot car, or in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Doing so can cause damage not covered by the warranty. If you have any specific questions regarding ukulele care, please feel free to contact us directly at info@ohana-music.com