I was traveling to San Diego and my "E" string broke on my KoAloha. I met Rich, owner of Hale Ukulele. He definitely knows the ukulele world and I would definitely recommend. He doesn't carry KoAloha strings but he suggested PHD stings. I decided to change to a "low G" and Rich had me play one of his ukulele's to hear how it sounded and felt. I was sold and appreciate his knowledge. Cost was worth visiting his shop. read more

Hale Ukulele - Rich with one of his stickers and #travelingukeburys sticker. - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Diego, California

Really enjoy visiting with Rick, he knows his stuff, and is always very helpful with my Ukulele needs. The instrument I bought from him is amazing and I will continue to go back. read more

This was a great place to get my kid's first ukulele. Her uke came with a free carrying bag. The owner taught us some chords and gave us some pointers on tuning. Definitely a better alternative to shopping at a chain music store. read more

Hale Ukulele - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Diego, California

I had a wonderful experience at Hale. I had injured my hands...18 breaks between both hands. I couldn't play my guitar anymore. But I was able to handle a ukuele! He let me play his personal Baritone. I knew at that point I wanted one! It had beautiful sound like a guitar. I came back at a later time and purchased a Baritone with absolutely no pressure! I had done some research and knew I wanted solid wood. I knew some prices, as well. He gave me a great price and lots of info. The Baritone is my joy now! Thank you to Hale! read more

I came here for a new ukulele after deciding to upgrade from my starter one. I had a wonderful experience here and highly recommend it. Ric, the owner, was so friendly and helpful with helping me decide on a new ukulele. He was honest and incredibly knowledgable about the quality, price, and sound of each ukulele and made sure I found an instrument I loved within my budget. And I got a sweet case for it too! He was patient while I picked out a case and instrument and was happy to help when I had any questions. Afterwards, he gave us a couple shirts (I came with my college bestie) and to this day, I still wear that shirt all the time. It's super comfy and the design is simple but cool. Thanks Ric, you're awesome! read more

Went to Hale Ukulele to pick out my husband's first ukulele! Ric was very friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful. My husband picked out the perfect ukulele for him based on Ric's advice and experience. I also have to thank Ric for being so patient. My husband tried out a bunch of ukuleles and asked a million questions and Ric was very attentive. The amount of ukuleles in stock was impressive! We will definitely be back, probably to restring his ukulele or hopefully lessons once that opens again haha. Thank you Ric! read more

I've been playing the ukulele for three years and felt ready for a better instrument. After doing a lot of research online, I saw that a large chain music store carried the ukulele I thought I wanted. But when I went to try it out, I immediately knew it wasn't for me. Unfortunately, that store didn't carry any other ukes. As nervous as I was about going to a proper ukulele store and possibly being overwhelmed, I took the plunge and headed for Hale Ukulele. Great decision! The friendly, knowledgeable owner kept tuning and passing me uke after uke in my price range (I was looking for a solid wood tenor). I had brought my current uke with me so I could compare the sound. While all of the ukes sounded better than mine, none of them sounded THAT much better. And I realized that had I bought one of them blindly online, I would've been disappointed when it arrived in the mail. The owner didn't try and pressure me into a higher price range. It was my own idea to sample ukes in the next higher category. And boy was that a revelation! All of these ukes were significantly better than the ones I had just tested, and miles beyond my current instrument. Even within this group there were significant variations in sound, and it was immediately apparent which ukulele I had to have--the Kanile'a Oha Tenor. Even though it cost more than I had planned to spend, I play the ukulele a couple hours a day and figured this was more of a necessity than a splurge. While the internet can be great for shopping, some things need to be viewed and tried in person. Now that I knew which uke was for me, I could've returned home and searched for the lowest price online, but I would've felt guilty. I knew that the owner's guidance and expertise, coupled with the chance to compare numerous ukes at once, was worth whatever markup a bricks and mortar store may need to charge to cover their overhead. The funny thing was, after I purchased my uke from Hale Ukulele, I discovered that the owner had sold it to me for a lower price than I could find online. And he threw in an upgraded Ahead case, to boot. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and the overall shopping experience. Ten thumbs up! read more

Found this shop while in town for a few days. Owner was incredibly patient and helpful. Shop has a great vibe. Its a must go-to if you're looking to add to your collection! read more

Hale Ukulele - Went in for one, walked out with two! - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Diego, California

Always wanted an Ukulele, but mostly I saw the cheap tourist versions. After a recent trip to Hawaii, I decided it was time to buy a "real" one. So, after returning to San Diego, I researched them online. But, in reality, each time I'd purchased an instrument in the past, (guitars, woodwinds), I found that every one is unique; I wanted to actually hear the sound before buying. So, I found this store online, and although it's not nearby, and has kinda weird hours (call before you go), the owner is super helpful, very knowledgable and has a great selection of a range of quality Ukes, from the beginner, to the pro. He threw in a case and a chord book so I was off and playing. I've had it now for months, and I love it! I sent him, Ric, an email question about where to find lessons, and he directed me to an online source that I'm also happy with. Recently I wanted to get a capo, and need one designed for an Ukulele. Not wanting to drive so far, I stopped in at Guitar Center. Big mistake. Walked around, asked about 4 employees, none of whom had any idea if and where to find one. #5 pointed me to an aisle with their capos, but none said they were designed to fit Ukes. So...next time I'm near Clairemont, I'll be calling Ric to see if he's open. read more

I am an aspiring ukulele player and bought my tenor from Rick. He is super knowledgeable and helped me pick out the right one that spoke to me. I could spend hours in his shop listening to him talk about the different luthiers and performers that have come through over the years. read more

Hale Ukulele deserves a true A+A+A+ Five Star rating. The BEST in this world do one thing very well, and such is the case with the owner Ric Marquis. I wanted to expand my musical experience across the ukulele instrument, so I did a significant amount of online research. Going into the store I knew the top 5 criteria that my new Uke should have, and Ric pulled out Three matches, then he showed me Two alternatives, and I felt fabulous when selecting the One perfect choice. Simple as: 3, 2, 1 - Done! Once at home, my bride was having so much fun trying the 'small guitar thing' with a big smile on her face, I suggested she get her own to own, and she shocked me by saying, "I'd like that." Other than singing in Church, or privately singing with the radio at home, she has never been craving her own instrument, even though she was always surrounded by our 3 children's music lessons or me pretending to be in a band. Now I saw her get the 'bug' (not the COVID-19, thank God) and knew she needed hers to keep, or I'd never get to strum the one we had just bought. The next day back at Hale Ukulele, and Ric just laughs at how we instantly became a duet couple. Ric performed a matching demo song on our top 3 choices, and unlike picking a car where the most important criteria is - the color of the car, we found another perfect Ukulele for the Mrs., based upon the size and style, the quality of the artistic craftsmanship, and most important - the true tone notes. Now we each have a beautiful looking and sounding Kimo Ukulele with its Paua Abalone logo and are close to auditioning our first duet. I highly recommend keeping a wireless Govee Mini Hygrometer within the case, to track your proper humidity levels (~$16 Amazon). It will send a Bluetooth notification when the moisture is beyond the 40% - 65% range (or whatever H2O or Temperature you wish to set). This shop isn't the only choice in town, yet Hale Ukulele is my ONLY choice for Ukulele. read more

My children have taken lessons from Ms. Sarah for years. She is kind, encouraging and has a beautiful singing voice. The owner Rick is always a joy to chat with and is the best resource for buying ukuleles and supplies in San Diego. It's a small shop but full of heart and ukes! read more

We made the trek down to Hale Ukulele from Oceanside today in hopes that the rave reviews on Yelp were accurate. They were! We had a great experience from start to finish. We were looking to buy a uke as a birthday gift for our daughter (who has been playing mine for over a year). We spent about 2 hours in there, asked about 2 million questions, and played about 20 different ukes. We came away with a beautiful hardwood concert uke and a ton of valuable information. The owner is so patient and laid back--a little bit of Hawaii right here in San Diego :) read more

Out of all the little music shops in San Diego, this is now my go-to for all my ukulele needs. Ric was very friendly and insightful, and he even helped me find the PERFECT ukulele that was within my budget as a present for my bf. I chose the Islander SA-4-C and my partner loves it! Thanks Ric! :-) With that being said, if you're looking to buy a uke or accessories, look no further, this is definitely the place. read more

Hale Ukulele - Islander SA-4-C - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Diego, California

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I went in knowing nothing about ukeleles and expecting to be there forever with all of the questions that I had. Ric at the front was SUPER helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly with helping me. It can be intimidating looking for an instrument that you don't know how to play and I felt like I was valued as a customer as soon as I walked in there. Ric hooked me up with a super rad ukelele, a case, chord chart & let me know of beginner classes & events that they have going on. I even got a discount for being a first time ukelele buyer! I was extremely happy with my experience and felt "part of the ukelele family." I'll definitely be back to check out some classes and will recommend this place to anyone. Thanks for great service and a great experience! read more

Hale Ukulele - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Diego, California

This is the exact type of business that when you hear "shop small business" they are referring to. It's rare today to be able to go somewhere and be able to talk to someone who is both knowledgeable and passionate about what they. After one visit, I know it is somewhere I'll be returning. read more

I don't think I can add anything new in this review that hasn't already been said, but what the heck... I dragged my husband and toddler over to Hale because I became obsessed with playing the ukulele that my sister-in-law lent to me, and after a week I insisted that I must absolutely purchase one of my own. I read the amazing reviews and made a second attempt to visit the store (I didn't realize the store was closed for a week during my first attempt). I had a pretty fixed idea of what I wanted to get (a basic Kala tenor) and he had it. Unfortunately, his price was not really comparable to what you can get online, and after explaining that he just didn't have the buying power of Amazon or a big retailer, he offered the best discount he could. It was still more than I wanted to spend (but those who know me I will order online to save $0.50 rather than walk across the street to CVS), and I'm sure he knew that, but he still patiently and kindly answered our questions and offered some useful information. We thanked him and promised we would come back again for accessories or when I was ready to progress to the big ticket ukes (already planning ahead!) On the way to the car, my husband was bummed that we couldn't support him (he was trying to convince me to get a cheaper uke from the store, but I wouldn't budge), so I was kind of surprised when he said, "You know what, with the discount it isn't THAT much more, and at least we could support a local business and you'd have a place to go to for help..." I was like, WOO-HOO and ran back with my credit card before he changed his mind. I came back to the store and sheepishly asked for the discount and also asked for strap buttons to be put in (at an additional cost.) While we waited, two dudes came into the store - one was building his own uke (what?) while the other was just looking to pick up a uke to travel with since he had to leave his guitar at home. (Um, so am I the only one who combs the Internet for hours whenever I need to buy something?) Rick, the owner, gave them such helpful information, pointing the uke-builder to other businesses that would give him exactly what he needed, and guiding the guitar-player to the uke that would suit his casual beach-playing needs. He stopped to ring me up and gave me the price he initially quoted, and not charging me for the button installation as a thank you for returning. I was really moved by that! I mean, he definitely couldn't be making that much from my sale and it was a generous move that I didn't expect at all! The best parts of the entire transaction though? 1) He didn't freak out when my daughter insisted on touching all the colorful ukes on display. 2) I came home to find, tucked into the box, the coolest Hale Ukulele shirt ever, and in a size that fits me! read more

the owner there rocks. very knowledgeable, friendly, and patient. His shop literally makes you feel like you're in a small comfy home. Ukulele I got was a beautiful sounding spruce tenor, thank you very much! 6 stars if i could. read more

My favorite ukulele store. Rick is knowledgeable, friendly and cool. He is always helpful and his store carries a nice variety of ukuleles, music and accessories. I don't go anywhere else to shop for Ukulele but here. Best ukulele store in the San Diego region! read more

Have every string you might want to lace your uke up with and the biggest variety of ukes I've seen ever. If you're careful and half decent I'm sure the owner Rick will let you try many of the ukes. Rick is a very kind gentlemen and easy to talk to and it's obvious he loves the jumping flea as much as any anyone. Has many different cases, chord books, straps, amps, tuners, and anything else you could possibly want. Hale Ukulele even has a recording studio in the back! And for you interested in learning he has classes available for beginners! Highly recommend this shop for any ukulele needs read more

Hale Ukulele - Rick and a section of the shop - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Diego, California

Ric is so kind. Excellent experience visiting the store. He not only helped my daughter replace a stolen ukulele and corrected her case size. Warm, friendly. Easygoing and very knowledgeable about the instrument. This shop is a hidden gem and the ukulele is a great instrument for children and adults. read more

Hale Ukulele - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - San Diego, California

Alhoa! Hale Ukulele is a great place for all your Ukulele needs. Good Vibes from the time you walk in. Ric, the owner, was very kind and helpful. He was able to answer all my questions as silly as I may have thought they were, he showed/explained everything to me with ease. A great selection of Ukuleles and Accessories. Everything you need weather you are a first time beginner or experienced Uke player. Good Vibes - Pura Vida!! -Mike read more

A gem of a store, with a warm and acknowledgeable owner to boot. The store is strictly observing COVID protocols, allowing in only one person or two per household at a time, providing hand sanitizer upon entry, and enforcing mask requirements -- all of which enables people to feel safe and take their time. The selection is great across price points, brands, solid wood vs. laminate, and tone woods, particularly given the current constraints on trade and supply chain. If you're looking for a ukulele in the SD area, this place can't be beat. read more

So happy to have found this shop. Ric greeted me in a welcoming and laid-back manner. I told him, "I've decided I want to learn how to play the ukulele." From there on, he directed me to ukeleles he thought would be a good fit. He didn't pressure me into buying anything. He answered all of my newbie questions. After my purchase, he threw in a cute Hale Ukelele T-shirt. I just have to say, I don't see this kind of service very often around here in San Diego. It seems every store I enter into these days are full of slimy salespeople with agendas and quotas to meet. I seem to regularly run into customer reps who are incompetent, rude, and impatient. This store is nothing like that. And I hope this review illustrates my appreciation for the kind and genuine service I received. read more

There must be a million ukuleles in this place! The owner is very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of my questions. While I was there, a couple of older guys grabbed some ukes off the wall and started playing with me and offering pointers. True aloha spirit! If you are looking at getting into the ukulele movement, stop by and get your first ukulele from Hale Ukulele! If you are looking for an upgrade, head to Hale Ukulele. If you want to put a pickup in your existing ukulele, at Hale Ukulele, they will get you squared away with that too. This little shop offers everything that you might need to scratch that ukulele itch that you have. read more

I had the most wonderful experience at Hale. I (like many of the reviewers before me) have very little knowledge about or experience with the ukulele and am looking to learn. I found an old Hawaiian tourist ukulele in my parent's basement and took it in to Hale to see if it was functional. Ric kindly explained that the tourist ukuleles are primarily art pieces and are not ideal to learn on, as they tend to be out of tune. He restrung the tourist ukulele for me free of charge and introduced me to concert ukuleles, which he recommended as a good place to start. I took the ukulele home and tried to tune it, and immediately the A string popped off. Hale is closed from Saturday evening to Tuesday afternoon, and I went in Saturday afternoon near closing time. I made plans to go in Tuesday afternoon and left Ric a voicemail as well explaining what happened. He called me back within the hour, after Hale was closed, and made arrangements to meet me back at the shop within 15 minutes of our phone call - truly unparalleled customer service. Upon meeting me back at the store, Ric was calm and extremely helpful - he replaced the A string for me free of charge (once again!) and taught me how to tune the ukulele properly to avoid breaking more strings. He also taught me how to restring the ukulele so that I would be able to do it on my own next time. I am excited to learn the ukulele and I'm happy with the piece I purchased as well as the price. Thank you for a wonderful experience and the phenomenal customer service! read more

Before coming to Hale I purchased my first Uke at Cost Co. After playing my SIL's Uke, I decided to return mine to Cost Co. and find one that had a richer sound. I am a beginner and they for my price point, there were a couple of​ options but, the place was filled with so many options for players with more experience. I wouldn't spend any money on a soft case here bc it​ was too much $ but, I feel like I got a nice Uke for the price and I highly recommend​. read more

On April 29th I walked in with a friend and was politely greeted - I asked a few questions, played three ukulele's, and left. I didn't feel particularly welcome, as like I were more of an interruption than a customer; the gent stayed behind the counter, didn't really interact much, and kind of just watched us. I had cash in hand, it wouldn't of taken too much to part me from it :/ but as I just felt uncomfortable, my money went elsewhere. The stock of ukulele's seemed nice. read more

What a special place in Clairemont! The owner is a fantastic guy who is passionate about ukeleles. He was able to explain things very clearly to a newbie that is just getting started. So personable and super sweet. We need to keep places like this open during COVID. Go out and support this store and take on a new hobby. Walked in not knowing much about ukeleles and came out knowing at least 3 basic things about ukelele notes and chords. This store has major ALOHA! read more

Rick is awesome. Service: I ran late getting to the store and got there about two minutes before close. Rick saw me coming and stayed open an extra 20 minutes to talk and answer all of my questions. He knew exactly what he was talking about and sold me exactly what I needed without upselling me. Selection: Wow! I did not expect to have such a wide selection in such a tiny shop. The walls are lined with ukes for all uses and budgets, and he was very helpful in helping me find what I needed. Overall: Rick is awesome. Thank you so much! read more

As a complete ukulele novice, I genuinely enjoyed visiting this shop. They have an excellent selection of instruments, and the owner is knowledgeable and friendly. More importantly, he let me plunk around for quite a while without pressuring me in any way. Have you ever noticed how the big music stores do that? It really takes the pleasure out of looking for a new instrument. I did find an instrument I liked in my price range, and I'm having a lot of fun learning to play it. I'm pretty sure I'll be back soon to buy an even better uke! read more

Neat little store with a great uke selection. It's nice to shop here and not jump into buying any ol' ukulele online because you get so much great information from the owner. It is a great shop to get a start uke, but be warned, it is a little pricy. read more

We bought a tenor pineapple ukulele here in late 2017 for my wife - beautiful solid Koa Kimo brand instrument. It has a beautiful sound and is just a work of art - and made right there in San Marcos, which is great (and Hank Johnson, the artist/lutier even happened in while we were in the middle of the purchase). While we love the uke the store is the only reason we even found out about this brand...and many other brands (who knew Pepe Romero even made ukes?). Ric (the owner of Hale) has an encyclopedic knowledge of these instruments and is patient and welcoming to all who enter his modest shop crammed with instruments at all price points. Great store for a uke - whether you are just starting out and want a cheap but effective beginning instrument or whether you have "the disease" and just need to see, touch, play (and, too often, purchase) another interesting ukulele, this is a great place to check out. read more

Fantastic little shop with a great selection of ukuleles. The owner Ric is a super nice guy who knows his stuff. He's really honest and he doesn't try to upsell you or pressure you to buy anything. He welcomes you to take your time and explore all the options. We also had a lot of fun talking about all things Kauai with him. This is definitely a great business to support! Mahalo! read more

My wife has bought two ukuleles so far and third on order. Cannot say enough great things about this shop. Ric has been great with her us and knowing my wife this will not be her last one from is shop. Thank you very much. Frank and Marie C. read more

They have the best selection of Ukes in San Diego. You will still need to go to places like the Blue Guitar, Guitar Center, Buffalo Brothers to see alternative brands, but its certainly worth the trip. read more

Hale Ukulele is probably the most enjoyable music store I've ever visited and I've been a professional musician for over thirty five years. Great selection, no pressure, Ric's knowledge of woods and tones and sizes is amazing, the service after sale is excellent. No games no gimmicks just a truly sincere good vibe all the way around. Thanks for a wonderful buying experience. Couldn't be happier. read more

The store is great for all your ukulele needs. The owner Ric, is really nice and friendly. I've been coming into his store frequently just to check out his collection, or just to pick up his business card. I usually go almost everywhere with an ukulele, and if anyone has questions, I refer them to Ric. I always like to refer anyone interested in ukes because it's the best uke store in SD, in my opinion. If you have any questions or are new to the instrument, he's the guy to talk to. He also has a guy who holds classes. Aloha! read more

I went in the shop with the an idea of what i was looking for. I went in and was amazed to see the amount of ukuleles in this shop! It felt like there were more ukes here than other uke shops when i go to hawaii! As someone who is an avid ukulele collector and playin for 8 years it was a pretty cool experience here. Was able to meet Rick and talked story which carried into an hour with him from the different brands he has in stock, tonewoods, opinions he had on budget ukes. At the end he was able to make me an incredible deal especially for someone like me who is a college student. Ended up leaving happier than i came which is always great. The store and Rick the owner is filled with aloha. Shop and buy local, this is the place to go for your uke needs!! 10/10 would recommend to family and friends. I been to other uke shops in Orange County, in LA, and in Hawaii but this was by far the best experience i have had. read more

My favorite ukulele store on the mainland! They have a great selection and you can take classes from some of the best ukulele players in the world. Stop by and check out their huge range of ukuleles. read more