This is something of a difficult ukulele post to write. Some news for you.
Regular readers will know that during 2025 I explained my need to slow the reviews down a little for my own sanity due to time pressures at home. In some previous years I was ending up doing more reviews than there were weeks in the year and it was, honestly, exhausting. I started missing diary dates, getting things out of order, and on a couple of occasions I let a couple of brands down on dates. I decided I needed to ease off the pedal a little so moved the more regular review schedule to every other week.
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Well, having spent most of the year doing that..... i'm afraid it wasn't enough. In fact, i'm sorry to say, that means slowing much more to the point of needing a break.
It's a combination of things. Most importantly to me has to be my home life and family. My daughter has been struggling with mental health in recent years and now has a neuro-divergency diagnosis. She's getting the help she needs, but it can be extremely challenging for us at home at times with plans needing to change at times at short notice. I owe it to her and my wife to have more time for the family particularly as she is going through her GCSE's now. Added on top of that, my day job (yes, I do one of those as well!) needs to stay afloat. I'm self employed with a few other people in my team so I have to focus on keeping the roof over my head no matter how much I like doing ukulele articles. With my daughter in the mix i'm at risk of taking my eye off the ball and getting into real trouble one way or the other. Put simply, as fun as spending time with ukes can be, it's just not sustainable for me at the moment. The time juggling is not working and becoming highly stressful rather than enjoyable - and the latter was always the whole point.
So I need to slow up further...
That is NOT to say Got A Ukulele will be deleted, just that I need to re-balance at home at this point in time. I am happy for brands / luthiers / stores to contact me if they want a Got A Ukulele review and we will see what we can do with my timings as and when, but with no promises. But I can't continue with a rolling diary of them at the present time. It's simply not working this end. I guess there are some other minor concerns that have been increasing too.. The content on the site is being increasingly ripped off by AI sites which makes you think 'what's the point' any more? The social media drive to dumbed down 'shorts' content is not my style either. And yes, my age old gripe of the 'paid influencer' having more traffic for their product placement 'adverts reviews' prevails... but it's really about keeping my own family sanity first and foremost.
All the content is staying up on the site and the YouTube channel. I am not deleting anything (so long as Google lets me..). And who knows, I may end up doing reviews to suit new releases if they suit timings at my end.. I dunno... I love looking at new stuff and bringing you early opinions so it would be great to do those as and when. But.. for now... I just don't know how often that is going to be. I suppose that's really down to the brands and stores not me as I will be stopping chasing for things myself.
Time will tell if that kills it off when the online algorithms turn the site invisible... But there we are. Algorithms are rotten and kill things without respecting the pressures of life and the real world, so the site will probably end up forgotten.. What a world eh? Heck, people said I was already invisible as I am rarely attending uke events... but what I learned with my daughters assessments is that anxiety issues run deep in the family and we share a lot of traits - i've not been able to stomach them for many years and I am sorry for that. Just my head.
All the content is staying up on the site and the YouTube channel. I am not deleting anything (so long as Google lets me..). And who knows, I may end up doing reviews to suit new releases if they suit timings at my end.. I dunno... I love looking at new stuff and bringing you early opinions so it would be great to do those as and when. But.. for now... I just don't know how often that is going to be. I suppose that's really down to the brands and stores not me as I will be stopping chasing for things myself.
Time will tell if that kills it off when the online algorithms turn the site invisible... But there we are. Algorithms are rotten and kill things without respecting the pressures of life and the real world, so the site will probably end up forgotten.. What a world eh? Heck, people said I was already invisible as I am rarely attending uke events... but what I learned with my daughters assessments is that anxiety issues run deep in the family and we share a lot of traits - i've not been able to stomach them for many years and I am sorry for that. Just my head.
So, this will be the last post for 2025. We shall have to see what 2026 brings.. I just don't know at the moment.
I owe a lot of people a LOT of thanks for the support you've regularly shown me. This site has been regularly updated since 2009 and I was approaching 500 individual reviews plus a load of other articles, club list, festival list, beginners guides, yadda yadda... My appreciation to whoever you are and however you have supported this content is huge - Patreons, tip donors, brands, stores, luthiers, distributors, just those saying 'thank-you'... you know who you all are. There is no way I could have kept this going so long without your support. I've interacted with many wonderful people along the way and the comments and chats are really enjoyable. But something has to give at the present time.
I owe a lot of people a LOT of thanks for the support you've regularly shown me. This site has been regularly updated since 2009 and I was approaching 500 individual reviews plus a load of other articles, club list, festival list, beginners guides, yadda yadda... My appreciation to whoever you are and however you have supported this content is huge - Patreons, tip donors, brands, stores, luthiers, distributors, just those saying 'thank-you'... you know who you all are. There is no way I could have kept this going so long without your support. I've interacted with many wonderful people along the way and the comments and chats are really enjoyable. But something has to give at the present time.
Enough of the melodramatic - i'm not vanishing into the shadows, i'm not turning off all contact and this is not a 'goodbye' - I'm sure there may be the odd feature going forward and maybe i'll see you then. I just don't know when that will work. But thanks for bearing with me just for now because I need to breathe. Yes, this has been a very hard decision to come to, but I hope you can support that.
Thanks again and much love for your support and kind words. Have a very wonderful Christmas!
Baz x
Thanks Baz!
ReplyDeleteWe will of course miss you. I have been in and out of playing my uke for 13 years, and you’ve been there through all of it. You’re a good chap, and thanks for all you’ve done. I’ll not say “we’ll miss you”, rather, I’ll say “we’ll see you on down the line my friend”.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThanks for all you have done, it's been fun and amazing. Wishing your family much love in 2026.
ReplyDeleteHey Barry, we understand. Family and life comes first. This has been (and continues to be) a fabulous resource. Hopefully you’ll get the time and energy to come back to this again, but for now, thank-you!
ReplyDeleteBarry, correct decision and thank you for all of the great advice.
ReplyDeleteDear Barry, You were very helpful in getting me started with my ukulele journey back in 2017. I play in two groups every week and my ukulele collection was mostly put together following your reviews. I wish you well in your future plans and look forward to seeing you again sometime down the road, don't hurry and do take care of yourself. My very best wishes to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThanks Malcolm!
DeleteI am sorry to hear of your troubles. Perfectly understand and I have gone through a similar situation in my family that changed my life. I do want to thank you because every time I was starting to lose interest in my ukes, listening to one of your reviews made me pick up one of my ukes and play again. Hope things get smoother for you and yours.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing the right thing, Baz, hard though it is. You won't regret it. You'll be much missed by many, but we aren't really important, and you obviously know what is. Thanks for all your videos, advice, humour and wisdom over thr years. All the very best to you and your family. Keith
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you...your family is so important and I think you've made an excellent decision.
ReplyDeleteFully understand and you’re doing the right thing - good luck to your daughter when it comes to her exams. As others have said, you’ve been enormously helpful to me in choosing which ukes to buy - and I for one will still be checking back on old reviews so I don’t think your site will ever disappear! Hope not, anyway, as it’s an immensely helpful resource. Best wishes to you and your family, and hope you have a very happy Christmas and new year.
ReplyDeleteDear Barry: I hope for all good things for you and your family in 2026, and I think 16 years of GaU is yeoman service for the community. Thank you for all your work on behalf of ukulele lovers.
ReplyDeleteImmense gratitude for all the work shared with us so far, the inspirational example set with this choice and the clarity and authenticity shared in this article.
ReplyDeleteI wish you and your family well for the coming months.
The good news is, your existing reviews will continue to help enlighten people for a long time. Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteThank you Baz for all you have done for us all. I have enjoyed your reviews and your wise advice has influenced and informed my instrument purchase for the past 13 years. I am a great believer in family comes first and am so sorry to hear all you are going through. I will hold you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you again and best wishes for Christmas and the year ahead.
ReplyDeleteAs someone neurodivergent with neurodivergent children, one doing GCSEs on home ed this year, and a similar rich streak of anxiety running through me, and a job I need to be good at, and occasionally needing some sleep, I know what it's like to feel guilty about not giving enough or good enough to anything. The fact that you took on a hobby, and it became the most comprehensive reference of ukulele models in the world and another accountability round your neck, shows that you don't do things by half! This message shows what an amazing dad you are: if your daughter needs you, and needs you to be well in yourself for her, then you do it. Hope the GCSEs go as well as they need to and the Fluke gets an occasional strum
ReplyDeleteThank you - that means a lot!
DeleteI joined an uke group during pandemic on facebook when im beginning to learn playing uke and finding my first semi decent uke. I needed help so i posted, lo and behold you replied to me. I apreciated the advise so much and it help me. I have no idea you run a website, doing reviews etc and still has time to help people on facebook. You're a good chap and i will be praying for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteOf course! You gotta do what you gotta do! Congratulations on a great run and on your wise decision. It’s all good. 🥰🌸🎶
ReplyDeleteAs father to two daughters to whom I’ve passed along my chronic anxiety, I totally understand the need to focus on family matters. In the meantime, it will take me some time anyway to buy all the ukuleles you rated highly.
ReplyDeleteBarry, of course we respect and completely understand your decision. You have been an invaluable part of my personal ukulele journey as well as an entertaining, No-BS, objective reviewer of all things Uke! Thanks BAZ! We'll see you on the flip side Brother! MP
ReplyDeleteI guess im a silent watcher/reader but I have always appreciated your "stuff"....hope things work out ok with you family matter...and I wish you all the good luck and love in the world,,,,H
ReplyDeleteYou have to do what is right for yourself and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you for everything and I hope that your situation stabilises and improves.
All the best.
Thanks Baz, wish you and family a peaceful Xmas and hope all goes well with your daughter..x
ReplyDeleteAs a person who had to deal with a child who went through mental health issues I feel what you are going through, Baz. Family is always first! Thank you for all the reviews and I hope that you and your family have a good Christmas and New Year. Love and peace to you all!
ReplyDeleteAs a blogger myself since 2005, I hear you about the algorithms ignoring you, the faceless AI corporations ripping off your content, and the wasteland that social media has become — it's hard to explain just how bad it's gotten recently, and it looks like it's only going to get worse. I also know what it's like to live with (and love) a neurodivergent family member -- society is not kind to neurodivergent folks, nor to their families. So... thank you for your major contributions to the worldwide ukulele community, and may you succeed in reducing your stress to a manageable level.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice words - and yes - algorithms suck.. They just want content content content forever..
DeleteDear Baz,
ReplyDeleteI echo what others have said: thank you so much for all your reviews, thoughts, rants, and very helpful advice. Have a good break and look after yourself and your family. We’ll all hope that we hear, occasionally, from you again.
Thanks for the joy that you've given me (Dobie Gray, "Drift Away").
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much Barry,I have always looked forward to your reviews of instruments,and your honest reviews helped me very much in my choice of instruments when first starting.I initally started with a Flight Diana soundwave and still have it,but after a while I wanted to move up to a better uke so bought a Flight Comet on the strength of your review and had no regrets on purchasing this lovely uke.I fully understand your decision to ease off with the reviews and wish you and your family well for the future.
ReplyDelete