Bushman Ukulele
I strongly recommend against getting involved with Bushman Ukuleles. I’ve seen more complaints against then than I have all the other ukulele manufacturers put together. You can read below the number of people who have had problems with the company. Or you can read about the 13 complaints lodged with the Better Business Bureau and their F rating of Bushman.
Instead you might want to look at more reputable makers like Kala, Ohana and Lanikai.
45 Comments
I bought a Bushman Jenny cutaway tenor as my first ukulele. I actually got to go to Bushman, spend some time with the owner and pick my instrument out. He strung it and set it up for me and sent me on my way a happy beginner. I still have the Jenny and I love it as much as I did that day a couple of years ago. It has been a workhorse of an instrument and I am totally pleased.
I purchased a bushman cedar tone concert size ukulele, a month and two weeks and three days ago. And it has not even been shipped yet. I tried many times to contact the company and I got little response and the responses I did get did not come throught. Apperantly I will not be recieving my ukulele for another 3 months. thank you bushman ukuleles, thank you.
I ordered a Bushman soprano from the site a month ago. I finally after several attempts through e-mail and phone got through and talked to John, the owner. He said that I had “slipped through the cracks”. It is December 23, and my daughter won’t receive the only thing she asked for for Christmas, and the only thing I bought her. Bushman will refund my money, but now I have to go out to a local music store and buy another brand that won’t be what she wanted. DON’T depend on Bushman music! You’ll be disappointed.
I suggest report Bushman to the Better Buissnes Bureur. I did and now Bushman has a failing grade. And I heard from BBB that otheres have reported to them about Bushman.
I’m one of the prize winners of the 2009 contest.
I wanted to spend more than my prize credit with Bushman, and they charged my credit card the difference – this was in April 2010 and I still haven’t received my goods by today January 2011. So although I’m a prize winner, they still hold some of my money as well.
My concern now is that another Bushman uke competition has started this year promising the same (generous) prizes even though last year’s winners still haven’t received theirs.
It’s not fair that people spend a lot of time creating a video in the expectation they will win something. Bushman get a lot of very effective publicity and promotion for their company, but have failed to fulfill their part of the deal by not honouring the prizes.
I feel that as a video winner I’m now associated with promoting Bushman. Their treatment of their customers makes me very embarrassed to have this relationship with them, notwithstanding my own frustrations and disappointments at the way I’ve been let down as a customer.
I am so frustrated with Bushman…I want to just get the ukulele I ordered three months ago so I can smash it!! I got a hold of John two months ago wondering where my uke had gone that I ordered three months ago. He stated that they ran out but would have a new shipment January 2011. I was willing to wait since I had already learned patience through this process. Now it is February and I have gotten a hold of Ryan twice at the phone and he just says I need to talk to John. Why can’t Ryan fill my order out by sticking the damn thing in a box and sending it to me. I already paid for the damn instrument. A uke is supposed to bring bliss and harmony to lifes tougher moments but I think this uke is bringing a big headache and lots of bad juju. Why can’t they get it right. I really wish I went with Mainland now but Julia Nune’s happiness was so intoxicating. If I was Julia I would divorce from Bushman. Where is my first uke. What a mean thing to do to somebody who wants to learn now and make them wait forever. If you buy Bushman don’t expect to ever see that cute little four stringer at your doorstep. I would love to know who got a Bushman for christmas? Anyone? Can I have my prepaid with free shipping ukulele JOHN…Please?
Suspect everyone got overwhelmed with the “rush” to get ukes for Christmas. They simply weren’t prepared, ran out, and are working backorders as we speak. This includes Kala, Pono, Bushman, and anyone else who makes an extremely good uke for the price.
P.J.: A Christmas rush that’s lasted longer than a year? And that’s still no excuse for poor customer service.
Well, as you can guess, I am going to say the same thing that everyone else is saying. I ordered a Bushman uke, and I must wait until next year to receive my order. You have to love a business that knows how to run your credit card immediately but doesn’t know how to put a product in a box and put a little tape on it. Maybe, this is why Julia was so excited to get her uke. It must have taken her 6 months to get hers as well.
I purchased a uke in November 2010 for Christmas. My credit card was charged immediately. I have still not recieved the uke. First, I was told Jan 2011, then April 2011. I was recently informed after a million non returned telephone calls that the shipment did not come in. Bushman’s customer service is horrible at best. Has anyone out there recieved a refund? I would like to know how long it took.
1997=2007. Right?
I have had the same experience with Bushman. I ordered a uke for my son in Nov 2010.. Excuses, no answers, non returned phone calls and email.. AND they still haven’t given me any kind of refund. I also ordered a harmonica.. I guess that the supplies for the harmonicas didn’t come in either. I am reporting them to my credit card company and the BBB and looking into reporting internet fraud, which is a federal charge. If I am successful, I will post here so the FBI can contact others.
the guy at Bushman blacklisted my dad. He ordered a Jenny Concert uke for my 2010 Christmas present. And after a month, my dad started calling and e-mailing. He was promised it would get here in April 2011. April came and went. After contacting again, we were promised only one more month. Again, that came and went.
Apparently, we “bugged” him so much that he will no longer do business with us. The credit card was refunded, but I will never receive my Bushman ukulele.
Terrible customer service. I am just appalled that they would turn down hundreds of dollars just because a customer wanted to know WHERE HIS PRODUCT WAS!!!!!
Geez…I’m reading all this bad stuff about Bushman Ukes. I guess I’m lucky to have a KOA tenor from them in Apr 2006 and I found their service remarkable and just fantastic. I rarely played it and am now thinking of converting it to a tenor guitar set up ADGC; and hence this post. Has anyone out there done this and if yes can you provide any insight as to how it went and what strings you used? Did you have to modify the nut or any other adjustments? Maybe I ought to sell this rare beauty. Anybody know the street value today on this mint tenor??
i’m looking to buy a bushman concert ukulele. I’m from the UK and reading all the comments about the service etc and is really disappointing.. They are hard to find and i’m wondering whether there are any customers who have bought a uke recently and where there is any feedback i can towards it, or even if bushman can reassure me that if i order a uke it will actually come!
I placed my first order for a Jenny Soprano in December 2010.
I couldn’t find my order by April 2011 and so, placed another order.
I was sent a confirmation email that confirmed both orders before emailing them and requesting that my second order be cancelled, so I could get my uke asap.
I heard nothing until a few weeks ago, when at 12.05am, I received a call from John Hall apologising and explaining I had been charged and never refunded.
He said he could post my order that day but would have to improvise for a standard black case rather than the tweed one I ordered.
I was sent an email explaining that as soon as it was shipped I would receive a tracking number.
My order wasn’t posted for a few weeks, but I appreciated finally getting my 2010 Christmas present.
It arrived today.
And it’s unfinshed.
Eg, is missing the fill in the “BUSHMAN UKULELES” on the head.
I actually cried. And the worst of it is that I know they probably won’t reply to my emails and it’s difficult to call as I live in Australia.
Go Bushman.
Well, after that video by that cute little girl, I was sold,,, but then I read all the bad stuff comments and decided that I would not. Too bad, I wanted to expand my collection of Ukes. I thought one would be good to add. Anyway, I think she would sell a lot if you guys got your act together. Geno Loro Give her my compliments and eat your heart out you little whipper snappers…
BUSHMAN Tweed Case
Regarding Armor Tweed/leather/brass concert uke case:
Odered From Bushman (their supplier is Major Music Supply). I specified in writing that I wanted this case because it was made with authentic wool tweed, leather, brass materials and that I did NOT want vinyl; I sent explicit uke measurements from Kala site; I talked to John Hall at Bushman’s on the phone. All to no avail.
Only Bushman plus: Speedy delivery. After receiving the case I discovered their supplier and wrote them about Bushman’s false product claims; no reply.
Bushman’s site made this claim regarding their case:
Beware; this is false advertising: the case is vinyl TWEED-LIKE material, vinyl PLEATHER binding, brass-COLORED hinges/latches; also the inside dimentions are not as large as advertised. Bushman is obviously describling and instrument they do not sell; their product picture isn’t even the same as product sent.
I paid an inflated price for authentic materials and got vintage ‘look’ materials. The case also has rippled cloth application and stinks so badly I have a headache and feel poisoned.
Phooey!
To their credit, Major Music Supply’s product page makes no such false claims about this case; but they won’t reply to my inquiry.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: A Kala Concert Lacewood Archback won’t fit into this tiny case, case looks more Martin shaped. Now I will tackle the unpleasant task of trying to get satisfaction from Bushman; surely John Hall will be a gentleman (?). First step, cancel my Visa payment and see if I get a return call.
Update on Bushman Uke Cases:
I talked to John Hall today and he was a gentleman and settled my problem regarding the ill-described Tweed Case. He is crediting my VISA card with a full refund and I am sending his Uke Case back to him so he can see what his supplier is drop-shipping to his customers. He was surprised that the cases were not as described. He has also removed the cases from his website.
Kudos John Hall from Bushman … and I wish success to you and your company.
I own 2 bushman ukes both sopranos the Jenny was my first uke I liked it as a first uke and had no problems ordering it. the other is a spruce top pineapple (not made anymore) It took forever to get this uke my experience is like other posts I got a song and dance but no uke. When it finally came I had moved on to a Mele concert. which really made the Bushman sound like a toy. Maybe their problems are solved now. This was years ago.
DO NOT BUY BUSHMAN UKULELES
I placed my order weeks ago and it is still processing, have tried contacting them, no reply and have read DOZENS of horror stories about their customer service and what I would classify as Internet Fraud. After reading all this and realising I have now lost almost $300, I think they should be shut down and arrested.
Absolutely Ridiculous.
Same problem as everyone:
Bushman took my money immediately but never shipped the instrument. Is not reachable and never replied to emails.
A complete scam.
The lesson here is don’t order anything. I purchased my Bushman Jenny the old fashioned way: I bought it at a store, where I could touch it, play it and personally attest to it’s existence.
Love it. Sounds great. Holds a tuning.
Waited forever for my Bushman harmonica, and I too was disapointed in it’s quality. Not nearly as good as a Hohner special 20, blues harp, golden melody,or marine band wich are all about the same price! Sounds like their harps and the ukes both suck.
Ordered uke on March 10,2013. Just got it June 24,2013.I will never do business with this company again. I read the reviews, I should have known better. John did talk to me, I’ll give him that. To bad I could not bring myself to believe him.
Adding to the bad reviews, I’m afraid. I ordered a Jenny Concert Uke in December 2012. I paid half the price to get a “guaranteed ship date” – that date was in February. Since then, John has apparently gotten married, set up an entire retail store on his own, attended numerous funerals, etc. all with my uke “in the box ready to ship.”
The wait is not fun. The blatant lying and refusal to communicate makes this whole enterprise a scam.
I’ve just bought a Bushman Jenny Baritone on ebay. The seller said it was bought in 2005 in U.S. and that this model is not made anymore so it will be a collectable uke in the future. Must admit, the pic’s look great, will write a review when it arrives!
Well, it arrived this morning and I’m very pleased with it. For a 2005 model,(it says inside) it is in pristine condition, the action is low, build quality and finish superb! The sound has to be heard to be believed, very mellow lows and bright highs.
Was just looking at the bushman website.. they are selling a shipment of cedar tone ukes / soprano and concerts/ made in 2010 that were damaged in shipment.. still playable tho andn being sold for $120 and up. These have the darker tops.
I only wish that I had read these reviews before my purchase of the Bushman tenor-cedar tone ukulele and tweed case! I ordered the above December 26, 2013. Received ONLY a badly damaged ukulele and no case on January 23. 2014. Almost four weeks later! John Hall is a liar full of excuses and needs to be shut down. He definitely is a scam/fraud. To this date (March 13, 2014) I still have a damaged uke and no case. Again, John has said numerous times the case is on it’s way…only to find out NOT! Now that I have decided to wash my hands and get a full refund of $372.45, the lies go on! It is a nightmare and a joke! Buyer beware! Unless you are in Idianapolis Indiana where you can actually touch your purchase, beware! I doubt very much if John Hall has a retail store! He has given me excuse after excuse as to what the delay is. Please stay posted because I will rectify this situation but can not disclose my action! I will post it so others can get their $$ back! Oh…beware of the damaged uke John Hall sends to unsuspecting customers! He will tell you that you are LUCKY because so many others are crying for their use’s! BEWARE!!!!
Well, I owned a Bushman Jenny at one time and wish I never sold it. I recently ordered a cracked Cedar Tone from John Hall (owner Bushman Music Works) on Mar 3, 2014. John said he would ship immediately. I never heard back from him until last week when I insisted that he return my calls and repeated emails. He stated that he just concluded a huge music deal in the Nashville, IN area and that was the reason for his lack of communication with me. He said he wouod send the CedarTone Concert Ukelule out immediately. I still do not have the uke!. Take a look at the Indiana Better Business Bureau’s webpage on Bushman Music Works. (http://www.bbb.org/indianapolis/business-reviews/musical-instruments-dealers/bushman-music-works-in-nashville-in-90003253). THE BBB rates this business with an “F”!!!
DON’T DO BUSINESS WITH IS GUY.
I WILL BE FORTUNATE TO GET MY MONEY BACK.
Allright…an update. I sent John Hall (owner of Bushman Music Works) an email that stated I would contact the Indiana Dept of Consumer Affairs (Indiana Attorney General’s Office) and the BBB. I additionally sent a Demand for Product Letter stating I either receive the promised product or a full refund within 24 hours – otherwise I would pursue recourse through small claims court. And a miracle happened within 2 hours….I heard from Mr. Hall. He left a message on my cell that said he was refunding my purchase price in full. So..my friends..take the advice of the blog moderator.. DO NOT ORDER A BUSHMAN UKULELE.
Well, to note the positive, six years ago I bought a Bushman baritone Jenny model BU7BCA and had no problem with shipment and have been delighted with its tone and quality. Fretting and neck alignment dead on perfect, machinery too. I use it as a “pack guitar”, and the farther I carry it the better it sounds. Looks like Bushman no longer sells them. Too bad. I had a guy want to trade his 100 year old Vega open back banjo for it, and I refused until the next morning when he was sober. He was from Indiana and entranced, I think, with its provenance. It’s tone entrances many, especially on a warm night.
I got my first Bushman 6 years ago, Jenny Concert, love love love it. Amazing instrument for the money. Decided to order a Koa Tenor a year or so ago. After many months of delays, and much communication with John, he felt bad said he would send me one of the older cracked Cedartones that were in his warehouse and he was selling for half price to play till it arrived. I opted for a Soprano. It came and was almost perfect. Plays like a dream. Thru much patience over many months, I finally got the Koa tenor, but it was a big mess. Lots of good workmanship and detail, but it had a really glumpy finish and the holes for the tuners were drilled all uneven. Sounded not even close to the older ones. I sent it back, paid for the Cedartone soprano, and ended up getting John to send me another one of the cracked Cedartones, a concert model to teach uke to my nephew. It is also truly beautiful, and at $129, maybe the best deal in the history of ukuleles. My overall impression as owner of three awesome Bushman ukes, is that John is a really really nice guy who has had many ups and downs, but who has tried really hard and has provided those of us lucky enough to hit him at the right time with some beautiful instruments at amazing prices. If he still has any of the cracked ones, try ordering one. Good luck.
I play a Bushman Jenny concert uke that I bought used through Craigslist. I LOVE this ukulele! It sounds great, sharp highs and mellow lows. One of the things I like about my Bushman is that the tuning pegs don’t feel heavy. That weight balance makes the uke feel good in my hands. Plus it simply looks good. I couldn’t be happier.
Does anyone have a good number for Bushman? Their phone # has been disconnected. Having the same problem. Got charged for the uke but never received it.
Thanks
I bought a Jenny Bushman Uke in a Swiss store some time ago. I simply love it. It has a warm sound and a brilliant neck. Also I can put the capo wherever I want and the tone would just fit.
However, I ordered a second one directly at Bushman in June this year. I did not get any responses on my mails asking for a delivery date. Finally I found a phone number and call them up. John Hall (the owner or the onemanshow?) came up with excuses, he waiting for this and that but he will ship in the next 2 days.
After one week I called him again to get the same story, expect that this time something else was missing. He played that game with me during 6 more weeks. Finally I posted a message on the Bushman Facebook page. Immediately John call me as said he now has everything…..except the case! I gave him another 2 days.
Finally the Uke came but I was frustrated about the quality. We they sent me is a cheapest Korean type of instrument. Of course I called John again, and he promised he will ship a new one within 3 weeks. Needless to say that, again, this has not happen (nor will it!).
DO NOT BUY BUSHMAN UKES
While this product is top of the line. I would strongly encourage you not to buy from John.
I spoke with him and although he promises on time delivery, even a “free” uke for the wait, it is all based on empty promises and further delays. He likes to string you along (no pun intended). His response was arrogant. ” I am Bushman”. He offers poor service and does not deliver when he says he will ship. He is also sarcastic as he asked me to thank my daughter for purchasing from him (4 years ago). He thinks he is the only game in town.
I had to have my credit card reverse the charge and John suggested to have it reversed as it dings his credit, but he has no regards for the consumer.
Like another cosumer said, I only wish I had read these reviews along with the complaints at the Better Business Bureau.
Regardless of the quality product, there is no coummication at all with estimated delivery time.
Again, I had the chance to speak and text with John, and he is all about empty promises with no delivery or good customre service skills.
Consumers beware!
After reading rave reviews of the Bushman Jenny, I purchased a soprano back in 2006. The uke had a very glossy shine and sounded great. I loved playing the Jenny until it was stolen when my house was burglarized. Every time I think about ordering another Jenny, I read this blog, with all of the negative comments, and buy something else. I miss you Jenny 🙁
I read all this negative press about Bushman, but after several days’ worth of emails back and forth with Bushman, discussing the bad press, I held my breath and ordered the concert Jenny they were offering on a special. John thanked me for telling him about the F rating…said he had no idea. He contacted the BBB and found out they were using an outdated address. I see now he has been upgraded to a C, so he must have taken care of something. Anyway, he shipped my Jenny the day I ordered it. Unfortunately, the USPS was not so quick (I tracked it with the tracking number provided). It took 3 weeks to get to me, but I am happy with it. If I should ever order from there again, I believe I would pay for Priority mail. But it arrived it very good shape and I like it.
I have a 2006 Jenny and just received a Rockabilly I ordered.. took about 3 weeks to get. I spoke with John and he told me it would be a few weeks to a month and he was right. It arrived and is great!!! They have such good tone… I ordered a 2nd last week and John told me the one I wanted was in the chain and would be about a month to get thru customs and then setup (they apparently do the setup in States. I can’t wait.
I am posting this because it seems like no one has posted about Bushman and John Hall for a couple years. I am here to say his customer service has NOT got any better. If anything it is worse. I blindly ordered a Jenny from his website in Sept of 2016. The website said he has over 100 in stock. He called me instantly and said the site was wrong and offered me a broken ukulele to tide me over for the 4 weeks he said it would take to have my Jenny made. I called him once a month until Feb of 2016 and he finally confessed to me that the Jennys hadn’t even started production. He offered instead of the Jenny he would sell me a Rockabilly for just a little more money. I agreed because what other choice did I have. Within 4 days of owning the Rockabilly it developed a crack out of no where. John later confessed to me that all the Rockabillys from that batch had developed the same crack and it had almost put him out of business. I asked for my money back and he told me he didn’t have it to give me. My only option at that point was to wait longer for the Jenny that I originally ordered to come in which John said would be about 4 more weeks. It is now June of 2017 and he still does not have the Jenny’s and/or my money to refund me. He tells you what you want to hear on the phone to make you happy so it buys him some time. He is seriously the worst business man I have ever seen in my life and he should NOT be allowed to take peoples money without having the product in his hands or AT LEAST tell people in advance on his website that his products are out of stock and will take 6 months to a year for you to get. I have filled a complaint with the BBB. I am just blown away at the nightmare this guy has put me though and I KNOW I am not alone.
I meant to say Feb of 2017 in the above comment.
Lanikai? I ordered a Tenor fromm Lanikai. The sound was muffled, I could barely hear the different between chords, the action was way to high. Compared to My Bushman Concerto Bu7_C, the Lanikai is garbage. The Bushman sounds great. Granted, the salesman(John Hall?) over the phone had an intimidating, unprofessional attitude, and they forgot to install the geared pegs they included as an upgrade. However, boy, does this Uke rock! One can easily differentiate the chord sounds.I returned the Lanikai Tenor the same day. Fortunately, I will not have to pay shipping to return it. ***** stars for the Bushman I purchased 10 years ago.
Based in the UK and ordered a Bushman Jenny in 2009, which I had shipped to a friend in New York as I was worried it would get damaged going overseas. It was supposed to come with a tweed case, which I placed as part of the order, but it didn’t. I didn’t have time when I got to New York to sort it out, so I tried to sort the problem out from the UK, but all my emails were ignored.
In 2019, I realised that Bushman now had a Facebook page, so I left a review to say I never received the case despite all the contact (over at least 2 years, periodically trying to get some sort of response by email). I received an intimidating direct message from John Hall within the hour:
“Call me before I respond to your horrible, untrue review! Or you can write to us here. Why did you lie? Did you use a different name back then, 10 years ago, when you supposedly got a Jenny from us? We have Instagram, Facebook, website, phone number, why would write a review without giving us a chance to make things right. We didn’t sell Jenny ukuleles with Friction Peg tuners in 2009. And no, our ukuleles hold tune beautifully and dependably. Why did you write lies about us? If you’ve got an ounce of character and honesty, you’ll remove your unfair review from our page. I can’t wait for you to respond.”
Indeed, he didn’t wait for me to respond, and immediately took to character defamation on Facebook. After much to-ing and fro-ing (and no answer as to what happened to the tweed case – and no refund offered because it was 10 years ago), John was able to coerce me to remove my review on the basis that he promised he would deliver some free instruments to a local school in his area, would send photos/messages when done.
Suffice to say, I’m still waiting…
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