Bushman Ukulele
RatingsBushman started life as a retailer of musical instruments rather than a maker (and they still do sell instruments by other makers) and focussed mainly on harmonicas. More recently, they have started to make their own ukuleles and launched their ukuleles in 2005 and it has become a big success.
Unfortunately in 2010 they hit supply problems which meant many people (including the winners of the 2009 Bushman Contest) didn't get their ukes. That's understandable. But what isn't understandable is the terrible customer service that people have had. There are plenty of forum threads to attest to this such as this one, this one and this one.
Bushman have two main ranges: the Bushman Cedar Tone and the Bushman Jenny. They are very similar instruments. Of the two, the Cedar Tone is slightly more expensive. Cedar Tones start at around $220, whereas Jennys start around $200. Both are made in Asia and finished and set up in the US
Bushman themselves describe the Bushman Jenny as having a, "brighter, punchy tone," while the Bushman Cedar Tone has a, "warmer, darker, more mellow tone."
Both instruments are solid wood: Brazilian Mahogany for the Jenny and the Cedar Tone has a cedar top (well, duh) and rosewood back and sides. Which is very nice considering the price.
Bushman did have two entirely American made sets of ukulele: the Bluebird and the Homegrown. Both seem to have disappeared from their website.
Bushman should also be congratulated for seeing sense and supplying their ukes with good quality strings (Aquila) as standard.
On Video
In 2007 Bushman ran a contest with the prize of a ukulele for the best video. It was won by Julia Nunes and this was her reaction. I think she was pleased.
On eBay
No items matching your keywords were found.
If there's no luck on eBay, you can buy them on their website.
24 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.
Got something to say?