I started shopping for ukulele for myself and began looking at some stores around me and found every stop I went had employees who were not greeting or offering help and instruments that were all out of tune, on the budget end and missing strings looking like a 2 year old got a hold of them. Then I contacted U-Space, what a refreshing change of pace. It was a far drive so I started with an email exchange where Jason took the emailed info and built me a custom list of Ukuleles to review. I was sent a youtube video to hear them all too. I made an appointment and took the drive to their location. Jason and Petrice were so welcoming and had all the instruments I wanted to see ready to go and in tune. I played them all and a couple more and asked questions and went back and forth and the whole time Jason and Petrice were supportive and wanted me to find the exact right one for me. And I did, I walked out with a beautiful solid wood mahogany Ukulele, no frills just quality sound with a lovely tone. I can not recommend U-Space enough. Stellar customer service, amazing instruments, and the absolute 5 star experience. read more

I cannot recommend this place enough. With Covid still running around loose like a rabid animal in this country, their physical store is closed. But! Do not despair! You can call them and they will help you over the phone. Learning to play the ukulele is one of the many, many, MANY pandemic hobbies that I have recently picked up. I bought a super cheap-o ukulele off Amazon to get started -- and although it was fine (especially for what I paid), I knew pretty quickly that I wanted to upgrade to something nicer. After talking to a few of my friends and getting their advice, I knew that I wanted to get a Kala soprano. But the particular one I had my heart set on had been discontinued. So I called up U-Space and told them that I was in the market for a Kala soprano, gave them a price range and asked for their recommendation. GUESS WHAT? They had the exact discontinued model that I had been pining after! Not only did they make my dreams come true, they drove it right to me! Delivered it right into my hands! Oh, and it should be worth noting that they didn't even push me to buy the nicer ukulele -- they said that they could restring my Amazon starter uke and that would probably be enough of an upgrade for a wee beginner like me. That made me pretty confident that they wouldn't try to push the most expensive thing on me just to make a buck. Anyway, time to wrap this up and get to playing: I have a downstairs neighbor to torment. read more

U-Space - Kala Ziricote Soprano - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Excellent service! Jason contacted me after reaching out to him and he provided good suggestions for ukuleles for my nieces and nephew. They're very happy after seeing their first musical instruments arrive at home. I'm hoping they can learn to play it and add a new skill to self soothe during this times. read more

U-Space - Excited for their first ukuleles - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Incredible experience from start to finish. I can't praise this company enough for the wonderful experience they provided us. My daughter saved her money and had her heart set on purchasing a ukelele. Since the physical location is closed we contacted U-space and they quickly gave us some recommendations based on the info I gave. They suggested various makes and models and after choosing our top three they sent videos so that we could compare the sound. Once my daughter selected hers the uke was hand delivered. AMAZING customer service. read more

U-Space - Hand delivered ukelele - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wow, my fiancé and neighbor have been raving about this cool place in J-Town they found to take ukulele lessons. Today, I decided to go and hang and listen. I sat in the back and listened to the lesson - the instructor sang as he instructed the class. I thought, wow, how awesome this guy is - what a great singer he is... He should perform! Then I realized dang, its Jason Arimoto - THE Jason Arimoto! He's a very well-known, sought after musician! Can you tell, I'm so floored that Jason Arimoto is the instructor here? I had purchased his music a few years ago...a wonderful pleasant surprise to hear him here! My fiancé bragged to me he is also going to be taking private lessons from Jason. He told me the price, and I suggested that Jason should raise his prices. :) read more

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I was looking for a specific Pono ukulele to surprise my boyfriend with for his birthday and called up U-Space in hopes that they had one in stock. They did! Petrice was so sweet and incredibly helpful over the phone, explaining a few things to consider (since I'm a ukulele novice) and suggesting a few other options that I might like. That evening, Jason put together a super high quality video to compare the features/sounds of the ukuleles I was interested in which helped me feel more confident in my choice. I truly have never been so impressed with a shop, especially considering the covid circumstances they've had to adapt to. I am super grateful for the unparalleled customer service that Petrice and Jason provided. My boyfriend has been playing his uke nonstop since his birthday, and we look forward to stopping by the shop when it reopens! read more

U-Space - Pono Ukulele - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I bought a ukulele online a couple of years ago but didn't really get into practicing until recently. Once I started playing more, I realized that it just sounded out of tune no matter how often I tuned it. I bought it as a starter uke based on great reviews, so I wanted a professional to take a look at the instrument to see if there was something wrong with it. Getting to Little Tokyo on a weekday after work from Century City was not something I looked forward to, but I'm really glad I made the trip. My thought process was to buy a starter ukulele and upgrade when I was little more serious about it. What I didn't know was that all those years playing piano and clarinet, although I haven't played either for a long time now, trained my brain musically to some degree. And this relatively cheap uke was making sound that was not music to my ears. The female staff gave me two options. Upgrading to a new uke or re-stringing my current one and see if I can live with it until I was sure I wanted to invest more money for a better instrument. Since my uke was pretty new and had very low mileage on it, I decided to go with the latter option. Jason re-stringed it and made a couple of other adjustments on the spot. I think I waited about 15 or 20 minutes or so. And voila! my uke sounded so much better. I was amazed! My uke is not perfect, but it's decent enough now that I enjoy playing it. When it's time to upgrade, I'll be sure to go to U-Space and get one there. read more

I can't recommend Jason and U Space enough. Their knowledge, patience, and setup skills are the best in L.A. They also have the most complete collection of Ukes to choose from. read more

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We haven't been to the space (we live in NY) but we needed to get a starter uke for my 7 year old and Jason and the others were so helpful helping us pick one that matched everything we needed. They heard us, came up w a range of recommendations, and when they didn't have exactly what we wanted in stock they special ordered it for us and picked it up from the factory. You might be able to go to a general music shop to get a uke but being able to rely on the expertise of these passionate uke enthusiasts made all the difference. My son has an instrument that is easier for him to play (which adds to his enjoyment) and will be something he can use for years to come -- even his teacher remarked on what a nice instrument he has. read more

Jason came to my house and hooked up my uke with new PHD strings and a new tie dye strap. Service was great and I'm happy with my upgrades!

If you are looking for a comfortable place in Little Tokyo to relax and grab a coffee then I would recommend U-space. It's located on the ground floor of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC.) they have good coffee, lattes and plum tea. They have some pastries too. If you are an ukulele player, then Jason Arimoto can definitely help you out. He is a great ukulele player. Or if you just need supplies, music books for your ukulele then you can get it here. You can also inquire about lessons. They also participate in the Ukulele Expo hosted by JACCC. Yelp 100 Challenge (47 out of 100) read more

The staff is all very helpful here and I love my instrument. When I needed a repair they gave me one to use while mine was repaired and the price was very reasonable. During the pandemic they delivered to my door. Super kind people and highly recommend. read more

Super nice Jason showed me aloha the moment I walked in the store, about a minute before closing. He educated me on these cool instruments and helped pick out everything I need to start playing! Equally nice Patrice made me an iced, refreshing horchata-style latte. I am very happy with my new ukulele. It is solid wood and has a deep, rich sound. I asked Jason which uke would be the best value for the money under $200, and indeed it is a big red beaut! I haven't named it yet, nor decided on its gender, but I have been following the Daniel Ho DVD he recommended with success. I played a simple song within the hour! ; ) I expect to start classes soon; they are only $8.00 for group events, and $35.00 per hour for private lessons. They have a youth program and a community outreach which they are expanding in the DTLA area. I had a bit of difficulty finding it; it is in the same plaza as JAACC. There are definitely lots of lots and meters around for parking. They have a couple of sister shops in Cali too. If you want to start a new hobby, visit U-Space. Happy Strumming! read more

We were in the market for a good beginner ukulele but the store was not physically open due to COVID-19. However, U-SPACE offers excellent sales service via phone. After describing what we need, Jason provided a personalized selection of ukuleles that meet our criteria. He also provided a customized video/audio playtest comparing the ukuleles that we were interested in. It was the next best thing to being in the showroom. After selecting a nice Ohana ukulele, they set it up with a new set of quality string and delivered it to our home. The ukulele has been properly adjusted and set up, which you don't normally get with big box stores or online shops. We are happy with this beautiful instrument. U-SPACE's price is quite reasonable and their service is outstanding. We highly recommend them. read more

Word bast ukulele store. Good service Good price And good coffee Just go check out this store. You will love this store. read more

U-Space - Word bast coffee - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

These guys are the nicest people in the history of the universe. They sold me a great uke early in 2020 and they are so open to questions, doing video demos, and just all around being helpful. I really appreciate this shop and whether you're a beginner or a pro, you're going to get what you need from them. Thanks Petrice and Jason! read more

We are in pandemic time. My ukulele needed new strings. What to do?! I contacted the wonderful people at U-Space and was contacted right away. Jason and Petrice came to my house, did a no-contact pickup of my ukulele, did beautiful work replacing the tuners on my Koaloha concert with Gotoh tuners, and restrung with signature PhD strings and a low G La Bella. Then returned it the next day!!! No one compares to the people at U-Space. They are ohana, for real. read more

I had the most wonderful experience with U-Space. Due to the pandemic, my communication with Jason and Petrice was entirely over the phone and via email, but they were incredibly helpful, thorough, and responsive. After describing my wants and price point for a ukulele, Jason sent over images of different recommended ukes available and then a personalized video of him playing all of the ones I requested. He and Petrice answered any questions I had and provided their recommendations on strings and accessories as well. They were always so friendly and communicative, and even provided free contact-free delivery. I had my new uke in hand within a week :) I would recommend this store to anyone. When the store opens up again, I will definitely be visiting in person to peruse and get the full experience! read more

I love this place! My plan on my first trip was to just look around. Then they sit me down and start bringing out the ukes. As a new player it was my first opportunity to try quality ukes. Eventually I found one I couldn't leave without. Second trip was for some string changes etc. Jason worked his magic and improved all three I brought in. They are more than fair with prices. It's a one hour commute but well worth it. read more

We are saddened by our experience here today. We were enjoying the Nisei Festival and came in specifically to check out U-Space and to get a drink as my gf has been curious about the space and has followed their events/videos. We spoke to lady by the door about a beautiful ukulele she was holding and she was very nice (we believe she works there as she said 'we sell them here' enthusiastically). As we tried to proceed further into the space to the order area, a girl employee stood blocking the walkway and she asked us if we already went through the rest of the building. We said no and she proceeded to tell us they are open 6 days a week and that we should go check out the rest of the building because they were closing in 15 minutes. Then she turned away but didn't move. Ok... We were blindsided by her, at first it seemed like she was trying to be helpful but we realized she didn't want us to come in. We understand that given the event outside, I'm sure they had a lot of people coming in and she was filtering people back out. They advertise a welcoming space but we definitely were not welcomed. Walking into a cafe to get a drink / check out the ukuleles but have to explain why we came in? No thanks. Wrong day, wrong time, wrong person. Best of luck, we will not be back. read more

My ideal study spot in Little Tokyo!! It doesn't get much better than being surrounded by good coffee and the gentle sound of ukulele. As far as drinks go, I'd recommend the honey graham latte when it's available! If you're not sure how a graham cracker would taste in a latte, just imagine a hint of cinnamon with a mild sweetness. I've also tried their chai latte, but it's a bit too strong for me; it did clear out my sinuses though LOL. Jason is super helpful when it comes to picking out your ideal ukulele. I don't play, but my friend was floored when he came to U-Space to try out different ukes per Jason's suggestions. It ultimately lead to him figuring out what kind of uke he wanted to buy next! So if you're looking for a new ukulele to play, or need a nice soothing place to study, or just want some caffeine, this place has it all! read more

If you're into or interested in ukuleles, this is definitely the place to come in Little Tokyo. You can buy one and take lessons from the very talented, Jason Arimoto. While you're browsing you can even grab a cup of coffee. My favorite being the Horchata Latte! Located on the 1st level of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC). read more

This is such an awesome place, if you are visiting Little Tokyo and enjoy music, definitely stop in to visit. Ukuleles and fresh coffee, what a great combination...there is a decent selection of instruments available, in a broad price range, as well as useful accessories. A friendly relaxing vibe, only slight gripe is somewhat unusual hours, not open on Mondays and closed by 5 PM Saturdays. U-Space is the place to go for ukuleles! read more

I love U Space Ukulele! It is are go to place for all things Uke . We have purchased four Ukes from them and are super pleased with all four. I especially love my Tenor Spalted Mango Ramero! It looks beautiful and sounds beautiful. The action is perfect. I put on D' Adario strings and loved it even more. read more

I dropped by U-Space a couple days ago and they've moved from the 1st floor to the third floor, same beautiful ukuleles and helpful staff but a little hard to find unless you know where to look! Take the elevator to Suite 302A. read more

Everything you could want in an ukulele store is here at U-Space. I kick myself for only finding out about the shop a few months ago. If you are an avid uke player, you know we only have less than a handful of fully dedicated uke shops within reasonable driving distance. We are very lucky to have this place. The assortment of ukes they carry may be the biggest I have seen among the So Cal stores from entry level to the higher end K brands as well as ukes from lesser known luthiers. The staff knows their stuff and are very approachable and willing to talk to you. I really like the coffee shop idea and that brings a very chill atmosphere to the place. It's also a vibrant, younger crowd which I particularly like. Also, don't forget you are in Little Tokyo! An amazing place with awesome food (go hungry!) and cool Japanese stores. This is fantastic because now you can drag your family there and call it a day visit to Little Tokyo and ... whats this? A uke store? What are the odds?? Works out perfect! read more

Small but intimate storefront on the third floor of the JACCC building in downtown LA, it is not an easy find... but, it is absolutely worth the effort. Staff is highly knowledgeable, friendly, helpful to a fault... excellent products and setting a very focused benchmark. Love these people, love this place. Unique and very special... read more

Nice capuccino and ukeleles here in this fun shop on the edge of Little Tokyo. Good selection of Ukeleles. My sister bought a really nice one, though it was close to $1000. There are many cheaper models available and the people are nice and helpful. read more

U-Space - Nice - Musical Instruments & Teachers Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A cool little spot right in the Japanese American Cultural Center! I really enjoyed coming here with my toddler and picking out her first ukelele. The only problem was that I came on a Saturday and they were conducting a make-up lesson for the previous Sunday; all that caused the co-owner who taught lessons there to be too busy to help me personally. His wife, the other co-owner, was very sweet but clearly overwhelmed as they also run a cafe here, though she did let me know the circumstances so I wasn't totally put off or lost! The ukelele choices were pretty good, and they offered sheet music as well - though you can get a lot online these days. They were very nice about letting us pick everything up and play with it - even my three year old who can be... well... three. Toddlers are potential ruffians let's face it. Anyhow, after some hilarious toddler jamming, my daughter got a purple ukelele (Prince?) and I bought an unfinished mahogany one that had a beautiful low tone to it. We also bought some carrying cases and a ukelele tuner for kicks. It was tough getting too much attention from the owners and getting through our transaction was a bit lengthy with all the interruptions to order coffee coming in! Despite it all, we eventually chose instruments and purchased - all done in pieces. I'm hoping to go back and ask about lessons for my daughter, so we'll see if things are a bit smoother on the return. I felt sure this was just a wonky day, based on how incredibly sweet they seemed and the circumstances. Definitely worth a visit! Say Aloha! read more

The best ukulele store in Los Angeles! Although U-Space has been around for about 3 years, I hadn't seen it listed in any of the typical "uke resources" pages I'd been reading. Stumbled onto it via Yelp, and man, am I glad I did! It's a funky little place in Little Tokyo--a combination coffee shop and serious ukulele store. Who would have guessed! They have a great selection of quality ukes at all price points, excellent customer service, and very knowledgeable staff. Unlike Guitar Center or Sam Ash, U-Space carries "serious" brands, ranging from quality entry-level Ohanas, Kalas, and Islanders, through the mid-range, and up to super high-end. They also stock harder-to-find models, such as the superb Pepe Romero and Romero Creations ukes! Prices are spot on, and generally lower than you'll find online (so, after tax, they end up matching the best internet prices you can find). You can play any of the instruments, and they'll let you hang out as long as you need to find the right instrument with zero pressure (but as much help as you desire). Best of all, Jason Arimoto is usually on hand to help with selection, and he'll set up any use you buy to suit your tastes (lowering action, swapping out strings, installing strap buttons, etc.). He's a fantastic musician, and will show you just what your instrument can do in the right hands. And most important when shopping for a new instrument, he's amazingly friendly, patient, and skilled at all things uke. He also offers very affordable private lessons (and this guy is a very accomplished and well-known uke player, so that's kind of amazing...) U-Spaxe offer a 15 day money-back guarantee, lifetime support for your instrument, and I believe they have some sort of trade-in policy on their instruments--so if you outgrow your uke, you can always level up later. I initially bought an affordable Islander concert, but after I got it home, found that it had a persistent sizzling buzz at the bridge. Brought it back a few days later, and Jason tinkered with it for about 30 minutes, swapping out strings, sanding the inside of the body, and generally checking it out. The problem persisted, and he soon found the culprit--a misplaced bridge inside the body. I would never have found that. He immediately offered a full refund or exchange. After trying various "replacement" instruments, Jason pointed me toward the Romero Creations Tiny Tenor (tenor scale on a concert body). Unexpectedly, that turned out to be the right choice for me. Jason even offered to swap out the low g stock string for a high g, so I could hear how it sounded before making a decision! It was a more expensive instrument (and thus, an upgrade), but since it came with a case, it ended up being pretty much an even exchange. Glad he pointed that out to me, as I ended up with a much better instrument for the money. Highly recommended for anyone thinking about exploring the world of ukuleles, or upping their game with a nicer instrument! Parking can be tricky (it's downtown LA, so pretty much all metered or hourly parking lots--just shell out $5-$10 to park in the Little Tokyo parking lot on 2nd Street, and plan to spend an hour or so trying out instruments and drinking good coffee. read more

This is the best ukulele store in Southern California. Very laid back atmosphere and Jason and Patrice are so cool! Very helpful. They make the best drinks, like knowing how I like my tea, and awesome selection of everything. Jason's PhD strings are what I use on my uke (which he helped me find) and I just love it! read more

The entire experience of shopping and purchasing 2x Ukelele's at U-space was just extraordinary. Don't even look anywhere else. My wife and I decided while we're stuck at home during covid, that we'd like to learn how to play. I found U-space here on yelp and reached out over email. Petrice was responsive and explained the whole process to me. We discussed our musical experience as well as what we were looking for in Uke's and our price range. A few hours later we were looking at some pictures and descriptions of their recommendations. From those, we selected a few that we wanted to listen to. Jason shot some custom YouTube videos where he playtested our selections and from that we were easily able to make two choices. We paid over email and the next day they delivered the Uke's to our doorstep in Glendale. I wish every purchase could be this easy. We'll be lifelong customers. Give them a call. You'll be glad you did. read more

A wonderful place to grab some tea, relax and unwind with some ukulele playing. I literally bring all my friends here when they visit Little Tokyo, because this is such a special space. Be sure to check out the plaza when they have their summer ukulele festival. It's worth the visit! read more

This is a great place for all things ukulele! Jason is the best when it comes to selecting a uku and setting it up. You won't be disappointed with their outstanding customer service. read more

USpace is a wonderful space for ukuleles, they not only have legit prices and a really comprehensive selection, they sincerely care about GREAT customer service. USpace is devoted to making certain you are matched to the best instrument for your level of play with room to grow, and they will not over-sell you. Hand over your prospective purchase to Jason Arimoto and he will demonstrate just how good your instrument can sound. We have purchased three ukuleles from them and each one is a jewel. Half of the members of our current ukulele group made recent purchases including a Kamaka 100 Year Commemorative Tenor Ukulele (a real collector's item) and a Kala Bass, both with amazing sound. You have a choice where to spend your money, go for a great experience as well as a terrific instrument. Walk in for a cup of coffee, you just might leave with a new (uke) best friend. read more

U-Space is an amazing concept... unfortunately the reality doesn't live up to that concept. First of all, let me say that Jason is an amazing musician and just a great guy in general, and he seemed happy to let me try out all the ukes to my hearts content. Where else can you fool around with a $1000 ukulele completely unsupervised? So as a Ukulele shop, U-Space is a 5-star joint. But as a coffee shop/community meeting place if falls way short. When I heard there was a Ukulele coffee shop downtown my imagination was ablaze with palm trees, tiki gods, drinks with umbrellas and little grass huts to strum away and sip some brew... but in reality it's just a big room with enormous windows that face out to an empty concrete courtyard, a big black racecar eyesore thing and a collection of soiled mismatched thrift-store couches piled together in the middle of the room. There is absolutely no atmosphere here to speak of, and the environment is completely anachronistic to the laid-back island vibes we associate with the ukulele. I would rather take my ukulele to any other available coffee shop than order a drink here. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, and I know the owners are really trying hard, but this is LA and there are a million chill places to hang out. I would be a diehard regular here if they stepped up their game and brought a little bit of that Hawaiian magic to the bleak city, but until then there are way more comfortable places to go without fighting DTLA traffic. read more

I wanted to check out the shop after seeing it on ukuleleunderground.com. Jason Arimoto was right behind the desk trying to sell an ukulele to some sweet old ladies. After he finished, I asked about his selection of tenor ukuleles and he brought out just about everything! It was fantastic! I felt no pressure at all and was able to find the ukulele that felt right for me (KoAloha)! He also threw in some of his CDs for the drive home. I highly recommend visiting their shop. read more

Incredible staff... they're extremely helpful and let me tell you if you like the song somewhere over the rainbow you'll hear it by 15 different people at the same time read more

My new fav 'ukulele store! Coffee + 'ukuleles = GENIUS! Brad and Jason are 2 of the most knowledgable, friendly, talented music store owners you are ever likely to meet. The selection is great from entry level to pricey and they will help you decide what would be the perfect instrument for YOU. Go visit and test strum a few ;) tell them Steven sent you. *also check out their Ventura counterpart "Anacapa 'Ukulele"! read more

Walked in randomly with my family on a Sunday afternoon, and a class was about to start. We stayed for the class, were encouraged to try multiple ukulele's from the wall (including some of the most expensive ones), and ended up purchasing a wonderful travel ukulele that both of my boys (ages 8 and 12) love to practice on. An island vibe permeates this great shop. The sales experience is much better than comparable larger retail centers. Aloha! read more