06/01/2014 - 07/01/2014

20 Jun 2014

The pUKEs - Fight Song

Regular readers of Got A Ukulele will know I love this lot. Here is their latest video and track from their new album - Fight Song.


Ukulele traditionalists look away now!



Check out the pUKEs here - http://thepukes.co.uk
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14 Jun 2014

UkePunk - Come On England

Quite an old ukulele video this one, but seemed as an appropriate day as any to share this on Got A Ukulele.


UkePunk Paul Davies with his song for England in the World Cup.  Check out more about him at http://www.ukepunk.com

Here's hoping England get a result this evening!



( DIRECT LINK )
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9 Jun 2014

Woodi (Rocket) Soprano Ukulele REVIEW

Plastic plastic plastic everywhere.  Another non wood ukulele review for you now, with a name that would suggest otherwise - the Woodi Soprano.


woodi plastic soprano ukulele


The Woodi brand is actually just the name of the USA company that developed these instruments and in reality the uke is almost totally made of plastic. The reference to 'Rocket' in the review title above comes from the fact that the UK dealer who is considering importing these for sale on this side of the Atlantic is likely to sell them under their 'Rocket' brand name. Otherwise though, this is a Woodi uke as you would find for sale in the USA.

It's a soprano scale uke, of traditional double bout shape and made from a kind of satin soft feel plastic which is quite satisfying to hold. The back, sides, back of the neck and back of the headstock is all one piece of plastic, with the top, fingerboard, and headstock face (also all plastic) attached as separate pieces.

It feels more solid, strong and nice to the touch than other plastic ukes I have reviewed, such as the Korala and the BugsGear, and also feels a little heavier. This is a good thing as it really doesn't feel like cheap plastic at all. The whole instrument with the exception of the fingerboard is screen printed, in this case with a gaudy elephant and rabbit design that is really not to my taste. But I will not let that affect the review as they come in a dizzying array of colours, patterns, finishes and there is bound to be something you will like. Perhaps you DO like this one? Who knows!

But in summary - the build feels great. There are no rough edges like I have found on other plastic ukes and the finish is really rather nice.

woodi plastic soprano ukulele bridge


The bridge piece is a slotted style with a kind of unique design look to it that I like. The saddle is moulded into the bridge and sadly there really isn't much of it at all. If you wanted to take the action down, I think you would really struggle. Thankfully, the action on this review model is just fine. I am not sure how it is attached, whether screwed or glued (or both) but at the base of the saddle it appears to be fitted into notches cut into the top of the instrument to keep it in one place. It certainly doesnt feel like it is going anywhere and as with the rest of the instrument it feels very solid and well put together.

The sound hole is not decorated with a design or rosette but employs a kind of rim that has been fitted into the instrument which I think looks very odd. Perhaps it is there to strengthen the top (as I can't feel any bracing otherwise) but it seems overkill to me and I am not a fan.

woodi plastic soprano ukulele sound hole


Up to that plastic fingerboard, we have 12 plastic frets to the body, each of which are painted gold which I suspect will wear off pretty quickly. Like the Fluke and Flea, the Woodi employs a 'zero fret' just inside of the nut to ensure accurate string height. That is quite nice to see on what is, essentially, a beginners or fun uke as you should have no issues with tuning at the lower frets on account of this.

Strangely, for a uke that is low priced and perhaps aimed at beginners (or children, considering this design), there are no fret markers at all on the uke, not on the fingerboard or the side. I find this a very strange omission considering how cheap they would be to include them. Also a little odd to me is the profile of the neck. It is satiny smooth and comfortable but it really is quite chunky all over it. The nut is wider than many ukes, which I like, but that coupled with a deep almost squarish neck, means it really does fill my hands. I mention that as if you are buying one for a child I think they really might struggle to stretch their fingers around it.

woodi plastic soprano ukulele neck


The headstock shaping is in a kind of funky design unique to Woodi which I rather like, and tuning is provided by cheap geared tuners in silver. They are pretty entry level and the black plastic buttons feel cheap, but they do the job and don't stick or grind.

woodi plastic soprano ukulele headstock


Finishing off the package are white nylon strings which feel horrible to my fingers and took an absolute age to stretch out. I would certainly recommend trying some other strings on this uke.

As for pricing, I am not sure what UK RRP will be yet as they are not being sold over hear. The full RRP in the USA is about $100 or about £60 which I think is crazy for a plastic uke. Thankfully it would appear dealers over there are seeing that and they can be found on the likes of Amazon for about $50 at the date of writing this review. If they come over to the UK at that sort of price (i.e. £30) then  I think that is about right for them. Any more than that and I would recommend caution.

woodi plastic soprano ukulele tuners

So, on to the play test. As I said above, the Woodi feels great in the hands and the perception of extra weight is kind of re-assuring. Certainly not what I expected from a plastic instrument.  It is comfortable to hold and with large hands like mine that chunky neck feels ok to play, but I suspect some may find it off putting.

Sound though is a mixed bag. It seems to pack more volume when fingerpicked but strummed can sound quite muted and one dimensional. Sustain is lacking too which is something I expected to be honest.  I certainly think the Korala and the BugsGear sound better than the Woodi despite their flaws.

Accuracy is also something that has me raising an eyebrow too. With that zero fret I expected better intonation, but it does sound, kind of 'off' to my ears on certain strings. That may of course be the strings but it is only right for me to mention it. In time I will see if a string change makes much of a difference.

It is all certainly passable and I have played a LOT worse for £30 but left me feeling a little flat sound wise.

woodi plastic soprano ukulele back


So a uke with a tone I am not in love with and some build quirks that have me scratching my head. And guess what? I really rather like it! I actually do. Its not the best uke on the block, and I think there are better plastic ones out there in terms of tone, but there is something about this little one that really appeals to me. I think it doesn't take itself seriously, was made to be a fun statement and is very nicely and strongly built. I am left in two minds and if the price is right on these I would happily have one in the collection. Just be wary of some of the issues I guess. Video review follows, but first, what are the scores?

woodi plastic soprano ukulele body

PROS

Fun factor
Strong build quality
Unique design features
Very tactile to hold and play

CONS

Woeful strings
Flat, muted sound
Lack of fret markers
Chunky neck for small hands


SCORES

Looks - 9 out of 10
Fit and Finish - 8 out of 10
Sound - 6 out of 10
Value for money - 9 out of 10 (if sold for $50!)

OVERALL - 8 out of 10

To understand my review scoring and see this result in context - visit my review page at

VIDEO REVIEW

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2 Jun 2014

Brüko No.9 Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW

I was delighted when this one arrived as I am a big fan of this ukulele manufacturer. Be prepared for a uke with a difference. The Brüko No.9 Tenor Ukulele

Brüko No9 Tenor Ukulele


Readers may have noticed that I have reviewed a couple of Brüko ukes over the years, including the No.6 Soprano. Those reviews will show you that Brüko kind of do things their own way, and I actually like them for that. Like them a lot!

These ukes are hand made in a small factory in Germany with a history of making ukes for over 100 years. They have also sometimes been hard to get hold of, but this has been loaned to me by Omega Music who are now dealing for Brüko which was great news to hear.

The No.9 is one of their standard models and is billed as a Tenor scale uke. But, not to my eyes it isn't. Not only is the body shallower and shorter in length, so is the neck. To me it is more of a jumbo concert, and in fact almost fits in a concert pod case. Why do they call it a tenor then? I have no idea - that is Brüko for you!

The body is made from all solid mahogany and is finished absolutely flawlessly in a satin coat. The woods are not that much to look at grain wise, but I think it is quite lovely in its simplicity.  The small body size means the top and back can be made from single pieces of wood, as are the sides, with no joint at the base. Adornment is limited to a simple sound hole rosette. The build is impeccable, and almost looks like a dummy uke or a model. I don't say that to criticise by the way, it just feels almost too perfect!

Brüko No9 Tenor Ukulele body


The bridge mounting looks like rosewood and is a slotted style, with a drop in white plastic saddle. This is pleasing to see as the soprano I own (the No.6) doesn't use a separate saddle, and the whole thing is made from one piece of wood - a pain if you want to take the action down. I believe though that this is an option so be sure you know what you are ordering!

Brüko No9 Tenor Ukulele bridge


A look inside and everything is fairly neat and tidy, one or two glue drops but nothing serious. And of course, like all Brüko ukes, they don't employ a makers label, rather they brand the name on the wood with a hot iron. Very cool!

So we move on from a very plain body to an absolutely gorgeous neck. It's made of three pieces, one stacking the heel of the neck, and then the rest of the neck is made from two thin pieces of wood that run the whole length, sandwiching a long length of shimmery pale maple that runs up and through the headstock. I think it is stunning and definitely a real talking point.

Brüko No9 Tenor Ukulele neck


The neck is capped with a rosewood fingerboard which is finished flawlessly. The edges of the fretboard are rolled and softened meaning no sharp edges and you cannot feel any hint of fret edges at all. Position markers are provided on the fingerboard itself, but sadly nothing on the side for the player.

But then comes a gripe. Considering this is billed as a tenor uke, it only uses 12 frets in total. Yes, they could have lengthened the fingerboard onto the body to add more in, but this only has 12 to the top of the body. That is pretty much what you will find on a basic soprano, and most tenors I have seen have around 14 frets to the body, and perhaps up to 20 in total. I like more frets, particularly on a tenor, but there is no getting away from the fact that this has a VERY short neck. Again, I have no idea why, it is just the Brüko way. Is it a gripe? Yes I suppose so, but looking at it another way, if you know what you are getting, perhaps it is just another Brüko idiosyncrasy. It certainly doesn't make the uke unplayable thats for sure, but 12 frets ARE a little limiting.

The nut is made of wood (another Brüko feature) which can be fiddly for taking the action down, but thankfully this (like every Bruko I have seen) is setup perfectly.

The headstock is a typical Martin style three pointed crown, but boosted by that lovely stripe of maple and no need for a makers logo. Brüko don't need one as people in the know will know what it is!

Brüko No9 Tenor Ukulele headstock


Tuners are friction pegs. Not the worlds best, but good enough and the same as you will find on a Fluke or a Flea and work well. Whether you like friction pegs or not is up to you, but I think the look they give the instrument is superb. No pegs sticking out of the sides. I love them.

The package is finished off with Pyramid Flourocarbon strings, of which I am not a fan. They have certainly improved over the Pyramids I have used on the No6 Soprano, but I still find them hard on the fingers, and kind of sharp in feel and sound. More on that below. Finally, these are available for £249 which I think for a hand made, solid wood tenor that isn't made in a Chinese factory is a bit of a bargain.

Brüko No9 Tenor Ukulele tuners


To play, its a joy. The uke is light and balanced, and the small body and depth make it really easy to hold without a strap. The fingerboard finishing is wonderful in the hand and is as smooth as butter. I don't think I have sat and noodled as much with a new uke arrival as I did with this one - it just begs to be played.

Sound wise it is bright. Very bright indeed, as are all Brükos I have played. I guess you will love it or hate it, but I am in the former camp. It doesnt really sound like a tenor to my ears, or a concert. It sounds like a Brüko! Intonation accuracy is spot on all over the neck and the action is just perfect for my tastes. The smooth neck makes quick playing up the neck nice and fast, although I do miss those extra frets if I am honest. Sustain is also on the short side for a tenor, and it kind of chirps rather than chimes.

Brüko No9 Tenor Ukulele logo


And those comments seem to suggest bad things.... I knew this would be a tough one to review, because there are issues. But you know what? I pretty much don't care as I think it is wonderful for just being what it is. Your mileage may vary of course, but I think everyone should own a Brüko uke. I guess the way it should be approached is like this: Do not think of this as buying a tenor ukulele that sounds like brand X, Y, or Z.  Just think "I am buying a Brüko musical instrument"....... And Brüko do things their way.

I would recommend it in a flash, but know full well that this could divide opinions.

Bruko 9 tenor size comparison
Size comparison with the standard tenor sized Pono Tenor



PROS

Gorgeous build quality
Sublime neck feel
Stunning neck detail
Rear facing tuners
Brüko heritage

CONS

Short neck and lack of frets

SCORES

Looks - 9 out of 10
Fit and finish - 8 out of 10
Sound - 7.5 out of 10
Value For Money - 9.5 out of 10

OVERALL -  8.5 out of 10


To understand my review scoring and see this result in context - visit my review page at

VIDEO REVIEW




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