tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47247678417392499642024-03-18T09:48:56.680+00:00GOT A UKULELE - Ukulele reviews and beginners tipsThe leading ukulele and musical instrument review site including beginners tips, chords, song tabs and advice guides Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.comBlogger1750125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-16360810653951724082024-03-17T14:46:00.003+00:002024-03-17T14:46:43.264+00:00Emerald Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Well it IS St Patrick's Day after all! With this weeks ukulele we hop over to Ireland to look at the 'Synergy Uke' Harp Ukulele from Emerald Guitars. Hold on to your hats.. there's a lot to get through here!</h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzOv24Ygvi4M-_tTqLeHTPRpVOOoxzfH2_-A-uyPbIDWoUnOyxxQZBgYDRzCIFJpzmJjvdAIWtjHQIUj7PpkHFcpAsuGJkslwssVVnISXBemnMwhxnZC6eEennGrsLn1wkAf3oQKHxcpQEQHqiIdEN0i2ErNF9hNWBerBUf8qlLuRycbRvJ-plu7Q/s3000/R0003695.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzOv24Ygvi4M-_tTqLeHTPRpVOOoxzfH2_-A-uyPbIDWoUnOyxxQZBgYDRzCIFJpzmJjvdAIWtjHQIUj7PpkHFcpAsuGJkslwssVVnISXBemnMwhxnZC6eEennGrsLn1wkAf3oQKHxcpQEQHqiIdEN0i2ErNF9hNWBerBUf8qlLuRycbRvJ-plu7Q/w640-h426/R0003695.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Emerald Guitars are instrument makers based in Donegal, Ireland set up by luthier Alastair Hay and well known for their carbon fibre instruments and out of the ordinary designs. That material choice seems to run deep with Alastair who originally worked with his father in his fibreglass engineering company. That led to Alastair doing a work exchange to St Louis in which he worked with carbon fibre making F1 racing boats from the same material. That set a spark to him wanting to develop carbon fibre instruments from which he built his first, an acoustic guitar in the late 1990's. Emerald as a business started in the early 2000's and since has built up a staggering range of stunning looking acoustic guitars, basses, lap steels, harp guitars and, of course.. ukuleles. Well not regular ukuleles... Harp ukuleles in the form of this Synergy Uke. What is a harp ukulele? Well read on, but we are talking about a regular ukulele neck with the addition of four extra bass strings which float away from the fretboard to be plucked in harmonious accompaniment to the main uke. There are one or two other brands out there making these such as aNueNue, and players like Gracie Terzian have made them well known, but this is my first experience with one. And that, ladies and gentlemen means a challenge for me in playing it in the video!!</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vGz9d8WE5-4?si=Ecof1YeUufge0JgV" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></center>
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Like other Emerald instruments, the Synergy Uke is made pretty much solely from carbon fibre. And I must write a word or two on that concept in instruments. In the ukulele world the term is often used erroneously with many of the plastic ukes out there claiming they are carbon fibre but are actually just composite plastics with some carbon in the 'mix'. There are precious few real carbon fibre uke brands out there that use real woven carbon fibre sheets as the material, including Blackbird and Klös alongside Emerald. It's an immediately recognisable material known for it's great strength, light weight and resilience to elements, temperature and humidity. Think 'parts of a Formula 1 car'... This uses that material in the form of a beautifully moulded back sides and neck with a drop top that is so nicely put together with no harsh edges it looks like it was poured like treacle into the shape. Generally speaking it's a modern styled double bout with top shoulder cutaway, but obviously also has the harp extension on the bass side running to the second headstock. It's stunning. Somebody described the 'headstock' of the harp section as looking like an Irish 'Hurley' which also seems appropriate considering the provenance here! The scale length of the uke neck incidentally is 17.5 inches so that's pretty much a tenor ukulele at the core. The Synergy comes in two main flavours, either a full carbon fibre model or this one with a wooden veneer top with this one made from koa and other wood options also available - in fact the purchasing process is very much focussed on you customising your build on the website to what you want rather than them holding huge stocks off the peg. On the back and sides the carbon fibre weave is visible, but stained in a yellowy orange sunburst colour to work with the attractive wooden top veneer which is also finished in a sunburst. I just can't stop looking at this body as it's so stunning..</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgDqtE6nFKLRlvLDTdavhOr7WyHxbofATHSdwd3mcUBboAZ7yrH50ldRBmTYCKKfPhLLNsOaphvXeHbr3J_hmlvg-3CFoheq-5FT2fPWUH4n8uhHe0fqwE-ZfjDfYu_o3ki5cyX2jmAYnaDCSUUX1ImSTwEpD8TrHYbWZlV0ipOM7ZpN7UHnri8Kv/s3000/R0003696.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgDqtE6nFKLRlvLDTdavhOr7WyHxbofATHSdwd3mcUBboAZ7yrH50ldRBmTYCKKfPhLLNsOaphvXeHbr3J_hmlvg-3CFoheq-5FT2fPWUH4n8uhHe0fqwE-ZfjDfYu_o3ki5cyX2jmAYnaDCSUUX1ImSTwEpD8TrHYbWZlV0ipOM7ZpN7UHnri8Kv/w640-h426/R0003696.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is, naturally, out of the ordinary for a ukulele as it has to hold the regular four strings, plus the four harp strings. It's therefore elongated in an attractive fan shape. It's a tie bar style bridge made from a carbon fibre billet but with a different finishing that is also very attractive. It holds the two saddles which are compensated and made from Graphtech Black Tusq. Spacing at the regular uke strings comes in at 40mm and it's the same for the harp extension.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1XMLH904pXNub45YNVijCrGWUMCh-y0TKwGvhb_GEmQRI8zozlVaPt-CNnmY2mSt7H414KVveRvCS1pw0P9EZx5J3zVIbni1nOsoKvG4KzDFgL2KmFv5VXEpHCDTLuxiH0gBrlh1JY7CFEQGxjvjVKPejWvxarsLzZSx64G6PhFGcI1vczNIT70b/s3000/R0003697.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1XMLH904pXNub45YNVijCrGWUMCh-y0TKwGvhb_GEmQRI8zozlVaPt-CNnmY2mSt7H414KVveRvCS1pw0P9EZx5J3zVIbni1nOsoKvG4KzDFgL2KmFv5VXEpHCDTLuxiH0gBrlh1JY7CFEQGxjvjVKPejWvxarsLzZSx64G6PhFGcI1vczNIT70b/w640-h426/R0003697.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The body is not decorated in other ways, but come on, why would it need to be? It's coated in a flawless poly finish which makes the colours pop and shine. On the side waist is a sound hole which looks organic and suits the instrument wonderfully. Elsewhere you will find the electronics control hatch on the back for the LR Baggs Element pickup system and a combo strap button / jack socket on the base. You also get a heel strap button too. More on the pickup later.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lzQXg2oZOC_2-NNLHSr5GiOjwhb7b1jrJ2uxhEvLlLhYMWPBzgNRR5oyoDsK3Z_UsAcSKxX8xTFDO5XUqgPtIfRRyz5xm6fcvFfz8SUkFOVunKNbpAM2JvW07IbAD8H47hxn1t98HfDuEyhhHnbNjGGnkNYviM7RA0JjtkR9CRhMxzyoKV6kRJM3/s3000/R0003698.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lzQXg2oZOC_2-NNLHSr5GiOjwhb7b1jrJ2uxhEvLlLhYMWPBzgNRR5oyoDsK3Z_UsAcSKxX8xTFDO5XUqgPtIfRRyz5xm6fcvFfz8SUkFOVunKNbpAM2JvW07IbAD8H47hxn1t98HfDuEyhhHnbNjGGnkNYviM7RA0JjtkR9CRhMxzyoKV6kRJM3/w640-h426/R0003698.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There isn't a great deal to see inside other than the interior of the carbon fibre weave. There is no bracing I can see to the top or back on account of the strength of the material in question. I can't get a picture other than on a weird angle on account of the sound hole location as you can see below. This is looking up in to the cutaway shoulder..<div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswWCB2gfL7lV6nywx3cv4B3lXOG0OLhQFlHMInyLZ1txpaQ2D3TtXMCryhGkxGWUHpEByIhhERd0meDJE3WuqeXnDpy6IFNVGzl9YaYHjEQvYxtGZOYehpXC6lhTXTKAHErfIjDhaDOHnkPeVf61F2tI0FRt-ybDm3eho4LBMye5RAkpfzpjfI73v/s2592/IMG_9373.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswWCB2gfL7lV6nywx3cv4B3lXOG0OLhQFlHMInyLZ1txpaQ2D3TtXMCryhGkxGWUHpEByIhhERd0meDJE3WuqeXnDpy6IFNVGzl9YaYHjEQvYxtGZOYehpXC6lhTXTKAHErfIjDhaDOHnkPeVf61F2tI0FRt-ybDm3eho4LBMye5RAkpfzpjfI73v/w640-h480/IMG_9373.jpeg" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><div><div><br />The neck and the harp neck are natural extensions to the body mould and on the ukulele neck this tapers to fairly chunky back profile yet with a 37mm nut with 30mm string spacing which is very comfortable. It's glossed in the same way which I kind of wish was more satin feeling, but it's a nice neck all the same.</div><div><br />Topping that is more carbon fibre for the fingerboard which has a radius they don't specify, but is noticeable and adds to the comfort. It's fitted with 19 frets, 12 to the start of the harp extension, and 16 to the base of the shoulder cutaway (i've never reported frets in that way!!). They are polished and dressed impeccably. The edges are bound in black. Outward position markers are in ring designs that look like a kind of glittery orange powder inlay at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th, 15th, 17th and 19th. There are side dots too but bear in mind they get a touch obscured by the harp extension. Obviously there is no fingerboard or frets to the harp part as these strings are designed to be played open.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMISLfYBmibhMwnfCAkJln9BB-n2onqcnm9mvEUEFdLJDKwhkShmpdXYNUE-PynVrg3TFrY7IRNf_SfrXWyuiGOFg5lU013gz77gYZvSki5BP70E5_WQ9SzYi5Ri8lCFXCQpLC268gAycJ87JoyXwB6iV8SZ_-F6UJM63l2sXBvsM-ZtjBm4IKn671/s3000/R0003699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMISLfYBmibhMwnfCAkJln9BB-n2onqcnm9mvEUEFdLJDKwhkShmpdXYNUE-PynVrg3TFrY7IRNf_SfrXWyuiGOFg5lU013gz77gYZvSki5BP70E5_WQ9SzYi5Ri8lCFXCQpLC268gAycJ87JoyXwB6iV8SZ_-F6UJM63l2sXBvsM-ZtjBm4IKn671/w640-h426/R0003699.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Beyond the Graphtech nut is an attractive headstock shape formed out of the same carbon fibre and faced in more glossed wood veneer with a sunburst. I love the asymmetric shape here. The Emerald Guitars logo is placed under the gloss and looks to me like a Greyhound. I like that.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSHErMHCaai4SeEzK6UPvi0KjvGF36zjiDC674VjfW8NDv42fufuHXo8PHJaq1A78LzAwbipyWnsgxJKQx5AOMSPRaaAvjq9IDiZvDJzB_km9uVr-vR3E1aendMc9wcE_b8Fl2CvRlbOLL_ueYdfTAnljluzrvR37VhUQnIScaYl4_5kjp5KwEEMg/s3000/R0003700.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele headstocks" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSHErMHCaai4SeEzK6UPvi0KjvGF36zjiDC674VjfW8NDv42fufuHXo8PHJaq1A78LzAwbipyWnsgxJKQx5AOMSPRaaAvjq9IDiZvDJzB_km9uVr-vR3E1aendMc9wcE_b8Fl2CvRlbOLL_ueYdfTAnljluzrvR37VhUQnIScaYl4_5kjp5KwEEMg/w640-h426/R0003700.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele headstocks" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tuners on the uke neck are sublime Gotoh UPT's in all black and you get more of the same on the harp headstock. These are as good as uke tuners get in my book so top marks here. A few people commented on early release pictures about the harp headstock as it has raised pins, harp style, to re-route the strings to give them some break angle (the posts being the pseudo 'nut' at this point).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzkMkilho6EYD9Dzo5yHBClqFLR7RGkvtPAv4QBzeqkcYazZ-B9PUYDl_MV1N4AAcL_XeJb7dkTKpn2xxFwSdxVaoqi5Z9pkzL2at3_qwGX7KVEmkGh7kSUguwBIQCA2SxjuosoOcrAT7ajh5vVIOZnnZwkjmd2FY5u0k5FaSfAGMxTv46mti-1K3/s3000/R0003701.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzkMkilho6EYD9Dzo5yHBClqFLR7RGkvtPAv4QBzeqkcYazZ-B9PUYDl_MV1N4AAcL_XeJb7dkTKpn2xxFwSdxVaoqi5Z9pkzL2at3_qwGX7KVEmkGh7kSUguwBIQCA2SxjuosoOcrAT7ajh5vVIOZnnZwkjmd2FY5u0k5FaSfAGMxTv46mti-1K3/w640-h426/R0003701.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing it off are a set of un-named flouro uke strings, and four metal wound nylon strings for the harp (two low E strings and two low A's). The uke neck is tuned in standard re-entrant GCEA and the sub strings in FGAC. This model is fitted with an optional LR Baggs Element pickup system with twin saddle strips with sound hole controls, which, like the tuners is about as good as things get for amplification of an instrument so more top marks from me. It also comes with a beautiful padded and branded gig bag, which it really needs on account of the less than usual shape. And the asking price in this spec comes in at €3,685 though you get a lot of options on specs and can take that down to about €3,035 for a standard, non veneer plain acoustic carbon fibre model. Quite honestly, looking at the build, fit and finish, neither price surprised me and I was expecting more. Yes it's a lump of dough, but.. just look at it!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC44BTfIeqOS8BQbYdDnyU0G7TQT9nSop2TAIyyKL0Yss9987bsfFsdsGHtRKIrgguvun901Jr1jqHX-fD6dmQdv9jdZScUsd09U4wsdJ2B8eyfHK_3dBP4Eioc5-kSMLbSO0Hc5KjIRX1vw7n3nHPLd7eNEybBOS6rmvlQASlaehyiLXeDjF55eB/s3000/R0003702.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC44BTfIeqOS8BQbYdDnyU0G7TQT9nSop2TAIyyKL0Yss9987bsfFsdsGHtRKIrgguvun901Jr1jqHX-fD6dmQdv9jdZScUsd09U4wsdJ2B8eyfHK_3dBP4Eioc5-kSMLbSO0Hc5KjIRX1vw7n3nHPLd7eNEybBOS6rmvlQASlaehyiLXeDjF55eB/w640-h426/R0003702.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I get to test a LOT of ukuleles from the trashy to the sublime, but I can honestly say this is one of the most stunning instruments i've had come through my hands, both in looks and build. The harp element will not be for everyone if course, but for a musician looking for a statement, a new challenge or an addition to their tone, it's bound to be of interest. I've given it some very high sub scores below for that reason as I can't find any issues wrong here so far. Though I have to say, that harp element does indeed present a challenge for me as I have to play it.... And i've never played a harp uke before, so that's a criticism of me and not the instrument of course! Here goes... Please do bear that in mind and check their website for some far better sound samples!</div><div><br />Basics first. The volume here is ok, though acoustically I have heard louder instruments. It's a more laid back affair, but then I wouldn't ever really consider this to be the sort of instrument you would buy for busking unaccompanied, rather you would close mic it or order it with the pickup (like here) and either use that or blend it. Incidentally, as usual I have not recorded a plugged in sample on the review video because there are too many variables in the amp you are using. I have, however plugged it in to a decent acoustic amp and, as expected for LR Baggs it sounds sublimely faithful on tone. Just bear in mind that if you are going straight acoustic that I don't think this to be an acoustic only performance ukulele. Sustain is wonderful and utterly insane when you add the harp bass strings which go on and on like a drone. No complaints there. It's also a comfortable neck with great setup and I believe Emerald have a PLEK system in house which scans individual frets and the strings to ensure pin point accurate adjustments all over it. Nice. It does take a bit of getting used to when it comes to holding it though, but am sure that will come with practice. Considering how much of it there actually is, it's a somewhat hefty beast at 1.24kg, but balances beautifully and actually doesn't feel overbearing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UBxaqyPfJjJvYgLb2X7zVH_hpv4da6pNs5inUkBj3RtObA-0O_XZLwjcNoQRFT1PEWdsnalCWzud_lJyAogYCE_IF5Tf2W6PSSc1KbHkKVVx4m5gWb3zqoIz3avnZCZK-gNH5ugF3oPAmr2p4wOf5t7AbQOPVRbVGOPtJRcUB5Tstr-ab3HtAz9M/s3000/R0003703.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele sound hole" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UBxaqyPfJjJvYgLb2X7zVH_hpv4da6pNs5inUkBj3RtObA-0O_XZLwjcNoQRFT1PEWdsnalCWzud_lJyAogYCE_IF5Tf2W6PSSc1KbHkKVVx4m5gWb3zqoIz3avnZCZK-gNH5ugF3oPAmr2p4wOf5t7AbQOPVRbVGOPtJRcUB5Tstr-ab3HtAz9M/w640-h426/R0003703.JPG" title="Synergy Uke Harp Ukulele sound hole" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Tone wise it's something of an odd one to review as this is not a regular ukulele. Turning to the uke neck first, the sound here is extremely clear and 'high end' to my ears. It is certainly on the bright side, and perhaps a touch too bright for me on these strings alone, but that totally misses the rest of the instrument and how this is intended to be played. As I say above this is not an instrument for bashing out three chord pop songs in the uke club, but a much more sophisticated thing. In fact it's not that straightforward to play 'just as a uke' either as I found myself catching the harp strings. Practice may improve that, but I think that misses the point too - they are MEANT to be played. So yes, a bright uke sound, but absolutely crystal clear all over the neck and an extremely pretty tone that is like the ringing sweet notes of a wind up music box. It's clearly meant for fingerpicking to my mind and on this front it's very accomplished. Yes it can be played strummed too, but really, would you other than adding some elements to melodic work?</div><div><br /></div><div>But then you add in the bass notes and the breadth of tone increases massively. I'd need a lot more time with this to become accustomed to bringing in the right notes to the piece of music, but I can see how this will add a whole layer of tone to a piece of music that a regular ukulele will never be capable of. The warm longing sustain of these harp strings is just on another level to what you will hear from a regular uke. It's compelling to play though would need some practice (though doesn't everything?)</div><div><br /></div><div>I mean, what more can I say? I think this instrument is something else and very special indeed. It's flawless on the build and looks I think and sounds incredibly pretty when played. But of course this is very much a 'special interest' instrument and not something a casual uke strummer starting out is going to go for. But it would be unfair of me to knock this one down on that basis because I can TOTALLY see how the skilled performer wanting to expand their tonal palette could make some very wonderful music with one of these. If you are performing with melody pieces on the ukulele I can see how this will open up a whole new avenue if you put the work in. I suppose all I WOULD say to Emerald is this.. why not consider making a regular single neck uke as your build on this is a thing of wonder! I think you would clean up!</div><div><br /></div><div>But we are not here to review the 'what might be', so back to the instrument in hand.... </div><div><br /></div><div>Just utterly sublime. VERY highly recommended indeed. How could it not be? </div><div><br />I need a lie down!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://emeraldguitars.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://emeraldguitars.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Emerald Synergy Uke</div><div>Scale: Tenor / Harp ukulele</div><div>Body: All carbon fibre with koa veneer drop top</div><div>Bridge: Twin carbon fibre tie bar</div><div>Saddle: Two Graphtech Black Tusq</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 40mm for each</div><div>Finish: Gloss</div><div>Neck: Integral, plus harp extension</div><div>Fingerboard: Carbon Fibre<br />Frets: 19, 12 to harp extension, 16 to cutaway.<br />Nut: Graphtech Black Tusq</div><div>Nut width: 37mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Gotoh UPT (black)</div><div>Extras: LR Baggs Element pickup, strap buttons, branded gig bag<br />Country of origin: Ireland</div><div>Weight: 1.24kg</div><div>Price: €3,685 in this spec</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Stunning looks</div><div>Flawless finish</div><div>Wonderful neck</div><div>Great tuners</div><div>Excellent sustain</div><div>Clear, high end tone</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing I can think of</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 10 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 10 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.5 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-73393937458459538702024-03-10T13:50:00.000+00:002024-03-10T13:50:00.118+00:00Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">A ukulele review this week for those people who like design cues that are out of the ordinary. This is the new Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Vd2pyRTvLSS70aUwHHY-FK8AFAAPeZheC79jqDlFHvEks0685ekJo3Mr80tCbdUnRO2M2RuNRtyvJUyc-kwlCZeRZwTtt0g9oAutg0pzujjnFAoBdh94dR8A3rJ4uDVRqWEa6AfQNvnOOFWgxhL0xEutMhFpwNgDmeClaqTtNob2MmPOaSl7pJvP/s3000/R0003681.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Vd2pyRTvLSS70aUwHHY-FK8AFAAPeZheC79jqDlFHvEks0685ekJo3Mr80tCbdUnRO2M2RuNRtyvJUyc-kwlCZeRZwTtt0g9oAutg0pzujjnFAoBdh94dR8A3rJ4uDVRqWEa6AfQNvnOOFWgxhL0xEutMhFpwNgDmeClaqTtNob2MmPOaSl7pJvP/w640-h426/R0003681.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>Ibanez are a brand well recognised in guitar circles, but they have also dabbled in ukuleles for some time now. I've reviewed a couple of theirs before and whilst they were not total stinkers, they didn't really set the ukulele world alight. I recently noticed this new 'AU' series from the brand consisting of concerts, tenors and a guitalele and had to give one a try based on the looks alone.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The AU series uses an unusual design system in the body construction as is obvious from the first picture. I wouldn't say 'innovative' as such as this concept has been used already by Bonanza, Enya, Antica Ukuleleria and Kala with the Revelator, insofar as this is a routed block body instrument with a separate top 'dropped' onto the routed cavity to create a sound box. I suppose what is more innovative here are one or two other appointments, but more on those later. The body is made from what appears to be two routed blocks of Paulownia wood, a far eastern hard wood that is a first for Got A Ukulele. It's a pale colour and not hugely flashy though there is some fairly nice grain figuring which works well on where the two halves are joined as shown on the base. Elsewhere it's a bit 'samey' though. It's a double bout shape with a thin depth and dropped onto that is a top of laminate spruce which looks to be tight grained and attractive enough. It's in two pieces but you'd be hard pressed to notice the central join. At first glance looking at the underside of the spruce I thought it was solid, but the grain is not matching inside so laminate it is. A shame really as they go to great lengths to call the back 'solid' which I find a bit disingenuous considering it's a routed block and not a solid construction in the normal sense.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhGfY7nSjtloYjWgBdDAG9ybCFih4sXnQkG0HogyI16Vwmnr48IGOG9Wu0NY8Ya6bKQfUTA9DB02xIDRxy73N6HE62r8GcUsw9j1jZdMZO5RbTLOIZ2lKkFykw3TYpqf-VSj7Wo4dLSb3uinr1GBEUVmmrSRvZap5gCLRX4OqGmOjZ3vAhg1n9xx6/s3000/R0003682.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhGfY7nSjtloYjWgBdDAG9ybCFih4sXnQkG0HogyI16Vwmnr48IGOG9Wu0NY8Ya6bKQfUTA9DB02xIDRxy73N6HE62r8GcUsw9j1jZdMZO5RbTLOIZ2lKkFykw3TYpqf-VSj7Wo4dLSb3uinr1GBEUVmmrSRvZap5gCLRX4OqGmOjZ3vAhg1n9xx6/w640-h426/R0003682.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is a tie bar made of purpleheart which is finished fairly well (a bit rough on the sides) but looks very chunky in the way it's elevated up. Sitting in that is a compensated saddle, the material of which is not specified, but looks like a NuBone kind of composite to me. Spacing here is 45mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHksBndpx3NJRgfW7AzwbgE7idSazpmZJz_rzu68CymZGP3rLtovow7BAzIGOl80iX9NCyyYEdnk4noRQuMagdVIut2MxAHHTDegrxXCOl51Is9inMLXautJvAUoSgkNYfi8IF9nkaGyTe9HzJpk-E25uzd3tPkAYtxI9aHJgNnm5Tjj2HAzNAsjYu/s3000/R0003684.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHksBndpx3NJRgfW7AzwbgE7idSazpmZJz_rzu68CymZGP3rLtovow7BAzIGOl80iX9NCyyYEdnk4noRQuMagdVIut2MxAHHTDegrxXCOl51Is9inMLXautJvAUoSgkNYfi8IF9nkaGyTe9HzJpk-E25uzd3tPkAYtxI9aHJgNnm5Tjj2HAzNAsjYu/w640-h426/R0003684.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But it's the other design cues that set this one apart. Firstly we have a bevelled cutaway on the top shoulder which isn't huge but works. On the lower bout we have a comfort edge, but one that is raised above the level of the top. I've not seen that before, but of course it's the 'block' nature of the back and sides that allow this, and in fact you can see the edge of the sides circle the whole of the top. You then have the twin sound ports which are fashioned on either side of the waist of the instrument. Rather hilariously, Ibanez call these 'Stereo Sound Ports' which provide a 'unique surround sound effect'. What nonsense. That's not how stereo works and certainly not surround sound. Irrespective, when held in the playing position any stereo array is lost as stereo works left to right, not up to down. These are merely two sound holes and most of the tone of a uke comes from the vibrating top anyway. Marketing nonsense! Anyway, they look kind of funky and are certainly very different. The whole body is finished in an open pore satin which in places, particularly in the sound ports is too open for me and looks scruffy. Some of the staining of the back and sides is a bit haphazard too and some of the joints are very obvious which spoil the look. I still rather like the concept though yet I think I would prefer darker woods, something that is on offer in the concert scale, but not the tenor.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8LGz0xKtUIYiAAgu0HanOx-e5EKEgTpNJG-CofLhm9z7shi1xkrGUYGsTJ0nhGfxuqbL28038zgQji0mrrDFsR7N5BJ7fuca0nG4ZKFvu8BE7UaL4iBGioqYZ13N9uQTKZO9JK4oK4PM91PT43X-uQUhN5OPuoQpGWh2-73aEKQ1pnfTA0X37Hds/s3000/R0003683.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8LGz0xKtUIYiAAgu0HanOx-e5EKEgTpNJG-CofLhm9z7shi1xkrGUYGsTJ0nhGfxuqbL28038zgQji0mrrDFsR7N5BJ7fuca0nG4ZKFvu8BE7UaL4iBGioqYZ13N9uQTKZO9JK4oK4PM91PT43X-uQUhN5OPuoQpGWh2-73aEKQ1pnfTA0X37Hds/w640-h426/R0003683.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Inside is hard to talk about as it was a devil of a job to get my inspection camera inside (so sorry about the angle). What I can see though is that there is no back bracing and the top is braced vertically with two thin central spars running down to the bridge area. The top is also pretty thick. It's quite tidy in there though, not that there is much to get messy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWtzWfg7eVENZstiF97K7XWBBlJTV_45HIWEjlCda__W_m2qyWvZ9btKF3CmrMoA3PAJaqTb2sT3izq-nbOvhaT4JjpuwIfK6porDTsPGSkzJ6SWeN8RdoLfnRSxMMgIuYgwgdtJNFJfsVWc_7B0L1lhoOvGAmKkHCTM623nfeYzkYmHjIBw6PP8n/s2592/IMG_9354.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWtzWfg7eVENZstiF97K7XWBBlJTV_45HIWEjlCda__W_m2qyWvZ9btKF3CmrMoA3PAJaqTb2sT3izq-nbOvhaT4JjpuwIfK6porDTsPGSkzJ6SWeN8RdoLfnRSxMMgIuYgwgdtJNFJfsVWc_7B0L1lhoOvGAmKkHCTM623nfeYzkYmHjIBw6PP8n/w640-h480/IMG_9354.jpeg" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made from okoume with an applied joint at the top of the body. There is a swoop and curve where the cutaway meets the neck, but don't assume this is like the rather gorgeous hand carved neck of the Revelator as the jointing here is super obvious. What doesn't help is that the neck wood is a different colour to the body so it looks rather odd. Still, it's very smooth with no 'edges' you can feel. It tapers down to a pleasingly flattened back profile at the nut and a roomier than average 37mm width with 30mm string spacing. That's good to see.<br /><br />Topping that is more purpleheart for the fingerboard which is uniformly dark. Surprisingly it also comes with a 400mm radius to the board which you don't often see on lower priced instruments. The neck is also edge bound in black which hides the ends of the 19 jumbo frets with a 14 fret join. These are all dressed ok too. Small white dot position markers face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th, 15th and 17th and these are paired with white side dots. A nice neck this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J6JUOumOiKCFT6t0ByGc4a3hPK6-qI8QtoPOClh_N1TIFaNUnP7gQwk_EXYQGTb25KFOIMbNdg0PiGyuStR_zWrifUiHB0Co1aGMl-LjYyrjtATposBDBVdbsAvbkCVFKmkfD8thAF359_WPzi_twiFa80yzddTA2aFS_iSDm8cbdkjlaOM2vu-R/s3000/R0003685.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J6JUOumOiKCFT6t0ByGc4a3hPK6-qI8QtoPOClh_N1TIFaNUnP7gQwk_EXYQGTb25KFOIMbNdg0PiGyuStR_zWrifUiHB0Co1aGMl-LjYyrjtATposBDBVdbsAvbkCVFKmkfD8thAF359_WPzi_twiFa80yzddTA2aFS_iSDm8cbdkjlaOM2vu-R/w640-h426/R0003685.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Beyond the composite looking nut is a skinny tapering shaped headstock which, again, is a little different from the norm. The Ibanez logo is deeply etched in the top face.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxFfeGeVpYGqjfo2dsAwQnzoSD53jiTu-KkI0F2Se7FP2HJ0TXbaTXeruVHDwnCvJdjApnotIu5_EmnNhhe5KQemqhyphenhyphenvDvhBKUqN7dBlJxwDqF1NadoCsJZLYf-szn9uoyljldEAgfKLbBnDb36oeeOgqC1c-fllpumzgjsNZrXBq4xdbqJ-cEZ95/s3000/R0003686.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxFfeGeVpYGqjfo2dsAwQnzoSD53jiTu-KkI0F2Se7FP2HJ0TXbaTXeruVHDwnCvJdjApnotIu5_EmnNhhe5KQemqhyphenhyphenvDvhBKUqN7dBlJxwDqF1NadoCsJZLYf-szn9uoyljldEAgfKLbBnDb36oeeOgqC1c-fllpumzgjsNZrXBq4xdbqJ-cEZ95/w640-h426/R0003686.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners are unbranded sealed gears in black which look kind of cool, but i'd prefer open gears for a touch less weight.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCGHngMNIGTknmUnSlvJva4NjbZ40OZ53OBFWhGd4-MOV_U7lu1r057pLLuGWpV024PHbkx9-TibtLCDRfZBBxsp4XaEibe8joV-dudHFV3kWVTL77Z8LlOvRAHRDrLyVSkNnvvOk77Qy-iNEoSUbq_PNcsP3EIAcjrXUwSsoq-G1aecJ9VmwbbDW/s3000/R0003687.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCGHngMNIGTknmUnSlvJva4NjbZ40OZ53OBFWhGd4-MOV_U7lu1r057pLLuGWpV024PHbkx9-TibtLCDRfZBBxsp4XaEibe8joV-dudHFV3kWVTL77Z8LlOvRAHRDrLyVSkNnvvOk77Qy-iNEoSUbq_PNcsP3EIAcjrXUwSsoq-G1aecJ9VmwbbDW/w640-h426/R0003687.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing things off are a set of Aquila Nylblack strings, a set that appear to be custom to Ibanez, but I wonder if they are just Lava strings. They look a little darker though and contrast nicely on the body. You also get a very rudimentary gig bag without much padding and a tail strap button. And in the currently limited amount of places i've seen these you are looking at about £180 to get one. Not a huge sum I guess for something funky like this. If it plays ok that is...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIfxte0sYgs8KhKiZQKSKYeyh0xPcffifck-lvwrNIUxuA96H7olaJReAFD2wcrwwzre2vgmDoXGgGB7xuqnFgotDU-f-ochD8y0Mfo8k-5YQJaH80K2vybunjKsp69Y1sKxKZBeF-Vx_mJLkhtd4O2IlmDOyAkBoUGFvG1bw_LAMCsEVIf9lptRw/s3000/R0003688.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIfxte0sYgs8KhKiZQKSKYeyh0xPcffifck-lvwrNIUxuA96H7olaJReAFD2wcrwwzre2vgmDoXGgGB7xuqnFgotDU-f-ochD8y0Mfo8k-5YQJaH80K2vybunjKsp69Y1sKxKZBeF-Vx_mJLkhtd4O2IlmDOyAkBoUGFvG1bw_LAMCsEVIf9lptRw/w640-h426/R0003688.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So overall, a very different looking ukulele with a core build which is pretty decent if I am honest. Some of the finishing staining and obvious joints irritate me though as does the marketing nonsense, but it's still a funky, different looking instrument with some plus points. Yet something is still not hanging together right with me and I am sensing some style over substance here. It feels hefty too despite being well balanced, clocking in at 750g. With the slim body and the heft, it kind of feels like a solid body electric, though there is no pickup here nor do I see it would be possible to fit one. That seems odd to me considering they offer one on the concert! Bear that in mind as if you want to use a strap whilst it comes with a tail button it could be difficult to find the right place to fit one on the heel so you will resort to a headstock bootlace.</div><div><br /></div><div>Somewhat surprisingly for a chunky body build the volume and sustain here are both pretty good. Not stellar on either count, but not shabby either. I'm quite pleased by that as it could quite easily have sounded muted and dead.</div><div><br /></div><div>Where I'm less pleased comes to the very subjective view on tone. Whilst the instrument plays clearly enough there is an oddity to the sound that I am struggling to place. It's not overly bright or dark and the tone is quite balanced, perhaps a touch on the brighter side, but it has a kind of 'echoey' or microphonic sound that I find quite odd and not to my tastes. Your views may differ on hearing the video, but when strummed I find it has a kind of nasal edge that I don't like. You may say it's down to the twin sound holes, and whilst I say above that most tone comes from the top, sound ports DO project a bit. Maybe for the player that is creating a Doppler effect thing? Whatever it is, for me as a player it turns me off. If it DOES sound better up front, then I guess that is something, but at the same time if an instrument doesn't sound good to the PLAYER themselves, then it's not going to induce them to pick it up is it?<br /><br />Fingerpicking is clear and very comfortable to play with that neck though again with that microphonic, echoey quality to the tone. I also found the volume dropped off quite a bit up the neck too. But again, I stress the 'subjective' side of this part of the review. This is not a horrible sounding instrument and it actually has a tonal character of its own, it's just not doing it for me personally. Maybe it's better out front. Do let me know what you think, but I was disappointed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR58F2wyCJb5JuYH-AYeVsVwHevbswjFZH6q9lcazTQZASH0wSpA2jnoe_CAdW2WMh9kKbFOY321ARbUem8ktDNLXwtNzjNGNqqjx17P8LwxMAoFBfzf6_xDvgDxsT7n54Tbmo4f1KpB2Uzlh0sJJd8Vg_Hxr8UuziGnkSqKC4dUGRzvGjarx_5PBT/s3000/R0003689.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele sound hole" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR58F2wyCJb5JuYH-AYeVsVwHevbswjFZH6q9lcazTQZASH0wSpA2jnoe_CAdW2WMh9kKbFOY321ARbUem8ktDNLXwtNzjNGNqqjx17P8LwxMAoFBfzf6_xDvgDxsT7n54Tbmo4f1KpB2Uzlh0sJJd8Vg_Hxr8UuziGnkSqKC4dUGRzvGjarx_5PBT/w640-h426/R0003689.JPG" title="Ibanez AUT10 Tenor Ukulele sound hole" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br />So a mixed bag I think here. It's certainly very different looking with a good core build, great neck and fair price. I'm clueless why they don't offer a tenor pickup version though as I can see this working well as a stage instrument. On the other downsides, some of the finishing is scruffy and the tone is just not doing it for me. Your mileage may vary of course so do try before you buy to make your own judgement on the sound.<br /><br />Interesting I guess, and maybe I sound too harsh on something that is under 200 quid. As such, not a terrible score..</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.ibanez.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.ibanez.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Ibanez AUT10</div><div>Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: Solid routed Paulownia back and sides, laminate spruce top</div><div>Bridge: Purpleheart tie bar</div><div>Saddle: Composite? Compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 45mm</div><div>Finish: Open pore satin</div><div>Neck: Okoume</div><div>Fingerboard: Purpleheart, radiused</div><div>Frets: 19, joined at 14th</div><div>Nut: Composite?<br />Nut width: 37mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded sealed gears</div><div>Weight: 750g</div><div>Strings: Aquila Nylblack</div><div>Extras: Gig bag</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: Circa £180</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Unusual looks</div><div>Good overall build</div><div>Very comfortable neck</div><div>Good enough volume and sustain</div><div>Good price</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Staining and finishing on joints scruffy. So is the open pore</div><div>Chunky bridge plate</div><div>Nonsense 'stereo' marketing</div><div>Would prefer open gears</div><div>No pickup on the tenor (or means to fit one)</div><div>Tone has an echoey quality that doesn't work for me</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Looks - 9 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 8 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 7 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 8.2 out of 10</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com6United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-51522810029280624492024-02-25T14:14:00.005+00:002024-02-25T14:14:47.851+00:00Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Elite Concert Ukulele - REVIEW <h2 style="text-align: left;">It's always nice to get a ukulele brand that surprised me out of the blue back on the site with another offering. This is the Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Elite Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D40u5yQRBOVghpbcMYGG17ZvnbUU3LN4XpTgmnWGDcFVTdj_FlwuY5_UKJwgY5wIwWtr1nOIYHTLXPOcUIw7C1kLzHNV4NuBW7x0O0n8Y6CRGwzilsr3gyh8GSLJCX_qM5luTFPRWxaqH1nMl6Z9rk5osQK3jGR5l2O57VwMFTOguu7VE9ou4D0u/s3000/R0003668.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D40u5yQRBOVghpbcMYGG17ZvnbUU3LN4XpTgmnWGDcFVTdj_FlwuY5_UKJwgY5wIwWtr1nOIYHTLXPOcUIw7C1kLzHNV4NuBW7x0O0n8Y6CRGwzilsr3gyh8GSLJCX_qM5luTFPRWxaqH1nMl6Z9rk5osQK3jGR5l2O57VwMFTOguu7VE9ou4D0u/w640-h426/R0003668.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Caravelle Kitchen is the home made brand of Matthieu Theuret from the south west coast of France, and if you want to know more about the intriguing back story (and name) take a look a the Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano of his I looked at recently. I liked that one a great deal so was excited when he offered to lend me another style of his he has become well known for. And striking it is - a gypsy jazz guitar inspired ukulele in the concert scale. That inspiration is, in fact, directly taken from the Selmer- Maccaferri collaboration guitars made from the 1930's - 1950's, and most famously associated with Django Reinhardt. It's a look that is immediately recognisable with it's sound hole and square-ish bouts, but not so much with the ukulele.</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>He builds these in concert scale from a range of solid woods. The top here is made of grade AA spruce and the back with a nice contrast of solid mango from the Philippines. The top is in two pieces and looks to be great quality with dead straight tight grains. The sides are in two pieces, whereas the back is a single sheet which surprises me for this body shape, even if it is just a concert. The grain is typically mango with a lot of variation which I think book matching would improve, but it's a minor point. The whole shape is very much Selmer with the square, fat lower bout and staggered shoulder cutway on the upper bout. Incidentally, I think the 'Elite' tag here denotes this being made traditionally from solid sheets as opposed to the less decorated 'non Elite' version with back and sides routed from a single block of mahogany.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUbWTOZxkGefTpLWbLiFHmMHy8gxSBJ81tH_K4QygagMqshO9kNSRvqlF7geKE2mV91aOconXP7eb8rHKOyhVohCCDvxfk7YxbqOCDVztYNfFo5vNhao5OL3QBil0io7x96X02SFL2jXCt3NtxcQFzBUJUufkkobUhWVSYudJaa6LUy4A5Uc7UinT/s3000/R0003669.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUbWTOZxkGefTpLWbLiFHmMHy8gxSBJ81tH_K4QygagMqshO9kNSRvqlF7geKE2mV91aOconXP7eb8rHKOyhVohCCDvxfk7YxbqOCDVztYNfFo5vNhao5OL3QBil0io7x96X02SFL2jXCt3NtxcQFzBUJUufkkobUhWVSYudJaa6LUy4A5Uc7UinT/w640-h426/R0003669.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br />The bridge, naturally, follows the Selmer Jazz look with a gold plated tail piece anchoring the strings with surgeons loops. You will probably want to consult your 'Boy Scouts Book of Knots' for string changes here. The strings then pass over a floating bridge made of rosewood that is compensated and notched to hold the string spacing. Floating bridges are normally the preserve of arch tops, but the Selmer models were flat tops like this and used them so this seems authentic. As I understand it the 'floating' part is the middle section the ends of which notch into the fixed side moustache ends. It all looks great. Spacing here is 45mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRUbFqzFOaUwZD8aJdD-fT1pZKKTFiYoG4LOHr3VnYi0_eO1DwrBBQc9WzEBm8vxW0x6raR0b9vpL-mFG0H77yaduA_O8WqpkmxPWreVPRokc2yojquHs1cHALtsEKAPyXm0mmpPSb4XD3rE-fjdfU5t9ztOfBLqJzP6upBfjXIqjL5NVIHiSmQ_y/s3000/R0003670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRUbFqzFOaUwZD8aJdD-fT1pZKKTFiYoG4LOHr3VnYi0_eO1DwrBBQc9WzEBm8vxW0x6raR0b9vpL-mFG0H77yaduA_O8WqpkmxPWreVPRokc2yojquHs1cHALtsEKAPyXm0mmpPSb4XD3rE-fjdfU5t9ztOfBLqJzP6upBfjXIqjL5NVIHiSmQ_y/w640-h426/R0003670.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Decoration is simple but effective. Around the top edge is a dark wood binding strip and around the sound hole is a laser etched concentric ring affair which, if you look closely also has an engraving of a sailing boat in the bottom section - a nod to the 'Caravelle' name. I don't normally go for laser etching but I think it works here for the effect he is going for and looks authentic again. A word on the sound hole too. This is a D shaped sound hole or 'Grande Bouche' which were made famous by the original Selmer Maccaferri instruments. As I understand it when the Maccaferri connection stopped, Selmer offered a version with a small round sound hole too. Matthieu makes both and explains that the D hole is more for chord work whereas the smaller sound hole offers a tighter sound more suited to melody. Nice. The whole body is finished in a Rubio oil, a non-toxic alternative to Tru Oil i've seen a few consvicencious builders use. It's all very tidy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp7TnhCFyUkQ2oA0-begCsGaGG5Vlogp-35vd_cqi30iCrEPgVIzCmfa1SfMEkaj_zir5bmv3Qc6hyphenhyphen1Axr52CQ62mHj8QHq0WB0jaXFkISRucE7A-xOhGc7MIvZ0MkMF0AN0jL91Cdif-xWx2Qv2iw-_BIbv6XB41D3A0XYbAPZaY0b1dVXTqIAd8/s3000/R0003671.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp7TnhCFyUkQ2oA0-begCsGaGG5Vlogp-35vd_cqi30iCrEPgVIzCmfa1SfMEkaj_zir5bmv3Qc6hyphenhyphen1Axr52CQ62mHj8QHq0WB0jaXFkISRucE7A-xOhGc7MIvZ0MkMF0AN0jL91Cdif-xWx2Qv2iw-_BIbv6XB41D3A0XYbAPZaY0b1dVXTqIAd8/w640-h426/R0003671.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside is fairly tidy with notched linings and regular back and upper braces. There is a bit of glue mess though if such things bother you. The top is vertically braced whereas original Selmers were ladder braced, though this is only a small concert uke! There are also side braces either side of the sound hole to strengthen that big gap.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixv2YD8ShvMbHqOCksXt7fnJ3Aa3-vwNqd7QRZGCFXbWEpPDqZSiHPEZqr0PqAWUPGPG42Ifb4xU1d6rGZD7eICQAKXacSizAc_mDbJQI2tC3MGi60ynNovNUTDUXtOMgHqjAKm5dgYHnljYE4DM7irt5z6uoq4hVZJ8Y8HuJqAZE59G_8WsgYWKBd/s2592/IMG_9296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixv2YD8ShvMbHqOCksXt7fnJ3Aa3-vwNqd7QRZGCFXbWEpPDqZSiHPEZqr0PqAWUPGPG42Ifb4xU1d6rGZD7eICQAKXacSizAc_mDbJQI2tC3MGi60ynNovNUTDUXtOMgHqjAKm5dgYHnljYE4DM7irt5z6uoq4hVZJ8Y8HuJqAZE59G_8WsgYWKBd/w640-h480/IMG_9296.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made from Khaya with what seems to be a single joint only in the heel which is very well hidden. It's finished in satin too and is glassy smooth. That tapers to a fairly standard (for a concert) 35mm nut with 27mm from G to A. The Selmers were noted for their wide necks so might have been nicer to have a wider nut here too. It's fairly round on the back but not overly so, but this reviewer would just like a touch more space here.<br /><br />The fingerboard is made of ebony with a touch of colour variation, but generally dark and in great condition. I don't believe it is edge bound, but it doesn't need to be as these are semi hemi frets that are dressed and rounded before fitting so don't reach the edge of the board and are glassy smooth. You get a huge 22 of those joined at the 14th, PLUS a zero fret to hold the action height. Also authentic to the originals is that the board hangs over the sound hole with an extension which looks great. Position dots in pearly are placed facing out at the 5th, 7th, and 12th with very subtle companions on the side too.<br /><br />A quick word about zero frets too as I see some people get quite stuffy about them, calling them 'lazy'. The reality is that some very high end makers use them for consistent low action and tonality ensuring open strings sound the same as fretted notes. Players like Martin Carthy have specced them, and great builders like Fylde use them a lot. Oh.. and those original Selmer guitars? Yep, they had them too, though they were admittedly steel strung.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioriIoYAW77pF1y0LJD0frXUWu7qQ35Ts_9XRsTgFtDXM2WYFhEZ2tahSBPDTQ9IYgJi8XSPdHgfY0OB4IyulAOYbQXvvx9OwUiP9z-XNgwaQgIFN6HCQVxQFBghW419oGWm32T1I8Wf3zmQSb9-PPIqO8FJUkBOf4Pm7q9R9sqAJTVDOb26NOvQ6f/s3000/R0003672.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioriIoYAW77pF1y0LJD0frXUWu7qQ35Ts_9XRsTgFtDXM2WYFhEZ2tahSBPDTQ9IYgJi8XSPdHgfY0OB4IyulAOYbQXvvx9OwUiP9z-XNgwaQgIFN6HCQVxQFBghW419oGWm32T1I8Wf3zmQSb9-PPIqO8FJUkBOf4Pm7q9R9sqAJTVDOb26NOvQ6f/w640-h426/R0003672.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The nut is made of bone and, because of the zero fret is just there to hold spacing. Beyond that is a simple tapered arrow head headstock which is nice and small. It seems to be faced in a darker wood and looks great without a logo (the branding is on the label inside the uke). Selmers had slot heads, but I am personally glad he wasn't tempted for that here on a concert.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrKsrcziij0YQVDkafAzKWfddmYjbZzQKRdaj9e1N52EIvI5yVoSV1ap8yZK9DAnSp2feAY-o-IjDuXO3OI8_FmPhfqOVWng8GZlV-qJC1ilhCuvyZKhc61toR-sYC7d78_277j-10Tg0WAaWp5oca69oSotSBECH76kOXG5Knanlz-I2XHtp9UY8/s3000/R0003673.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrKsrcziij0YQVDkafAzKWfddmYjbZzQKRdaj9e1N52EIvI5yVoSV1ap8yZK9DAnSp2feAY-o-IjDuXO3OI8_FmPhfqOVWng8GZlV-qJC1ilhCuvyZKhc61toR-sYC7d78_277j-10Tg0WAaWp5oca69oSotSBECH76kOXG5Knanlz-I2XHtp9UY8/w640-h426/R0003673.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners are unbranded friction pegs, but looking at the mechanisms they are the sort I would buy and comparable with good Grovers. They look great and work just fine.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VJi1V3_URpnYgP2HF_w-5Xk0-4Ei4P3Vy6Dk37SnKifdy7KaGN-PRK0usMSPWPqsqi0kpqt9z2ZhjxlXWc9UnBYf8eej0d2-woBrOGctU1LIWT9KLMG_8uqPEfl6wW2ZHVNrdbGkqM2hkr-w2M4eMNCsWozrAaz-ZSA78CJI6Na3MlHbA74ut2gF/s3000/R0003674.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VJi1V3_URpnYgP2HF_w-5Xk0-4Ei4P3Vy6Dk37SnKifdy7KaGN-PRK0usMSPWPqsqi0kpqt9z2ZhjxlXWc9UnBYf8eej0d2-woBrOGctU1LIWT9KLMG_8uqPEfl6wW2ZHVNrdbGkqM2hkr-w2M4eMNCsWozrAaz-ZSA78CJI6Na3MlHbA74ut2gF/w640-h426/R0003674.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />He's finished this off with Martin M600 strings and the asking price for this one is about €500. I say 'this one' as with all luthier things this is just an example. Some offerings will be more, some less. What I will say is that for the build, finish and the fact this is hand made, that price is more than fair I think.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBYr79V_yeYfM9jTyEqIx1sBhTW429Ejzk0BFCBUt4JwoeXXbyrIxML3fn_vAtAFxWe6UQWL4KU3V0ZXHtotqRt6Cxpv0PXH5NQwiJarDD6C4qFXSu-sKLKZYEhfx9XNLlUDE4NNlOg0LQVkBtjvDcYGxIuCuGiAD_u00fALLc_86MxwemKWAtHgO/s3000/R0003675.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBYr79V_yeYfM9jTyEqIx1sBhTW429Ejzk0BFCBUt4JwoeXXbyrIxML3fn_vAtAFxWe6UQWL4KU3V0ZXHtotqRt6Cxpv0PXH5NQwiJarDD6C4qFXSu-sKLKZYEhfx9XNLlUDE4NNlOg0LQVkBtjvDcYGxIuCuGiAD_u00fALLc_86MxwemKWAtHgO/w640-h426/R0003675.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So things are all pretty good here. The core build is great and the finish is pretty flawless for a hand made model. I can't get over how light it is at only 450g - it's like a feather! It balances well too! Setup is also decent, but the zero fret is helping here of course and the saddle is easily adjustable for scale.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK1ODa3kOsOckb0lPp_-33A551YB0QSy4BJHQlQo8ttEcLm8o1vnkH15kUG7Mwv3Ec9LmYRjJLOWC0xy5JyxcLea3iYD5Xe7v1PwsD91cNM5P70Ppq-GemxCbIBLlwds7uOmuJxTzjMmbMxKOcH9DngD_S7q1nwQfWf_rjTak0Z6qIl5beNApV9fq/s3000/R0003676.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele D hole" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUK1ODa3kOsOckb0lPp_-33A551YB0QSy4BJHQlQo8ttEcLm8o1vnkH15kUG7Mwv3Ec9LmYRjJLOWC0xy5JyxcLea3iYD5Xe7v1PwsD91cNM5P70Ppq-GemxCbIBLlwds7uOmuJxTzjMmbMxKOcH9DngD_S7q1nwQfWf_rjTak0Z6qIl5beNApV9fq/w640-h426/R0003676.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Concert Ukulele D hole" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>So a light, thin topped resonant box.. So sure enough the volume here is terrific. It absolutely punches like a cannon with little effort. Sustain is there, but it's more subtle and you kind of have to listen for it. You can feel it throughout the instrument, but the main thing that hits you is that volume and crisp clear brightness caused by the combination of spruce and those strings.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have to say, purely subjectively, that it's a bit too bright for my own tastes and I would experiment with strings, but the clarity is stunning. I find that the subtle sustain is not so obvious when strummed, but actually that's not necessarily a bad thing if you are wanting this for playing jazz chord rhythm pieces - after all, many jazz guitars are not known for their screaming sustain. It creates a bouncy staccato sort of sound played this way which I think is exactly what it is meant to be. Sure, for me, still a bit too much on the bright, but I think that could easily be tamed with a slightly warmer string set. It's clear to me though that played this way it can shine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fingerpicking for me finds that the brightness is a little too much and it almost lends it a resonator / banjo edge to the tone. Again, it's extremely clear though and with great volume, but a little too zingy for me. Again purely subjective as it's clear right up the neck, accurate and tuneful. In fact, it clearly has a pretty tone.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm very taken with this one and think the looks here are stunningly different for a ukulele. The build and finish are great and i've probably made too much of the bright tone thing (as it's subjective) as this is a very clear sounding, nicely voiced instrument that suits the style I think it is built for. And you certainly won't see many of these down the uke club! </div><div><br /></div><div>It's a joy to see what independent builders are doing and therefore pleased to give another recommendation to Caravelle Kitchen here - nice work!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://caravelle-kitchen.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://caravelle-kitchen.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Caravelle Kitchen Jazz Manouche Elite</div><div>Scale: Concert<br />Body: Solid AA Spruce top, solid mango back and sides<br />Bridge: Metal tail, floating rosewood bridge</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 45mm</div><div>Finish: Rubio Oil</div><div>Neck: Khaya</div><div>Fingerboard: Ebony</div><div>Frets: 22, 14 to the body, semi-hemi dressed</div><div>Nut: Bone, with zero fret</div><div>Nut spacing: 35mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded friction pegs</div><div>Strings: Martin Fluorocarbon</div><div>Weight: 450g</div><div>Country of origin: France</div><div>Price: €500</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Killer looks</div><div>Good build and finish</div><div>VERY light</div><div>Terrific volume and clarity<br />Nice bouncy rhythmical strummed tone<br />Great fret dressing</div><div>Fair price</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br />Bookmatched back would be nice</div><div>Would prefer 'slightly' wider nut</div><div>I'd experiment with strings</div><div><br /><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10<br />Fit and finish - 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10<br /><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.1 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com1United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-87560601365660061122024-02-11T13:58:00.003+00:002024-02-11T14:00:21.370+00:00Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">It's not often I look at two ukuleles from the same series, but with my desire to give more exposure to baritone ukes on this site, when the invitation to borrow this one from Kala came along, I couldn't say no. This is the Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Baritone from their new 'Contour Series'.</h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZktK9_RzbF3OKllOtj6Q3uLzFEoQ4q17dk_Nxdr6ZSCyXtMKiuJsq81xNUZSFkBvEDAmtTn8McjG7HrHSJmp4rA9M900MUzNyqLibKXrA1lqCYCWUJJpSzsVn3yqPJNH65m0pyOfefvWC7vHmRhxFZ7cYbpKrb7Vfe9vJEmwIF6fM-m-rOIjFxBx/s3000/R0003654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZktK9_RzbF3OKllOtj6Q3uLzFEoQ4q17dk_Nxdr6ZSCyXtMKiuJsq81xNUZSFkBvEDAmtTn8McjG7HrHSJmp4rA9M900MUzNyqLibKXrA1lqCYCWUJJpSzsVn3yqPJNH65m0pyOfefvWC7vHmRhxFZ7cYbpKrb7Vfe9vJEmwIF6fM-m-rOIjFxBx/w640-h426/R0003654.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>Another mouthful of a name (Kala names are <u>always</u> cumbersome, but do make some sense when you decode), but these are already recoginsable to uke players as the 'Kala Contours' which are a new set of modern shaped ukuleles in tenor and baritone in a variety of wood options. You may recall I looked that the <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2024/01/kala-ct-smh-tg-contour-series-tenor.html" target="_blank">Contour Tenor in mahogany</a> recently and was delighted that Kala had made a leap into a more modern look and spec list at last. It did very well. Then readers asked me to consider looking at a baritone (I am always asked a lot to look at baritones, though distributors tend not to send them as often). Kala then approached me to do the same and when I also saw the striking visual difference of the solid acacia on this one over the mahogany, I was keen to take a look.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Like the Tenor in the same series, this has the same very modern ultra rounded double bout body shape. Whilst the shape of a ukulele can have some impact on tone, part of the attraction is an aesthetic one too, and I had said in the tenor review that because Kala had not changed the shape of 99% of their instruments since inception, I thought they were looking a bit old fashioned. Nothing is further than that here, and in fact I think it really shines best on the baritone scale because of all of that extra real estate. Helping the aesthetics here too is the wood choice as, whilst acacia wood sets will always vary between examples, will always tend to have a lot of grain interest regardless. It's the case here for sure with distinct dark and light wavy stripes in all faces of this book matched instrument together with some curl and flame. The delicate waves in the angled book matching on the top here really draw you in and on the back you get some added sap wood interest down the centre join. It's just lovely. Really lovely.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq1JcRPcmVwf8ODvK7rJr94zx5sPK6GNG2K051eU8f3qD62Eyo4kiWVelSTa11yWqhT3QmYAkL5OO7_DmqdkOZhnsZbXfQMiFF0Pm8s_IiD4DuDel_zAOoYPBnToVi4oWxD7a0jhOKnMPCSo9nBtWRfooqkSHm9MMEYXTaJIvN_9Iu_3Fkzhyphenhyphenmh7O/s3000/R0003655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq1JcRPcmVwf8ODvK7rJr94zx5sPK6GNG2K051eU8f3qD62Eyo4kiWVelSTa11yWqhT3QmYAkL5OO7_DmqdkOZhnsZbXfQMiFF0Pm8s_IiD4DuDel_zAOoYPBnToVi4oWxD7a0jhOKnMPCSo9nBtWRfooqkSHm9MMEYXTaJIvN_9Iu_3Fkzhyphenhyphenmh7O/w640-h426/R0003655.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />The bridge is like the tenor and made from ebony. It's a very low profile bean shaped plate that acts as a 'through bridge' and is incredibly tidy. It's just SO smoothly finished I wondered if it was made of richlite. Sitting in that is a bone topped compensated saddle. Spacing here is 43mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_MwmHd6OwHPT5eqcXZ5-5q5mWHW7rjOIVWRKdRWCuhLpbeautdAVU8ZbLLSaCP4aBJkupw9t2z8DVI8kn_GS9UnzaHUsNnHN4P_U_tJ856p_vMZ7sXitV1USvAXzZtC_Ay1ii_tjgzF1IQWr7atzK1yLzUKp-reZ8nIRzbZGVIKD2wCal4W2j2hy/s3000/R0003657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_MwmHd6OwHPT5eqcXZ5-5q5mWHW7rjOIVWRKdRWCuhLpbeautdAVU8ZbLLSaCP4aBJkupw9t2z8DVI8kn_GS9UnzaHUsNnHN4P_U_tJ856p_vMZ7sXitV1USvAXzZtC_Ay1ii_tjgzF1IQWr7atzK1yLzUKp-reZ8nIRzbZGVIKD2wCal4W2j2hy/w640-h426/R0003657.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Decoration follows the tenor with rosewood binding to the top back and tail stripe with the top binding spreading out into a 'comfort edge' on the lower bout. Again it doesn't detract from the wood and does 'just enough' for me to finish it off. Around the soundhole is the same 'eclipse' wooden inlaid ring made of maple and rosewood. I really fell for it on the tenor for being so simple, yet effective and I think the same here. And again, this is finished in a gloss which is about as good as I have seen from Kala. It's really flawless too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04kGFZENZjINdbSm1niEzDFV5fbVyT8fMlzPNrwZv5Q96nluedqZcpNSlKsgwF9Ctpm5IH1lC5155GRul3LnJSELr66uNnDG-SEYQNiydUb6cwqHpORAx-zFcI4Ir0oDbrwmYJaN1U-acNGaFLU1EgTrJz-RdiTmgqyQDs3r6-Q5jPShW73dVsd6c/s3000/R0003656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04kGFZENZjINdbSm1niEzDFV5fbVyT8fMlzPNrwZv5Q96nluedqZcpNSlKsgwF9Ctpm5IH1lC5155GRul3LnJSELr66uNnDG-SEYQNiydUb6cwqHpORAx-zFcI4Ir0oDbrwmYJaN1U-acNGaFLU1EgTrJz-RdiTmgqyQDs3r6-Q5jPShW73dVsd6c/w640-h426/R0003656.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside is very tidy with an X braced top, notched linings, regular back braces and no mess. The top is also nice and thin!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_2Dlw69aZQJhBYLT_f0Cgi1IVn4o-8FWhgvTVeXOKYgQ7PyGLyEm6Nof2jIxA2IiV38DFQchLgKyK3voPcEbWx3YCec__3dqz2ZyNtBn-XpRqmtXHQ8yEL7JHy8M74K9njorQIhZGFsDJiO111w01Xdb7k9H2JPWVi05njQR28-nIMIa3nsMN2B7/s2592/IMG_9251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_2Dlw69aZQJhBYLT_f0Cgi1IVn4o-8FWhgvTVeXOKYgQ7PyGLyEm6Nof2jIxA2IiV38DFQchLgKyK3voPcEbWx3YCec__3dqz2ZyNtBn-XpRqmtXHQ8yEL7JHy8M74K9njorQIhZGFsDJiO111w01Xdb7k9H2JPWVi05njQR28-nIMIa3nsMN2B7/w640-h480/IMG_9251.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made from mahogany in three pieces with a hard to spot headstock joint and a more obvious one in the heel. Like the tenor it's nice to see this is finished in satin and i'm also delighted to see that whilst the profile is a little rounded, the nut width clocks in at 38mm with 30mm from D to E. That's really roomy and will be excellent for guitar players dabbling with ukulele through the baritone. The neck also comes with an adjustable truss rod, but as I always say, i'm never that sure of the need with ukulele tension.<br /><br />That's topped with more ebony for the fingerboard which, unlike the tenor I looked at has gone through proper QC as it is flawless and smooth. (The golden rule there - be sure you go through the right dealer not a box shipper!) That is edge bound in black hiding the 19 fret ends, joined at the 14th and the dressing of those is impeccable with no sharp edge feel. The same oval pearl position dots face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th and are paired with side dots too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-E1z_JxIQiFhCXKk_UcoXGVt0c6WwKIOagsyiZwVEwlC6ctkP2k10hVfNdZL3oScWSfJiBqzvDf2fRnGq6CDoKi_QSVEfxjpcHQei_IF7AOs2gOeswjSi7EdVeCRW-UN5Csb7jfDW9wn_QRCbXoB6VUci36LB61iwXSVjFDFqcRr_0eXARoxA0DX/s3000/R0003658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-E1z_JxIQiFhCXKk_UcoXGVt0c6WwKIOagsyiZwVEwlC6ctkP2k10hVfNdZL3oScWSfJiBqzvDf2fRnGq6CDoKi_QSVEfxjpcHQei_IF7AOs2gOeswjSi7EdVeCRW-UN5Csb7jfDW9wn_QRCbXoB6VUci36LB61iwXSVjFDFqcRr_0eXARoxA0DX/w640-h426/R0003658.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The headstock is another slot head which I think suits the baritone particularly well. It's very tidy and faced in the same classy piano black glossy face which provides a delightful contrast. The Kala logo in inlaid in pearl.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi6mBAltE0Hn4KyclVeGtp486QxZUhJ4oceUQnhyr6wBhJQnv2lR_BTQHkCPthMfyPjBi13iE1HG1VPcgV3P5GYRHERVGDk2h_Q3scWJ9c30Q1-q7P1fQ-k0uZHcY9Leyf74SN7nndCLubdctrLKsjnTDZtjT_a67z5QeRnzm8CtcuzXJ9BHP4r2-/s3000/R0003659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi6mBAltE0Hn4KyclVeGtp486QxZUhJ4oceUQnhyr6wBhJQnv2lR_BTQHkCPthMfyPjBi13iE1HG1VPcgV3P5GYRHERVGDk2h_Q3scWJ9c30Q1-q7P1fQ-k0uZHcY9Leyf74SN7nndCLubdctrLKsjnTDZtjT_a67z5QeRnzm8CtcuzXJ9BHP4r2-/w640-h426/R0003659.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are the same black and gold open gears which I said were comparable to those on Flight ukuleles and they work just as well. Really nice tuners.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJbchlGyszzY-EbE4RHRQ1cnsJxNzLw6SbQkuOk1YTqqc-eN8UzP892w9-vVTqzVU87lYVpUBGN-Yrlr8vZjU5ThIYFXe8L59HoWXUklKnFooqOWzuU00NQ4dcacphdhs6SqHu46IUwQhsR8WzJuN2uFTSz1S0aoT-R0q7fusY87fV__mkZAzDjhp/s3000/R0003660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJbchlGyszzY-EbE4RHRQ1cnsJxNzLw6SbQkuOk1YTqqc-eN8UzP892w9-vVTqzVU87lYVpUBGN-Yrlr8vZjU5ThIYFXe8L59HoWXUklKnFooqOWzuU00NQ4dcacphdhs6SqHu46IUwQhsR8WzJuN2uFTSz1S0aoT-R0q7fusY87fV__mkZAzDjhp/w640-h426/R0003660.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing it off are a set of Aquila strings on the 1st and 2nd, with wound strings on the 3rd and 4th. It also comes with a similar (just larger!) branded padded bag which is also great to see on Kala ukes now - something they've long been behind the curve on. And the price was a pleasant surprise too as I am seeing these sold in reputable Kala dealers today at £479. Whilst that is not pocket money pricing I started thinking about other very popular serious baritones that sell like hot cakes. The Snail S60B for example, which is also solid acactia with a comfrort edge, sells for more than £100 more than this. Then I thought of the Flight Fireball which, whilst coming with a pickup, is more than the Snail let alone the Kala. I think this price is excellent and will have some brands looking over their shoulders. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRczfEUiZM3f6lw_uwtR9kAhVkIYhVxPcDP0jBP-i-Ml8eIFNA4_kmZ3WzUYn_x6BsvyxnI4VKyd8a9qk_xd94cORORpPWA9j0nlYVJCWvUhdncpdcgS-IcdNz5EP3bKSVZVV1KI4yvkjXWwUNwf9cNNApw8qHis5k76tzaVqVjMmPvTitYj-MZ_FB/s3000/R0003663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele eclipse" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRczfEUiZM3f6lw_uwtR9kAhVkIYhVxPcDP0jBP-i-Ml8eIFNA4_kmZ3WzUYn_x6BsvyxnI4VKyd8a9qk_xd94cORORpPWA9j0nlYVJCWvUhdncpdcgS-IcdNz5EP3bKSVZVV1KI4yvkjXWwUNwf9cNNApw8qHis5k76tzaVqVjMmPvTitYj-MZ_FB/w640-h426/R0003663.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele eclipse" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So far, as I think you can tell, I have found little wrong here and I absolutely adore how it looks. The build and finish are impeccable and it's well priced. It's a big old thing of course and comes in at 1.025kg but doesn't feel uncomfrotable to hold and balances very well too. Setup on this example is also just how I would like it.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax2neVUGZpP6V0IuCIhQzzieo1A_kWU0PloaMxTLWKBBCgFLiD8LuP3Cj8BbI0SgpzJU9w35nlv6JhpCMJzfk-0LM9-xukPt53rfL1tJmpT_h2MvmPq9c0j-_7YEEWwGh3S3Z9weVKANaVqEjkx1wrC9QJ-HFh326FW-xz_6dhvCfPV7s4rM2I0Jg/s3000/R0003661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax2neVUGZpP6V0IuCIhQzzieo1A_kWU0PloaMxTLWKBBCgFLiD8LuP3Cj8BbI0SgpzJU9w35nlv6JhpCMJzfk-0LM9-xukPt53rfL1tJmpT_h2MvmPq9c0j-_7YEEWwGh3S3Z9weVKANaVqEjkx1wrC9QJ-HFh326FW-xz_6dhvCfPV7s4rM2I0Jg/w640-h426/R0003661.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I said the the tenor that I found the projection a little subdued, but of course here we have different woods and a much larger body. Volume wise this does well, though still not the punchiest baritone I have played. So it also has a touch of the 'laid back', but much less so than the tenor I reviewed. This is perfectly acceptable on volume though and i'm probably only making this comment because of how I reviewed the tenor. Sustain is absolutely stellar -wonderful, long, shimmery, warbly. Just wonderful. Sure, you are always going to get good sustain on a large bodied baritone with a couple of wound strings, but this is excellent all the same.</div><div><br />Tone wise I'd expect more range from acacia and you certainly get that here. There is a lot going on right across the tonal range yet it hangs together clearly and doesn't get confused. To be honest with you I don't think any baritone does wonderfully well at first position strumming, even the high end stuff and there is a bit of boom and echo here in the same way (easily countered by playing softer) but that's not a criticism - just a result of lower notes on a very resonant instrument. Still there is bags of character played this way and I found it very pleasing particularly if you venture higher up the neck. It's a touch bassy I guess, but they I find most baritones are on account of the tuning. Don't expect chimey concert like notes from any bari is what i'm saying!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWuSL8ooDPvWCL7Me2ovjVZdyR9JlKILrNbWlYOzUac0dvs0aD_NwDlsvvmcbQdf3Bs-6HjFCQIsV73LHpJ2TEHYwICad15p1rmJEfCv7XiWTpxmGDP7hNt06RCUGz7l6My8IIqzQPIqbgxpV2eSnjSO6Ywa10YMFbEkArbTbHoTKo4I1I4T_wQy5/s3000/R0003662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele comfort edge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWuSL8ooDPvWCL7Me2ovjVZdyR9JlKILrNbWlYOzUac0dvs0aD_NwDlsvvmcbQdf3Bs-6HjFCQIsV73LHpJ2TEHYwICad15p1rmJEfCv7XiWTpxmGDP7hNt06RCUGz7l6My8IIqzQPIqbgxpV2eSnjSO6Ywa10YMFbEkArbTbHoTKo4I1I4T_wQy5/w640-h426/R0003662.JPG" title="Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour Baritone Ukulele comfort edge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />It really shines fingerpicked, or strummed higher up helped by the longing sustain and character. This is where you can get more treble out of it and it really shows off some pretty character up the neck which works brilliantly with the range you are getting from the lower notes. I'm a guitar player in the main (an average strummer, admittedly) but think this would make a great companion instrument for this kind of noodling with a bit of strumming to flesh it out. In fact, I became baritone curious towards the end of last year and bought one before I knew these were coming. With apologies to that brand, if I was buying today, i'd get <u>this</u> one as I love it. No, it's not high end Hawaiian baritone in punch or tone, but you know what? It's not far off. Really not far off at all and all the baritone most people would ever need.<br /><br />And I think that probably sums up my thoughts here. The looks are killer to my tastes, and the build and finish spot on. Couple that with a pleasant sounding baritone sound and a very competitive price, and... what's not to like here? I'm really pleased to be giving Kala such a good score with this because i'm in love with it! Where has this been all my life?</div><div><br />Very highly recommended. This is wonderful.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://kalabrand.com/" target="_blank">https://kalabrand.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Kala KA-CT-SA-BG Contour</div><div>Scale: Baritone<br />Body: Solid Acacia</div><div>Bridge: Ebony, through bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 43mm</div><div>Finish: Gloss</div><div>Neck: Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Ebony</div><div>Frets: 19, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 38mm, 30mm D to E</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded open gears</div><div>Strings: Aquila with wound D and G</div><div>Weight: 1.025kg</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £479 in dealers </div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br />Wonderful modern look</div><div>Great wood grain</div><div>Excellent finish throughout</div><div>Good volume</div><div>Stellar sustain</div><div>Great range to the tone</div><div>Very competitive price</div><div><br /><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing much that is bothering me.. at all...</div><div><br /><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9.5 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.3 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-80926582714774330322024-02-04T14:33:00.001+00:002024-02-04T14:34:21.414+00:00Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Another much featured ukulele brand on Got A Ukulele this week. And i'm not entirely sure why I haven't gotten around to reviewing this one before now. This is the Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_G7mbohDiFu76kifRK729BAT9iO8Gx2Cjn5b6rYfRGVYTsQpGsxBm66a_AgrT6ecGMDofo1M49UzXZxdvI8bSlkR0QjMrF6jAVa0FKpop4M3Dp4lyjQ_RtZZ9a31AaYbC17OS8B_n4p1f86SNmIrDuEQxRS-ayMze3gcFKpB0I3PHbko7MvFS2PE/s3000/R0003642.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_G7mbohDiFu76kifRK729BAT9iO8Gx2Cjn5b6rYfRGVYTsQpGsxBm66a_AgrT6ecGMDofo1M49UzXZxdvI8bSlkR0QjMrF6jAVa0FKpop4M3Dp4lyjQ_RtZZ9a31AaYbC17OS8B_n4p1f86SNmIrDuEQxRS-ayMze3gcFKpB0I3PHbko7MvFS2PE/w640-h426/R0003642.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>It's quite a few years ago now that Enya first crossed the Got A Ukulele path, I think with their (fun and cheap) HPL bodied ukes in the first instances. Then came the Nova's, the feathers, the Taimane's, even a couple of guitars. They've always done well with me as being on the innovative side, that little bit different, and always well made and finished for reasonable prices. They are also one of those brands that started on Amazon, but impressed stores to such a degree that the specialist dealers I recommend also carry them. This one is part of a series of concerts and tenors that actually hit the shops a fair amount of time ago, but for one reason or another had never been on the site. I do, however, get a lot of requests to look at these, so my thanks to the UK Enya distributor Red Chilli Audio for lending me this one. Oh, and sorry about the pictures in advance - photographing a mirror finish black gloss ukulele outside with clouds reflecting in the finish is a devil of a job!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The EUT-MAD tenors are a set of three all solid mahogany instruments in a distinctive modern double bout shape that is quite deep in the body (the EUC-MAD instruments are much the same in concert scale). They come in a range of colours, either a natural gloss, a blue stain or this one in black. Some pictures of the black look more translucent than others whereas this one looks more solid glossy black in which you see only <i>very</i> minor hints of grain in certain lights. More on that colour and finish later though. It all looks well put together and because of the colour I can't talk much more about the wood grain.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyDWY0DMc9qC31okcW1vbLkKG_D_s96vVZ86VzNuLIYDqKlFBqoIG4JLLw8EbXmytDk5VGVRheLxFfg9zfGWDRj4799rYdXFeKgdqBIuSGJqyAz1QDCuAlT_PcEzYZA_t3rX0WK4Q_QPgtk_hiHrPgu4Nn16zRT6sn3okeTZCAsqufgugw2R0n7ug/s3000/R0003643.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyDWY0DMc9qC31okcW1vbLkKG_D_s96vVZ86VzNuLIYDqKlFBqoIG4JLLw8EbXmytDk5VGVRheLxFfg9zfGWDRj4799rYdXFeKgdqBIuSGJqyAz1QDCuAlT_PcEzYZA_t3rX0WK4Q_QPgtk_hiHrPgu4Nn16zRT6sn3okeTZCAsqufgugw2R0n7ug/w640-h426/R0003643.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />The bridge is common for Enya being a low profile through bridge made of Richlite, the paper based eco composite used by many instrument makers these days. What confuses me here is that it looks like very dry pale wood and in need of oil. With Richlite, I wasn't aware that was a 'thing' as it's naturally the colour it is made in, but this looks dry. I'm sure a bit of polish here will sort it out, but.. meh.. If you look at the picture, I'm not talking about what looks like a mark on the bottom edge, that's actually a nice chamfer in the carving, but more about the faded colour on the side wings. It's otherwise very tidy though and holds a compensated bone saddle. Spacing here comes in at 42mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8tIUVZQiR-bEjH3JYw8u_PKXbfIN10vm6J-zZ7bfUht1BXFQEmlfqsBDEHF1VJI6nNKI-reL_i9KdzjGr8XTVBNVtVp_m_W_tDCDokC8oWjKHDGxALQk2RD3K8UlP3CsdmYJIqOruLPG9G9rSH9BM8mfbYA9DU7VLa3MYVV4IiYZjiGDXeNo5Bwn/s3000/R0003644.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8tIUVZQiR-bEjH3JYw8u_PKXbfIN10vm6J-zZ7bfUht1BXFQEmlfqsBDEHF1VJI6nNKI-reL_i9KdzjGr8XTVBNVtVp_m_W_tDCDokC8oWjKHDGxALQk2RD3K8UlP3CsdmYJIqOruLPG9G9rSH9BM8mfbYA9DU7VLa3MYVV4IiYZjiGDXeNo5Bwn/w640-h426/R0003644.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Decoration is limited to an abalone rosette and that gloss stained finish. As I say above, you can't see much grain through this like you can on the other colours I have seen. At first thought I felt that was a shame, but the more solid black has really grown on me as a kind of 'goth uke'. It also doesn't look to thick and there aren't any flaws or pooling in it either. One thing it IS though in this black is a total fingerprint magnet because the gloss is like a mirror!! (I think i'm actually saying that's a 'good' thing? It's nicely done!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScdspbs76OU_5fG-Tsf3Ejjgfh-aylYJYBKv7mGWPm9-yCjC81Raz0RVkPH5l3GP3p8jKTPykNiXV6kzwCiGIh5-xcKXEoJ3zLhktL_QstC9NumnXW297aNQhD7RvK2HKebLhNri7il6Jz5y567KK4RqveauGoSAr__KOAKa_ZjKpeLVmc64JXa2v/s3000/R0003645.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhScdspbs76OU_5fG-Tsf3Ejjgfh-aylYJYBKv7mGWPm9-yCjC81Raz0RVkPH5l3GP3p8jKTPykNiXV6kzwCiGIh5-xcKXEoJ3zLhktL_QstC9NumnXW297aNQhD7RvK2HKebLhNri7il6Jz5y567KK4RqveauGoSAr__KOAKa_ZjKpeLVmc64JXa2v/w640-h426/R0003645.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Inside is very tidy as Enya tend to be. The braces are not overly large and kerfing is notched. The lower bout of the top is vertically braced. Like some other Enya ukes, the wooden strip that holds the back joint together is also used to hold the brand name and logo applied pyrographically. The top on this model also looks to be quite thin.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1MMT-NnkrK-ZE1MOSD3fcXCRrgX5vhiTL4YXvYHLD7nNVKsbQIjxQ3OtDPv1wzzP9L0kQke14Evy40MBYv5g1eTit5DlNjPe3j2ck7h-C0FogjkTT11cmi48zEnKQ1pUha7pP5mcsliQ7NbIp-ZpQnCGeABvjnI7s_ESu6jk9paFwhe2Q-URoAed/s2592/IMG_9246.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1MMT-NnkrK-ZE1MOSD3fcXCRrgX5vhiTL4YXvYHLD7nNVKsbQIjxQ3OtDPv1wzzP9L0kQke14Evy40MBYv5g1eTit5DlNjPe3j2ck7h-C0FogjkTT11cmi48zEnKQ1pUha7pP5mcsliQ7NbIp-ZpQnCGeABvjnI7s_ESu6jk9paFwhe2Q-URoAed/w640-h480/IMG_9246.jpeg" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Up to the neck, this is bolted externally which serves as a strap button like those early HPL instruments. I wonder if this is removable like those? Now that's not a feature that many would think is something worth writing about, but I did take advantage of that with their soprano HPL uke and took it apart to make it fit inside a carry on trolley bag (to meet airline rules), and then re-assembled it on holiday in Spain! True story, but I digress. It's nice to see that whilst the neck is also painted black, they kept this in a satin finish. Naturally, that paint means I can't tell you how many pieces there are. The nut profile is pretty rounded, but comes with an extremely roomy 38mm nut with 30mm spacing G to A. Great.<br /><br />It's topped with more Richlite for the board which this time is in good condition and uniformly coloured all the way along. It's edge bound to hide the fret ands and I was delighted to see a very slight radius on the frets too for even more comfort. You get 18 of those joined at the 14th and there are no sharp edges. Position emblems that look like flower buds face out in pearl at the 5th, 7th and 12th and at the 10th you get a more elongated motif with side tendrils. They look the part and are applied well, but I can't help thinking that the bigger inlay would have been better at the 12th? Side dots pair with those with the 12th being a double on the side and an extra one at the 15th.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjxAxW1sZfMeT8spyCRMP_1BDDdA-R8Z_sFVa0W1wyxHTNbDfbQuAbqjcviA7l5aKt2Ku6pVLfhkPyr46Wu6ggq8cD2bOZTVola382w6q5XgJ42zUOgMsydamddHrn-BW_4r28qkh2M8VGxdr84WQG-E3EmLurpZSr932BRpkj2fkyt1HJYv6dfbv/s3000/R0003646.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjxAxW1sZfMeT8spyCRMP_1BDDdA-R8Z_sFVa0W1wyxHTNbDfbQuAbqjcviA7l5aKt2Ku6pVLfhkPyr46Wu6ggq8cD2bOZTVola382w6q5XgJ42zUOgMsydamddHrn-BW_4r28qkh2M8VGxdr84WQG-E3EmLurpZSr932BRpkj2fkyt1HJYv6dfbv/w640-h426/R0003646.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Beyond the bone nut is a slot head style headstock in black which looks cool and classy. I'm glad they sent me the tenor as I believe the concert has a slot head and I wouldn't be as complimentary. Only the front face is glossed leaving a nice contrast in feel to the front and back. The Enya logo is inlaid in pearl in the top face. There are though one or two minor finishing issues here such as a bit of polish that needs buffing out in the slots and some slight edge imperfections on the top crown. I have seen MUCH worse though.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx0tY671C8mVnIM_MGRPz-e6oppZnx9_jm1c8Yn7nyq58ZEAqIgk72dmeiE6iG5N6BDunZJKqntK9MXzqESRQ1vbk_yZU4jx6cO2EOBUs6uiim-_gb-n3-frwCbqbuotmv7xz0fPCVeNAXt2Af_4Np_Ka2_j1Hvvx1-BBEK8ire39GHErnNjsge1a/s3000/R0003647.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx0tY671C8mVnIM_MGRPz-e6oppZnx9_jm1c8Yn7nyq58ZEAqIgk72dmeiE6iG5N6BDunZJKqntK9MXzqESRQ1vbk_yZU4jx6cO2EOBUs6uiim-_gb-n3-frwCbqbuotmv7xz0fPCVeNAXt2Af_4Np_Ka2_j1Hvvx1-BBEK8ire39GHErnNjsge1a/w640-h426/R0003647.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners side mounted gears in black and gold with vintage shaped buttons. They look to me to be of the sort of quality that Flight use and I have no complaints here.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPAxVNGHTjapZN54bVk1x7w38N8Elmg_CqivlVWKmKOg24X3ePt1Nu_uNLCWt_ZUxonw_tivb0P6zyaAbpYmjzRgXKPVo9CGyYP2wvrgeNj7piP5U039T60w3BmwSRyVY_7-iX9W77fA9b54T1iwQgO9XlxnFynumqvmig_sL0r-bp0qWIX6Ql07b/s3000/R0003648.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPAxVNGHTjapZN54bVk1x7w38N8Elmg_CqivlVWKmKOg24X3ePt1Nu_uNLCWt_ZUxonw_tivb0P6zyaAbpYmjzRgXKPVo9CGyYP2wvrgeNj7piP5U039T60w3BmwSRyVY_7-iX9W77fA9b54T1iwQgO9XlxnFynumqvmig_sL0r-bp0qWIX6Ql07b/w640-h426/R0003648.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br />Finishing the deal are a set of D'Addario EJ87T fluoro strings, a good quality branded gig bag, tail strap button to complement the neck fitment and an allen wrench for that neck bolt. And in the UK these come in with an RRP of £240, but when i've seen them in UK dealers about a tenner less. Either way that's not a huge asking price for an all solid tenor with nice finishing like this. A good deal I think. It also comes with an optional pickup version too for a bit more dough.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RWSR3KwgPDgJ1SDyXOoEbekIxDQJbak4k7-AmEIqqYYnU3MDqmlOEcLNamLfcQ6K5hLmtCVctD0Hv4abaJe3dCHjuC9JRyooKRAUcZDmTun2-g6G4PmVRViVrxqN2Hpz9czeK-roZAwq1yaF7rUnrOtce5iq4rHDouLlN1EwhSIenDGvEypVhytd/s3000/R0003649.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RWSR3KwgPDgJ1SDyXOoEbekIxDQJbak4k7-AmEIqqYYnU3MDqmlOEcLNamLfcQ6K5hLmtCVctD0Hv4abaJe3dCHjuC9JRyooKRAUcZDmTun2-g6G4PmVRViVrxqN2Hpz9czeK-roZAwq1yaF7rUnrOtce5iq4rHDouLlN1EwhSIenDGvEypVhytd/w640-h426/R0003649.JPG" title="Enya EUT-MAD Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So, it's all pretty damn good so far. I fully accept that fully coloured ukuleles are not everyone's cup of tea, so whilst this one does it for me, i've not gone super silly on the 'Looks' score here to reflect the fact that it is, ultimately, just a single colour uke with fairly limited decor. Setup and build are excellent bar the very minor finishing issues. The setup out of the box is just fine for me too. I wouldn't say it's heavy, but it feels substantial at 760g and balances ok too. All very good, but sound is the big element.</div><div><br /></div><div>Volume and sustain first. On the former, this is a little more subdued than I expected considering the body size. I am not saying it is quiet, but it's more introspective and laid back that's for sure. I rather like it for that, but bear in mind if you are looking for a uke for a group jam, you may feel a bit on the edge here. Sustain is very good though and it feels a very resonant instrument.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Tone wise this has pleased me too. Whilst it is laid back in voice, when strummed the notes here are very clear and never muddy with a nice jangly balance to the tone. I am getting a slightly warm slightly woody overtone, but with some pretty highs that round out the sound to a very smooth enjoyable sound when strumming chords. Think of yourself laid back on the sofa with a smile kind of sound. It's certainly got a nice character.</div><div><br />Fingerpicking for me shines and not just on account of that comfortable neck and long sustain. There is a very pretty clear chime here too that rings and rings and sounds more expensive than the ticket price would suggest to me. It certainly takes advantage of the trebles played this way, but even with a high G string it's not lacking in bass on fingerpicking parts. All very balanced again. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm really pleased this one finally featured as I can see why they have been popular. I know that painted ukes divide people, but don't look at this and assume it's 'not serious' as it most certainly is. It's a chilled out, grown up sounding instrument that is extremely comfortable and pleasing to play. And, of course - if you are a Cash fan or a Goth (or both?) the looks are killer. I'd love to see this on stage with lights bouncing off it! <br /><br />Certainly recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.enyamusic.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.enyamusic.co.uk/</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.redchilliaudio.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.redchilliaudio.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Enya EUT-MAD</div><div>Scale: Tenor<br />Body: All solid mahogany</div><div>Bridge: Richlite through style</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 42mm<br />Finish: Gloss of colour stain options</div><div>Neck: Mahogany, satin</div><div>Fingerboard: Richlite with slight radius</div><div>Frets: 18, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 38mm, 30mm G to A<br />Tuners: unbranded open gears</div><div>Strings: D'Addario EJ87T Fluoros <br />Extras: Strap button, gig bag, neck bolt tool<br />Country of origin: China</div><div>Weight: 760g</div><div>Price: £240 RRP</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I love the look of this!<br />Good build and finish<br />Comfortable roomy neck</div><div>Decent tuners</div><div>Great sustain</div><div>Warm characterful tone with trebles for balance</div><div>Good price</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Bit laid back on projection</div><div>Some very minor finishing issues<br /><br /></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10<br /><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9 out of 10<br /><br />UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com2United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-85261540273440743052024-01-28T14:38:00.001+00:002024-01-28T14:39:41.439+00:00Noah Mahogany Soprano Ukulele - 2024 edition - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">A welcome return for a ukulele brand that i've looked at regularly and going back to 2013. This is the 2024 re-booted Noah Mahogany Soprano Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmeK6KqWKiN6s3tqzBqojorXoPMfVHfGl6Y8TD_G_QUvK4E7fe6ozljWNyJBk5gSpW1LRKumi9W6yhnKyt1OiJzGQmC7vKvNjpaHz_o6vcGAM9ZfcqU_AoNNEfZy-v77_Jgx9VsGEfifOc1ZkNaB3MpsEA594T3PWpU9m1dKRUZJsgAczHxxWoMH1/s3000/R0003630.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmeK6KqWKiN6s3tqzBqojorXoPMfVHfGl6Y8TD_G_QUvK4E7fe6ozljWNyJBk5gSpW1LRKumi9W6yhnKyt1OiJzGQmC7vKvNjpaHz_o6vcGAM9ZfcqU_AoNNEfZy-v77_Jgx9VsGEfifOc1ZkNaB3MpsEA594T3PWpU9m1dKRUZJsgAczHxxWoMH1/w640-h426/R0003630.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><span></span><div><br />Noah are a British based brand, founded by Matt Cohen who have instruments built for them by a luthier, Ton That Anh in Vietnam. Matt used to live over there so built his contacts and trust with the right people to work with and founded the Noah brand all those years ago, charmingly named after his son. I've looked at plenty of them, and the one thing I like with Matt is that he listens to criticism. Over the years they've always got better, with attention being turned to things that needed work. And i'm not the only fan of Noah - there's a big bunch of people out there that love them too. When he told me about this one I was intrigued enough by the changes to give it another crack of the whip. I first looked at the standard <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2017/08/noah-mahogany-soprano-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Noah Mahogany Soprano</a> in 2017 and whilst it did pretty well on my review, i'll let you have a read of that to understand some of the things I picked it up on. It would also be churlish to say that the changes are solely down to me, as I understand some of the changes came to Noah from their Noah Artist, Matt Hicks (who knows a thing or two about sopranos!). Let's dive in.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So, mahogany sopranos are 'my thing' and Noah know that I will be being particularly careful here. If fact I think it's fair to say it's mahogany sopranos that I judge most ukes against as a starting benchmark. This is still a small double bout sop, but I am pleased Matt Hicks suggested making it a bit skinnier than the original. It's a slight difference, but I do prefer the more trad looking sops. This has slimmer waist and, I think, slightly slimmer front to back. It gives it a slightly more vintage look which I like. The mahogany here has interesting grain with a wave and shimmer in the top which I like. The top back and sides are all bookmatched nicely.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighuX7eLHN-Mh8XH6377BODZZijJ-0GSA49HfrnP0Rsj_xGlnig2G9pjhVkh1sZTEcgCLTbbfYpPLueHPMwo9vw4RDVDb1peOeIHFtWsKAHYeiESgnY819mYeAbDuOrELIPm2Iiz6ouQgude3FOM3eYKa4U5-q8B6bFZGZlY9oJMKGLQLhQUNSKUXG/s3000/R0003631.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighuX7eLHN-Mh8XH6377BODZZijJ-0GSA49HfrnP0Rsj_xGlnig2G9pjhVkh1sZTEcgCLTbbfYpPLueHPMwo9vw4RDVDb1peOeIHFtWsKAHYeiESgnY819mYeAbDuOrELIPm2Iiz6ouQgude3FOM3eYKa4U5-q8B6bFZGZlY9oJMKGLQLhQUNSKUXG/w640-h426/R0003631.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The bridge is a tie bar style from the Vietnamese hardwood Gõ gõ mật, which I have since been told translates roughly as 'Honey Wood'. It's very tidy (long gone are the days of Noah glossed bridges) and holds a bone straight topped saddle. Spacing here is 40mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2mfu-ox5VlTgQ65gXu-uhhu9Qk6StJiKeoyqfWROfoL4t8mLyFwPXKzDQ2i8sfG_nOrAHU2BRgXlaHnrzM_c80-LZPf85LK_r7uOtO5v_Ewphusea3EJv1wv_v2qf7NITs-z4iAEFxPTGqXG0InHeExHjyVtM5DwXnIcHxDoF46ZnhLR_mG0hwoD/s3000/R0003632.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2mfu-ox5VlTgQ65gXu-uhhu9Qk6StJiKeoyqfWROfoL4t8mLyFwPXKzDQ2i8sfG_nOrAHU2BRgXlaHnrzM_c80-LZPf85LK_r7uOtO5v_Ewphusea3EJv1wv_v2qf7NITs-z4iAEFxPTGqXG0InHeExHjyVtM5DwXnIcHxDoF46ZnhLR_mG0hwoD/w640-h426/R0003632.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The decoration has also moved to a more trad look. Whilst it has the same maple edge binding with black and white purfling strips, out goes the abalone sound hole ring which is replaced with a wooden inlaid herrongbone style ring. That's a change for the better for me. I'll also say at this point that over the years the quality of this sort of decor on Noah instruments has also improved. In the early days some of these trims could be a bit slap-dash, but this is very nicely done indeed. The body is finished in the same sort of satin coat which has been well done also.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpNmySZGCg5VNKWyn_GjDLNBYDglpbmezg4j0NOUTXRD_9jt3FcMVix3OwV6T1IjwgJsZknqTMrihcFAE7X74uCLlMHp69AwohthD1QOoF-avZDsWWrANPmKlHruY2Lo5CTOz4DURhEMAR37vCurJfv_mP5V9bJWCmSdxNPEuEt05ypTvFMKKy-Wc/s3000/R0003633.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpNmySZGCg5VNKWyn_GjDLNBYDglpbmezg4j0NOUTXRD_9jt3FcMVix3OwV6T1IjwgJsZknqTMrihcFAE7X74uCLlMHp69AwohthD1QOoF-avZDsWWrANPmKlHruY2Lo5CTOz4DURhEMAR37vCurJfv_mP5V9bJWCmSdxNPEuEt05ypTvFMKKy-Wc/w640-h426/R0003633.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside is pretty tidy, but clearly hand made. The linings are notched and the braces fairly small. The top is vertically braced on the lower bout under the bridge. The top wood is also clearly quite thin.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelArwtu2in9aejLFXRtpi78GcRTbPinUuYWe-bao14vmHlrZcQyZkpf_mNZGgi-GTclQbRQSKJ20REMnSR583DQW4sfTfJIW8RDjkusc5HieH_EhwoNA_S0-ZixJgXEECAOVmIZPDovwkQCb-qs6cXFD0nN9nAvqvjNbGn9qHutPpEt1ichd_oEuz/s2592/IMG_9230.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelArwtu2in9aejLFXRtpi78GcRTbPinUuYWe-bao14vmHlrZcQyZkpf_mNZGgi-GTclQbRQSKJ20REMnSR583DQW4sfTfJIW8RDjkusc5HieH_EhwoNA_S0-ZixJgXEECAOVmIZPDovwkQCb-qs6cXFD0nN9nAvqvjNbGn9qHutPpEt1ichd_oEuz/w640-h480/IMG_9230.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck wood changes on this model to a maple neck which I'm always a fan of. Noah have used maple before on some other instruments, but i've thought it a bit on the dark side. This is much paler and I love the contrast and the grain patterning in this example. It's in two pieces with a fairly obvious heel joint and is glassy smooth in the hands. In another great positive change, the nut width on this is now 37mm with 30mm G to A. That's a great move in my opinion!</div><div><br /></div><div>The fingerboard is made of more of the Go go mat wood and is even in colour and nicely oiled. There are a few 'hand made' tooling marks on here though if such things bother you. They don't with me, but it would be wrong to ignore them as they are visible in the picture. It actually feels like it is slightly edge rolled too which is nice. That holds 17 frets, joined at the 12th and they are all dressed extremely well. Pearl position dots face out at the 5th, 7th and 10th in very traditional soprano fashion and they are paired with side dots (the original missed these off!).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiIPKSGuPQTBvdETNGl-Ft7aU-0wTHUELmx3hqV7vmFh3JcQUuvZhRFxEacvEUZtgfSLpjYqp9lz-eHxpJbsJORnn1z8bL9WNShbqjOe6gkTq7i3e_tmdmUQ0gyyJ8mIBtSSUi4lIW6lqgGgMbCrk4m17XC7uYcdC_143r9beXLyJDS__VCebtxaF/s3000/R0003634.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiIPKSGuPQTBvdETNGl-Ft7aU-0wTHUELmx3hqV7vmFh3JcQUuvZhRFxEacvEUZtgfSLpjYqp9lz-eHxpJbsJORnn1z8bL9WNShbqjOe6gkTq7i3e_tmdmUQ0gyyJ8mIBtSSUi4lIW6lqgGgMbCrk4m17XC7uYcdC_143r9beXLyJDS__VCebtxaF/w640-h426/R0003634.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Beyond the bone nut is the usual Noah headstock shape faced in more mahogany which gives it a nice 'layer cake' look against the paler maple. The Noah logo is inlaid in pearl at the top.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xqnT2_f0k2eRz0yenR_i0Itmk24iQCWWfAst9GMlPCHMtq2QldaCl-gFl8-83kJL4opZbBzm1HV1zWQKrB6Mqg9swvBW3iYD3Zx1B5nZu3_VCjuxYvHw9oTLpU3seZ1hIOtK4MGVRMIO0EAEkbcD5giRYE0JG5frv_vwbuO_X_MepJTKwmlVk8O_/s3000/R0003635.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xqnT2_f0k2eRz0yenR_i0Itmk24iQCWWfAst9GMlPCHMtq2QldaCl-gFl8-83kJL4opZbBzm1HV1zWQKrB6Mqg9swvBW3iYD3Zx1B5nZu3_VCjuxYvHw9oTLpU3seZ1hIOtK4MGVRMIO0EAEkbcD5giRYE0JG5frv_vwbuO_X_MepJTKwmlVk8O_/w640-h426/R0003635.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The tuners are a great improvement for this particular reviewers likes. Out go the guitar parts bin sealed gears and in come friction pegs. And looking at the metalwork on the collars, these are GOOD friction pegs too, not grippy cheap ones. I know these things annoy some people, but on a soprano they just LOOK so right. Many die-hard soprano fans I know also prefer these. It's a yes from me!</div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhq0vyvM-JzF3iKahb6Q5xeTlq9NKEWm3CKaQjy8uY_cuUHtVSdLVf_xNrWmYyNxW4N3gNT9MrI2zH5kwUZItNXZymEmtUg3zp3DbBp8qch_pJ0yxwCeR9VK-tcVZK-HggJAyJzW7Ch6qivu3ruRWIQ5TJ886y9hhUggTU93vAKkbULYKqHzxF4hR/s3000/R0003636.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhq0vyvM-JzF3iKahb6Q5xeTlq9NKEWm3CKaQjy8uY_cuUHtVSdLVf_xNrWmYyNxW4N3gNT9MrI2zH5kwUZItNXZymEmtUg3zp3DbBp8qch_pJ0yxwCeR9VK-tcVZK-HggJAyJzW7Ch6qivu3ruRWIQ5TJ886y9hhUggTU93vAKkbULYKqHzxF4hR/w640-h426/R0003636.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing things off are a tail strap button and the usual Noah padded gig bag. I'm not going to get into a war about straps on ukuleles (if you want to use one, use one), but on a soprano? Really? I hope that is an option as I wouldn't want one. It comes with a choice of strings, either Martin M600's (as on this review model) or regular Aquila and will cost you £239 direct from Noah which is inclusive of domestic shipping. He also ships worldwide, but you need to contact him for a quote. I think that's a really fair price for a very well made all solid wood soprano that has got most things right for me so far.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4Vd70bfdDVu6juQE5Gjf48QyUF4rpv-rKgk4pCiTI4W_JI8cg3vSh0320_eLMYJQYDRWv3iLf-blyX99F12ACeAKBMJVzNfgXR0Cf4VyRbkiygUVTOywyHqS40_f3gZXyYmuhgsXT2Qy95dshzUnxzU9yvuobkmpSWEDzqTO2X-thQPqUlnqc5mq/s3000/R0003637.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4Vd70bfdDVu6juQE5Gjf48QyUF4rpv-rKgk4pCiTI4W_JI8cg3vSh0320_eLMYJQYDRWv3iLf-blyX99F12ACeAKBMJVzNfgXR0Cf4VyRbkiygUVTOywyHqS40_f3gZXyYmuhgsXT2Qy95dshzUnxzU9yvuobkmpSWEDzqTO2X-thQPqUlnqc5mq/w640-h426/R0003637.JPG" title="Noah 2024 Mahogany Soprano Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So i'm pleased so far. It's a nicely made thing, and I think the 2024 improvements are welcome. It's also one of the best finished Noah ukes I have seen so far. It's not heavy in the slightest at 460g and balances really well. One comment I will make from the off is the string choice. I love Martin strings, but they feel a bit looser than I would like on a soprano. It's a very minor thing, but I think i'd prefer a bit more snap (terrible word to use) in the feel. I think a string gauge change may be worth exploring and wonder if the Aquila option will have a better feel. It's not affecting the sustain or volume, both of which are great and it's a punchy little soprano. Heck, it's not a complaint.. meh.. strings.. personal... subjective...</div><div><br /></div><div>Tone wise, despite being mahogany, the soprano sized body will push it more to the brighter end of the scale, but it kind of depends how you play this one actually. Strummed it's just what I like from a mahogany soprano - peppy, jangly, zingy and VERY rhythmical. What is great here is there is still excellent clarity from the individual strings rather than it turning into a muddy mess. You can hear each string even with fast strumming. Played this way that bouncy sound is certainly on the brighter side to my ears.</div><div><br />Switch to fingerpicking, chord melody or lighter play with the flesh of the thumb and is shows a nice rounded warmness to the tone too, particularly at first positions. I think it's delightful played like that and it pulls a richness out of the tone. Up the neck the chime is more noticeable, and remains clear and direct.<br /><br />I don't have the 2017 version here to do a side by side, but I don't think I'd pick them apart. Yet, maybe there is more to it as that warmth you can coax out of it reminds me very much of the Kiwaya mahogany sopranos (which will cost you <u>significantly</u> more). So I chose to leave the sound score the same as the 2017 model but up the value for money which, despite being more due to inflation really got me thinking that this is punching well above the asking price really.</div><div><br />All in all, Noah have done to me what they always do - listen, and get better with each new model that comes my way. If you are fan of mahogany trad sopranos (as I am) this is bang on the money and delivers very nicely. They are also a nice, small company to buy from and this a uke that 'feels' more real too rather than factory production line stuff.</div><div><br />Highly recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://noahukuleles.com/" target="_blank">https://noahukuleles.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Noah Mahogany Soprano (2024 edition)</div><div>Body: All solid mahogany</div><div>Bridge: Go go mat - tie bar</div><div>Saddle: Bone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 40mm</div><div>Finish: Satin</div><div>Neck: Maple</div><div>Fingerboard: Go go mat</div><div>Frets: 17, 12 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 37mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Friction pegs</div><div>Strings: Choice of Martin M600 or Aquila (reviewed with M600)</div><div>Extras: Strap button, gig bag</div><div>Country of origin: Vietnam</div><div>Weight: 460g</div><div>Price: £239</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Great classy looks</div><div>Good build and finish<br />Great style and function changes of the original</div><div>Good volume and sustain</div><div>Typical soprano sound when strummed with nice clarity</div><div>A warmth comes through when picked</div><div>Punching well above the asking price</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Strap button?</div><div>Might want to experiment with string gauges for feel?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Looks - 9 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9.5 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.1 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-60262591603190474942024-01-21T14:13:00.004+00:002024-01-21T23:16:20.530+00:00aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">A ukulele brand I always enjoy looking at this week, with another variation on their highly popular theme. This is the new aNueNue UC-110 'Green Bird' Concert ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx_Kqzws8kuZv_4FFGkYuFjzA80egunvVAaidaAMkfixF-VKykovUG8jC7pTNFVafwkxZWQeCaTBNBpT1kXuYe_bT1NE_Xo2GEeBGCWs7xEAbpPuzA4VywAuOTLbHtK4LQCr0pjuuFt_u3_HtxVNNuk5w_VtbzKSY5E1X2x2eXKAJTIA4nAGnqwXm/s3000/R0003611.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx_Kqzws8kuZv_4FFGkYuFjzA80egunvVAaidaAMkfixF-VKykovUG8jC7pTNFVafwkxZWQeCaTBNBpT1kXuYe_bT1NE_Xo2GEeBGCWs7xEAbpPuzA4VywAuOTLbHtK4LQCr0pjuuFt_u3_HtxVNNuk5w_VtbzKSY5E1X2x2eXKAJTIA4nAGnqwXm/w640-h426/R0003611.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>The Bird series from aNueNue perhaps needs no introduction, but they started some years ago with their incredibly popular '<a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2016/11/anuenue-ut200-mood-bird-tenor-ukulele.html" target="_blank">Moon Bird</a>' ukulele and have since been added to with an array of alternatives that use the same shape. This 'Green Bird' is one of the latest in their re-boots of this modern shaped, staggered shoulder ukuleles. Hey, if you've developed a popular theme, why would you not keep offering variants?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iosk7BMHzfo?si=WAkPsiJN13ftqr5u" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So as I say, what we have here takes the much loved modern swoopy shape of the other 'Birds' and introduces some new cues that hang together with a 'green' theme. The first new one for me in this series (I think) is the use of all solid mahogany in the body. And not just any mahogany, but <strike>Cuban </strike>South American mahogany which, since the unavailability of Brazilian is right up there as good as it gets for dense quality mahogany as a tonewood. The grain here is pretty, slightly swirly and the angled bookmatching adds more interest to the look which I think is just gorgeous (you know I like mahogany!). This example is in the concert scale though there is also a soprano and a tenor. I've said recently that i've really grown to appreciate the concert ukulele lately and it's my first in this scale for the Bird series too. I think this is a stunner even before we get to the decor.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zZtuGHR284gDm__IhIzQddpdmn3dWLFkA0GtUrAygfM3KjmZvLGfoUySxfAi3wvS1IRKXwjVBrPPTPMMNqzMIVqB53Sq38c52Kbbt3j1Qh6dzgE-3Sy2BiqMPWok7ekQ4A6RKD5QGpQzx8u4kR7a4A_xgSJZck3ARXnbbtUBUzCl8zhHd5dVZ7Kg/s3000/R0003612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zZtuGHR284gDm__IhIzQddpdmn3dWLFkA0GtUrAygfM3KjmZvLGfoUySxfAi3wvS1IRKXwjVBrPPTPMMNqzMIVqB53Sq38c52Kbbt3j1Qh6dzgE-3Sy2BiqMPWok7ekQ4A6RKD5QGpQzx8u4kR7a4A_xgSJZck3ARXnbbtUBUzCl8zhHd5dVZ7Kg/w640-h426/R0003612.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is the usual aNueNue shaped tie bar in dark <strike>ebony</strike> rosewood which is extremely tidy. That holds a bone nut with a compensated top. Spacing here clocks in at 41mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMqUbzWCs3ifZ3cNn4ozkC5lj5Q0i8hWle7zMNVJtPmQwQ0pRfmKXC-krzxiDTfthbWQk3H1W-VPmYvBodV7sIhbqvVpTga7FXFDBpcNNmwAx1cb89Yz9YUmSMQwLR6Lzg5OfXxdHebU_J5ZdVj_gAfpIMz9jmNMOpM33nI0u_o_3dCjcoxMWNpIf/s3000/R0003613.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMqUbzWCs3ifZ3cNn4ozkC5lj5Q0i8hWle7zMNVJtPmQwQ0pRfmKXC-krzxiDTfthbWQk3H1W-VPmYvBodV7sIhbqvVpTga7FXFDBpcNNmwAx1cb89Yz9YUmSMQwLR6Lzg5OfXxdHebU_J5ZdVj_gAfpIMz9jmNMOpM33nI0u_o_3dCjcoxMWNpIf/w640-h426/R0003613.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The decor is where we start to get a hint of the 'green' naming. Around the top, back and cutaway are wooden bindings in what looks to me like flamed maple. Their specs say spalted maple, but I see no spalting here. Either way it's extremely pretty and effective and each of those is trimmed with a very thin double purfling stripe in forest / emerald green. On the tail we have a larger tail block inlay in maple with a block of green stained maple to set it off. It looks gorgeous. Around the soundhole is an offset ring of maple that IS spalted, again trimmed in green purfling. That offset nods back to the 'Moon' element of the original moon bird ukulele. What I like here is that decoration grabs the theme but does not take over or look ostentatious. Even the more bold elements like the tail block are in a place you don't look at very often. Subtle, effective and everywhere I look VERY well done. Flawless in fact. The whole body is then finished in a satin, a first Bird uke i've seen that wasn't gloss, and is very nicely done and to feel on the hands. Everything so far is just wonderful.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyjSZImIqjTdL9cpr2qgh62i6Q3U02aNO5JNB0qbnLD3jKaGTeN2Dt2rhJgP_xUUJUeHoj_UgzZHHIUubbGVuIBSNUtUSbqLCq821FMxV-jU3iBqYyx_M5aqxLiViHu-JpCeFRX6nOHC70Raw_7Wu5EghJE-fKdkXcr9P_FALHKevGHKPRN501EXd/s3000/R0003614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdyjSZImIqjTdL9cpr2qgh62i6Q3U02aNO5JNB0qbnLD3jKaGTeN2Dt2rhJgP_xUUJUeHoj_UgzZHHIUubbGVuIBSNUtUSbqLCq821FMxV-jU3iBqYyx_M5aqxLiViHu-JpCeFRX6nOHC70Raw_7Wu5EghJE-fKdkXcr9P_FALHKevGHKPRN501EXd/w640-h426/R0003614.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside gets interesting too. It's very tidy and the linings are notched and reversed. It has regular back bracing but the top is lattice braced on the lower bout. That's only the second example of that i've seen since that limited high end <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2022/09/pono-master-series-at-c-ms-tenor.html" target="_blank">Pono Master Series</a> I looked at. It worked VERY well on that instrument giving it great range and projection, so I have high hopes here..</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvayCiwh-RsbOWTYh4cQvw2Jeu55itY5VDTvTVkzBO-3JlmU-SS6fm-T_TCQgZHB02j1IrAtlwvMQ-p4Q7eqEBIYGyfQr-lljGUvKtP4YKhP_tX8oU0sc4_9xyJcATUyBxcWnzfUkWHmeyGLqsA0rYbTzI7sd3F41Jl82u1za5mJltCrLQZjgQ4fZ/s2592/IMG_9190.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvayCiwh-RsbOWTYh4cQvw2Jeu55itY5VDTvTVkzBO-3JlmU-SS6fm-T_TCQgZHB02j1IrAtlwvMQ-p4Q7eqEBIYGyfQr-lljGUvKtP4YKhP_tX8oU0sc4_9xyJcATUyBxcWnzfUkWHmeyGLqsA0rYbTzI7sd3F41Jl82u1za5mJltCrLQZjgQ4fZ/w640-h480/IMG_9190.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The neck is made of mahogany and looks to be made from a single piece with the usual skinny carved heel that you will find with this brand. It is finished in satin and smooth as glass without being grippy. It tapers to a fairly flattened nut profile and a nut width listed as 36mm, though I measure it at 37mm with 28mm string spacing. That's roomy enough for me and the profile boosts the comfort.</div><div><br />It's topped with more <strike>ebony</strike> rosewood for the fingerboard which is in superb condition, dark and even in colour. It's edge bound too hiding the ends of the 20 frets joined at the 14th. Some people saw the sneak peek pictures I put up and assumed they were semi-hemi dressed. They are not, but what they are is dressed extremely well. I believe there is also a neck radius here but it is <i>very</i> slight. Position dots on the face go back to the green theme and are subtly green stained maple dots at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th, paired with small white side dots which include an extra one at the 15th.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjV2vA3iXe2zMTxRLoywMYEwsM2qKn8GuKN93r23WBf9HzX9UJ5k0Tfp8CWszb7h3Ost14nly9w5szUwknncyt5ikjc_ozV1x5QE8eBi0CFN7pzfnGeEm3jsZvbWtq5iVSvoBC-bKKwdTVF36zwQ4uK-9PRGH_X3gNl63fLtZ3fA0MdGCi3TFKX1S/s3000/R0003615.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjV2vA3iXe2zMTxRLoywMYEwsM2qKn8GuKN93r23WBf9HzX9UJ5k0Tfp8CWszb7h3Ost14nly9w5szUwknncyt5ikjc_ozV1x5QE8eBi0CFN7pzfnGeEm3jsZvbWtq5iVSvoBC-bKKwdTVF36zwQ4uK-9PRGH_X3gNl63fLtZ3fA0MdGCi3TFKX1S/w640-h426/R0003615.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br />Beyond the bone nut is the usual attractive aNueNue headstock faced in what seems to be ebony or rosewood. I love this shape and think it's become something of a modern classic. The aNueNue 'dancing man' logo is inlaid in the top face in pearl.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhNbnT3ZyKc5MC0QNFR5srg-pR5G8HVYAaV-gjcaA9cUrvly7JHAma8Ggc9RVBWV5vYZDO-thQV6FcCMWg8p_x_KczE-6Vdmy9MxEN-0wQ4dnZuNzqwtGiyWfF0j-gwrwTGMNVZRtTfV-Qfh-ctZQipMtIqs5L-Tqb3UqMDRBlaVzcot3C8TbwAIx/s3000/R0003616.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhNbnT3ZyKc5MC0QNFR5srg-pR5G8HVYAaV-gjcaA9cUrvly7JHAma8Ggc9RVBWV5vYZDO-thQV6FcCMWg8p_x_KczE-6Vdmy9MxEN-0wQ4dnZuNzqwtGiyWfF0j-gwrwTGMNVZRtTfV-Qfh-ctZQipMtIqs5L-Tqb3UqMDRBlaVzcot3C8TbwAIx/w640-h426/R0003616.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners are a joy to see as they have gone with Gotoh UPT tuners in black. In my opinion tuners don't really get better than this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfImswMB05nMdm3FVwZ3Ybp-iNuXuJg3V9wVU2eSUE5DHqEbdfepoQ0OJ0F6ri-6TAv49sD0rrJzMamxDAgY1UP2WdG7Q7609-nRdKdoQ6LETenAc5WNCCeklIgMyhs0-_l9J_A1kuKQTL-XJntFN1dQan4GsoBRc725Slh5dN_lRmeRPLHhvJMVJs/s3000/R0003617.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfImswMB05nMdm3FVwZ3Ybp-iNuXuJg3V9wVU2eSUE5DHqEbdfepoQ0OJ0F6ri-6TAv49sD0rrJzMamxDAgY1UP2WdG7Q7609-nRdKdoQ6LETenAc5WNCCeklIgMyhs0-_l9J_A1kuKQTL-XJntFN1dQan4GsoBRc725Slh5dN_lRmeRPLHhvJMVJs/w640-h426/R0003617.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing the deal are a set of strings rich really set tongues wagging with my sneak peek pictures. They are aNueNue Green Planet Fluorocarbon strings. Essentially they are clear fluoros with a green dye added. That is not to say 'BRIGHT' green, but again, like the purfling it's a very subtle emerald colour which doesn't stand out but you know it's there. Wonderful. You also get one of the excellent aNueNue premium hard cases, naturally, in green! And the store price on this one in the UK will set you back £999. Yes, a serious priced instrument again from aNueNue, but considerably less than some of their other Bird models. And considering how many people flocked to spend the Moon Bird ticket price, this will seem even more attractive. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8PBza1y6Ma-Yr8gEIbd1QQwkOH4jCMe7ezuJnWJk3bGtEvVDLiIIHd59zUjNG3tFDtSuPo4BXXWZTk97TgYupU7iI1U1ywOJ5XKvVqzvHstmJP2RUeOKvaH1uB9WnblZtpXHG5Q9BZLvkNyI95aj4FB8jg_wY6NjPHltdeh0fnIzXf1AuX3KnciL/s3000/R0003618.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8PBza1y6Ma-Yr8gEIbd1QQwkOH4jCMe7ezuJnWJk3bGtEvVDLiIIHd59zUjNG3tFDtSuPo4BXXWZTk97TgYupU7iI1U1ywOJ5XKvVqzvHstmJP2RUeOKvaH1uB9WnblZtpXHG5Q9BZLvkNyI95aj4FB8jg_wY6NjPHltdeh0fnIzXf1AuX3KnciL/w640-h426/R0003618.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So far, no complaints. None at all. OK, mahogany is never going to be as striking as something like Koa, but this is very nice stuff that oozes a vintage look. And when it comes to the build, finish and decor I can't find issue with it anywhere. It's not heavy at 605g and balances very well too.</div><div><br /></div><div>Volume and sustain are both great here too thankfully. Whilst it's never likely to have the boom of a tenor it has more punch than your average concert and projects very well. Sustain is also longer than you'd normally expect meaning your play can be very expressive.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tone wise with mahogany one can expect a warmer woodier tone in general strong on the mids. However, you will find that this rolls off with smaller bodies like regular concerts and smaller sopranos and they can still sound on the brighter side. But bear in mind here we have more going on than that. This has the larger than average swoopy body with more lower bout real estate and we also have the lattice bracing that worked so well on the Pono. And sure enough whilst this does sound like I am playing a concert there is a warm richness here too that I was not expecting quite so much. It definitely has a tone that is strong down the middle as you'd expect with mahogany, but has more breadth than that with some chiming highs and some bass going on too giving it a shimmery harmonic tone when strummed. It's kind of exactly what you'd want from a concert played this way - a peppy jangly tone for rhythmical work that harks towards the smaller scales, but with more breadth than a soprano (or many concerts!) which rounds it out and stops it being an overly bright, staccato one trick pony.</div><div><br />Fingerpicking is simply delightful and shows off that wider range wonderfully. It still has a woodier edge but with music box like chimes further up the neck which, because of those mids in the mix don't sound shrill or nasal, but rather rounded, warm, yet clear. It's remarkable. I love it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTwY-HKgj6NppRNJZQNTHm444qdWq6AY5hYBTVT-7TzTUZFBYiCzgrw6kqFcz4oYUFUmc07eLBna9XqFFiqxOeRPxtzaKK-VTQPxe4Du9PWfDIUAI69czulSSAByzaT3EaZFKyqrRl5LraGnPHsKBqvbzaWbXr7CCSGCnLcPOSIsungXO8_TSCC2t/s3000/R0003619.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele tail" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTwY-HKgj6NppRNJZQNTHm444qdWq6AY5hYBTVT-7TzTUZFBYiCzgrw6kqFcz4oYUFUmc07eLBna9XqFFiqxOeRPxtzaKK-VTQPxe4Du9PWfDIUAI69czulSSAByzaT3EaZFKyqrRl5LraGnPHsKBqvbzaWbXr7CCSGCnLcPOSIsungXO8_TSCC2t/w640-h426/R0003619.JPG" title="aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird Concert Ukulele tail" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>In fact, the last concert ukulele that had <u>this</u> effect on me with tone was the <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2018/03/km-ukuleles-dreadnought-mahogany.html" target="_blank">KM Ukuleles concert.</a> That was also made of mahogany and also had that bigger body being a dreadnought and I liked that one so much I bought it. That was just so signature 'concert without being too nasal and bright' that it worked for me in spades. So I'm coming to the view that, (for<i> my own</i> tastes at least), larger bodied mahogany concert ukuleles may represent the best I can personally ask for. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is just delightful to listen to. The build is superb, the finish flawless and the sound is just exactly what I would want. If I was in funds or had a win on lottery i'd be doing exactly what I did with that KM Ukulele and grabbing it. That's the best recommendation I can give.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once again aNueNue getting it bang on for me. They've got some talent in that team for sure! This is my favourite Bird series ukulele so far. No question.</div><div><br />VERY highly recommended and thanks so much to World of Ukes for the loan.</div><div><br /><b>STOP PRESS</b> - turns out the references to ebony were a mistake on spec sheets from aNueNue into their dealers. Actually rosewood - adjusted review to reflect that. Makes no difference to score.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://worldofukes.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://worldofukes.co.uk/</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.anuenuemusic.com/en" target="_blank">https://www.anuenuemusic.com/en</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: aNueNue UC-110 Green Bird</div><div>Scale: Concert</div><div>Body: Solid Cuban mahogany</div><div>Bridge: <strike>Ebony</strike> rosewood - tie bar</div><div>Saddle: Bone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 41mm</div><div>Finish: Satin</div><div>Neck: Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard:<strike> Ebony</strike> rosewood</div><div>Frets 20, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 37mm, 28mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Gotoh UPT, black</div><div>Strings: aNueNue Green Planet Fluorocarbon</div><div>Extras: Hard case</div><div>Weight: 605g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £999</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Superb build and finish</div><div>Decor cues are effective, but not over-done<br />The best tuners!<br />Great volume and sustain</div><div>Rich, warm, complex tone however you play it</div><div>Strong mids, but not at the expense of range</div><div>Shimmery strummed sound</div><div>Chimey and clear when picked<br />Lovely case</div><div>A fair price for the Bird series</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing at all</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 10 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9.5 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.6 out of 10</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-56509922392558214342024-01-14T15:12:00.000+00:002024-01-14T15:12:32.927+00:00Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Now and again a ukulele series comes along that makes me think 'ooh, that goes beyond the norm for that brand'.. This one did that with me. This is the Kala CT-SMH-TG Tenor from their new Contour Series of ukuleles.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hT-2h5hTSjZZFsIGSSlrEO6iK4Snd5UeTNTD9feTC3_lim63pLC0OUH4DrFKyjavI_rGBacYMnzMl9gIeuuPUtR1ur5PcZOg0_0T_iQ6i2GULPfkthUUGYGAS52DcaQQl7qENAinld6hygZ7_kSfBsX181dHQXeDCpsRlIebPPpN0KqqWioSQZpY/s3000/R0003596.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hT-2h5hTSjZZFsIGSSlrEO6iK4Snd5UeTNTD9feTC3_lim63pLC0OUH4DrFKyjavI_rGBacYMnzMl9gIeuuPUtR1ur5PcZOg0_0T_iQ6i2GULPfkthUUGYGAS52DcaQQl7qENAinld6hygZ7_kSfBsX181dHQXeDCpsRlIebPPpN0KqqWioSQZpY/w640-h426/R0003596.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>What am I getting at with that introduction? Well, I have reviewed a LOT of Kala ukuleles over many years of running this website and i've been getting a bit bored if I am honest. When you take out the one-offs like the Revelator and the Elite I have always said in reviews that I have found their models were getting very samey and almost old fashioned. They were one of my first experiences with ukes many years ago and I have gigged with them, but not much seems to have changed in my 15 years. Aside from wood combo changes the core template for Kala ukuleles (body shape, neck and nut, lack of a gig bag) have always remained the same. They are not bad instruments per se, but they all just seem to have been variations on the same theme. Then I spied this new series and came to the conclusion that Kala have started looking outside the 'Kala box' at what else is out there and have made some significant departures. And departures that to me, at first glance, seemed to be positive ones. </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-WlJ2h3HaiE?si=EYZExhBJLomfzXMp" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Contour series is a range of all solid instruments (tenors and baritones I believe) that eschew the usual Kala instrument shape of the last near 20 years and move to a more modern, much more rounded double bout that, personally, I really like. Think Flight and aNueNue in shape terms. That may seem to be a small change, but I think it has a big impact on the look and it gets my vote and there are other differences too which pile on the changes. The series comes in a range of wood types affecting the price, but I suppose you could call this the 'entry level' of the Contour series being made from all solid mahogany. And whilst Mahogany never has the striking visual appeal of something like acacia (also in the series), this is far from ugly with an nice deep rich orange brown colour on the two pieces for each face, each with some shimmer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQWaBhoijENW0wbxYzaLlqkYNyvDtowghRFepr2xhYH1H32vhSkQE3tGB9jqPkXswusGWHsVM9z3GgBkNB-eQxKUK5o_5_KYXNuth03Mu4Fxm-ptF_YPbtV60ZV31ElWipZHI55w9__VcdLlVs9m0YBnapZePVT2bf1uOnyFiEeBM5TWoZGFVQTQR/s3000/R0003597.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQWaBhoijENW0wbxYzaLlqkYNyvDtowghRFepr2xhYH1H32vhSkQE3tGB9jqPkXswusGWHsVM9z3GgBkNB-eQxKUK5o_5_KYXNuth03Mu4Fxm-ptF_YPbtV60ZV31ElWipZHI55w9__VcdLlVs9m0YBnapZePVT2bf1uOnyFiEeBM5TWoZGFVQTQR/w640-h426/R0003597.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />The bridge marks another departure from their usual standard tie bar too and moves to a shallow through bridge made of ebony (I think). I love the oval shape of it and how small and low it is on the top. I think through bridges still confuse people but actually they are easier to use than a tie bar and not much different than a pin bridge (push string into hole, keep pushing until you can fish it out of sound hole, tie big stopper knot or attach bead and pull back - done.) That holds a bone saddle with a compensated top. Spacing here is about 43mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj503YhLOMAeUeK1w5072CLfXCYNOnIhMNpZ2Sd2zEjbOM32v3fyQBXogfFoK_8mxQjYdr0euA34_NPCK7_ixe9Va7njbHJtN5JZl62cQbw4Jf5jtWBWIbUu73QYRwIEz9bnsIMD5r41G2j-LgUdGkRrDoqJACyDbfv1D3_NQDOImB5flfDWAIFOQ3L/s3000/R0003598.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj503YhLOMAeUeK1w5072CLfXCYNOnIhMNpZ2Sd2zEjbOM32v3fyQBXogfFoK_8mxQjYdr0euA34_NPCK7_ixe9Va7njbHJtN5JZl62cQbw4Jf5jtWBWIbUu73QYRwIEz9bnsIMD5r41G2j-LgUdGkRrDoqJACyDbfv1D3_NQDOImB5flfDWAIFOQ3L/w640-h426/R0003598.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Decoration is sympathetic and not ostentatious. No rhinestone glitzy pearl here (thankfully). This has rosewood edge binding to the top and back with the top binding extending into a wider comfort edge on the lower bout. There's a rosewood tail stripe too where the sides join. Around the soundhole is a wooden inlaid ring in a pattern they call 'eclipse' made from maple and rosewood that has the effect of one covering the other. It's simple but very effective. The body is then glossed in a finish I'm struggling to find issue with. Overall I am very taken with the look of the body here which has a real classy warmth to it whilst having a more modern touch. Sorry to go on so much about the new shape, but I just think this is a great change of gear.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGuqH7T9IfAjYMyI8UjQwxJ1gmwVGY5CxencKP6gjINwo6xFYgYk5yC29SM1BekViJHjSC0J8d8OpoRXzTdQvRd-R_2HMOn3oYMy2JXPOD65vUsQtW7xIWn4bm_BaPDVDVR8xuac07oz0vS0hsPNJTD7bKo7XYWhyphenhyphenmdnaERKPMgVEsrOUzxcFr5g0/s3000/R0003599.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGuqH7T9IfAjYMyI8UjQwxJ1gmwVGY5CxencKP6gjINwo6xFYgYk5yC29SM1BekViJHjSC0J8d8OpoRXzTdQvRd-R_2HMOn3oYMy2JXPOD65vUsQtW7xIWn4bm_BaPDVDVR8xuac07oz0vS0hsPNJTD7bKo7XYWhyphenhyphenmdnaERKPMgVEsrOUzxcFr5g0/w640-h426/R0003599.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Inside is very tidy with notched linings and thin braces. There is no mess I can see and the lower bout of the top is vertically braced. It's also nice to see that the top wood is extremely thin!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7rY5Why6uSK4HrKBpNUU91sIF8B4JM2FPH-kyN3stJuYNQ8B25G-A-45HCbDrO6QB6SNZRgmvh8b0jc-qpVytw2JCk2QZULxaxcEG8IY3dEeQFzzyHxLvd1g3CCPTnFlk3uOy34E7l6xyjIhhC0to49lhAA2yBeLhrDt1YWohsls_nyyp9n2RWu7/s2592/IMG_9146.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Contour Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7rY5Why6uSK4HrKBpNUU91sIF8B4JM2FPH-kyN3stJuYNQ8B25G-A-45HCbDrO6QB6SNZRgmvh8b0jc-qpVytw2JCk2QZULxaxcEG8IY3dEeQFzzyHxLvd1g3CCPTnFlk3uOy34E7l6xyjIhhC0to49lhAA2yBeLhrDt1YWohsls_nyyp9n2RWu7/w640-h480/IMG_9146.jpeg" title="Kala Contour Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made from mahogany in three pieces with a nicely hidden headstock joint but more obvious heel joint. The mahogany grain here is nice and interesting and i'm delighted to see that it is finished in satin. It tapers down to a fairly round profile, but in yet another departure for Kala I am so pleased to see a 37.5mm nut width with 30mm string spacing. AT LAST!</div><div><br /></div><div>The fingerboard is made of ebony and whilst it is in nice condition and even in colour, the QC department had a bit of a tea break on this one as the buffing compound used to finish it has not been properly buffed out leaving noticeable gunk on the board adjacent to the frets which is very visible in certain lights. You'll see that in several of the photos in this review. It's easily fixed with a scrub of fine wire wool, but I shouldn't have to... It's edge bound which hides the fret ends and whilst there is no fret sprout, the dressing is not totally bang on and I can feel them. I'm not saying they are 'cut your hand' sharp, but they could be better. There are 19 of those joined at the 14th, but I can feel them and that is, simply, wrong. Fret markers face out in attractive oval inlays at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th and these are just 'different enough' from the norm to get a nod from me. They are paired with side dots too. That fretboard is such a shame as things were pretty decent thus far. The neck loses this points slightly for the things i've mentioned, but it's minor. I nearly gave it an 8.5, but reconsidered on the quality of the rest of it, but do bear that in mind when you are deciding where to buy!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoELc29jeWDvIwLV_0ihda4IHIyXM2eRCy4Dj3kaOGgm9N09QrAM2dB05p1SU8qaqL9m3ymlcvmuYJvWAyrZvRaUOgCrPRE7CoBRdLS5kmf4qqpW8LJlsJGdRgtx-uJ0JK17cbWi-EsXHRb5FL8Bkxszk_ZVHhG4x8nKyGIPr1wKYVjVZretAF-RN/s3000/R0003600.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoELc29jeWDvIwLV_0ihda4IHIyXM2eRCy4Dj3kaOGgm9N09QrAM2dB05p1SU8qaqL9m3ymlcvmuYJvWAyrZvRaUOgCrPRE7CoBRdLS5kmf4qqpW8LJlsJGdRgtx-uJ0JK17cbWi-EsXHRb5FL8Bkxszk_ZVHhG4x8nKyGIPr1wKYVjVZretAF-RN/w640-h426/R0003600.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Beyond the bone nut is a slotted headstock faced in dark glossed wood which looks tidy. These sort of heads really divide opinion and whilst I don't mind them so much on larger scale instruments, it would be nice to have a regular headstock option on some of the models too I think. Certainly if they decide to offer a concert or smaller in the range i'd urge them to go with a standard head. It has the usual Kala crown top and holds the Kala logo in pearl on the top face.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdLdeBoKPa55YMOPP3WkyP0B3SPJcYGz15HZMW1AteC3MR_STp914YqzpwaERSFb-BBkR7bNzZi8zpu90nTMiqtsEZyvklLt8jnilwrlJRtCkmhgpyMnWiE6XDQ3lT1I64kQ2Utk1kJPHtrE8bBQOt-4SvrBBTVVeT46Q5MVOeHZzpDUC9Z5cBE-U/s3000/R0003601.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdLdeBoKPa55YMOPP3WkyP0B3SPJcYGz15HZMW1AteC3MR_STp914YqzpwaERSFb-BBkR7bNzZi8zpu90nTMiqtsEZyvklLt8jnilwrlJRtCkmhgpyMnWiE6XDQ3lT1I64kQ2Utk1kJPHtrE8bBQOt-4SvrBBTVVeT46Q5MVOeHZzpDUC9Z5cBE-U/w640-h426/R0003601.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />The tuners are unbranded open gears in black which are, naturally, side mounted and face back. They look pretty decent and work ok too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_K0jNfL_tYTuw7xzVccl2m-46HWrkQ6SnvCLGcFmc0W5_tThNm5h4NAz1X8QEYPLIe0WYh47Yv2IWuuornAP_Yo46B8w3o6lI7AEP5rcEEuOghoGrO1BtGWLMS1bIGqvCWAXNQ3cnQdI9Wuj0f4a125g-FAkspbQhGm9tMgK6tsyw8UzYgJSzhyC/s3000/R0003602.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_K0jNfL_tYTuw7xzVccl2m-46HWrkQ6SnvCLGcFmc0W5_tThNm5h4NAz1X8QEYPLIe0WYh47Yv2IWuuornAP_Yo46B8w3o6lI7AEP5rcEEuOghoGrO1BtGWLMS1bIGqvCWAXNQ3cnQdI9Wuj0f4a125g-FAkspbQhGm9tMgK6tsyw8UzYgJSzhyC/w640-h426/R0003602.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Finishing things off are a set of Aquila strings (and I do think Kala should have perhaps been a bit braver with a more left field string choice) and..... and.... and.... A GIG BAG! On a regular Kala!!! At last! I regularly say that Kala are well behind the curve on this simple addition and it's nice to see one here. It's pretty decent quality too, not up to par with the Flight red bags, but not far off at all. Pricing is a bit tough for the review as I didn't buy in the UK, but the Kala list is $379 and I 'believe' the UK price will be £349 when they launch here at the end of this month. I don't think that is too bad on whole and is cheaper than several Flight solid tenors. In fact some regular Kala solid tenors will cost you more. It's still not impulse buy pricing, but then it shouldn't be with an all solid wood instrument. I think it's a fair price and it didn't faze me in.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_mNwF424E5BWBrvZM_9Qn05eRdfNAHh_i4z4R7wY3TalnldJ9q-n9gYGdvzJQe2GOEqycL0Zkfe2WU7rAFY1IZBzI5zcNJbfPHXeBDIiLwkzLesYE3KSsdjj1QYJIUqvZbddZD2MuOnoevklepcC5w0mZpM4a63sIxXPQa8-NVI1JJXg0P9mHicf/s3000/R0003603.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_mNwF424E5BWBrvZM_9Qn05eRdfNAHh_i4z4R7wY3TalnldJ9q-n9gYGdvzJQe2GOEqycL0Zkfe2WU7rAFY1IZBzI5zcNJbfPHXeBDIiLwkzLesYE3KSsdjj1QYJIUqvZbddZD2MuOnoevklepcC5w0mZpM4a63sIxXPQa8-NVI1JJXg0P9mHicf/w640-h426/R0003603.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />So something of a breath of fresh air here! OK there is some QC that worries me on the neck, but I love the modern look of the body, the improvements to my usual niggles and the overall build is good. The core build is also good (as they usually are with Kala) as is the finish. It weighs in at an average 685g and feels substantial but balances just fine. Setup is very good on this example despite that neck QC failing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOe4yO6h5yfrY3g77PKWuvtNVpODSDPlT51Y6jWXRwUe5EKEW27dDdmfMbbOck3QS3xOSjlOxTpweIflX28rBDsetv06fWjUOTLLPgv0InQqQ7bXZItuAwpOto0NOgkf0pdrPiVrcfhxrK_LHFzuys2t9T7-Ve-gmZei8wl-WoK9m2xPLZMu5NPzu/s3000/R0003604.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele comfort edge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOe4yO6h5yfrY3g77PKWuvtNVpODSDPlT51Y6jWXRwUe5EKEW27dDdmfMbbOck3QS3xOSjlOxTpweIflX28rBDsetv06fWjUOTLLPgv0InQqQ7bXZItuAwpOto0NOgkf0pdrPiVrcfhxrK_LHFzuys2t9T7-Ve-gmZei8wl-WoK9m2xPLZMu5NPzu/w640-h426/R0003604.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele comfort edge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We have to play it though. First up, the volume. It's good enough, though not the loudest punchiest instrument I have ever played. That's not to say it's quiet, but more laid back and subdued, rather like a solid mahogany Eastman I reviewed some years back. It's quite contemplative in volume and not in your face. I will say that with all solid tonewoods i'd expect this to 'open up' over time and become more responsive, but out of the box it's more laid back. Sustain is perfectly acceptable though.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdVKY6FX0GZbVu2FVrg1MQtLVC9JduM6C66c8zL-oqc-XAVeD6XccWF8RADBc3T5wwuEw-abn-tvNkxZKX4SfWsJXdYnYMAmy0yWk7fDhp9MMTOM8WLH-8o9koxrULjnjnZ7_WCt0q7k9r3xXaimVTBUQeHqalUI6mqMz4Tsyi5YzRiGmW85CmRid/s3000/R0003605.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele eclipse sound hole motif" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdVKY6FX0GZbVu2FVrg1MQtLVC9JduM6C66c8zL-oqc-XAVeD6XccWF8RADBc3T5wwuEw-abn-tvNkxZKX4SfWsJXdYnYMAmy0yWk7fDhp9MMTOM8WLH-8o9koxrULjnjnZ7_WCt0q7k9r3xXaimVTBUQeHqalUI6mqMz4Tsyi5YzRiGmW85CmRid/w640-h426/R0003605.JPG" title="Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series Tenor Ukulele eclipse sound hole motif" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The tone itself is exactly what I would expect from mahogany - strong through the mids with hints of trebles and bass but certainly a middle ground tone. Some of that bass adds a slight woody edge and some of the trebles chime, but it's a central tone if that makes sense. Quite grown up. Strummed it's extremely mellow yet has a bit of bounce which is pleasant. I really liked picking it, not just on account of the neck comfort, but it has a very clear pretty tone right up the neck that shimmers a little around the mids. In the video I called the tone 'comforting' which is the best I could come up with. Sat in a warm house, log fire going on a very comfortable sofa feet curled up having a strum. It's just very pleasing when I consider it that way. As I say, grown up and I really rather like it. I do wish it was punchier, but maybe string experimentation will help as will the wood opening up over time, but it's not a huge criticism. Just a laid back feel and sound.<br /><div><br /></div><div>All in all I was rather delighted when I saw these. If this represents a turning point for Kala rather than just a one off series, I'd be pleased and I hope they move the rest of their range to a more modern take on the uke. The QC issue with the neck bothers me though I did buy from a big box shipper rather than a specialist. Yet that is not an excuse for Kala - they should have dealt with the easy issue first, but by the time these hit the usual UK specialists, this stuff will be weeded out leaving you with what is a great looking, well made uke for a fair price that sounds pretty too. And the look brings Kala right up to date in a way I am very glad to see. If only they introduced these years back!<br /><br />Available in the US and EU now and in the UK later this month.<br /><br />Recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://kalabrand.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://kalabrand.com/</a><br /><br /><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br />Model: Kala CT-SMH-TG Contour Series</div><div>Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: All solid mahogany</div><div>Bridge: Ebony through bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 43mm</div><div>Finish: Gloss</div><div>Neck: Mahogany, satin</div><div>Fingerboard: Ebony</div><div>Frets: 19, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 37.5mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: unbranded open gears</div><div>Strings: Aquila</div><div>Extras: Gig bag</div><div>Weight: 685g</div><div>Country of origin: China (I think?)</div><div>Price: £349</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Great modern look</div><div>Good core build</div><div>Classy decoration</div><div>Good sustain</div><div>Mellow yet clear laid back tone</div><div>Yay! A gig bag at last with a Kala!</div><div>Fair price</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Some QC issues (fingerboard, fret ends)<br />Sounds a little subdued and needs to open up?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES<br /></b><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com3United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-21689343163869399132024-01-13T12:52:00.002+00:002024-01-13T15:02:13.648+00:00LEGO Tropical Ukulele 31156 - REVIEW<div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Just a bit of a giggle for you between the actual ukulele reviews. This is the LEGO Tropical Ukulele...</h2></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tUMuKeqP1ihYv8rL-HC4w81BXCXSgu00ag4CfJjt1-GKsnSnCqYnUYdCbc9ksTliXKqYpwFL6HUTOPz7JFjmZEj4SojsjWy3AkX2ABIqwc01WuXP1qMvomsIajvl2DThwLfoE3cW_A2CqoBCJd1y-mLH0g8Ul4li5RVbxU_jputzt-6mEBFi86bl/s3000/IMG_9145.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LEGO Tropical Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="3000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tUMuKeqP1ihYv8rL-HC4w81BXCXSgu00ag4CfJjt1-GKsnSnCqYnUYdCbc9ksTliXKqYpwFL6HUTOPz7JFjmZEj4SojsjWy3AkX2ABIqwc01WuXP1qMvomsIajvl2DThwLfoE3cW_A2CqoBCJd1y-mLH0g8Ul4li5RVbxU_jputzt-6mEBFi86bl/w640-h480/IMG_9145.jpeg" title="LEGO Tropical Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Model: LEGO Tropical Ukulele 3 in 1 kit (31156)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Scale: Sub Soprano - 5.7 inch scale</div><div style="text-align: left;">Body: LEGO bricks</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bridge: Clip on</div><div style="text-align: left;">Saddle: Integral</div><div style="text-align: left;">Spacing at saddle: 23mm</div><div style="text-align: left;">Neck: LEGO</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fingerboard: LEGO<br />Frets: Fretless</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nut: Integral</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tuners: Decorative</div><div style="text-align: left;">Number of pieces: 387</div><div style="text-align: left;">Extras: Beach stand and hibiscus flowers</div><div style="text-align: left;">Strings: Bass strings by LEGO<br />Weight: 195g</div><div style="text-align: left;">Country of origin: Denmark</div><div style="text-align: left;">Price: £24.99</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com" rel="author">© Barry Maz</a>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com4United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-80100802513439459092024-01-07T14:52:00.000+00:002024-01-07T14:52:42.191+00:00Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">It's 2024 and Got A Ukulele returns with a brand much featured here and well liked. This is the Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ntEhb7AykmIKoycR8XjoetshzBghG8Af4fQJB9LiXSYkYrfyoyUMp1ZAKWtLeIms11dqdnEuSOHVuHIYS9H-Ex8Lwmm8CV1zCC5L0V3wsYEUHzZQlOayvUbJjAOG_IslzdwsBPhoi1Rcl5CUn0fk2NT9-Pzn8ooRZ8FG3t9ODSvZ_veoLhGNiGtx/s3000/R0003578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ntEhb7AykmIKoycR8XjoetshzBghG8Af4fQJB9LiXSYkYrfyoyUMp1ZAKWtLeIms11dqdnEuSOHVuHIYS9H-Ex8Lwmm8CV1zCC5L0V3wsYEUHzZQlOayvUbJjAOG_IslzdwsBPhoi1Rcl5CUn0fk2NT9-Pzn8ooRZ8FG3t9ODSvZ_veoLhGNiGtx/w640-h426/R0003578.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>Snail have been around for a while now and always represent an alternative brand to the Kala's, Ohana's and more recently the Flight's. They've been on this site many times and have usually done pretty well. This one may be a new model (I am not sure) as I am not yet seeing it in many stores, so was loaned to me kindly by the UK Snail distributor Red Chilli Audio.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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<div><br /></div><div>The UKC-380 is a standard double bout concert scale ukulele with a traditional look and dimensions. The body here pairs solid spruce for the top with laminate spalted maple for the back and sides. The spruce looks to be reasonable quality with tight straight grains on the two top pieces though I don't think highest grade as there is a bit of wave in the grain lines. I also like the look of spalted maple, but not so much on the top of instruments so pleased to see it on the back and sides here. They are bookmatched too and the spalting on this example is not too severe. I will say though that I prefer more contrast with top and back woods so the pale on pale look here is not to my personal taste, but to be fair the maple is more interesting to look at than the more normal flat coloured mahogany. I find the Snail model naming a touch confusing so not clear where the 380 line sits, but it seems to be a little above the more entry level laminate instruments, but below the more expensive all solid models.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4SueFXEbdz5aIqS6MaYENAM7myo8M1HEXmH9XH2B6pqM4lnOB0GrGsmk3sHgBBndVAAyhsjWSBS-j3k1T4w5zAaGki4DehlHPGIrhgX2BI7D7gHs_krlq1MyjM0mAc9c9Hd7l40YHg6GgVyigA4rMvZWtO1bhYqWWcgMnTkIhIk-gPajs1GFlwjE/s3000/R0003579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4SueFXEbdz5aIqS6MaYENAM7myo8M1HEXmH9XH2B6pqM4lnOB0GrGsmk3sHgBBndVAAyhsjWSBS-j3k1T4w5zAaGki4DehlHPGIrhgX2BI7D7gHs_krlq1MyjM0mAc9c9Hd7l40YHg6GgVyigA4rMvZWtO1bhYqWWcgMnTkIhIk-gPajs1GFlwjE/w640-h426/R0003579.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The bridge is the usual Snail batwing shape and is a through body style made from what they bill as ebony. The wood is clearly stained though as the staining is not even on the top edge leaving some paler patches which irritates me. Saying that though it's extremely smooth and low profile so not a huge hunk of wood on the top. That holds a bone compensated saddle with string spacing of 44mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPv17tC1NFUt4ScLWSeWXFPxX1lwmq9SZG0kynvfwKLl_tO6qxZLtUfTeaeWOCJx7CeKWVhX-lw62PSQaRMDXQcf_MArQWcszgI82xRRSsBLL3qZOjoUxAo6W5doR6vi40kiGefOz_XF3-XRcDlxbbGrFs5ZNI2Hz7oPkzV9YPYpBSrLJWPIo0jW5/s3000/R0003580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPv17tC1NFUt4ScLWSeWXFPxX1lwmq9SZG0kynvfwKLl_tO6qxZLtUfTeaeWOCJx7CeKWVhX-lw62PSQaRMDXQcf_MArQWcszgI82xRRSsBLL3qZOjoUxAo6W5doR6vi40kiGefOz_XF3-XRcDlxbbGrFs5ZNI2Hz7oPkzV9YPYpBSrLJWPIo0jW5/w640-h426/R0003580.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Decoration is a little generic for a spruce topped instrument as they have gone with abalone purfling around the top and sound hole. To be fair though, unlike some abalone this is quite dark and subdued and doesn't look too chintzy at all. Around the top and back is additional dark wood binding which works nicely enough to break up the pale faces. The body is then finished in a satin coat which is smooth, not thick and nicely applied.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7xLcSrHArSDj-Nb7kI9HZCiKX2JEBX2yCfgluP4K2JniZtuS2_pAfylTN1rmKvELjxq6TK6GB8OgmFlldxdRQWIcuwbwHcM_gt0HEkdDS7sqVf_qCh-P9XfzV6_W1lLRGzcOVONid3RNeXKfO2wNoprl9lTTp32gqW1E2qsYS_X7YUgsGimIl9il/s3000/R0003581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7xLcSrHArSDj-Nb7kI9HZCiKX2JEBX2yCfgluP4K2JniZtuS2_pAfylTN1rmKvELjxq6TK6GB8OgmFlldxdRQWIcuwbwHcM_gt0HEkdDS7sqVf_qCh-P9XfzV6_W1lLRGzcOVONid3RNeXKfO2wNoprl9lTTp32gqW1E2qsYS_X7YUgsGimIl9il/w640-h426/R0003581.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside is very tidy with thin braces and notched linings. The top is also extremely thin which is nice to see.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gZV2oH7nc62RGfwu0G0Z2lZNhPkxByMx18dYb7i3gck4IUai9lnrhE9G_hhpCr_kS51_5tzaAiwMHmULmIsFjoi7uS67B3SenRNBcDkK1iZev8G_x_DHXRGtA4uJ_DV34NZwdRQ4La3DNfB8aE-jQe8OJgmi2znTzVWSrspRJ5CefYZu6b1L-3Qd/s2592/IMG_9137.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gZV2oH7nc62RGfwu0G0Z2lZNhPkxByMx18dYb7i3gck4IUai9lnrhE9G_hhpCr_kS51_5tzaAiwMHmULmIsFjoi7uS67B3SenRNBcDkK1iZev8G_x_DHXRGtA4uJ_DV34NZwdRQ4La3DNfB8aE-jQe8OJgmi2znTzVWSrspRJ5CefYZu6b1L-3Qd/w640-h480/IMG_9137.jpeg" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made of mahogany with joints in the heel and headstock, the heel being particularly noticeable. It's nicely finished in more satin and extremely smooth. It tapers down to a rounded and skinny nut profile like a lot of Snail ukes at 34mm wide and 27mm G to A. It's far too skinny for my tastes, but your mileage may vary.<br /><br />The fingerboard is made of ebony which, if the bridge is anything to go by, is likely also stained dark. It's in good shape though and even in colour. It's bound down the sides in a dark wood which hides the ends of the 18 frets joined at the 14th. There are no sharp edges here. Abalone position dots face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th and these are paired with white side dots.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZK2dZQKEOttFtUUgRIQZXTdiFdmopQzR0sFEQ2UfUtJSzPpwWvIEMOLcuzbwhDa3SPG1IKcTL8R8FuRR1Ky-ETMFm5jpFZ8I4p8o5EySi8XCjSTnZy_h9CNFO6GhV96MS1XO0t6e377ODgLD3GnScti2WjeuDNC-qeRCirLC6R-Ui5iPptUu5m_h/s3000/R0003582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZK2dZQKEOttFtUUgRIQZXTdiFdmopQzR0sFEQ2UfUtJSzPpwWvIEMOLcuzbwhDa3SPG1IKcTL8R8FuRR1Ky-ETMFm5jpFZ8I4p8o5EySi8XCjSTnZy_h9CNFO6GhV96MS1XO0t6e377ODgLD3GnScti2WjeuDNC-qeRCirLC6R-Ui5iPptUu5m_h/w640-h426/R0003582.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Beyond the bone nut is the usual Snail headstock shape which I have always liked for being a little different. Again it's faced in more dark wood which gives it a kind of 3D look, and yes, again, the logo still reads Snoie to me... that's inlaid in paler wood.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokhZIOZWYLgANzWDnNCE5t4qR9kj4YDQK2-6bA8lPJH4hoH376ZESj_kA4u_UA7bWmSTtf3Vj42LadFnAAA4IA5Fxytzt81ZBb62KQ76s1TFd3Essa0q9-AA3wZ35l47g6tUIvGFiUkh0dfG5h2HWO17GDzLAEwDeY4plNblmz_QrAN3fRAB4UuoV/s3000/R0003583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokhZIOZWYLgANzWDnNCE5t4qR9kj4YDQK2-6bA8lPJH4hoH376ZESj_kA4u_UA7bWmSTtf3Vj42LadFnAAA4IA5Fxytzt81ZBb62KQ76s1TFd3Essa0q9-AA3wZ35l47g6tUIvGFiUkh0dfG5h2HWO17GDzLAEwDeY4plNblmz_QrAN3fRAB4UuoV/w640-h426/R0003583.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are generic sealed chrome gears which work ok, but are very samey and i'd much prefer open gears.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrlVNtvNPh1UrZYJAvC3qiMLCNumvc7LGbqTFEgUgrK8OCxWkiSQyMqv-fNmFcejokOAQZN5UNj8Q7GrGvf0ZZ6MALb2MOcQd-05RBmOro1_pHmlONUlDxR-P6-NSQ2vk-wH0Ok8NXah5_G0twPVyo1xr15ZAatPfKL3WZ-UVwPJluckeCT_5TGJs/s3000/R0003584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrlVNtvNPh1UrZYJAvC3qiMLCNumvc7LGbqTFEgUgrK8OCxWkiSQyMqv-fNmFcejokOAQZN5UNj8Q7GrGvf0ZZ6MALb2MOcQd-05RBmOro1_pHmlONUlDxR-P6-NSQ2vk-wH0Ok8NXah5_G0twPVyo1xr15ZAatPfKL3WZ-UVwPJluckeCT_5TGJs/w640-h426/R0003584.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It comes strung with D'Addario clear fluoro strings and comes with the usual Snail branded gig bag. Fair play to Snail as they were, I believe, one of the first brands to consistently offer a half decent bag with your purchase. Kala are still to catch up here (largely). And the RRP on this is listed as £259.99. I think that is actually expensive considering you can get all solid ukes from the likes of Enya and Uma for a lot less or solid toppers from most other mainstream brands for less money. Bear in mind though that I have seen these regularly chipped down in price so I would shop around. The review scoring is based on the RRP though - bear that in mind!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMuBzeM4bOsBs_PcC7GARtRYjaOAVd4lQaAYLvJOdYyUh3E45N8pNZH6_Kkusmfzu4mtGtJVYcmYLAR3xFEB6zfhCdNLzcHSsXjU8mrqF8aGv6pv-6Qbo2_RlPTTB2RwGYxORGjw9oqqCSdzmxE8hGFKJcgrLNmTU8ozLUPldZDhnPmNAjcAiBNEt/s3000/R0003585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMuBzeM4bOsBs_PcC7GARtRYjaOAVd4lQaAYLvJOdYyUh3E45N8pNZH6_Kkusmfzu4mtGtJVYcmYLAR3xFEB6zfhCdNLzcHSsXjU8mrqF8aGv6pv-6Qbo2_RlPTTB2RwGYxORGjw9oqqCSdzmxE8hGFKJcgrLNmTU8ozLUPldZDhnPmNAjcAiBNEt/w640-h426/R0003585.JPG" title="Snail UKC-380 Concert Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So largely decent so far and aside from niggles like the scruffy bridge finishing, parts bin tuners and skinny nut, it's pretty well put together. And, i'm not sure why, but with the playing, photographing and just looking at it the all pale look is actually growing on me for being quite different. It's extremely light too at 465g and balances very well. Setup too on this example is bang on, it's just a shame (for me) about the skinny nut.<br /><br />The volume here is very good with no complaints. It'a punchy little thing. Sustain is not out of the park but perfectly passable and perhaps more expected from a concert body. It's not bad on this point, just not great.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll admit that when it arrived I was concerned about the wood choices on tone. Spruce is bright, maple is bright and bright on bright were never going to equate to the darker woody tone that I like. And whilst it certainly has a brighter edge there are actually more mids coming through in the tone to my ear meaning it's not a one trick pony or too shrill on the ears. Yes it's still brighter than I personally prefer, but more balanced than I expected too. </div><div><br /></div><div>Strummed it's peppy and jangly which is exactly what you want from a concert with a very clear voice which is nice to listen to and very rhythmical. The brightness reminds me more of a very peppy soprano, but I stress again that I don't think it's overly bright. Fingerpicked it can sound really pretty indeed with that crisp music box type tone which again is very pleasant. It's not a 5 start tone for sure, but it has it's own character and is a nice clear sounding uke that will suit many people.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've rather liked looking at this one. It doesn't sweep the floor on most of the score categories due to minor gripes, but is still well made and has looks that are really growing on me. I'd certainly shop around though as I think the RRP is too rich for what you are getting, but they are regularly knocked down. </div><div><br /></div><div>Recommended if you can find one at a better price!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.snail-ukulele.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.snail-ukulele.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Snail UKC-380</div><div>Scale: Concert</div><div>Body: Solid spruce top, laminate spalted maple back and sides</div><div>Bridge: Stained ebony, through bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 44mm</div><div>Finish: Satin</div><div>Neck: Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Ebony</div><div>Frets: 18, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 34mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Sealed chrome gears</div><div>Strings: D'Addario flouro</div><div>Extras: Gig bag</div><div>Weight: 465g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: RRP £259.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br />Good core build</div><div>'Different' looks</div><div>Good volume</div><div>Peppy, jangly, typically concert voice</div><div>Not as bright a tone as expected</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Generic tuners</div><div>Some slight finish issues</div><div>Skinny nut</div><div>Touch expensive?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 8 out of 10 (at RRP)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 8.5 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com1United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-81647790098278474492023-12-24T13:40:00.000+00:002023-12-24T13:40:46.242+00:00Flight 4SB Sammy Turton Signature Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">It’s the final Got A Ukulele review of 2023 and I close with a model that his been requested a LOT in recent months. This is the Flight 4SB Sammy Turton signature Tenor Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UGAsuSmp5xPc5tVAJGqA8bebc-nlHuwscqZiYGBsv6d7G4LFzeoXfx-YBPLK7utMrvszAMlLopVA7iqG78AWk2cWhthGyvzR4ppRCFqxt041TNRCzsmYmxK5qIi_oiTX6WNh8aNGv-qVHFL7m4kyTCK9lB4-zAUB6yTAyzbQ4We1ihw62rqT5oLA/s3000/R0003468.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-UGAsuSmp5xPc5tVAJGqA8bebc-nlHuwscqZiYGBsv6d7G4LFzeoXfx-YBPLK7utMrvszAMlLopVA7iqG78AWk2cWhthGyvzR4ppRCFqxt041TNRCzsmYmxK5qIi_oiTX6WNh8aNGv-qVHFL7m4kyTCK9lB4-zAUB6yTAyzbQ4We1ihw62rqT5oLA/w640-h426/R0003468.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Flight are no strangers to signature models and this is their latest offering for one of their Flight Artists. The ‘4SB’ moniker here is for ‘4stringboy’, the performance name of ukulele player, performer and teacher <a href="https://www.4stringboy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sammy Turton</a> who many in the uke world will know. Sammy is a Brit who lives in Denmark and if you have seen his videos, is a terrific player. And whilst I usually raise an eyebrow a little with signature models, when I first saw this one I was immediately interested. Floored in fact.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g4qgNOsGexA?si=Et-5JauKfTSoAq-t" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The 4SB model is very much in the same shape vein as Flights like the <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2020/09/flight-fireball-eq-tenor-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Fireball</a>, <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2023/09/flight-comet-tenor-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Comet</a>, <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2023/05/flight-peter-moss-signature-concert.html" target="_blank">Peter Moss</a> signature in general shape and layout but with some key differences specced by Sammy himself. This has a similar modern curvy double bout shape and is made from all solid woods. This pairs solid spruce for the top with solid Indian Rosewood for the back and sides, a combination that always works well with stringed instruments with the darker sounding rosewood balancing of the natural brightness of spruce very well. Not that you would see that it is spruce as the top is glossed in a complete black finish that I think is gorgeous. The back and sides are more natural looking and the rosewood grain is delightful. I think they work together brilliantly here giving it a dark brooding look.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KUUbYzrTd0eShMAqMpCiyqeP_mdWnW4itrYBJpl3uMlG9KEmHr855x6qWjY7JDSaabssnuQ2mLn1ZSm2quRGjbM_ciGfnq96PrS0cLwn82zv3tQvGJ6dPTlCWw5TjhjylCnHwFigx2kf8Z6uEsC8-KDaH1DzlprXtEIe9X0GM_C20hkX9BPnk9z6/s3000/R0003469.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KUUbYzrTd0eShMAqMpCiyqeP_mdWnW4itrYBJpl3uMlG9KEmHr855x6qWjY7JDSaabssnuQ2mLn1ZSm2quRGjbM_ciGfnq96PrS0cLwn82zv3tQvGJ6dPTlCWw5TjhjylCnHwFigx2kf8Z6uEsC8-KDaH1DzlprXtEIe9X0GM_C20hkX9BPnk9z6/w640-h426/R0003469.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is similar to the Fireball and Comet style minus the edge decoration and is made from rosewood. It’s a pin bridge and all in very good shape, fitted with a compensated top bone saddle. Spacing here clocks in at 41mm.</div><div><br /></div><div>Decoration is very attractive too. I said the black and dark rosewood were brooding, but they have been given something to lift them and Sammy went with maple bindings to the top and back which create a wonderful contrast with the dark faces of the instrument. There is a cutaway like on other Flights, but here it’s not the curved scallop shape but more of a flat bevel finished in spalted maple. I think it looks great and prefer it to the curved cutaways of other Flight models. It looks ingenious. Around the sound hole is more spalted maple in an asymmetric ring which again contrasts brilliantly against the dark top. Cor. The whole body is then finished in a gloss which is pretty flawless on this example.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECXY5zkvyXXB7dapwtBlKzATN-Dv9JLMnLk1tJiZtW7HAC50bc5eIajTL1KVhmYUORVDuR31YT3Vpu-8sZaEkuX5ZuyRt7J_fPOH7xupLZbYbnN9p6O6ENvn6JI_1u8jRhCzvcaJ-D2C67-pSEw6eLPrqHCpa7EP0Err1o08waasLa52_I4izffoJ/s3000/R0003471.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECXY5zkvyXXB7dapwtBlKzATN-Dv9JLMnLk1tJiZtW7HAC50bc5eIajTL1KVhmYUORVDuR31YT3Vpu-8sZaEkuX5ZuyRt7J_fPOH7xupLZbYbnN9p6O6ENvn6JI_1u8jRhCzvcaJ-D2C67-pSEw6eLPrqHCpa7EP0Err1o08waasLa52_I4izffoJ/w640-h426/R0003471.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside is pretty tidy bar some scruffiness on the underside of the bridge plate. The kerfing is notched and the top braces are drilled through, Kanile'a style to reduce weight.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqCczRFvhZykAFbxMf9oRGbbI0H3DSqNz-Dx2iE1xxhcKQWaGqlLg0LohBhyphenhyphen8R8onGkJakJIivdXvtBq4ly9BqIpVsT6CPXqDYQDl7gVEEG1mwlu-nlAFR-qSUcsO3PeT11CvssfZPebdIrsBg0d6Y24Sb3DEargmGi87NhbRCh93i-zMtWAeYDZP/s2592/IMG_9062.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqCczRFvhZykAFbxMf9oRGbbI0H3DSqNz-Dx2iE1xxhcKQWaGqlLg0LohBhyphenhyphen8R8onGkJakJIivdXvtBq4ly9BqIpVsT6CPXqDYQDl7gVEEG1mwlu-nlAFR-qSUcsO3PeT11CvssfZPebdIrsBg0d6Y24Sb3DEargmGi87NhbRCh93i-zMtWAeYDZP/w640-h480/IMG_9062.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made of African Mahogany jointed down the middle with a dark wood stripe. There are otherwise regular joints at the heel and headstock. I’m pleased to see this is not glossed but in satin making it speedy to move around on. The profile is rounded but comes with a very roomy 38mm nut with 30mm G to A.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fingerboard is made of rosewood and in great condition with even dark colour extending down to the top of the sound hole where it is shaped. It’s fitted with 19 semi-hemi dressed frets joined at the 14th, so because of this dressing there are absolutely no sharp edges, or even edges to be seen. The position markers facing out are funky maple inlays that switch between sides of the board at the 5th, 7th, 10th, a larger one at the 12th, and 15th and 17th. That’s rather different and I really love that design choice. As I understand it the markers on the opposite sides are visual aids for Sammy for playing harmonics (something he's known for). There are no side dots as such but I think that is a conscious decision as the markers at the 5th, 7th and 12th overlap the edge of the board so you can see them. That’s rather clever.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxs7vFkBRP-X6WsymHBqTY1ixqL4Hz8LRSHoIR32D0xRl71CcZVCx_eeK9VAcPuwTENi4Sb6UqHmudv46rjdt6GjpsXXsWZGl3-FJxrdm14sEJQ3iNFbDOvxmyKrH_Yl-DpybFkcwRUStQ07ouPgGf0c-lEMNVe_-hMOMqBK-I6A1KL9ZRaCvrX_I/s3000/R0003472.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxs7vFkBRP-X6WsymHBqTY1ixqL4Hz8LRSHoIR32D0xRl71CcZVCx_eeK9VAcPuwTENi4Sb6UqHmudv46rjdt6GjpsXXsWZGl3-FJxrdm14sEJQ3iNFbDOvxmyKrH_Yl-DpybFkcwRUStQ07ouPgGf0c-lEMNVe_-hMOMqBK-I6A1KL9ZRaCvrX_I/w640-h426/R0003472.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Beyond the bone nut is the now well known open frame Flight headstock. That’s faced in more flamed maple which looks great and has the Flight logo in black at the top. One thing I’ve said i’ve never liked about ‘signature’ models are those that have the artist name emblazoned on the front. Sammy has gone with the more subdued here with a very simple ‘4SB’ signature on the back of the headstock. I like that.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOg3Q7zG1fQ_u9yfPTuY6vGzPGg1bPuKCUG-jPdlpMQAa_SF8EFzGAcYh7TOWvdmVxhu2Jkj1s1uV7oxbQ3OB8ABGb_0YY_0ooG1-9MA0hwmR_IwA507UOV30vySZhVt25jLkcwrxqxz0ax8imdXSBZLEYRaCvVdubmEcNGbKyg6wJToI8cJEwskg/s3000/R0003473.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOg3Q7zG1fQ_u9yfPTuY6vGzPGg1bPuKCUG-jPdlpMQAa_SF8EFzGAcYh7TOWvdmVxhu2Jkj1s1uV7oxbQ3OB8ABGb_0YY_0ooG1-9MA0hwmR_IwA507UOV30vySZhVt25jLkcwrxqxz0ax8imdXSBZLEYRaCvVdubmEcNGbKyg6wJToI8cJEwskg/w640-h426/R0003473.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are similar to what I have seen before from Flight in the form of Prowel open gears in black. No complaints from me as these are decent and work great.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-bpZm7FUs4y8jBASjMPHplRUCJDNFpPZ0Yjr6wcPEChNJtNLg8KqHLFCzr6n9HzCCdyZJIdqxKjXa4PKTS7aNPzMboGH1lUe5uimScvpNwAq8PBgD7NksEo6C50SvNSyKet0ENrg-X6x3L6r2J4FGd09wKyhO8EIk0DMb1peQpCie5nKtY0rzQf6/s3000/R0003475.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-bpZm7FUs4y8jBASjMPHplRUCJDNFpPZ0Yjr6wcPEChNJtNLg8KqHLFCzr6n9HzCCdyZJIdqxKjXa4PKTS7aNPzMboGH1lUe5uimScvpNwAq8PBgD7NksEo6C50SvNSyKet0ENrg-X6x3L6r2J4FGd09wKyhO8EIk0DMb1peQpCie5nKtY0rzQf6/w640-h426/R0003475.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It comes with a set of Worth Brown strings, the regular (and very nice) Flight padded bag, only this time in Black (cool - like a special edition!), and nothing more. Wait, what? No pickup whether you want one or not? I wonder if Sammy has been reading this site, as this is acoustic only (at this point). Yes Sammy has one with a pickup he asked for but for consumers they don’t come with one. I don’t consider that an omission, rather a positive. If I want a pickup it’s easy to fit one of MY choice to this. I’m pleased with that. And that comes in at an asking price of £489. I’m a bit unsure on the price to be honest, as that is quite a lot more than something like the Nighthawk (with a pickup) or the concert Peter Moss model, and is not far off the price of a Fireball (again with a pickup). I’m not saying it’s a bad deal in and of itself, but it seems to sit oddly against some of their own models. Saying all of that, i’ve not really chipped the score on this point much as I can see it is ‘worth’ the asking price.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUPmpFmQtvIR8uwVzJpkluOFq6GeSh_v8NEf6hAWw1rlyanO5LhQJkbjccjjht9X-RcsUcV2No_p_hHRJVTr9pSoNXpoRTafo0Mzv5Z6PEXmu_YSw5LTLmlKb-G-c5ScSXNOdkHge-toFloOhu0hguqrOfRM_Bx8V84FwncwsUV08wS4PQwsY0O2V/s3000/R0003477.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUPmpFmQtvIR8uwVzJpkluOFq6GeSh_v8NEf6hAWw1rlyanO5LhQJkbjccjjht9X-RcsUcV2No_p_hHRJVTr9pSoNXpoRTafo0Mzv5Z6PEXmu_YSw5LTLmlKb-G-c5ScSXNOdkHge-toFloOhu0hguqrOfRM_Bx8V84FwncwsUV08wS4PQwsY0O2V/w640-h426/R0003477.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So no real complaints so far and I think the looks are killer. In fact, I’ll got out on that limb and tell you that, whilst this point is entirely subjective, I think this is the nicest looking Flight ukulele I have seen so far if not one of the nicest looking ukes i’ve ever seen. The looks here just tick all the right boxes for me and I love the contrasts. Build and finish on this example are also great. It’s not heavy at 655g and balances well. Set up is pretty decent at the both the 12th and the nut. All still good so far!</div><div><br /></div><div>The volume and sustain here are both very good. It's not the loudest or longest sustaining ukulele I have had in my hands, but i'm really nit-picking as on both of these counts it's decent. Just a little laid back and perhaps will open up more over time. Not a complaint.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNrhjC2wO9KpVYijP6QTtZNB-dKhYMA5vLKbBMX3J8yHelGiYZcgFY81CLFJs13eNsvHR6E9s67m69qHLnx-WRZBZ5MdK9cJQTWBkmSHHr8G92bMgwfyebDAdQe76fi1-3PDaEYQaJTyPzAghtc-lesnR5gCvxrpO7gWujM1kVigZGfjE-iooByjU/s3000/R0003476.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele signature" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNrhjC2wO9KpVYijP6QTtZNB-dKhYMA5vLKbBMX3J8yHelGiYZcgFY81CLFJs13eNsvHR6E9s67m69qHLnx-WRZBZ5MdK9cJQTWBkmSHHr8G92bMgwfyebDAdQe76fi1-3PDaEYQaJTyPzAghtc-lesnR5gCvxrpO7gWujM1kVigZGfjE-iooByjU/w640-h426/R0003476.JPG" title="Flight 4SB Tenor Ukulele signature" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Tone is a very subjective thing and people know I tend to prefer woodier, darker sounding instruments. Spruce is naturally bright and crisp and this is certainly a bright sounding instrument. And yes, a bit too much so for my own personal tastes but I try to be objective on this point and recognise that many people prefer the brighter sounding ukes. Strummed this has a real peppy jangle to it which almost sounds more concert like than tenor. It's extremely clear and direct and is, patently, a decent tone.. if you like that brighter edge. There is no muddiness though and it's really comfortable to play.<br /><br />Then I fingerpicked it and it started to turn my head a little on bright tones on ukes. This is seriously pretty played that way with a wonderful clear and delicate chime like sleigh bells. I found myself positively loving the sound of playing it this way and maybe I need to get out of my 'moody dark woody' rut! It's very sweet indeed and can see how it would suit Sammy's playing style.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am so glad I managed to squeeze this one in to 2023 reviews as it's nice to end on a high. I loved the look of this one since I first saw press pictures, but hats off to Sammy on the design input as I think he's absolutely nailed the looks and details. It's built and finished well and, putting my subjectivities to one side, is very obviously an good quality tone that will delight.<br /><br />What a great uke! Very highly recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://flightmusic.com/" target="_blank">https://flightmusic.com/</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.4stringboy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.4stringboy.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Flight 4SB Sammy Turton Signature</div><div>Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: Solid spruce top, solid Indian Rosewood back and sides</div><div>Bridge: Rosewood pin bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 41mm</div><div>Finish - gloss black top, gloss finished body</div><div>Neck: African Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Rosewood</div><div>Frets:19, 14 to body, semi-hemi dressed</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 38mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Prowel gears</div><div>Strings:Worth Brown</div><div>Extras: Gig bag</div><div>Weight: 655g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £489</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Absolute killer looks</div><div>Great build and finish</div><div>Love that neck!</div><div>Yay, no pickup forced on us!</div><div>Good volume and sustain</div><div>Very crisp, clear tone.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>A little too bright for my personal tastes (strummed)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 10 out of 10<br />Fit and finish - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.4 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div><br /></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com2United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-69392817309260596042023-12-17T15:28:00.006+00:002023-12-18T14:12:48.541+00:00Kala NSL-KOA-T Revelator Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Here's a ukulele I have been hoping to feature (one way or another) for quite some time now. This is the Kala Revelator Tenor Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivewdJ7I14w6mMfNBXb8Fh8opBpvIyBygCy8UHg1Lub5l3vtEGyHFqpbWp0N7qtJLWx7oEZ8eJuEZF6b68fgcETvUS6Iq1MBH07157vl3ll7GDwRLLaddV_mBqsFwhsrps4keAuecI_h8BAEC9mQzXkTif1ikcji6XQRNf8qTFheT70alLAjdkhB2e/s3000/_R000007.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivewdJ7I14w6mMfNBXb8Fh8opBpvIyBygCy8UHg1Lub5l3vtEGyHFqpbWp0N7qtJLWx7oEZ8eJuEZF6b68fgcETvUS6Iq1MBH07157vl3ll7GDwRLLaddV_mBqsFwhsrps4keAuecI_h8BAEC9mQzXkTif1ikcji6XQRNf8qTFheT70alLAjdkhB2e/w640-h426/_R000007.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>That 'one way or another' point is connected to the history of this particular model as whilst this is a Kala review, that's not how this started out. The Revelator instrument was originally designed and built by UK luthier Pete Howlett and was hugely well liked despite the small production run. Sadly I was never able to get my hands on one. Most in the uke world will know that Pete is facing health issues these days leading to scaling back his work and as part of that he came to an agreement with Kala for them to take the Revelator concept on and build them to his specs. And that means to <u>high</u> specs, built in California, USA and not China. Pete himself had described these as a ukulele that 'shouldn't work, but does'. An 'anomaly' I think he called it. I was delighted when the sole UK dealers for these, Southern Ukulele Store, sent this over on loan. Let's get into it!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wGYWKldWcrY?si=83d3ODzIqkWwhKIT" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Actually, despite Pete's comments on his own creation, i've come across quite a few instruments that fit in that 'non-traditional' mould that you think shouldn't work but do. The Revelator is not unique for me in that regard. Pretty much all of the Pete Mai Bonanza output goes in that box, but so do several from Antica Ukuleleria, and the instrument from Caravelle Kitchen I looked at last week. So this sort of construction can and does work, and by that I mean that the Revelators are made with a body that is routed out of a block of wood and then have a solid 'drop top' added to that to create the clamshell rather than your traditional 'top, back and sides'.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Revelators come with a range of different wood tops, from the cheaper Korina wood models to the more pricey limited edition Mango and Hawaiian Koa versions. This is the latter. The body is a modern shaped double bout affair CNC routed from a solid block (actually two blocks by the look of it) of Honduran Mahogany with a thinner solid koa top dropped on made from two pieces of bookmatched wood. The neck is jointed to the main core of the body in the way I describe in more detail below. It's referred to at the 'Nautilus' style on account of the sound hole in the upper shoulder which I think looks superb. The overall shape is kind of reminiscent of a Les Paul with an almost florentine cutaway on the upper shoulder and I think is pretty damn gorgeous. And like the Bonanza ukes I mentioned above, this is a very shallow instrument front to back with the feel of the Kala travel ukes. I suspect this is where Pete H suggesting it 'shouldn't work' makes some sense as regular shallow bodied ukes tend to lose some projection, but playing a few of the Bonanza's and the Antica Ukuleleria Galileo shows me that is not the case with these carved out examples. The Koa wood here is clearly top grade (classed as 'Master Grade') with some wonderful grain, stripe and flame though do bear in mind my comments on the finish below. The mahogany is more standard looking, but hardly offensive and has some nice pale stripe to the middle.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9McSwxe6HCMS_aNxWyhqi-RpcVCIQkFnVnVW-HZo9nNTrWEFCZzZ-sQPFR1J5Ju1kX6taXmxL3a86nYGrhTAFkklW0NG4ZEFZKdO6xXzsXOUp6hfNuSlQ284JHk-oSOyISuZbjgXhvN9IRA5BTXwIwsFke4pC0XGqT9tsaJxe4xNdPa2Cdh7vWTKk/s3000/_R000008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9McSwxe6HCMS_aNxWyhqi-RpcVCIQkFnVnVW-HZo9nNTrWEFCZzZ-sQPFR1J5Ju1kX6taXmxL3a86nYGrhTAFkklW0NG4ZEFZKdO6xXzsXOUp6hfNuSlQ284JHk-oSOyISuZbjgXhvN9IRA5BTXwIwsFke4pC0XGqT9tsaJxe4xNdPa2Cdh7vWTKk/w640-h426/_R000008.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The bridge is a delightfully simple ebony pin bridge with carved side wings that takes up a tiny amount of real estate on the top (anyone else think some uke bridges are getting too big?). This is diminutive and finished <u>very</u> smoothly. The pins look to be ebony with mother of pearl tops. The bridge holds a bone saddle with a straight top and the spacing here clocks in at 40mm</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQErA6cC3m8Pg0oeZtFiTE86sXhkMw987sjzXBhcGvOd8cPs6Ndvrhke4_Conw6M_Y70NXsna1VwKNiPGXb6qlgAtscuyfRoUXGRxohwe3ULLL7R5OpKWqYwB5XNy10lmRrC0Ud5sFDARc0shf_RbSITCs1KF5CEnC2NnfAXqkY1-LikfUks6qc4LQ/s3000/_R000009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQErA6cC3m8Pg0oeZtFiTE86sXhkMw987sjzXBhcGvOd8cPs6Ndvrhke4_Conw6M_Y70NXsna1VwKNiPGXb6qlgAtscuyfRoUXGRxohwe3ULLL7R5OpKWqYwB5XNy10lmRrC0Ud5sFDARc0shf_RbSITCs1KF5CEnC2NnfAXqkY1-LikfUks6qc4LQ/w640-h426/_R000009.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />There is no other decoration on the body to speak of, letting the wood do the work. I will say though that I am not sure the finish, as flawless as it is, is showing of the flame in the wood quite as much as a gloss finish would. This is a UV cured satin and I think mutes the figuring in the wood a little. A minor gripe I guess, but I find it looks a little flat on colour. That's an odd thing for me to say as I regularly shout about my love for simple, oiled instruments. But with Koa like this I wonder if it could be shown off better.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX70gzDbQkSWqkBj94D68945gvk2EKt4Z2wYG0DS_JlYqEuf1a-TT85CIjOb0_sgOYC4AMAe3Kr6SwAK5C7zL_aNbDaUNOXvdWIBmv5x8GreMtRedIb2DOBuXKw-BTshKmzqgURVE-gptG-jTUoXTSRb1eOCvLQRGPaebblvyqU-xv7d2uuO7jgcc/s3000/_R000010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX70gzDbQkSWqkBj94D68945gvk2EKt4Z2wYG0DS_JlYqEuf1a-TT85CIjOb0_sgOYC4AMAe3Kr6SwAK5C7zL_aNbDaUNOXvdWIBmv5x8GreMtRedIb2DOBuXKw-BTshKmzqgURVE-gptG-jTUoXTSRb1eOCvLQRGPaebblvyqU-xv7d2uuO7jgcc/w640-h426/_R000010.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Inside doesn’t have much to see. There is no kerfing as such on account of the construction and the back also doesn’t need bracing. I’ll come on to what that wiring is a bit further on, but note that there is very little of it - pleasingly!! The top is braced vertically. Inside the sound hole is the Revelator logo laser etched directly into the back wood which looks cool. I will say though, that due to the shallow body and openness of the sound hole (i.e. not behind the strings) you do get a good look at the interior and I find the wood a little rough looking where it has been routed. Of course the finish of the wood <i>inside</i> an instrument is of little importance, but I did immediately notice it. Those seeing the 'sneak peek' pics thinking the top is thick were misled by a strengthening ring around the sound hole. The top is thin! Where the top meets the sides the edges are beautifully chamfered off making this a very pleasing instrument to hold.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYaFptDEYtjZap8glWBxQ6Eh1ahbX17SYe3dDcZPb-395zK2iGI5A6oYjg2iXID3wGHwtSEcXzfpL8ciHeSB2qeM2QsvAC-gHiCehyphenhyphentx8Y5peGUO4qpMY7ZR-TD3FIT9V8dD8Jp13yW9Tb9gZQTPd-TwV8TYHl0jKO6kTQqSi6BHBx0q8JQKq03fR/s2592/IMG_9057.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYaFptDEYtjZap8glWBxQ6Eh1ahbX17SYe3dDcZPb-395zK2iGI5A6oYjg2iXID3wGHwtSEcXzfpL8ciHeSB2qeM2QsvAC-gHiCehyphenhyphentx8Y5peGUO4qpMY7ZR-TD3FIT9V8dD8Jp13yW9Tb9gZQTPd-TwV8TYHl0jKO6kTQqSi6BHBx0q8JQKq03fR/w640-h480/IMG_9057.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />I'm not completely sure how the neck is attached, but it's a single piece joined to the top of the body block with an interesting looking joint at the base that just kind of melds and swoops into the carving of the upper body. Very tidy and very clever. You'd be forgiven for thinking it's all one piece, but it isn't. That's made of mahogany too and tapers down to a fairly round profile with a nut width of 36mm (30mm G to A). That's on the average side but the spacing helps my subjective views on this element.<br /><br />The fingerboard is made of ebony (Though STOP PRESS - Pete Howlett has been in touch (and he should know!) to say the fingerboard may well be ‘Royal Ebony’ which is actually baked Purpleheart wood) and is in superb even coloured condition. <strike>It’s edge bound</strike> actually Pete H has advised that the frets are set in slots that don’t reach the edges - so more akin to the Bonanza ‘self binding fingerboard’, in more of the same hiding the ends of the very tidy of the generous 22 frets, joined at the 14th. They are all dressed impeccably with no sharp edges. There are no outward facing markers bar a nautilus shell inlay in mother of pearl at the 7th which I think looks wonderful. Side dots are provided though at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th. A very nice neck indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBFklIO3VBKEw2dCXauGqLC8tF0iSn4v9M6IrQiSIFXFryoIejstimITAatt5sRm6YKPcwEld-u1gMfuif8YaeGRWjTPSE-pwQHdP3QaiQSlo6TRs-NrFhmPSmFVUAO5Pc_N_QWXtb4uaPi0JU7e_ht3vs6tdJrC9qr5NxLK_wdSY0UNr4Ylj5ZSN/s3000/_R000011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBFklIO3VBKEw2dCXauGqLC8tF0iSn4v9M6IrQiSIFXFryoIejstimITAatt5sRm6YKPcwEld-u1gMfuif8YaeGRWjTPSE-pwQHdP3QaiQSlo6TRs-NrFhmPSmFVUAO5Pc_N_QWXtb4uaPi0JU7e_ht3vs6tdJrC9qr5NxLK_wdSY0UNr4Ylj5ZSN/w640-h426/_R000011.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The headstock is a simple shaped affair and I am pleased to see Kala didn’t go with their ubiquitous ‘crown’ shape here. It’s faced in more matte ebony which looks wonderful and holds both the Kala logo, inlaid in pearl and an inlay of a Koa leaf in what looks like abalone. That inlay is specific to the limited wood edition Revelator models and you don’t get it on the standard models. That’s a nice touch.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV7XuKBMhqJYoh1cXiczPiVN2TqClUAFA_VaeNqazh_MoPw61O_ldjh9qfVnylaiUh_Hcw7Jxt_0zRDzggSlPpOhJ06R75CCYZQ9u6iJ8Mq5Cr4kUGz-vrcexz6ik_-gIYmaaCvoVWqDXvpn2bZ2HwnGMT6lEqAMIx-RybpSi0RPTo4mRpw2mD0XW/s3000/_R000012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV7XuKBMhqJYoh1cXiczPiVN2TqClUAFA_VaeNqazh_MoPw61O_ldjh9qfVnylaiUh_Hcw7Jxt_0zRDzggSlPpOhJ06R75CCYZQ9u6iJ8Mq5Cr4kUGz-vrcexz6ik_-gIYmaaCvoVWqDXvpn2bZ2HwnGMT6lEqAMIx-RybpSi0RPTo4mRpw2mD0XW/w640-h426/_R000012.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are sublime Grover open gears in gold with black buttons. Zero complaints here, these are as good as tuners get.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIu5jio68OZB8lyzmPs2QsvuTr4uq0go3zkh95Cu-Ql0me959UlPwhIvgkGSXrhejOV9pqxNiN1ikDUFazkqWUELLX0I1a6WDZUBAaWKH_f4GpR4pO9P8yEgRhpnLChCOA8tUffEqioiq2ZnL4-l1uvfdoC2qoylFu4f4Thag9_aiGojXePXvfu2g/s3000/_R000013.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIu5jio68OZB8lyzmPs2QsvuTr4uq0go3zkh95Cu-Ql0me959UlPwhIvgkGSXrhejOV9pqxNiN1ikDUFazkqWUELLX0I1a6WDZUBAaWKH_f4GpR4pO9P8yEgRhpnLChCOA8tUffEqioiq2ZnL4-l1uvfdoC2qoylFu4f4Thag9_aiGojXePXvfu2g/w640-h426/_R000013.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And finishing things off are a pre-installed passive piezo pickup (yay!) connected to a jack socket in the base with minimal wiring or controls to detract. I have not been able to determine what the brand is, but I doubt it’s cheap as chips and I’m just happy to see a passive! Normally these come with Worth strings with a wound G and C, but when bought from Southern Ukulele store they have fitted them all with UkeLogic H-SW4-P strings from the USA with a single flat wound G string. No complaints from me here as they are wonderful strings that I think first saw on the Pono master series I looked at. You also get a great quality branded padded gig bag which is a nice touch considering the less usual dimensions of the instrument. And the Koa version comes in with a premium on price as these are £1,999. And that is my first real eyebrow raise in the review, as, (sorry Kala, sorry SUS) - I think that’s expensive. Yes these are premium materials, and yes this is made in the USA and not China, but… it’s still a uke where a significant part of the body is cut by a CNC machine with no gloss finish or much decor. I appreciate that prices are on the up and up, but when I consider what I could get from a Kanile’a or a luthier like Martin Beck for two grand… well… I think that is too much money for what you are getting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm75ELbz0IUfge3wU7HMC6U9luxqfIkYGXv0iRhGEgmpYrT832W0Oi3pN_RsgJ3bpKQrNqWBVcRX6xWlyNAmrGurpgg4fk80-zr84Vjzuq1YfUiEvs3Ki4mlntAHrKxO_8jQzWSwA9ak04eJhQio_wYBUjFZ7xDLqUgjMwWcI11SXeGoromHU8bZNe/s3000/_R000014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm75ELbz0IUfge3wU7HMC6U9luxqfIkYGXv0iRhGEgmpYrT832W0Oi3pN_RsgJ3bpKQrNqWBVcRX6xWlyNAmrGurpgg4fk80-zr84Vjzuq1YfUiEvs3Ki4mlntAHrKxO_8jQzWSwA9ak04eJhQio_wYBUjFZ7xDLqUgjMwWcI11SXeGoromHU8bZNe/w640-h426/_R000014.JPG" title="Kala Koa Revelator Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Still, back to the positives as this is a really well made and beautifully finished ukulele with a killer ‘look’ to it that I have totally fallen for. It’s not a heavy instrument either at 690g and balances well. It’s lovely to hold too on account of the slim body. Setup is spot on, but I’d expect that from SUS.</div><div><br /></div><div>Considering the diminutive body depth the volume here is very good. I’ve played louder instruments, but this is no slouch on that score. It’s the sustain though that is quite remarkable as it goes on and on with a nice harmonic warble to the sound. Just lovely in that regard and means that more expressive play is going to be easy.</div><div><br /></div><div>The tone is kind of what I’d expect from a Koa top as it has a richness right across the range that really shines. Highs, lows and mids all working together with an extremely clear and un-muddled sound. Strummed this really surprised me as I thought it would be much more of a pickers instrument, but played this way there is a lively jangle that is a delight. The clarity and character to the tone are really helping here, as is the ease of playing it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fingerpicking is bell like, clear and the wonderful sustain gives it lots of ‘feel’. Again, there is bags of character here and has richness and clarity which is very much ‘top table’. This is a remarkable sounding instrument. It’s a lovely physical thing to play this way too, particularly sunk back into a sofa as the comfortable body makes it a joy. </div><div><br /></div><div>All in all this is a bit of a marvel - the build is superb, the quality of materials are great too in every department. And as for the sound and projection - well it's really quite remarkable. I do think gloss would set the wood off better though, and I have to come back to that price too as despite the premium top wood and hand made elements, this is still a robot cut instrument in a large part of the body (no kerfing, no side bending, very little bracing). When I think of the alternatives at that money something doesn't sit right with me. But hey.. It's not enough to drag it to a poor score though as it's clearly a stellar uke, but... well... you know. <br /><br />Still very much recommended though! A fabulous uke.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://kalabrand.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://kalabrand.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Kala NSL-KOA-T Revelator</div><div>Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: Routed Honduran Mahogany Body, Solid Master Grade Koa top</div><div>Bridge: Ebony pin bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 40mm</div><div>Finish: Satin</div><div>Neck: Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Ebony</div><div>Frets: 22, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 36mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Grover</div><div>Strings: UkeLogic H-SW4-P with flat wound G</div><div>Extras: Passive pickup, gig bag</div><div>Weight: 690g</div><div>Country of origin: USA</div><div>Price: £1,999</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Killer overall look</div><div>Pretty flawless build and finish</div><div>Great neck</div><div>Great tuners</div><div>Passive pickup (yay!)</div><div>Great volume and sustain</div><div>Full characterful tone</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Think gloss would set the grain off better</div><div>Would like a flatter nut profile </div><div>Expensive</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 8.5 out of 10</div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.1 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-49675946309570453982023-12-10T14:32:00.000+00:002023-12-10T14:32:16.755+00:00Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">It's time for another first outing on Got A Ukulele for an independent ukulele builder. This is the intriguing Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano ukulele from Caravelle Kitchen.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCvXBllQN5sD5sma7pv-Fe3PVlSbFRFDycOF-eBLr6Sd4hgIdS3c2AsXYu8tVvmswC8FylnPpqdWND3I-9A9pysxviWDh82U0nINSqV347gvk7MYXOtprGQn1xu1k3Y1uTSHrKtaXsZ3t1F85gOpIIA-WrYutBJ7B7FHSl7IMGlB8-tRpTmqBtFuP/s3000/R0003455.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCvXBllQN5sD5sma7pv-Fe3PVlSbFRFDycOF-eBLr6Sd4hgIdS3c2AsXYu8tVvmswC8FylnPpqdWND3I-9A9pysxviWDh82U0nINSqV347gvk7MYXOtprGQn1xu1k3Y1uTSHrKtaXsZ3t1F85gOpIIA-WrYutBJ7B7FHSl7IMGlB8-tRpTmqBtFuP/w640-h426/R0003455.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>A little while ago a chap called Matthieu Theuret from Saint-Georges-de-Didonne in western France got in touch asking if I would be interested in a review. Looking at his models I was highly intrigued, and that intrigue also led me to learn quite a bit along the way too, and not just ukulele things... Matthieu is a completely self taught ukulele builder who is actually a school teacher and does this on the side for a hobby. The name Caravelle Kitchen comes from his love of boats and cooking - a Caravel is a type of of Portuguese sailing boat (the spelling here being the French), and the 'Kitchen' bit comes from the cooking side. In fact he's published a street food cook book where each recipe comes with an original piece of ukulele sheet music for each recipe! Anyway, cool name, cool back story.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r-2Q2AvAPbo?si=bNvs9dVN__mbRYfZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The next thing I needed to learn was what 'Monoxyl' meant. It's a Greek word for a type of canoe dug out from a single log. And the reason he's used it here is because the majority of this instrument, in fact most of the wood of this instrument is carved from a single block of FSC grade mahogany. It's in a very modern double bout shape that reminds me of the Antica Ukuleleria Galileo shape and the mahogany block forms the back, sides, neck, headstock and fingerboard all in one piece. Dropped onto the top of that is a piece of solid AA grade French Spruce for the soundboard and to create the 'clamshell'. And whilst the body dimensions are largely bigger than a regular soprano, it's really shallow and feels like a 'travel' instrument. Oh, and that 'mezzo soprano' moniker describes the fact that his is midway between a soprano and concert in scale and clocks in at 14 inches - that's a first for this site (as is an instrument made in France!). I'm a big fan of different approaches to building and this is certainly that. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5CpoSi7BVZaQis0rDaGPI99aN1rS2SmcvnCVDeIpS_ki6-74-sUurnwc490DRZwU-to9K8jA653Z4xOFLQ2PkOEhOSMIFPm89wuoIDhHfZkl3QkYZy15x3fcgC-FdTqWsWscpN71MJ_rJKhzzRUzjEY49nOAgRVSoJitToOugPgXhmXLtu8X-Slv/s3000/R0003456.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5CpoSi7BVZaQis0rDaGPI99aN1rS2SmcvnCVDeIpS_ki6-74-sUurnwc490DRZwU-to9K8jA653Z4xOFLQ2PkOEhOSMIFPm89wuoIDhHfZkl3QkYZy15x3fcgC-FdTqWsWscpN71MJ_rJKhzzRUzjEY49nOAgRVSoJitToOugPgXhmXLtu8X-Slv/w640-h426/R0003456.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The bridge is made of rosewood and is a simple, but nicely shaped, slot style bridge. It's clearly hand cut and a little rustic on the finishing, but it works. Sitting in that is a hand carved bone saddle with top compensation. Spacing here is 45mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nVJnuFngl4tJdBMIylTKaxgGoGYNv3tKykteEyFHi2F-_RW5KjvYCt0ZOiQfTXbKjY9cePHRN9LyG_kOCsPloc8MVeIh0rJxjDP-lv7hr3-xAxUf-0FkfYGQzA9CL8eCG1JAhn6XZKKV4DEnumUpPYqzPiC7OEKFZ4azk-YZtfmZK78hA1hsofdo/s3000/R0003457.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9nVJnuFngl4tJdBMIylTKaxgGoGYNv3tKykteEyFHi2F-_RW5KjvYCt0ZOiQfTXbKjY9cePHRN9LyG_kOCsPloc8MVeIh0rJxjDP-lv7hr3-xAxUf-0FkfYGQzA9CL8eCG1JAhn6XZKKV4DEnumUpPYqzPiC7OEKFZ4azk-YZtfmZK78hA1hsofdo/w640-h426/R0003457.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />There is no other decoration to the body other than a finishing in rubio oil, which is kind of like a Tru oil, though totally non-toxic and 'food grade', and also something that Antica Ukuleleria use. It gives it a very nice tactile finish in most areas but you should bear in mind this is very much hand made in the look and feel. There are one or two tooling marks in places, particularly around the heel and on parts of the sides which I know can bother some people. Personally, I like that it looks and feels hand made rather than by a factory line, but it would be wrong for me to not point it out. Generally though the body is pretty smooth though and I like how the spruce top is chamfered back where it joins the body. It also looks like the mahogany has been stained a little and I rather like some of what almost looks like 'burl' in the wood in places. I know some people mentioned finishing on some of the macro pictures I shared, but always remember - a macro lens can make even the finest finished ukulele look scruffy! But it IS hand made. Lets call it 'artisanal'..</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkyeQvAt4vWMYPa1fqY0Sqvfa-mKQxZmNK6ZQC9uPMVxBWhdaep_8kMCu7UnM6wALhe9zGeQ365cEynJhcCfFrqGoaYo6ljW8yM9vYrMk-Vau1dj1PqrGjeG83kTwpQ_joauhnjksGc7_s7QLBRmQV-Okkl0GlzJMt-RIS-c302tTP6Jdj5sjOfQq/s3000/R0003458.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkyeQvAt4vWMYPa1fqY0Sqvfa-mKQxZmNK6ZQC9uPMVxBWhdaep_8kMCu7UnM6wALhe9zGeQ365cEynJhcCfFrqGoaYo6ljW8yM9vYrMk-Vau1dj1PqrGjeG83kTwpQ_joauhnjksGc7_s7QLBRmQV-Okkl0GlzJMt-RIS-c302tTP6Jdj5sjOfQq/w640-h426/R0003458.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside is interesting. The back is braced normally and the top is braced vertically but also with strengthening pieces either side of the sound hole. There is no top kerfing, but I suspect that is because the sides are thicker than a regular uke giving it the purchase it needs. There also seems to be some sort of integral tail block too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_CEjsFx6cr-ZEP9bMFc1ZRUP2ygWBPDlFwd85h3oKw0Qr6hikxZkOYRZ3eTTEDxqzRiMqBcocY5Rko1I74QoBq3p-RvvQhTID4Omt3oEz7Ns_SFCbvBlggB_YQhnUPCRG4D3_6M8K8cQGliiZthgg1LNbJo3tNT0GCys2jn97Z5-vf-M7BLNe18C/s2592/IMG_9050.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_CEjsFx6cr-ZEP9bMFc1ZRUP2ygWBPDlFwd85h3oKw0Qr6hikxZkOYRZ3eTTEDxqzRiMqBcocY5Rko1I74QoBq3p-RvvQhTID4Omt3oEz7Ns_SFCbvBlggB_YQhnUPCRG4D3_6M8K8cQGliiZthgg1LNbJo3tNT0GCys2jn97Z5-vf-M7BLNe18C/w640-h480/IMG_9050.jpeg" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is integral to the body so there is no joint and tapers down to a D shaped profile which measures 36mm at the nut and about 29mm G to A. I love the look of the grain and the rounded shaping detail at the top of the body to create the heel. Embedded in the back of the neck is a strip of ebony wood for additional strength which is a nice touch. The back of the neck is really smooth and nice to hold in the hand.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_15-q0YfbCl1pIhaNCcitAUDYGnV7voyvtCvypuGGfgEB9696fZ-OXYUBY1y8umPK6YRrNVMowhWhAzAoYkSmNKR9bNRO6yOBTag_8FqVqK_9sh6pkPp_YV9Qh1ZNVYFPm_dneBuiuhW3g0-p7ekJt9MFSvgQ_eilU2HwYuL49HbrZZVI42nkDp63/s3000/R0003462.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_15-q0YfbCl1pIhaNCcitAUDYGnV7voyvtCvypuGGfgEB9696fZ-OXYUBY1y8umPK6YRrNVMowhWhAzAoYkSmNKR9bNRO6yOBTag_8FqVqK_9sh6pkPp_YV9Qh1ZNVYFPm_dneBuiuhW3g0-p7ekJt9MFSvgQ_eilU2HwYuL49HbrZZVI42nkDp63/w640-h426/R0003462.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The fingerboard is not applied but is part of the carving of the mahogany block complete with a curved end piece that overlaps the spruce top which is clever. It's not edge bound as it doesn't need to be as he has fitted semi-hemi dressed frets that sit in individual slots but don't reach the ends of the board. That also means they are extremely smooth without <u>any</u> sharpness. That's a really nice touch. There are 14 of those with an additional zero fret to set the string height, with a wooden 'nut' behind it to set the spacing. The body joint is at the 14th too which is more trad concert than soprano. Position dots in white pearl are fitted at the 5th, 7th and 12th, but sadly there are no side dots. That would be, I presume, something easy to specify with Matthieu but I'd certainly want them. The lack of dot at the 10th is also foxing me a little as it's a marker I personally gravitate to, but you'd soon learn to get around it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHwupY-fxxGIMuAJSnLpei3tMYo3x4xQeFlsUuDnm3oT_PDUqeVnPjEX8d-YX7ex4IaccIlqR0oLPZcR5aFuXG2YpczwYadDrG3zp_IAjO3UYaFypCoREREK2pCsi-Bku7Ihu7bXqqOzcwq_mpyohPZIYVReuDdGdY7TeG122FxqcIc8yA_bDyvVI/s3000/R0003459.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele fingerboard" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHwupY-fxxGIMuAJSnLpei3tMYo3x4xQeFlsUuDnm3oT_PDUqeVnPjEX8d-YX7ex4IaccIlqR0oLPZcR5aFuXG2YpczwYadDrG3zp_IAjO3UYaFypCoREREK2pCsi-Bku7Ihu7bXqqOzcwq_mpyohPZIYVReuDdGdY7TeG122FxqcIc8yA_bDyvVI/w640-h426/R0003459.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele fingerboard" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Beyond the nut is an open frame headstock in Flea / Flight style. I actually think it's a touch too big for the overall size of the instrument. Not hugely so, but my eyes were certainly drawn to it. The finishing here, particularly inside the frame is much rougher than the rest of the neck and I think he should attend to that, though again it's a hand made instrument. It looks like the pilot holes for the tuner screws are drilled right through so they are visible on the inside too which may also irritate. There is no logo up here, but like the Magic Flukes, there is no room.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOT2MQDycT2xBS6drW5KKMShSw7jwIfe0tYq0fUAczWKAWxwOYMr9onRu9YrtDnPvcTPYDE5jjpE1DBJYADgrTCR4A3Vu1DUAnFWlghDHap6yDnipjv-Ihki1CEHkvIpZDPC61dCIBxYUC2mVI5clszbYwNWnyw2MFFBmA1iobtlI_8McSVkKfyLT/s3000/R0003460.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOT2MQDycT2xBS6drW5KKMShSw7jwIfe0tYq0fUAczWKAWxwOYMr9onRu9YrtDnPvcTPYDE5jjpE1DBJYADgrTCR4A3Vu1DUAnFWlghDHap6yDnipjv-Ihki1CEHkvIpZDPC61dCIBxYUC2mVI5clszbYwNWnyw2MFFBmA1iobtlI_8McSVkKfyLT/w640-h426/R0003460.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are side mounted gears in typical open headstock style in chrome with black buttons, though I have seen other examples of this model where he has fitted friction pegs, Flea style. I prefer this look myself, though the tuners themselves look fairly basic quality and their tensions do differ quite a bit. I'd suggest changing these.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5R-zPZaoxX7C8Bf37RuciTh-fk-rPDaquZcE04k_RDYEnhuMVMIIt4TAfS-dLR7xR2nqn7WmB0N5wPdlCZh0048xjKml6EpJQNBaacCBDExxJxyfEooL4lKA_bcKQ6yjR8uSj6W7A3z6SjB_XNs8DZW00DnCj4k6uhPydSfxqmBlDK_Q0yAccZbw/s3000/R0003461.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5R-zPZaoxX7C8Bf37RuciTh-fk-rPDaquZcE04k_RDYEnhuMVMIIt4TAfS-dLR7xR2nqn7WmB0N5wPdlCZh0048xjKml6EpJQNBaacCBDExxJxyfEooL4lKA_bcKQ6yjR8uSj6W7A3z6SjB_XNs8DZW00DnCj4k6uhPydSfxqmBlDK_Q0yAccZbw/w640-h426/R0003461.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing it off are a set of Martin M600 fluoro strings and in this spec it would be €320 which, once again, is not a lot of money when you consider the man hours involved. Being a luthier build prices obviously differ depending on how you spec it, but he advises that the range is around €280 to €380. Either way, that's still not a lot of money for a hand made instrument outside of the far east.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XI4v2Ndb8yq3_lIOckxtQD2Th0DPnkfg-ITjSgElSeCr_XBI8Ss46yoVqGZLom4LN6rm78YYDC9F8LW-GLIW0JhVK-MdbXeGzGuRzMt6g8O45ubyPa20gN9rqzRpWICSNpiCg2cpfU8AkaVL-Js7mDWDbaYGfmNdnoKyVrsBMA4-j2CP2ylyM_IO/s3000/R0003463.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XI4v2Ndb8yq3_lIOckxtQD2Th0DPnkfg-ITjSgElSeCr_XBI8Ss46yoVqGZLom4LN6rm78YYDC9F8LW-GLIW0JhVK-MdbXeGzGuRzMt6g8O45ubyPa20gN9rqzRpWICSNpiCg2cpfU8AkaVL-Js7mDWDbaYGfmNdnoKyVrsBMA4-j2CP2ylyM_IO/w640-h426/R0003463.JPG" title="Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl Mezzo Soprano Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm really rather taken with how different this is. I don't mind the hand finishing so much (though the headstock needs work) and I really like the look. It's also extremely light at only 460g and balances well. The setup is also bang on (thankfully considering the zero fret) and is set low at the 12th (just above 2.25mm)</div><div><br />The first standout for me here is the volume. For a thin bodied instrument this punches like an absolute cannon. There is seriously good projection here. The sustain is very good too and shimmery. I found both of these surprising considering how slight the body is.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tone wise, an instrument with a spruce top and thin body I would expect to be bright and it certainly is that. It has a very crisp direct and clear sound that is particularly zingy. The Martin strings will also be contributing to that and, as I prefer a slightly mellower sound myself (subjective point, I know many who love the brighter sounds), I'd be experimenting with warmer strings. But it's more than just tone that concerns me with the string choice here as I am not convinced this is the best gauge either. The tension is a little lower than I would like and I found it quite easy to bend the strings sharp (as you will note in the video - that is NOT intonation, it's me!) - still, strings are easily changed and I rarely mark an instrument down for strings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Strummed it has the bouncy peppy jangle that you want from a soprano instrument and think this would be great for playing jazzy chord progressions that suit that scale so well. Yet there is more going on here due to that sustain and the slightly longer scale that comes through when picking which is particularly pleasant and, I think, suits the bright tone much better. It has a music box twinkle that I am very taken with when played this way. There is great clarity on display here and the instrument projects with little effort on the playing hand. </div><div><br /></div><div>I really should add a word on the subjective nature of reviews, and why my own tastes on core tone should not affect my scores objectively. Yes it's a little bit too bright sounding for me, but that is not the case for everyone and I have to concentrate on the core tone which is very good here. It's a well built instrument that works as a great ukulele.</div><div><br /></div><div>So once again I am lucky enough to take a look at something quite different and really rather charming. It's honestly a pleasure to be able to spotlight names that you may not otherwise know and make a change from the usual big brands. There's a real cleverness to the idea here and whilst very much a home grown instrument does not fail to deliver on what it needs to do. The punch is terrific and am sure the brightness can be toned back with different strings or maybe a different top wood. But it works well regardless and is really not a lot of money for something hand made and quite different.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd add Matthieu to your interest list if you are looking for a break from the 'norm'.</div><div><br /></div><div>Recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://caravelle-kitchen.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://caravelle-kitchen.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Name: Caravelle Kitchen Monoxyl</div><div>Scale: Mezzo Soprano (14 inch scale)</div><div>Body: Single carved piece of FSC mahogany with solid French spruce top<br />Bridge: Rosewood, slot style</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 45mm</div><div>Finish: Rubio oil</div><div>Neck: Integral to mahogany body</div><div>Fingerboard: Mahogany, integral to neck</div><div>Frets: 14 true frets plus zero fret</div><div>Nut: Wood nut for spacing, zero fret for height</div><div>Nut width: 36mm, 29mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded chrome open gears</div><div>Strings: Martin M600 fluorocarbon<br />Weight: 460g</div><div>Country of origin: France</div><div>Price: €320</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Clever quirky looks and build</div><div>Great core build</div><div>Nice frets and neck</div><div>Terrific volume</div><div>Good sustain</div><div>Crisp clear tone</div><div>Great price</div><div><br /><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Some 'artisanal' finishing in places</div><div>Tuners need improving</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9.5 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com8United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-73684591992441701762023-12-03T14:28:00.001+00:002023-12-03T14:55:10.419+00:00Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Back once again with a ukulele brand that regularly appears on this site - this is the Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21Ze4ZLogA0jiWvdpCQsoB_VXeJe39CyUwriJneo5aJxtalA3_Bp9oKedF1gzC-ZdP3WcjgUpARa0noSVL9p6iCTRipwdPav00ush3dN6VdA_5rstBce30JIIZUT20RST37wVRQo9NQ2kH9UmNaMXgRvnYP6morSxhganpUgw78zx7_s90KbCtULj/s3000/R0003441.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21Ze4ZLogA0jiWvdpCQsoB_VXeJe39CyUwriJneo5aJxtalA3_Bp9oKedF1gzC-ZdP3WcjgUpARa0noSVL9p6iCTRipwdPav00ush3dN6VdA_5rstBce30JIIZUT20RST37wVRQo9NQ2kH9UmNaMXgRvnYP6morSxhganpUgw78zx7_s90KbCtULj/w640-h426/R0003441.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Initial disclosure: In recent months I have found myself with a hankering for a baritone ukulele. If I am totally honest, as a guitar player it's not a scale that I have found myself drawn to before, but in trying to review a few more on this site, I found one calling to me for something to noodle with. I didn't want to spend top dollar, and nor did I want cheap trash. So with a bit of research and then discussion with World of Ukes I settled on this one. So this is not a loaner, or a ukulele bought with blog funds that will be moved on. I bought this myself and for myself. That doesn't mean that I won't review it the same way as any other instrument, but I felt I should make that clear.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/InSLYyDg3pY?si=FM7ncxypiJiGMelF" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Aurora has been around a little while now and kind of appeared (I believe) as something of a middle ground between the more regular Flight baritones at the cheaper end and things like the hugely popular Fireball series. It's a baritone only model and sits in their 'Princess Series' using the same attractive and modern rounded double bout shape as on ukes like the <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2022/12/flight-fireball-eq-baritone-ukulele.html" target="_blank">Fireball</a> and <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2023/09/flight-comet-tenor-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Comet</a> and in fact the modern shape was part of the attraction in me choosing this one. This has a solid spruce top paired with laminate rosewood back and sides. It's a classic combination of woods often seen in the guitar world and works well on both tone and, of course, looks. The spruce looks to be good quality and the rich dark stripe of the rosewood is a joy. As I always say, I am not afraid of laminate woods if they are done well, and certainly on a bigger instrument the lack of solid wood in the back and sides is less important I find - there are some fine guitars out there from the likes of Taylor and Martin that only have solid tops. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UiyD-S6rK1xvX_-yONMkm4AR9JxvcIBzHE2b9QNPBsW99-mR3uCJUv-WbNN6Lq7ieyNG104PCXWzk9iYkqSntQnMKXufdXlpNvxA6UMC55LIUp_P5LZ8G9ieO-JVBgUnNuljRTTyHVOdpuK1gHJ19vpLzpxm3NbDGepzYyXxZdD6QISrNO9TzoOP/s3000/R0003442.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UiyD-S6rK1xvX_-yONMkm4AR9JxvcIBzHE2b9QNPBsW99-mR3uCJUv-WbNN6Lq7ieyNG104PCXWzk9iYkqSntQnMKXufdXlpNvxA6UMC55LIUp_P5LZ8G9ieO-JVBgUnNuljRTTyHVOdpuK1gHJ19vpLzpxm3NbDGepzYyXxZdD6QISrNO9TzoOP/w640-h426/R0003442.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br />The bridge is made of rosewood and is the same shape as many other Flight bridges, though surprisingly is a through bridge rather than a pin bridge. That's cool with me as they do the same thing and I like how simple this makes it look. That holds a compensated bone saddle and the spacing comes in at 44mm</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ94grUJWy9Lk4P4POgxf5slFCmyD2LDvkL6cO07YuxkoZwRgQD3GidaHAbBTJqQ10nXitGgiIXlkl8AD4BVfQf7lcO6IyNKEdLQMpQcKyel_b8HnpjpElkCcdGiTY7D-Wrmps871rJdSBqc2dIcVQtghyphenhyphenr_85TaZnV4gt8RV1LDJeGeghLGzMI2U/s3000/R0003443.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJ94grUJWy9Lk4P4POgxf5slFCmyD2LDvkL6cO07YuxkoZwRgQD3GidaHAbBTJqQ10nXitGgiIXlkl8AD4BVfQf7lcO6IyNKEdLQMpQcKyel_b8HnpjpElkCcdGiTY7D-Wrmps871rJdSBqc2dIcVQtghyphenhyphenr_85TaZnV4gt8RV1LDJeGeghLGzMI2U/w640-h426/R0003443.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Being a more middle ground instrument, the decoration is simpler with black edge binding to the top and back (with a tail stripe) and a black scalloped cutaway on the upper shoulder. Around the sound hole is an abalone ring, but it's not too gaudy. I think the decor is 'just enough' here and keeps it looking classy. They could have easily over-done things here. Some may say a bit too simple, but it's all good with me. If you like things like the bridge purfling, sound port and jewelled bridge pins you will need to look at the Fireball. Finishing the body is a nicely done gloss finish that can't find any flaws with.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclcCJS5h-TrmnuSMq5PdCQjXNN6cEIU4aCpw4nhBtCZgNK05spUq0JSF_zRMmEXyGBB7-FTBa2c22m_F3mvXOqnvfvPiUvAw_vILgFLJQi5icvFb-OwiArhS0JD8N1Alhf23jCWL8cgAR_ZluNhjQlRpG7nv8OQz91fReCyEqtWDlb-XdKpIyp7Hs/s3000/R0003444.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukuleled ecor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclcCJS5h-TrmnuSMq5PdCQjXNN6cEIU4aCpw4nhBtCZgNK05spUq0JSF_zRMmEXyGBB7-FTBa2c22m_F3mvXOqnvfvPiUvAw_vILgFLJQi5icvFb-OwiArhS0JD8N1Alhf23jCWL8cgAR_ZluNhjQlRpG7nv8OQz91fReCyEqtWDlb-XdKpIyp7Hs/w640-h426/R0003444.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside is very tidy with regular back bracing, X bracing to the lower bout of the top and notched kerfing. Unlike some other Flights the braces are not 'drilled through' to save weight. You will also spy a pickup system as this comes as standard with a sound hole mounted active under saddle system by the Double brand. I continuously say on this point (and will say again) - please give ME the choice of whether it comes with a pickup or not. I'm grateful this doesn't have ugly side controls, but i'd still have preferred an acoustic only option so I can choose what to do.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d-0FvoOA7rSNIbn46CTU7f-D-P7kucvt3_lPBuHRBBYRIAF7b7_yIDuOtenHBUHtegoE0cr73lbRene7dWCzBNrMj7w71IYnw4xxOSkmkIHj-jYwez9ICBnLlB9zimDtGJqPZO3FTJcQLrO1sd6OQAsLQZ7bcAb8yIUkeKNvZVQD1ljdmCGWxHcc/s2592/IMG_9028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d-0FvoOA7rSNIbn46CTU7f-D-P7kucvt3_lPBuHRBBYRIAF7b7_yIDuOtenHBUHtegoE0cr73lbRene7dWCzBNrMj7w71IYnw4xxOSkmkIHj-jYwez9ICBnLlB9zimDtGJqPZO3FTJcQLrO1sd6OQAsLQZ7bcAb8yIUkeKNvZVQD1ljdmCGWxHcc/w640-h480/IMG_9028.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is specified as African Mahogany made from three pieces (with well hidden joints) and i'm pleased to see that like the Fireball, it's finished in satin for a very nice feel on the hands. That tapers to a rounded nut profile, but I can live witht that as the nut width is a roomy 38mm, 30mm D to E.<br /><br />The fingerboard is rosewood and in nice condition on this example with dark even colouring. It comes with the 19 frets joined at the 14th and are semi-hemi dressed like some other Flight ukes meaning they are ultra smooth. The sides of the board are bound in dark wood too, though that sort of fret dressing means you'd never have sharp frets anyway. Outward position dots revert to a more traditional central location other than offsets, but are rather attractive 'O' shapes in what looks like pale wood. They are sitting at the usual 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th and are repeated with white dots on the side. All very nice.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQElP9-6W153D7PZenZHedAbRtG4VdtmDwED1IjKF6K3dQjs8qQqlKwxA7z1g9qUTqgPWw2azwUNqu9pZ2liAHypriYiq_xDlUG4jjze-R6nFlTTTQEKZZKhcsw6xroT7mPJmEVEfRsNSG-qtuGnZBV7ad_EBkQXzK2DO73jqzq7-Z7q-PJiX0Y4G/s3000/R0003445.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQElP9-6W153D7PZenZHedAbRtG4VdtmDwED1IjKF6K3dQjs8qQqlKwxA7z1g9qUTqgPWw2azwUNqu9pZ2liAHypriYiq_xDlUG4jjze-R6nFlTTTQEKZZKhcsw6xroT7mPJmEVEfRsNSG-qtuGnZBV7ad_EBkQXzK2DO73jqzq7-Z7q-PJiX0Y4G/w640-h426/R0003445.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Beyond the bone nut is a traditional headstock rather than a slot head - nothing against slot heads, but I think they are becoming a bit TOO common in the uke world and sometimes I just like a regular one like this. It's faced in gloss black which looks classy and holds the Flight logo in a pearly inlay. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY57GtH8ojIk5QN1dPtzXALEqwwipg_-qRN_5dugpdjIUzhZIP6-VpOZzdKoQCY3lxct2JAqj9vcPohgHE4hW5IvYKSrmyOlCYrIBZBKAKuEB49iAzST5uro08IpLMTb5NiA1POmQ-4ekBt3PBl69J-xd2SOQPQEv5xq5gi4yraL4mxeJH1QOchQN/s3000/R0003446.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY57GtH8ojIk5QN1dPtzXALEqwwipg_-qRN_5dugpdjIUzhZIP6-VpOZzdKoQCY3lxct2JAqj9vcPohgHE4hW5IvYKSrmyOlCYrIBZBKAKuEB49iAzST5uro08IpLMTb5NiA1POmQ-4ekBt3PBl69J-xd2SOQPQEv5xq5gi4yraL4mxeJH1QOchQN/w640-h426/R0003446.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are open gears in gold with black buttons by Prowel. These are the same brand as on the Fireball but regular tuners as opposed to side mounted for a slot head. I've always found them to be great quality and they are here too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxZNYE_cwBN-stjC_9jIkD7ch6SOWdcfo-z7OobgRWr8HVnhttyCSsQKdPT45s1DEgNBESguxEbX7NgbdeDnnniuRE2OFA41QGasMKsQw_aEX-1HNhXIKVqMoUo05sdPLKgJh9CTgChvXA0SFh1KU2H1ARMefeAR6BZ9MSEnkndKa_DouRwYBDprE/s3000/R0003447.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxZNYE_cwBN-stjC_9jIkD7ch6SOWdcfo-z7OobgRWr8HVnhttyCSsQKdPT45s1DEgNBESguxEbX7NgbdeDnnniuRE2OFA41QGasMKsQw_aEX-1HNhXIKVqMoUo05sdPLKgJh9CTgChvXA0SFh1KU2H1ARMefeAR6BZ9MSEnkndKa_DouRwYBDprE/w640-h426/R0003447.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Finishing the deal are a set of D'Addario EJ53B strings with a wound D and G, and the usual very nice quality red padded Flight bag. And for that you are looking at a price of £339 in the UK. I didn't think that was too bad and is considerably cheaper than a Fireball and also undercuts electro models from Kala and Ohana. Good deal.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTlmlJMinz23K9ylR25_jZch1Jv6QKIaVom2F0wN1KR6ObKzE1KXjq-BkVIzIQsajPxGWHsneJCJnJS-Dtbj5x9ic2a33KWdut0SlPU1INrwA3lKPKUBi7VpLfUe3RuU9EYyux6M3eyMOLSPdGb3kREI8MCzlVQ_ZobsuM9ZsVhIka4VpAtAOQL0d/s3000/R0003448.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTlmlJMinz23K9ylR25_jZch1Jv6QKIaVom2F0wN1KR6ObKzE1KXjq-BkVIzIQsajPxGWHsneJCJnJS-Dtbj5x9ic2a33KWdut0SlPU1INrwA3lKPKUBi7VpLfUe3RuU9EYyux6M3eyMOLSPdGb3kREI8MCzlVQ_ZobsuM9ZsVhIka4VpAtAOQL0d/w640-h426/R0003448.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Not much wrong here if anything at all. The build and finish are sound and I like the looks a great deal even if it is perhaps a bit 'guitary'. The setup on what arrived with me is spot on but I need to share some insider knowledge here. I say quite often with Flight ukuleles that you really do need to buy from a reputable dealer that will check setup. I actually saw the string setup on this before Matt Warnes worked on it and, frankly, I would have rejected it. That's the benefit of using a good dealer, but it's not right that it needed quite so much work in the first place. For that reason I have knocked back the fit and finish score here to reflect that insider knowledge and also, perhaps, offset a bit of the unconscious bias that comes with reviewing something you own. Anyway - it's very good now! It's a big instrument so naturally heavier than other scales of ukes, but you can feel this is heavier than, say, the Fireball and clocks in at 1,005g. It's not uncomfortable to hold though, but it does have some heft.<br /><br />With volume and sustain, baritones rarely present a problem due to the size and tuning and that's the case here. This has great projection and lingering sustain which is very nice indeed. It needs very little effort to get it to sing and feels lively.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gpm2aInDhwt9N-Odd7MbP8CTxD_yI8w1OCOPwsH4Mx_bkCkR6C8ORTTLkqwphfr8JcSc9jnkmLbfS_azBgDDhfmUWWYCpxlyP2tDTE4n8xupREAqt-vEqcWFPjWxCEq48GBHBwlWCbQwdpeC99U10d_DIknXJrEpoXK-nQdqos59GsqAs9Av_NlH/s3000/R0003449.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele pickup" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gpm2aInDhwt9N-Odd7MbP8CTxD_yI8w1OCOPwsH4Mx_bkCkR6C8ORTTLkqwphfr8JcSc9jnkmLbfS_azBgDDhfmUWWYCpxlyP2tDTE4n8xupREAqt-vEqcWFPjWxCEq48GBHBwlWCbQwdpeC99U10d_DIknXJrEpoXK-nQdqos59GsqAs9Av_NlH/w640-h426/R0003449.JPG" title="Flight Aurora EQ-A Baritone Ukulele pickup" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I didn't know what to expect with the tone, but it certainly is 'guitar like' (which is what I was looking for). Perhaps that is no surprise with a spruce top which is very common in the acoustic guitar world as the spruce is certainly giving it a punch / attack on the tone and giving it a very clear sound too. That's not to say bright as overall this is on the darker side, but it does balance it off. Whether strummed or picked this has a very definite baritone thud on the low end but with some chimey clarity on top. And in fact the tone has a lot going on throughout as it's a very rich, pretty broad tone. I think it's more of a pickers instrument or for chord melody rather than playing peppy ukulele chord strums, but I think that's really what baritones or for anyway. The tone here has not let me down and I like that it's kind of 'dark yet light' if that makes any sense. I don't think it has quite the same richness that the Fireball has, but it's actually closer than the price difference would suggest, and if anything perhaps has a bit more bite.<br /><br /></div><div>All in all though, no, I was not going to buy an instrument for myself without research and it already 'calling to me' on looks. You can call that bias, but you can also take it as a recommendation as I was never going to buy something I thought was awful! The build and finish here are great and I love the looks. The tone was just what I was looking for and the asking price is sensible. Just give me an option without a pickup please! <br /><br />A lovely instrument. Recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Flight Aurora EQ-A</div><div>Scale: Baritone</div><div>Body: Solid spruce top, laminate rosewood back and sides</div><div>Bridge: Rosewood through bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 44mm</div><div>Finish: Gloss</div><div>Neck: African mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Rosewood</div><div>Frets: 19, joined at 14th<br />Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 38mm, 30mm D to E</div><div>Tuners: Prowel open gears</div><div>Strings: D'Addario EJ53B<br />Extras: Gig bag, Double brand active UST pickup, strap button</div><div>Weight: 1005g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £339<br /><br /><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Classy look</div><div>Great core build and finish</div><div>Comfortable neck and board<br />Nice tuners</div><div>Good volume and great sustain</div><div>Clear tone with good breadth</div><div>Decent price</div><div><br /><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Let me have an acoustic only version!</div><div>Be careful to buy from a store that will check setup</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9.5 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.1 out of 10</b></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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<b>THANKS!</b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright Barry Maz and Got A Ukulele 2008-2021.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com1United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-16735349103521254292023-11-26T14:33:00.000+00:002023-11-26T14:33:03.240+00:00Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele - REVIEW<div><h2 style="text-align: left;">After a slew of more common ukuleles on Got A Ukulele it's always nice to feature something brand new to me and rather different. And that is certainly the case with this Boatpaddle Tenor Ukulele from Brogärde Instrument in Sweden.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50TmET9bDEtZKD9vYqo8T9kpDGYsvFF02U_86Exxyho8fJQkKU1WuT-lD0W8F0jfc3PoZJBRAzK_MJIPZDWViRIFFaejifYldNBO2pBg7us1Yt5uMHZlyRJhWjHWfrPC746OO9q8CSgWuV9KW6hXfupdQ45Ckiug1lbXF9-ZIArtBez0LKJLXa22y/s3000/R0003412.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50TmET9bDEtZKD9vYqo8T9kpDGYsvFF02U_86Exxyho8fJQkKU1WuT-lD0W8F0jfc3PoZJBRAzK_MJIPZDWViRIFFaejifYldNBO2pBg7us1Yt5uMHZlyRJhWjHWfrPC746OO9q8CSgWuV9KW6hXfupdQ45Ckiug1lbXF9-ZIArtBez0LKJLXa22y/w640-h426/R0003412.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>Brogärde are the brand of a ukulele builder called Markus Sontheimer based south of Stockholm at Järna, Sweden (a beautiful part of the world, I must say!). He got in touch recently and suggested a review and when I saw images of his work I was never going to say no. He bills himself as a 'hobby luthier' though I have seen enough people claim that tag when they turn out to be <i>anything but</i> (largely speaking, most uke builders are overly humble about their craft). Anyway, after customs glitches this one arrived safely. Markus builds from a home workshop and the name 'Brogärde' is the name of the old farm he lives on and has a small workshop. In another nice touch to the story, his logo is a Horse Chestnut leaf because he likes to use local woods and he has an old Horse Chestnut tree growing next to his building space. More on that logo later, but I love stuff like that.</div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FhRwlGqXD5M?si=Lb-mn7wGWXZxm9qS" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is a fully hand made boatpaddle ukulele in tenor scale. The concept of boatpaddles is not new and they are often built as they are 'generally' simple to make - put some sides together into a frame, minimal if any bending, stick a back, top and neck on and you are good to go. They also work well on sound in same way as a pineapple does as they tend to broaden the mid-range of the tone due to the lack of waist. Pete Howlett has made them in his popular 'Marmite' range and so has <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2020/02/km-ukuleles-boatpaddle-soprano-review.html?m=0&version=1483401600000" target="_blank">Kevin Mulcock</a> who I have featured on this site. Incidentally, Markus learned some of his craft from Pete H. In saying all that, when I started to look over this one more closely, this is anything but a 'simple' boatpaddle like I have seen before. Read on.. this could be a long one!<br /><br />At first glance this starts off pretty standard in looks and it's made from all solid Laburnum wood (Markus wants to use local stuff - this is a European hardwood, good for carving and sourced locally). He also makes instruments with locally sourced spruce tops, but this uses laburnum which makes it lighter and, he says, more focussed in tone. It's the first time I have seen a ukulele made from Laburnum, so I have no idea what to expect on tone, but interestingly it's in the same 'Fabacae' family that Acacia is.. Rather than just building a paddle shaped frame it took me some time to work out <i>how</i> this was actually made. What appears to be the case here is that each side is formed as one long piece that also includes one side of the neck. I may have this totally wrong and will link to his Faceboook page at the end of this review where you can see build pictures, but I can't see a normal 'joint' between neck and body. The neck sides just seem to flow down into the fanned out sides in one piece as opposed to regular boatpaddles i've seen where the body is a separate piece onto which a neck is bolted / glued. There is a central neck stripe that holds these together which also creates a kind of Spanish heel inside the body, but it really does seem that each side is this one long flowing piece and unlike some boatpaddles with simple straight sides, this has a wonderful natural curve to it. At the base a slightly curved rectangular piece is added on to create the boatpaddle outline, then a solid top and back are added to complete the deal. I understand that regular boatpaddle shapes are a subjective thing but I find this one fascinating with a wonderful organic shape that think is beautiful. I can't work out if this is actually a deep bodied instrument or it looks that way on account of the smaller top end to the body (i'm going with the latter). The grain of the wood is a pale yellow but very interesting and the two pieces for the top and back are bookmatched nicely to include some paler sap wood down the middle as decoration.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wJvMRLNm4iO7GtvSwKjtEA18VEaSZD0RhbtInVYUFBj_ay9C0gBi0HFsEFoUA6VfYHQFIL_5h2LE8fuwiOXHc0K9hMEPfipGcyaqhP1sK-xbJbXzaKhhhHy56NeWNga5xNmhl1KeullSIqZE8mPVXlZP3Plhj0Vw5HD9AykQe1-xLJ2qZkAtMXTZ/s3000/R0003413.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wJvMRLNm4iO7GtvSwKjtEA18VEaSZD0RhbtInVYUFBj_ay9C0gBi0HFsEFoUA6VfYHQFIL_5h2LE8fuwiOXHc0K9hMEPfipGcyaqhP1sK-xbJbXzaKhhhHy56NeWNga5xNmhl1KeullSIqZE8mPVXlZP3Plhj0Vw5HD9AykQe1-xLJ2qZkAtMXTZ/w640-h426/R0003413.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is made of ebony and is a a through body style in a simple, shallow topped carved shape that doesn't take up too much of the top. It's <u>extremely</u> well finished and sitting in that is a bone saddle with carved ends and a slightly compensated top to match up with the bridge. All very nice. Spacing here is 43mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1hsdxs4Snb-2vpRKLHzQaQM9FWImuRmr7PVx9mmxDOPRrjYy6wcfUukX-uxRp9FcXPaYlAKEmL3-zCnC7qGE0AA3hlu66PiE8BhvinpO2vMODCgg_oeiYRK77sNjmeMzrKkW2DoMTZSFgmH6iRlI9BUKpog5bMnpIqU5eHhCJq7YLtjEGgPd5fWE/s3000/R0003414.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1hsdxs4Snb-2vpRKLHzQaQM9FWImuRmr7PVx9mmxDOPRrjYy6wcfUukX-uxRp9FcXPaYlAKEmL3-zCnC7qGE0AA3hlu66PiE8BhvinpO2vMODCgg_oeiYRK77sNjmeMzrKkW2DoMTZSFgmH6iRlI9BUKpog5bMnpIqU5eHhCJq7YLtjEGgPd5fWE/w640-h426/R0003414.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Decoration is minimal but very classy. Of course being a luthier I guess you could discuss with him options if you would like more, but on this example there is very little and I prefer it for that. There is a dark finishing edge to the inside of the sound hole edge - something vintage ukes employed a lot and i'd like to see more of as I much prefer it to a rosette myself. On the top upper shoulder is a sound port consisting of drilled through holes in another 'organic' pattern (maybe the flower bundles that grow on the Laburnum tree?) with a support plate inside for strength. I am not sure you can call the next bit 'decoration' but I love it all the same. Inside the uke on the opposite shoulder is an internal plate onto which is placed a Horse Chestnut leaf motif that looks to be hand painted on. That's just wonderful. The body is then finished in several coats of Tru-oil and feels wonderful in the hands. I cannot express enough how nicely this is finished in every area. It's just superb, glassy smooth and extremely tactile. Flawless in fact.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3M4tbvM4pmevOlyg8NfpEnCb-ueyAaQwHerCUnE0c-IbLi-EOLEZafL8rRyvtHQexJbdbZ-1nM1SohS2osfahF6SdiyQNAygHVMH-Xwz3mrziptEvXclDDSKtjIBrdPFgJ1H-9hD4m_jNTHn21umsymc_g5btF9orLBHla9po9pkvSJEO_ksv3CNl/s3000/R0003415.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3M4tbvM4pmevOlyg8NfpEnCb-ueyAaQwHerCUnE0c-IbLi-EOLEZafL8rRyvtHQexJbdbZ-1nM1SohS2osfahF6SdiyQNAygHVMH-Xwz3mrziptEvXclDDSKtjIBrdPFgJ1H-9hD4m_jNTHn21umsymc_g5btF9orLBHla9po9pkvSJEO_ksv3CNl/w640-h426/R0003415.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br />Inside is very tidy. The kerfing is solid and the braces largely simple, but it's a simple uke. The top is X / fan braced and the back has regular cross braces. Markus warned me there may be small woodworm holes in the braces (not that it has live woodworm!!) because he made the bracing out of 107 year old spruce sourced from an old barn near his workshop. Lovely! I also like that rather than leaving the central back joint between the two pieces unfinished, or using a complete wooden strip that he has employed very traditional diamond shaped 'cleats' for strength. The label also looks hand drawn and numbered and again we have the green Horse Chestnut leaf for the Brogärde logo!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESVd9YonrpPLQmFHcI0ukNqqck6K9_Nt2OJcrhOb-DLPYNISOjCTflUklbWHpbq_zLI8Yp132ogHDpIIfQOKtZLtFu5CvBofYSG20XnhJvwH4aGXvHFkpCWiH-xG_Dvn8cKeaURdnhEN5pIh3yklc5MoHTPVkyQrNFphnMdRkgyWyB6iaYGQLCYR1/s2592/IMG_9011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Boatpaddle Tenor Ukulele inside braces" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESVd9YonrpPLQmFHcI0ukNqqck6K9_Nt2OJcrhOb-DLPYNISOjCTflUklbWHpbq_zLI8Yp132ogHDpIIfQOKtZLtFu5CvBofYSG20XnhJvwH4aGXvHFkpCWiH-xG_Dvn8cKeaURdnhEN5pIh3yklc5MoHTPVkyQrNFphnMdRkgyWyB6iaYGQLCYR1/w640-h480/IMG_9011.JPG" title="Brogärde Boatpaddle Tenor Ukulele inside braces" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The neck is made of laburnum too and as described above just flows out of the sides with that paler wood skunk stripe joining the two halves. It creates a fairly chunky heel but it's so narrow up at this point on the body I find it's not interfering with the hand even at the upper frets. It is finished in the same smooth Tru-oil and tapers down to a really shallow profile that I always like. The nut width is 36mm, 30mm G to A which is a kind of average but as I always say, when it comes with a shallow profile that's just fine for me. Spot on in fact. More on that nut below though as this gets yet more interesting!<br /><br />The fingerboard is ebony and in perfect condition with smooth dressed side edges. In fact this is one of the tidiest fingerboard I think i've ever seen. It also floats over the top of the upper body rather than being glued to it there to allow the top to vibrate more freely - a nice, higher end touch you don't often see. That is fitted with 15 'true' frets. The body joint is hard to define, but the start of the neck heel starts around the 11th. There are no outward position markers, but side dots in pearl at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th. That's just fine with me as they are the ones I'd use. The reason for me suggesting '15 true frets' is because there are actually 16. This adds in a 'zero fret' coupled with a design choice I have never seen before as there is no regular nut on this instrument. The zero fret is dealing with the string height, but to control the spacing, Markus has put grooves in the actual fretboard to hold the strings. That not only looks great, but is a bit of clever ingenuity I think. And considering this is ebony, that will stand up to string grooves just fine - in fact there are plenty of vintage ukes out there that used ebony nuts and saddles. Up at the end, above the zero fret you also pearl inlays between the strings for detailing. Wow.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjvyrXATpcYfUGgEakcfCgFu4hUHbUun0va6nVCU0K0s_mqFshbBvsFrdDSISy_J56XDiY08FtTRJqoCaFc-xuSshhO7giuekGNWEuAvm-gxqFXY4TbHpdO9Z1yqijnZNJwoZ1xgxPkSKZAQLCnfo7rjHTV6qGMXqJYrGJxf2gm02OwMesZ7W7DaG/s3000/R0003418.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjvyrXATpcYfUGgEakcfCgFu4hUHbUun0va6nVCU0K0s_mqFshbBvsFrdDSISy_J56XDiY08FtTRJqoCaFc-xuSshhO7giuekGNWEuAvm-gxqFXY4TbHpdO9Z1yqijnZNJwoZ1xgxPkSKZAQLCnfo7rjHTV6qGMXqJYrGJxf2gm02OwMesZ7W7DaG/w640-h426/R0003418.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The headstock is a skinny affair with a nice gap before it widens meaning lots of room for the fretting hand. That is topped with more laburnum facing to hide the skunk stripe and add some more interest. That's not bookmatched, so it's a more random affair with a pale stripe on one side, but i'd be nit picking to take issue with that. There is no logo up here, but I am just fine with that too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmBukP888uIfcgUwB83w5IybKXFd_8SWnbvRXAlsWedPbBczwl25fGkdX1YEo3yIUm7pCBVuDg_8XKOLnQSbfOH_ZEYgRBle4mf6zCFWsBO5kCAZwfG7mK4spoSWJfSFB_8uIXpdxHZSwzLr1MC8Pw7U4jrW2oOUuDk1mppjXKKt2n4LqIfHitWQ0/s3000/R0003419.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmBukP888uIfcgUwB83w5IybKXFd_8SWnbvRXAlsWedPbBczwl25fGkdX1YEo3yIUm7pCBVuDg_8XKOLnQSbfOH_ZEYgRBle4mf6zCFWsBO5kCAZwfG7mK4spoSWJfSFB_8uIXpdxHZSwzLr1MC8Pw7U4jrW2oOUuDk1mppjXKKt2n4LqIfHitWQ0/w640-h426/R0003419.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners are Der Jung open gears in matte black and gold, and are great quality on a par with Grover. No complaints at all.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgue66jmft1kchykgOVMjEhMYvgPk34HOMJWGJgWQBfqN3HHWAvEGeGgiZg-GdTkR8MvNK_72alLpJaNGrPqgC1xMKh7z5aYwQPix4m1_H2lbDxxOF3Tsz32i_GTwmMro4bF7n9gny_v-SAgRH-7uIlUn9jRPnxtbXqfcDrLBpN-sG0cBeEJbXRPie8/s3000/R0003420.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgue66jmft1kchykgOVMjEhMYvgPk34HOMJWGJgWQBfqN3HHWAvEGeGgiZg-GdTkR8MvNK_72alLpJaNGrPqgC1xMKh7z5aYwQPix4m1_H2lbDxxOF3Tsz32i_GTwmMro4bF7n9gny_v-SAgRH-7uIlUn9jRPnxtbXqfcDrLBpN-sG0cBeEJbXRPie8/w640-h426/R0003420.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Finishing this off are a set of Worth Brown strings and the asking price in this spec is £599. Being a luthier instrument when I mention price it's just for the thing in front of me as prices will vary depending on what you want. As such I only really mention it to give you an idea and to help my scoring, but I think that is a <u>superb</u> asking price for this quality when you consider the work involved and quality of build.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX76uX5l3qbTGxKdAJoLSXR6dIS6kiqU2maeUCzPXx2P8eYBttr7HqXgm3Y5WAKwaSMb_EoMQPJbrP1te6aH4je0Cw9UoiSK6lOPUgQRuX9XKW8BywdAZlYbvgmkqO5TYgL6iEBsHXwqqLyJWo3lXVn3UZv3zrxMJ9rX9PdIzJptWwi4eyjZpbbrX5/s3000/R0003421.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX76uX5l3qbTGxKdAJoLSXR6dIS6kiqU2maeUCzPXx2P8eYBttr7HqXgm3Y5WAKwaSMb_EoMQPJbrP1te6aH4je0Cw9UoiSK6lOPUgQRuX9XKW8BywdAZlYbvgmkqO5TYgL6iEBsHXwqqLyJWo3lXVn3UZv3zrxMJ9rX9PdIzJptWwi4eyjZpbbrX5/w640-h426/R0003421.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />So something of a work of wonder so far on the construction, looks and finish which are all wonderful (in fact I cannot find a single thing wrong with the fit and finish). It's not the 'blingiest' instrument in the world, but I don't think it <i>needs</i> it as the design and finish ARE the bling for me. That nut arrangement makes for a harder adjustment on action and intonation so it is pleasing to note that the setup here is near on perfect. In fact the nut is about as bang on as I have ever seen on a uke and the action at the 12th is about 2.5mm. It's not a heavy instrument either at 635g and whilst boat paddles are naturally a bit more difficult to hold, this balances along the length (and front to back) perfectly and just sort of floats in the hands.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXq53x8FClP75X2UtT6VYsDdj3fvginBLuVERAWZ9jd3kLRZ44LsKkL_g9FRW-iONaZT4j-lLTyM7yvxl2s5RozaqBWcOstmsv9640YN7GYBZPGsfFss-epeZyB5UELIm9yRfRB537hKe4uxuMuxboSowMzh1wb2lw8gabQy31Oz7jvU9lEHSU4RG/s3000/R0003416.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele interior decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXq53x8FClP75X2UtT6VYsDdj3fvginBLuVERAWZ9jd3kLRZ44LsKkL_g9FRW-iONaZT4j-lLTyM7yvxl2s5RozaqBWcOstmsv9640YN7GYBZPGsfFss-epeZyB5UELIm9yRfRB537hKe4uxuMuxboSowMzh1wb2lw8gabQy31Oz7jvU9lEHSU4RG/w640-h426/R0003416.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele interior decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Important basics first on the volume and sustain. Both are superb. This is an incredibly lively instrument that doesn't need much work to get it to sing. When new ukuleles arrive at Got A Ukulele Towers* I always open the box to check and have a very quick strum. If my wife (also a player) says 'that's loud', then I know I am not hearing things. She said it about this one...<br /><br />(*I don't live in a tower...)</div><div><br /></div><div>(also - don't get too bogged down on 'side ports' - the vast majority of projection of a ukulele comes from the vibrating top. Sure, sound holes do release a bit of sound, of course they do, but that's not what they are for - they are to allow efficient air passage in and out to allow the top to vibrate freely. So yes, I can hear these here, but if they were not there I would wager it would sound much the same..)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xm3M4jwjjvYzsTVpnMF9lxY0jFnai18nIW1EmGtCMvEaXl1SuVpFl6PbgPPcZLnN_Y5ZpCgf3YiVWLpuk7h7lZbsfCUl04BZ_52fMn8P-cQpVl5YCsq10_QThTFLyD6pZqX4Wgb19fqYxzRw7udi5nF7O8FTZ3wfb-ljl0iI9Nttcxp5wV0tQQCm/s3000/R0003417.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele sound ports" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xm3M4jwjjvYzsTVpnMF9lxY0jFnai18nIW1EmGtCMvEaXl1SuVpFl6PbgPPcZLnN_Y5ZpCgf3YiVWLpuk7h7lZbsfCUl04BZ_52fMn8P-cQpVl5YCsq10_QThTFLyD6pZqX4Wgb19fqYxzRw7udi5nF7O8FTZ3wfb-ljl0iI9Nttcxp5wV0tQQCm/w640-h426/R0003417.JPG" title="Brogärde Tenor Boatpaddle Ukulele sound ports" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Then the tone. Bear in mind what I said about Laburnum here, as I have no idea what to expect. There is certainly a brightness here, but it's not on that bright scale where I will employ my 'I know it's subjective, but I like woodier instruments'. Only it's not woody and dark either. It's actually really balanced and with a bottom end coming in as well as the trebles. It's still on the brighter end rather than the darker, but certainly not an off putting tone for my (subjective) tastes). Dare I say it that Laburnum may have some characteristics of Acacia as there is some breadth and richness in the mids here.<br /><br />Strummed it has a complex tone with a lot to unpack, but really importantly a very detailed clear character. It it easy to get some percussive jangle out of it but played more laid back and adding in some chord melody it all stays clear in the mix and never muddy. It's an extremely pleasant and adept sound when played like this (and super comfortable to play on the neck too).</div><div><br />Fingerpicking edges it for me (but not by much) but it just exudes a crystal clear, yet balanced tone all over the neck which is neither 'overly bright music-box' or 'moody / broody' dark tone. It's down the middle, crisp clear, very pretty and with lots of style to the sound. I mean, come on, it would be a crying shame if the tone was a let down considering the build.. I do have to say, when it comes to the less common build types, woods and shapes you do always wonder, but this has all come together as it should and is not letting the side down on the way it sounds. Cor..</div><div><br /></div><div>Man... I am lucky doing what I do as I'd never get to see stuff like this otherwise. This is honestly one of the nicest ukuleles i've had the pleasure of reviewing and is scored accordingly. The detailing, the finish, the build, the sound, the look - they are all exemplary. If you are in the market for a unique luthier built instrument you MUST put Markus on your waiting list. As for this one - it's on it's way to World of Ukes where you will have a chance to buy it! And trust me, i'm sorely tempted myself. Be quick!</div><div><br /></div><div>Just stunning! Thanks Markus for sending this over!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100029145683180" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brogärde Facebook Page</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/brogarde_instrument/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brogärde Instagram</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br />Model: Brogärde Boatpaddle</div><div>Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: All solid Laburnum<br />Bridge: Ebony through bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 43mm</div><div>Finish: Tru-oil<br />Neck: Laburnum</div><div>Fingerboard: Ebony</div><div>Frets: 15 with extra zero fret</div><div>Nut: Integral to fingerboard </div><div>Nut width: 36mm, 30mm G to A<br />Tuners: Der Jung open gears<br />Strings: Worth Brown<br />Weight: 635g</div><div>Country of origin: Sweden<br />Price: £599</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Simple but intriguing looks</div><div>Very clever build ideas</div><div>Wonderful finish and detailing<br />Great neck</div><div>Great tuners<br />Excellent projection and sustain</div><div>Clear balanced characterful tone, never muddy</div><div>Extremely fair price for the work</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Nope - I got nothing!<br /><br /><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 10 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9.5 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.6 out of 10</b></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com9United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-30322295978649227872023-11-19T14:33:00.001+00:002023-11-19T14:33:09.546+00:00Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Time for another check in to the ukuleles on offer on Amazon. This is the Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_oayF32XWct_TcWlrFRsYlTjax7uh7fn0vmm-Zo2KNKkXduesGxA86LD38kjsSNd9J1eptUmVrKnOmgl1JVEYObU80YT0GnO4QgnpvHBRBDYctZsKnGkXQLlFzypUzInljED4Vq64jMxurOoBcHvclQQhtEhTfoeB7RNu-bUnZfW_GMy6cqs1KJN/s3000/_R003389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_oayF32XWct_TcWlrFRsYlTjax7uh7fn0vmm-Zo2KNKkXduesGxA86LD38kjsSNd9J1eptUmVrKnOmgl1JVEYObU80YT0GnO4QgnpvHBRBDYctZsKnGkXQLlFzypUzInljED4Vq64jMxurOoBcHvclQQhtEhTfoeB7RNu-bUnZfW_GMy6cqs1KJN/w640-h426/_R003389.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>I've looked at a Rosen ukulele before in the shape of <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2022/01/rosen-nova-concert-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">this plastic offering</a>. It was, in my view, a poor imitation of the hugely popular Enya models and didn't sound great or score very well at all. I came across this one though as more standard wooden ukulele and decided to have a closer look. And as I regularly do, this is a dipping of the toe into the Amazon ukulele offerings. It's not a source for ukuleles that I recommend due to the usual lack of any setup checks, but as many people DO choose Amazon it's only right that I give my opinion on the models that usually have endless five star reviews!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V8CQ1PGFXzA?si=PElyFWS6Ws3j1MnK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>This is the tenor version of a range of three solid topped 'mahogany' instruments (soprano, concert, tenor) from Rosen, each with very traditional double bout shapes. I put the word mahogany in quotes as often at this cheaper price point the wood will actually be Khaya which is 'African Mahogany' and not a true mahogany. I may be doing Rosen a dis-service there and it may be real mahogany, but when I see the price I doubt it. It's typically standard and very plain mahogany though without much grain interest and in an deep orange colour, but it's not wholly offensive when you first look at it. Looking closer though (and whilst I am no woodwork expert) the grain on the top is totally different from the back and sides and not even the same colour either. That's very odd and I'm not entirely sure they are the same species of wood! Each part is in two pieces though and whilst the back and sides have moderate book matching the top grain really hides that fact. The specs also claim it has 'smooth round edges' to the body, but if they have done that, I can only feel it slightly on the top, not the back. One other element that amused me is that the Amazon listing labels this as an 'adult ukulele'... Aside from those pesky 'junior ukuleles' I suppose.. They also don't go to any great lengths to tell you this only solid wood in the top either.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5__IKve7J72GhhVCetSConb9MPCCaRDqlxlnO-YHatYWG0YnuPYVQAPH9a832nOLj5k6u4evnWybVmw3_yNPv_fsEgFKTXLrZz4M6YGcouo7aOMNtg5b_8hVO2jJR3X-91CbRSeEW2Q1_zoIgUC2w011yf8fPzAdXFAXtus0sq5XEZnQqhzLLgrD/s3000/_R003390.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5__IKve7J72GhhVCetSConb9MPCCaRDqlxlnO-YHatYWG0YnuPYVQAPH9a832nOLj5k6u4evnWybVmw3_yNPv_fsEgFKTXLrZz4M6YGcouo7aOMNtg5b_8hVO2jJR3X-91CbRSeEW2Q1_zoIgUC2w011yf8fPzAdXFAXtus0sq5XEZnQqhzLLgrD/w640-h426/_R003390.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />The bridge is made from 'tech ebony' which can mean anything from reconstituted wood through to chemically stained wood, but is not actually ebony. It could even be a Richlite paper based product. Such things don't bother me at all and at least they are being honest. It's a pin bridge in a shape reminiscent of Taylor guitars with a nice bit of carving in the top to give it more interest (and utterly confuse those who enjoy the weekly macro photos). It's very smooth and tidy too and fitted with what looks like a bone compensated saddle. Spacing here is 41mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI3WU4-0vlUZtoGlYVKGb1M-sj9pDGaABZhFEI52OnnViAKiJdPOd5atY2na_huomJnH3YIUCag5h1BosXA2GP46h9dWO_vzFqLYsqbAUCuu5sgoYNVSvA5Ydxjmh1T2aym_m0uFDcJBcXkoe5P6hr8EmfujZ7FnQw_0iC2rshUu4rMZUV5CvS1eo/s3000/_R003391.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnI3WU4-0vlUZtoGlYVKGb1M-sj9pDGaABZhFEI52OnnViAKiJdPOd5atY2na_huomJnH3YIUCag5h1BosXA2GP46h9dWO_vzFqLYsqbAUCuu5sgoYNVSvA5Ydxjmh1T2aym_m0uFDcJBcXkoe5P6hr8EmfujZ7FnQw_0iC2rshUu4rMZUV5CvS1eo/w640-h426/_R003391.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Turning to the decor this is limited to what looks like a gold/white pearl inlay sound hole ring which, thankfully, is small because the colour is gaudy. The body is then finished in a semi gloss coat which honestly looks and feels like it was applied with a decorators paintbrush. It's odd - very shiny, yet open pore and looks like plastic with a rough / tacky feel on the hand. To be fair, it's NOT overly thick and I can't see any pooling - it's just not like a uke finish I have seen before and something about it turns me off. It just feels very 'cheap'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_JFIgxgIMK-_bnRhbGBvOa3uefgzaIbPdQht5NwpytaINAeTPUSaZHYr7Oq1LftEp_mN0vfxgVwAwSo5llM7zioJdeG9sqdk5MY24JRbfy7IHuEd6L-cxnkRGghgLsClnSG65nBVOKuzAkV4WQO3LWPxPi5bBLfOH1BqUfe5bLHJdB7pTfGs9O1r/s3000/_R003392.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_JFIgxgIMK-_bnRhbGBvOa3uefgzaIbPdQht5NwpytaINAeTPUSaZHYr7Oq1LftEp_mN0vfxgVwAwSo5llM7zioJdeG9sqdk5MY24JRbfy7IHuEd6L-cxnkRGghgLsClnSG65nBVOKuzAkV4WQO3LWPxPi5bBLfOH1BqUfe5bLHJdB7pTfGs9O1r/w640-h426/_R003392.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Inside is pretty standard with notched linings and regular braces. There's no glue mess as such, but some very worrying looking splintering of wood on the bridge plate. That looks like a prime candidate to me for string snaps..<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWHgTjaDWup9YvTmERhPPc8QVo5o4C3jvtGa48WmlhB5NyTtAJ2JF4hG2guvG00L95fELtZFbngQmNt6sMz-7bCwct_htZI9Wbdp9pUXdybY2rc4kehMRT4yzy-L1JJeiqGL2bvweqFY88qYXr-4erfg4aY61s8UoGQgdz9XIQLuBGUk0GlAvKLE3/s2592/IMG_9004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWHgTjaDWup9YvTmERhPPc8QVo5o4C3jvtGa48WmlhB5NyTtAJ2JF4hG2guvG00L95fELtZFbngQmNt6sMz-7bCwct_htZI9Wbdp9pUXdybY2rc4kehMRT4yzy-L1JJeiqGL2bvweqFY88qYXr-4erfg4aY61s8UoGQgdz9XIQLuBGUk0GlAvKLE3/w640-h480/IMG_9004.JPG" title="Rosen Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The neck is specced as mahogany and is in three pieces with joints at heel and headstock. Like the body, it's finished in the same 'weird' feeling semi-gloss. It tapers to a horribly skinny nut with a very round back profile. At the nut it measures 34mm, and 27mm G to A. Not for me at all, but I understand that is subjective.</div><div><br />Topping that is more 'tech ebony' for the fingerboard which, like the bridge is smooth, tidy and even in colour. That is edge bound in black, hiding the fret ends of the 18 frets joined at the 14th. Thankfully there are no sharp edges either. Position dots face out in white pearl at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th and they are paired with small side dots. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBJrbMDruCU1a_b7HNqYk8cFZ75VSb1SliHMX0i0RpFLOydP_FmZ7FTVOuqHr8IckfQuI92W8oNPzndD8fNXjo6hO6LT3C-MQdv_JBwsHkGqNz2P9_PCJJyq97V1NrOuuadxuJzEprX3UB_YPhROXRVk061a4wNIu1eWdHxGjPwOAl2tPBmBn3kAY/s3000/_R003393.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele fingerboard" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBJrbMDruCU1a_b7HNqYk8cFZ75VSb1SliHMX0i0RpFLOydP_FmZ7FTVOuqHr8IckfQuI92W8oNPzndD8fNXjo6hO6LT3C-MQdv_JBwsHkGqNz2P9_PCJJyq97V1NrOuuadxuJzEprX3UB_YPhROXRVk061a4wNIu1eWdHxGjPwOAl2tPBmBn3kAY/w640-h426/_R003393.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele fingerboard" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Beyond the bone nut (the setup here being frankly <u>awful</u> - over 3.5mm high at the 12th fret and way too high at the nut too) is a 'semi-crown' headstock faced in a darker wood. It looks quite classy and the Rosen logo is applied as a silver screen print. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihht9OCHcXf-ZnKEY-6UZLndJ2EcuSYhg1HHSe_oA-IH4LYT4tZiK2GZ5F2Ws3wz3cU975StEHUEc-ovRvg3KojyGAjzIpdWzWNI2nu40COSNhLVlgxVEQmLONnMyHUuxEjjT5JMaVzpLVM_xTuMOrZ5QlXZ3mf8EmU8y3zTOIZdIn4y_evgZe9Vcz/s3000/_R003394.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihht9OCHcXf-ZnKEY-6UZLndJ2EcuSYhg1HHSe_oA-IH4LYT4tZiK2GZ5F2Ws3wz3cU975StEHUEc-ovRvg3KojyGAjzIpdWzWNI2nu40COSNhLVlgxVEQmLONnMyHUuxEjjT5JMaVzpLVM_xTuMOrZ5QlXZ3mf8EmU8y3zTOIZdIn4y_evgZe9Vcz/w640-h426/_R003394.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners look good visually and are open gears in matte black with gold gearing. Looks are only part of the picture though as to use them they are either way to sloppy or way too tight. Not great quality.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSfcJCoqwzjE9B3B6hMUHW1tEFtKEJUEZogJCuW6DNDXw6_XeKAqduzJltu3O73E3W2NmH2qCIyfxMf5l7iQ0l6ya9Z8zgAL_yPOLLtmHPx_S6uZi_rxCxlUscwWjnwzy_f7bCTd_XnrI_fMznkLiq1YAYuQVK-VXxcBxIl22dga6vafgYuZn-jGM/s3000/_R003395.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSfcJCoqwzjE9B3B6hMUHW1tEFtKEJUEZogJCuW6DNDXw6_XeKAqduzJltu3O73E3W2NmH2qCIyfxMf5l7iQ0l6ya9Z8zgAL_yPOLLtmHPx_S6uZi_rxCxlUscwWjnwzy_f7bCTd_XnrI_fMznkLiq1YAYuQVK-VXxcBxIl22dga6vafgYuZn-jGM/w640-h426/_R003395.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br />Finishing things off are a half decent padded bag, un-named strings they call 'Carbon Nylon' (which I partly doubt as that meaning fluorocarbon as they are so floppy) and the 'kitchen sink' goodie bag giving you a strap, tuner, capo, cloth, spare strings (labelled as nylon!), and starter guide. And the current price (note - Amazon pricing is always changing) in the UK is a penny shy of £95. So not a great deal of cash.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQtXpk7yUr0BrTmIJFJi7ScLICnGsiMIxy-tU8Xt7O8QdEHnAmzBgtvzdNv2dptizXRMLW88evAmLNqCQPVZe7PMr0ruSX7oP2jPDmiz1O3M0-bwAnbRTgwDjrtJ_e-nbu62XULOV1D_lT6RKWICtTBavcFoCn_viNIi_zfsFj15cfBUNjWmLONGO/s3000/_R003397.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele extras" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQtXpk7yUr0BrTmIJFJi7ScLICnGsiMIxy-tU8Xt7O8QdEHnAmzBgtvzdNv2dptizXRMLW88evAmLNqCQPVZe7PMr0ruSX7oP2jPDmiz1O3M0-bwAnbRTgwDjrtJ_e-nbu62XULOV1D_lT6RKWICtTBavcFoCn_viNIi_zfsFj15cfBUNjWmLONGO/w640-h426/_R003397.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele extras" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So a mixed bag so far. A generally good build but a very odd finish (and wood mis-match), skinny nut (subjective, but not for me), and cheap tuners. Not a lot of money though I guess.</div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing I will come to on the sound of this is back to those strings. These are horribly low in tension / very light and downright annoying. I can't see that is going to help things. And nor is the setup, but more on that in a moment. It's not a heavy instrument though at 575g and balances just fine in the hands.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoBq7LONZPnwRzG6qpbJmDhx5AK3qgqVPoo8e-EoeyqnjM8gIyPjnnt3T43ymN2Zxm4ZPKSc3d6NOqTBRuMCQRwXPZT5Nxvcn25hzPDovpnHKSJ_yN_Y-VhdEniVV_iIpKoFOVIdTTE1QkDv4q7R4PPDlvFl9VXy3JbX8y0BW3m-oiidYgP3Jra4e/s3000/_R003396.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoBq7LONZPnwRzG6qpbJmDhx5AK3qgqVPoo8e-EoeyqnjM8gIyPjnnt3T43ymN2Zxm4ZPKSc3d6NOqTBRuMCQRwXPZT5Nxvcn25hzPDovpnHKSJ_yN_Y-VhdEniVV_iIpKoFOVIdTTE1QkDv4q7R4PPDlvFl9VXy3JbX8y0BW3m-oiidYgP3Jra4e/w640-h426/_R003396.jpg" title="Rosen K11 Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Those light weight strings are also impacting the volume here which is disappointingly low. It really needs some serious effort to get it to bark. Strangely, the sustain is ok though so it has <i>some</i> life in it, just not much projection. And back to that setup - well that is affecting both the feel on the fingers, causing the strumming hand to easily tangle and, most importantly, throwing the intonation off due to the distance the strings need to be pushed down to engage. To my ears, that comes through in the video recording.<br /><br />The tone itself, on account of those strings, is just far too thin and bright for me on a 'mahogany' tenor. It's so much to me that it's leaning to mandolin sound. I guess it makes for a peppy jangly tone when strummed, but, honestly, i've played sopranos with more depth to the tone than this. It's almost strident and tinny to by ears and not very pleasant. </div><div><br />Fingerpicking is much the same and also requires a fair amount of effort to keep the volume up especially up the neck. It's just far to thin, reedy and bright played this way for me. Yet again, this is a subjective point - some people love thin bright sounding instruments and that is just fine. I just don't think there is much dynamic range here at all and for my tastes that makes the instrument sound one dimensional and rather boring.</div><div><br /></div><div>As ever with these ukuleles I always try to be fair, yet people point out I am trying to be deliberately harsh on Amazon. That's not the case, occasionally (rarely) one crops up that shows some hope - if it wasn't for Amazon ukes I would never have come across Enya for example who have since gone strength to strength. More often though I find it's a case of brands putting stuff out to a cheap price and not really caring about the actual instrument. This one has surprised me in some areas as it's not <i>that</i> shabby, and in fact the bridge and fingerboard are great, but the gloss finish is really weird and the setup is terrible. I think this could be turned into a reasonable uke though if that setup is addressed and you change the strings (assuming you can live with the neck). But that's the Amazon roulette wheel for you.. My focus is on giving advice to buyers of <u>all</u> types so when these cross my path I always ask 'why would you risk it when there are alternatives?' Heck, for forty quid more you get one of those Baton Rouge all solid ukes, with a full setup and a real uke dealer at your side. At £50 - £60 I may have given it more of a bye on cost as a uke for tinkering with but not at £95.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hey, it works as a uke and this could have been a <u>lot</u> worse, but there is still too much not right to get a serious recommendation from me.</div>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Rosen K11<br />Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: Solid 'mahogany' top, laminate mahogany back and sides<br />Bridge: Tech ebony pin bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated<br />Spacing at saddle: 41mm</div><div>Finish: Semi gloss</div><div>Neck: Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: tech ebony</div><div>Frets: 18, joined at 14th<br />Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 34mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded open gears<br />Strings: 'fluorocarbon'?<br />Extras: Gig bag, tuner, spare strings, capo, picks, strap, cloth, strap button<br />Weight: 575g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £95</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Good core build</div><div>Nice bridge and fingerboard</div><div>Sustains ok</div><div>Cheap</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Weird wood mis-match<br />Cheap feeling finish</div><div>Skinny nut</div><div>Cheap tuners</div><div>Average volume</div><div>Awful strings and setup<br />Overly thin, reedy and bright tone</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 8 out of 10 </div><div>Fit and finish - 7 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 7 out of 10 </div><div>Value for money - 8 out of 10</div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 7.5 out of 10</b></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-25156221140172815482023-11-18T16:52:00.005+00:002023-11-18T19:26:34.832+00:00Got A Ukulele nominated in the 'Ukies' - Vote NOW!<h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Delighted to see that Got A Ukulele and me, Barry, have been nominated in a few categories of the finals of the 'Ukies' awards!</b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h2pko9wGs4kwIOrf00l19DL9_GzPkaAxugR4p84UBXCl0hULfKFPMugqzOAfMYr7kkIYu9vGW-1Kp4pGbEcojUqP2mR1xHH7vDTSq-tu-LymhyphenhyphenffpBYpVPyE9nRjjOoSG7QfMmau0TslcrtK1bQzErl-3TevWtw592jpO3RvZBExn9ROdSW-sslN/s2048/342801277_610186077822291_3765939582767242402_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Anarchy in the Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_h2pko9wGs4kwIOrf00l19DL9_GzPkaAxugR4p84UBXCl0hULfKFPMugqzOAfMYr7kkIYu9vGW-1Kp4pGbEcojUqP2mR1xHH7vDTSq-tu-LymhyphenhyphenffpBYpVPyE9nRjjOoSG7QfMmau0TslcrtK1bQzErl-3TevWtw592jpO3RvZBExn9ROdSW-sslN/w640-h360/342801277_610186077822291_3765939582767242402_n.jpg" title="Anarchy in the Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br />Run by the popular YouTube Channel 'Anarchy in the Ukulele', the Ukies are awards where the shortlist was first put together by votes (thank you if you nominated me) and is now in the run down to the finals.<br /><br />Got A Ukulele features in a couple of the video based awards, and I am nominated in the 'Ukulele Personality' award (Blush!).<br /><br />You can cast your vote here (and of course I'd be delighted if you wanted to show me support)..<br /><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwmKiWTi-o5-rogB2ND2ZqcAMipBwb8j8avMp_OuW1Rj7P0A/viewform" target="_blank"><b>UKIES VOTING FORM</b></a></h2></div><div><br /></div><div>You have until end of the day on 15 December 2023 to vote, and the results are announced on 30 December.</div><div><br />Thanks so much to <a href="https://www.anarchyintheukulele.com/" target="_blank">Anarchy in the Ukulele</a> for hosting this, and good luck to all the nominees!</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com" rel="author">© Barry Maz</a>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-87951396791154737022023-11-12T14:48:00.000+00:002023-11-12T14:48:59.918+00:00Baton Rouge UTM-T rECOtimber Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Another brand new ukulele model this week on Got A Ukulele - this is the UTM-T Spruce and Flamed Maple Tenor from their new Baton Rouge rECOtimber series.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9l1rDzTqjvWPhs1Q9UgTw3HOPJh3R536nJrGUZuGXoirg6L-eDdzdaM5lAtGdVj98RJm7aZU0BXhV82YIhCzmTwUtMRIahyphenhyphenXnqI15MeB1kiypSQ6w-R6er0VdNmIDWc1eOXhgprT0cax2FjRzP0PGl22wYvlziFYGWpyOT1g4bmlJp85njwt8PBI/s3000/R0003376.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9l1rDzTqjvWPhs1Q9UgTw3HOPJh3R536nJrGUZuGXoirg6L-eDdzdaM5lAtGdVj98RJm7aZU0BXhV82YIhCzmTwUtMRIahyphenhyphenXnqI15MeB1kiypSQ6w-R6er0VdNmIDWc1eOXhgprT0cax2FjRzP0PGl22wYvlziFYGWpyOT1g4bmlJp85njwt8PBI/w640-h426/R0003376.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Baton Rouge have appeared several times on this site and have always done very well for their extremely keenly priced and great sounding instruments. Whether that is the excellent Sun series (of which their sopranos still sit very firmly in my recommendations for first time buyers) or their, frankly, 'has no right to be that good for the money' 8 string uke, they've always punched well above their asking price for me. When I started to see reports about this new series I had to get in touch with the distributor, and thanks to Mark at Stones Music, this one arrived.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YRKC4_0wKVU?si=rb7S60ZqLVzVkt-2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The rECO timber series are a range of new instruments (guitars and ukes) which they bill as 'guitars from your backyard. I think there is a fair bit of artistic licence in this bit, but to cut to the chase they are a range of models that use sustainable European woods that you don't often see on commercially built ukuleles, like cherry, pear, spar and the intriguingly named serviceberry - the sorts of things you may find in a back garden. I'm all for that and there is no doubt that using woods like this is more eco friendly that using things like rosewood and mahogany. In order to prepare them for instrument building the woods are also thermally treated (in other words baked) to season them. It's all a nice story, but for me what matters is how they play and sound. So on with the review!<br /><br />This model is a tenor in a traditional double bout shape in all solid woods. For the top we have solid German spruce in two pieces. It has nice tight grain and a pleasing darker grain colour on the middle edges, nicely bookmatched to give it a kind of centre stripe. There is also a touch of 'bear claw' happening in the bouts for interest. For the back and sides we have solid flamed maple, again in two pieces nicely bookmatched to show off the attractive striping this wood delivers. The two woods pair together very nicely to my eyes and have a classy feel.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTNIqEI6CR7F03xOwZUM7bIVoABz7eQ7mAct5X4wR9ZQRcPKnfn_Mes8zc84NBbO6KGRswLvEvFlNEWw3bST3jn_tDW9_NkaNNatXh1L_ryUPSBu3f-5tewBZEhk_kmxiEklay0qK3mTukBhjxMnK3wFECwSCwkKlVtqRTR0Yd0kzE_cx_zI5psf3/s3000/R0003377.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTNIqEI6CR7F03xOwZUM7bIVoABz7eQ7mAct5X4wR9ZQRcPKnfn_Mes8zc84NBbO6KGRswLvEvFlNEWw3bST3jn_tDW9_NkaNNatXh1L_ryUPSBu3f-5tewBZEhk_kmxiEklay0qK3mTukBhjxMnK3wFECwSCwkKlVtqRTR0Yd0kzE_cx_zI5psf3/w640-h426/R0003377.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is a tie bar made from Eucalyptus with some detailing inlay in the bar. The wood on this element is a little rough on the outer finishing but I have seen worse. That holds a NuBone saddle and spacing here is 38mm</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKk3uLtBbidCb5VJPpKrgf7GJH64epNz3RT0Qt-qVX6Y6sCN_5pAgDMcKS6zXXgKOvlKJRf_OEFa8_Sb6lW9ga1cDJe4nUsDOWt1C1Ci-yBF8U1aIHo9h1RXVlA8YF-SD2xPLN7kFW0nLwdtU1jwWOY3CezXGqZgZE4WmHHQOWVGuZlv2NNgoijnf/s3000/R0003378.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKk3uLtBbidCb5VJPpKrgf7GJH64epNz3RT0Qt-qVX6Y6sCN_5pAgDMcKS6zXXgKOvlKJRf_OEFa8_Sb6lW9ga1cDJe4nUsDOWt1C1Ci-yBF8U1aIHo9h1RXVlA8YF-SD2xPLN7kFW0nLwdtU1jwWOY3CezXGqZgZE4WmHHQOWVGuZlv2NNgoijnf/w640-h426/R0003378.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The decoration here is mixed, but not ostentatious. There are wooden bindings to the top, back and tail stripe made from walnut which meld and blend with the body woods nicely. The top edge is also paired with a black and white purfling strip to finish it. Around the sound hole is an abalone ring edged in black and white purfling, and is one of those that doesn't look like 'mother of toilet seat' but rather blends nicely. On the lower bout we also have a comfort edge in walnut. I think I would still like it a bit paler to blend with the body more naturally, but it's a far cry from those that some builders use that look like sticking plaster. Generally though, the jury is out with me on these either way though i'd be happy without it here as I think it still stands out too much. The whole body is then finished in a satin coat which looks largely well done bar a tiny amount of 'over pour' around the fingerboard end.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3nK7RkEKi4IMaHchWoAgw7vU9LfQLf6dVQSYn94pEiNAETiq3xOHvUj9chGeDSGZOu_lhkbWy9W3UTnXLbDcI-i4qbPgLhSH9MkWV_LIk1ceVW-a7adRyNHCppy6t5dIRyh967DrsnQwzHyKzo5cYPi8cSgWh6CFtiV6QpuhtVe95S36-lAEi27d/s3000/R0003379.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3nK7RkEKi4IMaHchWoAgw7vU9LfQLf6dVQSYn94pEiNAETiq3xOHvUj9chGeDSGZOu_lhkbWy9W3UTnXLbDcI-i4qbPgLhSH9MkWV_LIk1ceVW-a7adRyNHCppy6t5dIRyh967DrsnQwzHyKzo5cYPi8cSgWh6CFtiV6QpuhtVe95S36-lAEi27d/w640-h426/R0003379.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside is extremely tidy with no mess I can see. The kerfing is notched and the top is X braced. I can also see that the top wood is nice and thin, meaning this is not one of those 'solid for the sake of it' instruments that tend to go very thick here.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yo0SgosehA7CE-1FTVK7ZThj2WLR0vFfk78dwkfuQBiRViCUkdWqzLdkfUk9ThnfF_HTLznj662LDX6jamw7k9FQNoxwYll4SC2yXye6RWoJkXzRQDlqbwMq3xCvn_vUbVPLr0pDP3aRNjHAObnuZHTh5S1G7Tm_9vkiNxPuyzN8_V2rEGlrmtpu/s2592/IMG_8990.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yo0SgosehA7CE-1FTVK7ZThj2WLR0vFfk78dwkfuQBiRViCUkdWqzLdkfUk9ThnfF_HTLznj662LDX6jamw7k9FQNoxwYll4SC2yXye6RWoJkXzRQDlqbwMq3xCvn_vUbVPLr0pDP3aRNjHAObnuZHTh5S1G7Tm_9vkiNxPuyzN8_V2rEGlrmtpu/w640-h480/IMG_8990.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made from maple that has been stained a darker brown and is satin coated. I usually gripe about mis matched colours on necks, but that is more about pale necks jarring against dark bodies. Here the dark neck works well I think. It's in three pieces with joints visible at the heel and headstock. It tapers to a nut that I measure at a roomy 37mm, 31mm G to A, and whilst the back profile is rounded, the width is just great.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fingerboard is made from more Eucalyptus in great condition and, whilst it doesn't say so anywhere in the product spec sheet, to my eyes there is a very slight radius to the top. It could be an optical illusion, but I am seeing something slight. If I am right though, that's great! That is edge bound in dark wood to hide the ends of the 18 frets joined at the 14th. Position markers are in mother of pearl offset half moon shapes at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th with the 12th double employing a mirrored half moon on the other side of the board. Not just a 'parts bin' approach to the neck then, and something a bit different though I would personally like them a bit smaller, particularly the third! These are also repeated on the side at the 5th through to 12th.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyjL5rbvJ_KPhDyL67NTwJLyOJxh0OMBS-JX_b7XT41r3eHd0nN3cvv1a7pDVkCqaZprX6cgifI0qzlLyfvbxAF0Waa7VPJSSEsCL63r0fG8QYNsj0n2ET2HVi5onIP3Z0tiaynkzgV45oG-8EUPFwqh-BRYblt8gLiWwqHIFrnWEObFKV3wjRhLS/s3000/R0003380.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyjL5rbvJ_KPhDyL67NTwJLyOJxh0OMBS-JX_b7XT41r3eHd0nN3cvv1a7pDVkCqaZprX6cgifI0qzlLyfvbxAF0Waa7VPJSSEsCL63r0fG8QYNsj0n2ET2HVi5onIP3Z0tiaynkzgV45oG-8EUPFwqh-BRYblt8gLiWwqHIFrnWEObFKV3wjRhLS/w640-h426/R0003380.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Beyond the NuBone nut is a 'different but familar' headstock faced in black and holding the Baton Rouge 'BR' logo in pearl inlay. Simple but no complaints.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNdvyJVf0CHdRF2jilJ8sZ9x_Au8OeJSUajOZjlZpgT3BtYrCIHxlxK-grab0VogCt0x2BnKqE5RDczLve0_mm7y6uZjMKg-cNSuYIn7kFShlNBvUUtQ__A6JwXQfxKqr7LiDTBaPjY4xEX9zlA-yZcmhh2rAYp5ZfTc-KJmQypZJA9czh7I_by8O/s3000/R0003381.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNdvyJVf0CHdRF2jilJ8sZ9x_Au8OeJSUajOZjlZpgT3BtYrCIHxlxK-grab0VogCt0x2BnKqE5RDczLve0_mm7y6uZjMKg-cNSuYIn7kFShlNBvUUtQ__A6JwXQfxKqr7LiDTBaPjY4xEX9zlA-yZcmhh2rAYp5ZfTc-KJmQypZJA9czh7I_by8O/w640-h426/R0003381.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners are unbranded open gears in gold with small amber buttons that look attractive. They are not super high end, but I find they work ok. I think I'd prefer chrome though.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RpfkTAplYlh7NGalGkKzu6WVtLGDlNokO0JyIaNDuUAPKF9wlW8NBWIzJxS5OsWb319qRPaYmM1GpFZ8NBP4Gjgm0eSLPD-6rgsa4Absa8CU3qcWZ07xqQ6zunJLociEmxGTD4m0u5KMGf2804zpzHAFqxFnniQdwZaCcas2jMvmdM_bhIN9t2Fr/s3000/R0003382.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RpfkTAplYlh7NGalGkKzu6WVtLGDlNokO0JyIaNDuUAPKF9wlW8NBWIzJxS5OsWb319qRPaYmM1GpFZ8NBP4Gjgm0eSLPD-6rgsa4Absa8CU3qcWZ07xqQ6zunJLociEmxGTD4m0u5KMGf2804zpzHAFqxFnniQdwZaCcas2jMvmdM_bhIN9t2Fr/w640-h426/R0003382.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing things off are set of Aquila strings and a gold tail strap button. And that comes in at a price of £139... And no, that's not a typo. It's £139 for an all solid wood tenor instrument with lots of appointments. I was going to bemoan the lack of a gig bag, but at that price that would be churlish. I genuinely thought the price was a mistake as i'm struggling to think of a half decent all solid tenor ukulele that gets anywhere near that price without going to Amazon trash. Remarkable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-tKgOW80tWlYq9IejAQEAxpepNAjCaC0gGmd31g1JoDDn55SORr-BsN1Q1Ch08qS5B6-At5ZJ_oD-Ij7NeCPw0r4mWjtQkS_Yzs-XRXbc4tZrGa-38mJtkJgYlDRj2aTULzgvqWBJRnUoUKIMTxLB6diAsScfhCY_G10L-V8ArstVF1f76Q7jAMD/s3000/R0003383.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-tKgOW80tWlYq9IejAQEAxpepNAjCaC0gGmd31g1JoDDn55SORr-BsN1Q1Ch08qS5B6-At5ZJ_oD-Ij7NeCPw0r4mWjtQkS_Yzs-XRXbc4tZrGa-38mJtkJgYlDRj2aTULzgvqWBJRnUoUKIMTxLB6diAsScfhCY_G10L-V8ArstVF1f76Q7jAMD/w640-h426/R0003383.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As you will have seen there is not a great deal I have found fault with here. I have one or two subjective dislikes on the looks, but it's put together very well and the use of thin woods is a delight. The setup is great, though I would expect that from Stones Music as Mark is very conscientious on this point. Because of those thin woods, it's extremely light at only 565g and balances perfectly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Volume here is great and I have no complaints on this score. It punches well and with little effort. Sustain is acceptable, but I have heard longer on that front. It's not problematically low, just middle of the road. Bear in mind though, with all solid woods this will open up over time and I suspect will improve.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1MYOvq2hk4nvJb1fHUj4JGpqAlmPIpwswRENuwgkcuS-4FzrsX4IzRJbN6mHrBSDMPCOO4URLml9jGIkYbz92v0v573N3bD11WiofEcGKTGmLopvdxHG-XIbTUVdD3pAMzzgVuD_KSRoafZjuzGF1fieWxFLjY5UVSEHberYC9iP0YjGKPvPS_4o/s3000/R0003384.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele comfort edge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1MYOvq2hk4nvJb1fHUj4JGpqAlmPIpwswRENuwgkcuS-4FzrsX4IzRJbN6mHrBSDMPCOO4URLml9jGIkYbz92v0v573N3bD11WiofEcGKTGmLopvdxHG-XIbTUVdD3pAMzzgVuD_KSRoafZjuzGF1fieWxFLjY5UVSEHberYC9iP0YjGKPvPS_4o/w640-h426/R0003384.JPG" title="Baton Rouge UTM-T Tenor Ukulele comfort edge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Being made of spruce and maple you'd expect the tone to be bright and it certainly is that. The clarity here is superb with each string cutting through the mix very well. Strummed it has a kind of fizzy edge as it harmonises with itself, lending it a more concert vibe than a tenor. Sound is very subjective of course and I would personally prefer a darker, woodier sounding tenor played this way, so I would be intrigued as to how the other woods change the sound. Saying all that I know a great many people who adore the crisp bright sound which is why spruce is so popular on ukes, so I am not chipping the score for my subjectivity as it's a very good sound. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fingerpicking is really nice with bell like chiming clarity all over the neck. Couple that with the nice roomy board and it's a joy to play this way (if you ignore my shonky playing in the video due to a hangover!).</div><div><br /></div><div>All things considered this has really taken me aback. Baton Rouge have done it again it seems, in delivering an instrument that punches WELL above it's asking price. In fact, as I say in the video I think this easily matches instruments that will cost you two to three times the price, which is quite remarkable. A great, thin build, interesting appointments and an absolutely clear tone and punch for less than laminate Kala money. What on earth is not to like here?</div><div><br />Very highly recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.batonrougeguitars.com/" target="_blank">https://www.batonrougeguitars.com/</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/stonesmusicgbbo00" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://sites.google.com/site/stonesmusicgbbo00</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br />Model: Baton Rouge UTM-T rECOtimber</div><div>Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: Solid German spruce top, solid flamed maple back and sides</div><div>Bridge: Eucalyptus tie bar</div><div>Saddle: NuBone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 38mm</div><div>Finish: Satin</div><div>Neck: maple</div><div>Fingerboard: Eucalyptus</div><div>Frets: 18, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: NuBone</div><div>Nut width: 37mm, 31mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded open gears<br />Strings: Aquila</div><div>Extras: Strap button</div><div>Weight: 565g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £139</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Good build</div><div>Classy looking woods</div><div>Thin top</div><div>Great neck</div><div>Good volume</div><div>Crisp clear tone</div><div>Remarkable price</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I'd ditch the comfort edge and shrink the fret markers<br />Not much else wrong!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Looks - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 10 out of 10</div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.1 out of 10</b></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com22United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-90845435123731922292023-11-05T14:42:00.000+00:002023-11-05T14:42:37.783+00:00Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Time for a ukulele scale that I don't feature enough on Got A Ukulele (not for lack of trying). This is the Snail SUB-M1 Baritone - an instrument where all is not quite as it seems.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8xYymNivVhMBtnJ2dYo03RHMsv26BV4YlHQnkwZQe18_kNhivaICXQ510dlkpc-OD4sXBSF8QayJriANzmblG4QsXxKVZGh6RDQQWDSgeftaI2kApBfDSjI_g9Qntg6QgOmPM_wi3ri3FkBmn3zf8gYARs6PXVukzcLNcny1lPuoMtMN_tDOTnaP/s6000/R0003364.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8xYymNivVhMBtnJ2dYo03RHMsv26BV4YlHQnkwZQe18_kNhivaICXQ510dlkpc-OD4sXBSF8QayJriANzmblG4QsXxKVZGh6RDQQWDSgeftaI2kApBfDSjI_g9Qntg6QgOmPM_wi3ri3FkBmn3zf8gYARs6PXVukzcLNcny1lPuoMtMN_tDOTnaP/w640-h426/R0003364.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>Snail have been around for a few years now and are a well known brand that have always done reasonably well on my reviews. I've never looked at one of their big guns though, and this is a baritone from the brand at the more entry level spec level that caught my eye.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a0hUNYe-NFA?si=Gy7NxjI6RomRUGGs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The SUB-M1 is a simple yet fairly classy looking instrument with a regular double bout shape. It's made from all laminate mahogany woods in the body, being part of that more entry level spec I mentioned. I regularly say that I have no issue with good laminate in ukuleles and on the bigger bodied instruments i'd say it has even less of an impact due to the increased size of the sound boards. No, you are not going to get a tone-wood tonal signature, and nor will you get opening up over time, but laminate woods tend to deliver an immediate sound that 'works' so I have no gripe here. Being mahogany it's not the most exiting wood to look at bar some of those that have some flame or fiddleback patterning. Not here though - this is very much stock mahogany in a uniform orange glow. Not exciting, but equally far from offensive either.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZ7UljpqnrId9bGmp-fJhIxkP1ihYUw4JqWEjt39lf645wV11hQBqphXcYdLu3SRCVciBxRkWq1wRF5Ku-M3-QnPSdk5Ay9V0VWDkrMs9rUfMhYcztMS2suRd0pwgXsv7jHJScSmfmxcOTxEH6JDq7NFOy0yuxHqX0nOaao-90OgescJfSsMAulHx/s6000/R0003365.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZ7UljpqnrId9bGmp-fJhIxkP1ihYUw4JqWEjt39lf645wV11hQBqphXcYdLu3SRCVciBxRkWq1wRF5Ku-M3-QnPSdk5Ay9V0VWDkrMs9rUfMhYcztMS2suRd0pwgXsv7jHJScSmfmxcOTxEH6JDq7NFOy0yuxHqX0nOaao-90OgescJfSsMAulHx/w640-h426/R0003365.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is the common 'batwing' shape used by Snail in their other instruments and is a through body style for stringing. It's listed as being made from ebony (though more on that later on) and is pretty tidy in the finish. Sitting in that is a compensated bone saddle and the spacing there is 42mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMnf4XkSH7Xn8trTVvMK69ZIIkLXhQPov5T2s1ATOYaPAn3jdd57Svb-_9o4Dl_5_zLyOz-4ugqiBgZxpLUr3_egeNmc90C4pm6Pf4e0isgerMZ_RvxuRat0hfI6d39F9LfCumON6EPac0wMT74c2PfaE_8Dq7A1WtfsZh3c7Ytl0FzJOzIiCUHQe/s6000/R0003366.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMnf4XkSH7Xn8trTVvMK69ZIIkLXhQPov5T2s1ATOYaPAn3jdd57Svb-_9o4Dl_5_zLyOz-4ugqiBgZxpLUr3_egeNmc90C4pm6Pf4e0isgerMZ_RvxuRat0hfI6d39F9LfCumON6EPac0wMT74c2PfaE_8Dq7A1WtfsZh3c7Ytl0FzJOzIiCUHQe/w640-h426/R0003366.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There is no other decoration here bar a simple abalone sound hole ring and wooden edge binding and tail stripe which, in view of the larger real estate leaves it looking a bit empty to my eyes. I'm not sure there is much more that could be done - maybe a clearer binding around the top to lift it, but it clearly has been cut down to keep the price lower. Hey, decoration makes no sound so no biggie I guess. The body is then finished in a gloss which is on the thick side, but I have seen far worse even though it is pooling a little around the fingerboard end.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1ax453JC9LbrEo_cSKMpbn5nHc8jvleJgORxVZRe9k0Q6qsFiRNObbHzxwF33XwaypOp1M3t-ur7q2PdpYZyZn0b2QxhneP8F8eUJtF5FY9cRzIhNMMqdq27hzDec8bc3F1KmszaRKBMXuT1PPKEp9IOQ-OIvflWKAg_XCZjlJc9VZ53Qk-R-jJ2/s6000/R0003367.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1ax453JC9LbrEo_cSKMpbn5nHc8jvleJgORxVZRe9k0Q6qsFiRNObbHzxwF33XwaypOp1M3t-ur7q2PdpYZyZn0b2QxhneP8F8eUJtF5FY9cRzIhNMMqdq27hzDec8bc3F1KmszaRKBMXuT1PPKEp9IOQ-OIvflWKAg_XCZjlJc9VZ53Qk-R-jJ2/w640-h426/R0003367.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Inside is tidy with notched linings and braces that are not overly thick. The top is vertically braced with two supports on the lower bout either side of the bridge plate. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiso5QKpr3v5hOzZhZ9mUn0m0QxueEWSwYSgnRzVqPvjsPbu8MzcUI-SkYYiza06wou8ZsNY5TP_htJA9LQiBmjP3RZzdJryY9TYk-94uB46ZXOinWDZ8hh_Ox9bfVTwbSjchMBeAzG6MV51xPzxMGSvvtUP539OtGgFLb2Vncq5HWfOujl3kA1Nt/s2592/IMG_8979.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLiso5QKpr3v5hOzZhZ9mUn0m0QxueEWSwYSgnRzVqPvjsPbu8MzcUI-SkYYiza06wou8ZsNY5TP_htJA9LQiBmjP3RZzdJryY9TYk-94uB46ZXOinWDZ8hh_Ox9bfVTwbSjchMBeAzG6MV51xPzxMGSvvtUP539OtGgFLb2Vncq5HWfOujl3kA1Nt/w640-h480/IMG_8979.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck wood is not specified but is a lot paler than the body and is also glossed. It's made from three pieces with very obvious joints at the heel and headstock. What's most disappointing is that whilst the profile at the nut flattens off quite nicely it has a distinctly average 35mm nut width, 27mm between the outer strings.. for a baritone. I know it's not a hard and fast rule, but as scales get bigger, brands do tend to increase the nut size a bit. Take the Flight Fireball Baritone - that has a 38mm nut. I've played sopranos with more space than this and it immediately puts me off.<br /><br />Topping that is a fingerboard listed as ebony like the bridge, but looking more closely at it, I think it's re-constituted wood as I can see the layers in it. If that's the case they really should say so. It's edge bound in brown wood hiding the 20 frets joined at the 14th and also meaning there are no sharp edges. Simple pearl position dots face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th and they are paired with side dots. At the top end is a bone nut which, whilst having a decent action is far too angular on the ends and is positively painful on the hand if you butt up against it in first position. It really does need dressing back.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mm2m1YNpwbROqQpWWRQx5qSTSmxgorVKFsr90QRIzgKdN-5C6CShYLZJ6h75d2p1GPyIGpD5_q4rzBLRPEhH-BERGduv21FQQGJ92IRGe8PbuvuuPXtkSxNTvN_k3lC1PUt47mXGMTPy6IK1ItjJq5TY2NTO8JleHZjbnYVJYhdhr_-01-BGZElI/s6000/R0003368.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mm2m1YNpwbROqQpWWRQx5qSTSmxgorVKFsr90QRIzgKdN-5C6CShYLZJ6h75d2p1GPyIGpD5_q4rzBLRPEhH-BERGduv21FQQGJ92IRGe8PbuvuuPXtkSxNTvN_k3lC1PUt47mXGMTPy6IK1ItjJq5TY2NTO8JleHZjbnYVJYhdhr_-01-BGZElI/w640-h426/R0003368.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The headstock is the similar pseudo crown shape Snail have used before, nicely faced in some ebony veneer in their usual style that just falls short of the edges to give it the effect of a touch of binding or relief. On this example the ebony is stripy and quite pale in places which I really like, though bear in mind some others I have seen photographs of have much darker ebony here. The usual Snail logo is a wooden inlay in the top face, and as I have said before the word 'Snail' doesn't actually read 'Snail' at all, rather 'Snoie'. I've never understood why they haven't tidied this, but maybe they don't read these reviews!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfYUsmoVQxHTcJph1-iuR-nGYbZOjNi3rzFp2-zWt8ZrHfQsw5yyZaLbzDgIZ2r9eg1wAe-Wlv_owpp26B1KKyRClO1azh-c_mGq9cFxFuYN5MLumxU9wD4G92Y6WGKiHjHHnHUDQabiMbIYY-iH4rNIUHuCyK4hIczD1dKvhnfED_yZGUidEW24P/s6000/R0003369.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfYUsmoVQxHTcJph1-iuR-nGYbZOjNi3rzFp2-zWt8ZrHfQsw5yyZaLbzDgIZ2r9eg1wAe-Wlv_owpp26B1KKyRClO1azh-c_mGq9cFxFuYN5MLumxU9wD4G92Y6WGKiHjHHnHUDQabiMbIYY-iH4rNIUHuCyK4hIczD1dKvhnfED_yZGUidEW24P/w640-h426/R0003369.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are Snail branded sealed gears in chrome. Whilst I'd always prefer open gears rather than guitar tuners (on weight grounds), these are less noticeable on a bigger uke like a baritone. They are a bit cheap feeling to use though with some odd jumpiness on turning them and varying tensions.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs_aeh9LUEKhsfxFn8A0YXA1pNWoAMAE1DOfJ2i_2wo2RotpkkQC7D60s1rxBWzSVqdB7pM3IhQgz31E4cS2PNZLtyA6VJ2U94Sww83MtmTHP01A2qxtGNVRz-6JEnGr5m9bPdsJmKNlnKxfKw8PTcFXYrY-nCl_SRC8j_aqI06o4p1Ui3R18y-9x/s6000/R0003370.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs_aeh9LUEKhsfxFn8A0YXA1pNWoAMAE1DOfJ2i_2wo2RotpkkQC7D60s1rxBWzSVqdB7pM3IhQgz31E4cS2PNZLtyA6VJ2U94Sww83MtmTHP01A2qxtGNVRz-6JEnGr5m9bPdsJmKNlnKxfKw8PTcFXYrY-nCl_SRC8j_aqI06o4p1Ui3R18y-9x/w640-h426/R0003370.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Finishing it off are a set of unspecified strings that feel like clear nylon and a decent branded padded gig bag. And the UK list for these is circa £219.99 which is clearly not a lot and is often discounted to below £200.</div><div><br /></div><div>But..... those strings... this comes as standard in C tuning... and C tuning with a HIGH G. What? On a baritone? Perhaps I am going to make too much of this and I appreciate tuning is a totally subjective thing and lots of people like to tune baritones in tenor tuning.. but as the standard offering out of the box? Personally I find different uke scales suit different tunings and the regular DGBE works FAR better for my ears on a baritone than GCEA to fatten out the breadth of tone the bigger body can deliver. I simply don't get this as being the standard choice. OK, some specialist uke dealers are offering a change to G tuning included in the price, but not all. You could buy this expecting a G tuning baritone and you may end up having to spend more on a string change (and possibly adjust the intonation too). Add in the soprano width nut and it makes me wonder whether Snail actually know what a baritone ukulele actually is? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaB6kIbyn0ZHFFT-M6yT6oPq7ZFHaxVPw4a6ZrHlTRtuPWjJEVpDHRW3NXZSdjvhqJlHRsh30edECFm8tGjYD6dqvzuq0iAZy9vx2Jxn7kHeDO4gZRzIddm2gNI_2HwKzTydi41wADbfTQE2pO3W_1G9HOlimzuvS0vzRr33k87eqDeKJ8dTGa4Sd/s6000/R0003371.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaB6kIbyn0ZHFFT-M6yT6oPq7ZFHaxVPw4a6ZrHlTRtuPWjJEVpDHRW3NXZSdjvhqJlHRsh30edECFm8tGjYD6dqvzuq0iAZy9vx2Jxn7kHeDO4gZRzIddm2gNI_2HwKzTydi41wADbfTQE2pO3W_1G9HOlimzuvS0vzRr33k87eqDeKJ8dTGa4Sd/w640-h426/R0003371.JPG" title="Snail SUB-M1 Baritone Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So some gripes / questions / confusion on my part. Thankfully the build, finish and setup are decent enough (bar that sharp nut). It's not a heavy instrument either at 710g though despite the guitar tuners this is actually body heavy. I'd rather that than a neck dive, but it's still not right.</div><div><br /></div><div>Volume and sustain first and whilst neither are what I would call poor they are both just distinctly average. Volume wise it sounds like something is constraining or muting it, particularly up the neck but even just in first position strums it still needs a lot of effort. Sustain too is also low and dies off quickly which is really not what I would want or expect from a bigger body. It sounds like a much smaller instrument.</div><div><br />And then the tone - well this is a challenge for me as it's not tuned how I would 'expect' a baritone to sound. The tone, whether strummed or picked is bright and clear giving it a jangly peppy sound that is even more concert sounding to me than even tenor sounding. And that's just odd to me. There's not much breadth of depth to the tone at all. What it sounds like to me is a just above average middle ground cheaper tenor or concert and certainly not with a baritone voice. Is that a bad thing? Well plenty of people like their baritones tuned in C tuning so people may like it, but my point here is that even if I am comparing it to instruments in tenor scale this wouldn't be a stand-out either. I like the clarity and chime it has, but coupled with the lower than average sustain it's too staccato for me on such a big instrument. Why?</div><div><br /></div><div>So this has been a hard one for me to sum up. It's well built enough, but the nut width is really not for me. The tone is clear and bright, but I am not convinced that's a positive for a baritone, particularly with the lower sustain. Sure you could change them, but I simply think it should come in G tuning from the off. I really wasn't sure how to adjust the scoring for this so I've cut back the fit and finish score for the nut, tuners and string choice (because the latter is deliberate). I've also trimmed the sound score back because, whilst it's a nice enough tone, it's still just average even if it was a tenor and it's certainly not a baritone sound so i've judged it mainly on that. The score would be higher if it was a tenor on this aspect, but still not stellar either! Nothing is perfect in scoring though and if you could be bothered to change the strings then i'm sure this is a good value for money option on a no frills baritone. It's a nice enough instrument, but i'm just asking myself 'why' too many times with this one.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.snail-ukulele.com/" target="_blank">https://www.snail-ukulele.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Snail SUB-M1</div><div>Scale: Baritone</div><div>Body: Laminate mahogany</div><div>Bridge: Ebony, through style</div><div>Saddle: Compensated bone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 42mm</div><div>Finish: Gloss</div><div>Neck: Mahogany?</div><div>Fingerboard: Ebony?</div><div>Frets: 20, 14 <br />Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 35mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Snail branded sealed gears<br />Strings: Unspecified (clear nylon?) in high GCEA</div><div>Extras: Gig bag</div><div>Weight: 710g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £219.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Decent enough build and finish</div><div>Simply but classy look<br /></div><div>Clear, bright tone<br /><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br />A little plain for some?</div><div>35mm nut on a baritone?</div><div>Sharp nut</div><div>High G tuning on a baritone?</div><div>Cheap tuners</div><div>Volume and sustain a little muted?<br />Those positives on tone are not baritone positives for me</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 8 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 7.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 7 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 7.9 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com1United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-81269855714250442462023-10-22T14:23:00.000+01:002023-10-22T14:23:30.646+01:00Millar Custom All Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Sometimes a ukulele just looks 'right up my street' at Got A Ukulele towers. This is the Millar Custom All Solid Sapele Soprano.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEndc5G6FseP7bDn2nyEXiK74bGEVPXDcyd_7yDAetBR25QTUDe-G2azxMsIqO4WoYqpa57c20uW30tHqfldl7uyZGGuE8NdIpZb4lewiWFHGvLWu606uqCmdViJ4Myn-H-spZQ3GJYWKwwoN4pVl8IjDUatQMX5GxVlOi_308B5FmPPIWTDz68lCM/s3000/R0003352.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEndc5G6FseP7bDn2nyEXiK74bGEVPXDcyd_7yDAetBR25QTUDe-G2azxMsIqO4WoYqpa57c20uW30tHqfldl7uyZGGuE8NdIpZb4lewiWFHGvLWu606uqCmdViJ4Myn-H-spZQ3GJYWKwwoN4pVl8IjDUatQMX5GxVlOi_308B5FmPPIWTDz68lCM/w640-h426/R0003352.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>That intro is loaded with bias for an independent review site, but I can't hide that fact that a no-nonsense soprano is always high on my list. The Millar brand too are ukulele makers that have only ever impressed me when I have reviewed them. So when I saw World of Ukes put a post up about this one I made my views clear. When they then offered for me to take a look, I was hardly going to say no. But did I get it wrong? Are first impressions dangerous? Let's delve in.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mNWMbQMHBm4?si=5vIfQGVps4lOF8WP" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div><br /></div><div>Rather than an 'off the peg' Millar, this is a custom offering made in Taiwan by their head luthier, Eric. And despite being otherwise undecorated there was something I saw in the photos Matt posted that just made my jaw drop. When I looked into it further I was also surprised. This is a double bout soprano in a very traditional shape with a skinny waist and much narrower upper bout that I really like. It harks more to the earliest Hawaiian shapes (but not quite) more than the more modern swoopy curves of some instruments today. The surprise came when I learned that this is made from solid sapele. When I see sapele I, perhaps unfairly, assume that it's a cheaper material than some others and it is usually also quite plain. Here though is a set of woods that really quite beautiful and I believe it's 'birds eye sapele'. It reminds me of the sort of burl finish that you would see on a glossy cigar humidor in a businessman's office... (Matt went with the dashboard of a sports car, but I didn't want to steal his thunder..) . It's not massively over the top but more subtle and shows it's colours in different lighting angles. It's swirly in places and looks almost quilted and flamed. I absolutely adore it. The build is using two pieces for the top back and sides - not totally necessary on a soprano but nice to see as you get some bookmatching.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lOGWWaDDPi5GLYvXEISFJyTrW5fy3kndP87i18k9b-ZqMIklKCaMW24HpLbYBPQyeypJi9MMD85GtBVQT0O1aLB68hP_FB21KkDxG-QtpYHVp_OE8dmwP06roIagTej3nlz-zG9fdFrl8Hkrl6APPiNR79u1W10IdZ-JIeDslL2OB2D8sZPyyGZs/s3000/R0003353.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lOGWWaDDPi5GLYvXEISFJyTrW5fy3kndP87i18k9b-ZqMIklKCaMW24HpLbYBPQyeypJi9MMD85GtBVQT0O1aLB68hP_FB21KkDxG-QtpYHVp_OE8dmwP06roIagTej3nlz-zG9fdFrl8Hkrl6APPiNR79u1W10IdZ-JIeDslL2OB2D8sZPyyGZs/w640-h426/R0003353.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The bridge material is not specified, but is a very simple tidy slot bridge that looks to me like it is rosewood. Sitting in that is a straight topped bone saddle. Spacing here is 38mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBcgssnmS-29Ev3B6NDYGiBHOhYXb_5BI4kAK8LnGP1Bdo_jsJAQnRiT6LBev1KCOjdUtJbOYtpspH0GHBBSj-Kc1aJzudXkcrhaxKSJmPnP1iFD92D8-FT8y1R_sWqg8o0_pEa0jmxP5cpwZWRUkJnK8qeQE0WDpIXrjIRanj2AiQ37umCJ9zJ3m/s3000/R0003354.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBcgssnmS-29Ev3B6NDYGiBHOhYXb_5BI4kAK8LnGP1Bdo_jsJAQnRiT6LBev1KCOjdUtJbOYtpspH0GHBBSj-Kc1aJzudXkcrhaxKSJmPnP1iFD92D8-FT8y1R_sWqg8o0_pEa0jmxP5cpwZWRUkJnK8qeQE0WDpIXrjIRanj2AiQ37umCJ9zJ3m/w640-h426/R0003354.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As I say, there is no other decoration on the instrument, but with woods like this and an interesting shape I am pleased about that. Let the wood do the talking. It's finished in a deep gloss which is like a mirror and makes the swirls in the wood grain really pop and shine. It's largely done well but a slight touch heavy around the end of the fingerboard. The top and back edges are also chamfered off so they feel smooth against the arm which is also good to see.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SC265zpt_UHfZnjhrTz60OaRHm_mf_lnxg3LRhX3JwKeEKUVQAu_8eYVvrnw_e7MlHi2W01nJ1yAMBfa2_GoXQ0qeYstIziYyUb5Nq4pTrr3RQiJRe64TBRbFy5ANc2v4pfSJh2iAsgvCaxNuCq3x8vX2lnNdHR8wgeUPjtON0cbn10Zzuw3Tnbz/s3000/R0003355.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SC265zpt_UHfZnjhrTz60OaRHm_mf_lnxg3LRhX3JwKeEKUVQAu_8eYVvrnw_e7MlHi2W01nJ1yAMBfa2_GoXQ0qeYstIziYyUb5Nq4pTrr3RQiJRe64TBRbFy5ANc2v4pfSJh2iAsgvCaxNuCq3x8vX2lnNdHR8wgeUPjtON0cbn10Zzuw3Tnbz/w640-h426/R0003355.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside is nice and tidy with small braces and notched linings. The usual paper label is replaced by a numbered wooden label and the Millar logo is also stamped on the neck block.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_80B49EloADLDsQdSDqbw5ryMBGStL3gBfwbJMJ8K2RARzJrVjuG-gozZFKFzhlM89u1ggIQH1ymSWppY3CA_si9LU_ks5uz05vy8xr_C6uSfkj5ISbaZyKe4WXjBTCn7nwjOhuP300t4yE0JtK0KoSYOhfkkhepmeXbkCki1h9s1a4AVxgoaMxG/s2592/IMG_8930.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_80B49EloADLDsQdSDqbw5ryMBGStL3gBfwbJMJ8K2RARzJrVjuG-gozZFKFzhlM89u1ggIQH1ymSWppY3CA_si9LU_ks5uz05vy8xr_C6uSfkj5ISbaZyKe4WXjBTCn7nwjOhuP300t4yE0JtK0KoSYOhfkkhepmeXbkCki1h9s1a4AVxgoaMxG/w640-h480/IMG_8930.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The neck wood is not specified but could also be sapele or mahogany. It's jointed at the heel and headstock but they are extremely well hidden and at first I didn't even think there was a heel joint. It's glossed like the body which I would prefer to be satin myself. It tapers to a generic 35mm nut width with 27mm string spacing, but the back profile is flattened and shallow which makes up for that with my hands.</div><div><br />It's topped with what looks like more rosewood with slightly rolled edges for comfort and is all in well oiled condition. It's also edge bound with dark wood to hide the fret ends of which you get 17 joined a the 12th. They are dressed extremely well and very shallow with almost slightly flattened tops to them. That with the low action makes for a very comfortable fretting experience that's edging toward a fretless feel! Simple pearl dots face out at the 5th, 7th and 10th and you get dots on the side too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9FR2kpPzDI_ii3LQP3mCZBbtU8eN3wv3nNMB4U4vs_fn3NFP49vcMwHRJgwZDnL4Co8GUaUSopC5FQ50GVZbW-B95eEovdf8vM-c4xINijzwJPQaWmpLs4J2d6ZXcs6kjKCSiorSy3_SFySZdQmvNS9b6p2QXMUiM2VANBfb5Hbb-XF9y-tn8Kpy/s3000/R0003356.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9FR2kpPzDI_ii3LQP3mCZBbtU8eN3wv3nNMB4U4vs_fn3NFP49vcMwHRJgwZDnL4Co8GUaUSopC5FQ50GVZbW-B95eEovdf8vM-c4xINijzwJPQaWmpLs4J2d6ZXcs6kjKCSiorSy3_SFySZdQmvNS9b6p2QXMUiM2VANBfb5Hbb-XF9y-tn8Kpy/w640-h426/R0003356.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />The headstock is a three pointed crown affair, though I was disappointed to see that the colour differs quite markedly from the body or even the back of the neck. It's very pale and i'm not sure works aesthetically for me. Maybe it's been done specifically to create a contrast, but I think that would work better the other way through the use of a darker face plate. The Millar logo is a pearly screen print under the gloss.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPvnNrvVded2ZNfTo9_BrLFGvw8RAJL6kuy6EYDLDyIACMBHnALWvLjxvDpCgDT4gHM6xDnMAoP3DrQHegibmlEK29AXNSyhpzHYO2GkNIf-QYa9ihv_ibs-XxvGabuWmP22XEYXFi6GbUa_FjS7EqlYP8n4tcK9XvYsh58WiFFmLmwXZ1xWGfxzf/s3000/R0003357.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPvnNrvVded2ZNfTo9_BrLFGvw8RAJL6kuy6EYDLDyIACMBHnALWvLjxvDpCgDT4gHM6xDnMAoP3DrQHegibmlEK29AXNSyhpzHYO2GkNIf-QYa9ihv_ibs-XxvGabuWmP22XEYXFi6GbUa_FjS7EqlYP8n4tcK9XvYsh58WiFFmLmwXZ1xWGfxzf/w640-h426/R0003357.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The tuners are sublime Gotoh UPT planetary gears which are, quite simply, about as good as they get on ukuleles. These have the classy gold trim rather than the more agricultural silver and come with black buttons.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYvDuabmqog41NWgV4YFxIsGkwkN6nKXibj5Zw3Iis51wikYyK8m4NT98ZkU-INyIhbtLD7u2cLuLwY2GAfBdFo7dIc-zV2wH48KAzxX-qvtDpt0cen5qBLkYdVTWWkaO5d4uUj_N4Ka-6VeOqYqQzDRgWi6iw0rouzFzbig4BHUKrbSH1EkaJ-W3/s3000/R0003358.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYvDuabmqog41NWgV4YFxIsGkwkN6nKXibj5Zw3Iis51wikYyK8m4NT98ZkU-INyIhbtLD7u2cLuLwY2GAfBdFo7dIc-zV2wH48KAzxX-qvtDpt0cen5qBLkYdVTWWkaO5d4uUj_N4Ka-6VeOqYqQzDRgWi6iw0rouzFzbig4BHUKrbSH1EkaJ-W3/w640-h426/R0003358.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It is finished off with what the World of Ukes site says are Fremont Blackline strings, but to my eye these look like Worth Browns (Matt? I thought blacklines were less brown?). No matter either way, they are both great string sets. It comes with nothing else though I think a hard case should feature in the price. And when these are available (rarely I guess being a custom shop instrument!) would set you back £599. That's a bit of money for something so simple, but it's a serious instrument. Still something feels a little expensive for me when you could get something like a Pono solid soprano for a bit less or even the Millar Phil Doleman for considerably less. Custom shop stuff costs I guess...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQfHn4kRh3zY-LSHmRvSrhFuae5_eh_CI66UihwI9exZ4J-8jVj4dMc56rbHybN2EgZXf-24ga9dLQbF7eQj2GyCCHQluCXOme711sRFg1_Vk1ZUVW9AwKDPpVqURInWTu3UePulPr2EBMP5mT_LfYgKiylxA2mOKdfYxJdA7Fk4KfbzTgDcMPUuC/s3000/R0003359.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQfHn4kRh3zY-LSHmRvSrhFuae5_eh_CI66UihwI9exZ4J-8jVj4dMc56rbHybN2EgZXf-24ga9dLQbF7eQj2GyCCHQluCXOme711sRFg1_Vk1ZUVW9AwKDPpVqURInWTu3UePulPr2EBMP5mT_LfYgKiylxA2mOKdfYxJdA7Fk4KfbzTgDcMPUuC/w640-h426/R0003359.JPG" title="Millar Custom Solid Sapele Soprano Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So much to like here with a very good build and lovely finish / look. It's a teeny little thing that is very comfortable to hold at only 425g and feels great. I very much like the neck. Setup is good too but i'd expect that from World of Ukes.</div><div><br />Matt says in his product spec that he didn't think it was the loudest ukulele and whilst I <i>kind</i> of get that with fingerpicking, when strummed it's got enough bark to keep me happy. No, perhaps not the loudest soprano I have heard, but it's really no slouch for me. Sustain is absolutely brilliant here which goes on and on with a nice harmonic warble. With a soprano that's a real boon as the small bodies can often be staccato in sound. No gripes on that score.</div><div><br />The tone has a real warm richness to it that again belies the small scale and diminutive body. It has bags of character and harmonises with itself very nicely. It's foremost a woody tone to my ears but with a kind of fizzy edge on top that adds a zing on top. It's a really classy grown up sound that I am very taken with. Strummed the notes are clear and punchy enough for traditional rhythmical play with tonnes of character and that zingy finish. Fingerpicked, as I say, does seem to require a little more effort to get the volume up, but the tone is charming and rich. It's a compelling sound that I have been going back to all day since it arrived.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I think I was right to say it was 'right up my street' when I first saw it. The looks for me are just great and whilst i'd make a change to the neck finish and headstock facing, i'm being really picky. The sound is anything but one dimensional and almost sounds different with each piece of music you play as it has complexity and character. I personally think it's a touch heavy on the price, but I appreciate costs are rising and now I have played it, I could easily see me paying for something like this. I believe more may be coming, but not with this birds eye wood which is a shame. Though if the build and tone are anything like this I will be keeping an eye open regardless!</div><div><br />Very highly recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://worldofukes.co.uk/" target="_blank">https://worldofukes.co.uk/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Millar Custom All Solid Sapele</div><div>Scale: Soprano</div><div>Body: Solid Sapele</div><div>Bridge: Rosewood (?) Slot style</div><div>Saddle: Bone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 38mm</div><div>Finish: Gloss</div><div>Neck: Unspecified</div><div>Fingerboard: Rosewood?</div><div>Frets: 17, 12 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 35mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Gotoh UPT in gold and black</div><div>Strings: Fremont Blackline </div><div>Country of origin: Taiwan</div><div>Weight: 425g</div><div>Price: £599</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Wonderfully simple yet interesting look</div><div>Beautiful wood and body shape</div><div>Great build and finish in every department<br />Superb tuners</div><div>Great sustain</div><div>Warm rich yet zingy tone with lots of character</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Why the pale headstock?</div><div>A case would be nice for the asking price</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 8.5 out of 10</div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.1 out of 10</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><br />
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-75368642330374623752023-10-15T13:59:00.000+01:002023-10-15T13:59:30.358+01:00Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">Got A Ukulele Reviews return with another dive into the dizzying array of cheap instruments largely only available on Amazon. This is the Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIxtnWvAhUrqRf3Fg8QTHkU8fErL27Zux_ZGG1rg4abGzENyee410o9n8IRwlleHI4c8klO1eUu65kSLVOfSz3WNmv_P6Di5pNHybzKFtlQmbdK0YSSbLrrLO9mzWsPGvWzajmVBsPUa1hax_MdUzYjHGYdLk2pGlsV2fPD4HET8sk6D9fsO-Bgs2/s3000/R0003343.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIxtnWvAhUrqRf3Fg8QTHkU8fErL27Zux_ZGG1rg4abGzENyee410o9n8IRwlleHI4c8klO1eUu65kSLVOfSz3WNmv_P6Di5pNHybzKFtlQmbdK0YSSbLrrLO9mzWsPGvWzajmVBsPUa1hax_MdUzYjHGYdLk2pGlsV2fPD4HET8sk6D9fsO-Bgs2/w640-h426/R0003343.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><span></span><div>Regular readers will know that I don't recommend buying ukuleles from Amazon as they are largely drop shipped and have never been checked or set up since they left their far eastern factories. But people do use them a lot for buying ukes and it's only right that this site takes a look for that reason, and not least because if you rely on Amazon reviews you'd think everything was 'Five Star'... I've looked at the Winzz brand before with another <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2021/06/winzz-concert-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">concert ukulele of theirs</a>, but it really didn't do too well. It wasn't an absolute dog of an instrument, but was rather shabby. This one caught my eye because of an aesthetic that we have already seen before in terms of it being a coloured instrument, maple neck, pickguard, yadda yadda.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hLDg5Swtvho?si=25fT_tVufSgeQhu0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>
<div><br /></div><div>I'm clearly harking back to the hugely popular aNueNue Color series ukuleles which clearly has given inspiration to this (and a few other brands). I am not going to say 'copy' as there are a lot of differences here, but the overall feel and concept is clearly taken from that first aNueNue success, particularly the use of maple and the flat colouring. That's not against the rules, and I suppose if something is proving popular with buyers then 'why wouldn't you'? However, I do think such approaches are lazy and you are also setting yourself up to be judged against the original and better get it right. Flight did well on that front with the Iris, as did <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2022/09/cordoba-15cm-matiz-concert-ukulele.html" target="_blank">Cordoba with the 15CM Matiz</a> to a point. <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2021/07/ortega-gaucho-series-ruga-org-tenor.html" target="_blank">Ortega less so with the Gaucho</a>. Let's see if Winzz can crack it.</div><div><br /></div><div>So this one has a rather blunt title of the Winzz Kids Ukulele (though the description goes on to say 'for adults too' - and more specifically this is the AU-COO-23). I'm not sure how adding a bit of colour makes it a 'kids' uke, but there we are. It's a traditionally shaped double bout ukulele that comes in a range of flat colours including this grey, but also red, green, purple, black and brown. Unlike the aNueNue offering this adds the colour to the whole body and loses that contrast look with the regular wood back and sides. I think that is a worse choice and really puts this more on a par with the flood of brightly coloured sopranos. Interestingly these <i>are</i> also available as sopranos! More on the finish later on though. The body here is made of basswood laminate, that is to say lime wood and about as cheap and soft a wood as you will see on a ukulele. Plywood in other words. Overall though the look is not offensive and even rather fun I suppose.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklg5-vAK4fH0F5nM2u0S8AA6SPTJwSKz05Wxl1-TaVdOFPhiYNHOkrpuXEO1XmD8TbPCqIFfbmYxBeMZBun50uaYE9PwEHlXQikZyDCbq7J-u0QSi6VuUl1UD9S1CfEcOGjPMqcJhNaRaSk6zVUcxK8wououRLjcpFC5omVDVp9jrz75KA3jN-8Mm/s3000/R0003344.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklg5-vAK4fH0F5nM2u0S8AA6SPTJwSKz05Wxl1-TaVdOFPhiYNHOkrpuXEO1XmD8TbPCqIFfbmYxBeMZBun50uaYE9PwEHlXQikZyDCbq7J-u0QSi6VuUl1UD9S1CfEcOGjPMqcJhNaRaSk6zVUcxK8wououRLjcpFC5omVDVp9jrz75KA3jN-8Mm/w640-h426/R0003344.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The bridge goes with maple and is a tie bar style screwed in place. I like the use of maple on instruments particularly as it sands so nicely to a glassy smooth finish. The sander clearly had a day off on this one though as this is just rough bare wood that looks totally unfinished. Sitting in that is a straight topped plastic saddle and the string spacing is 42mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9EdlGosM_-MbkWWtzR_QVX0KZ1FcAipZvFSBzSe8g8jpQl2zbLJT1ypK73Hfgu32OL_mdEJyQWMh2EyH58iteKf11ed9Ua-fGykZk6fp6pPLHYonsgHhHiujvMlz6X4Anm-cxk3OVUnLvwobz1TAj6i5dMoW2RVAvwxIqHlFanoOPWXjq3-K4aRV/s3000/R0003345.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9EdlGosM_-MbkWWtzR_QVX0KZ1FcAipZvFSBzSe8g8jpQl2zbLJT1ypK73Hfgu32OL_mdEJyQWMh2EyH58iteKf11ed9Ua-fGykZk6fp6pPLHYonsgHhHiujvMlz6X4Anm-cxk3OVUnLvwobz1TAj6i5dMoW2RVAvwxIqHlFanoOPWXjq3-K4aRV/w640-h426/R0003345.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The finish is, as I say, a flat colour all over the instrument. It's pretty smooth on the hands but a closer look in various places, particularly around the joints shows me it has been poorly applied with ripples and bubbles in spots that look plain ugly. There is no other decoration or bindings bar the white teardrop shaped pickguard. I never think pick guards work on a ukulele, and whilst they don't wholly offend me this is on the wrong place to work as a guard. I also think it looks stark with the white colouring though I admit the instrument might look a bit odd without it. Perhaps a sound hole ring and top binding would have been a better choice.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdXopEQC_3S4mFnD4Kqun5R3ePgIbF4t4Hst6_hkY0ibOd-OZ8TO_6tKFpTOMGn5GbHwGZtcpDnEC5mkP_5_4fkxE8VN9BG1Of1NNzxxzqsnZ9NDL1R3p0aZjn-I6MizekFRRF42uE-V5YHr2uteEvlsEwCizhyJuj2d2ENf9Ib5q7o-VDr_Lo-2h/s3000/R0003346.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdXopEQC_3S4mFnD4Kqun5R3ePgIbF4t4Hst6_hkY0ibOd-OZ8TO_6tKFpTOMGn5GbHwGZtcpDnEC5mkP_5_4fkxE8VN9BG1Of1NNzxxzqsnZ9NDL1R3p0aZjn-I6MizekFRRF42uE-V5YHr2uteEvlsEwCizhyJuj2d2ENf9Ib5q7o-VDr_Lo-2h/w640-h426/R0003346.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside is pretty standard and simple. The braces are quite chunky and the main lower bout has just a single vertical brace. The linings are notched with quite a bit of glue, but I have seen worse.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6f0I8vEOYNpLydfq816lRIDe0x_vvDDnbFQ5PReZsDs6k0maRizchMJuij6pz6y3M-yExEGngpRWzB1uV2WEXNhOJrU3eS7BkmfiJCf8ZTCnD8aWUfjKiDte512yt0vyOe9LC3HIDYX8yzG2fYIZVcEhjcG2T0VTMoL3SYNA6CefoxxbPX60X2RU/s2592/IMG_8903.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF6f0I8vEOYNpLydfq816lRIDe0x_vvDDnbFQ5PReZsDs6k0maRizchMJuij6pz6y3M-yExEGngpRWzB1uV2WEXNhOJrU3eS7BkmfiJCf8ZTCnD8aWUfjKiDte512yt0vyOe9LC3HIDYX8yzG2fYIZVcEhjcG2T0VTMoL3SYNA6CefoxxbPX60X2RU/w640-h480/IMG_8903.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made from what might be maple, but is low quality wood in view of the ugly uneven grain. It's jointed at the heel and halfway up the neck with very obvious and ugly joints with the different sections being different colours. The heel joint to the body is also scruffy and is actually coming away at the heel cap side which is splitting the finish. That's really not good and likely fatal. Yes, I could glue it but really, why bother? That tapers to a fat nut profile and a generic 35mm width, 27mm from G to A.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fingerboard is what looks like more maple layered on the top of the neck. Thankfully this is more uniform and tidy in colour though the finishing looks a little bare. It's fitted with 18 frets joined at the 12th and these are not edge bound so you see the end tangs in the side. They are also a touch sharp! Black position dots face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th, but sadly you get no side markers.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO78o511b9N3aGdX1qAMtBh9AkGqmQkesUALH60TeW7_om0toIyXEpjj1jM0DRrmxC_9jLJQNfF4i1yDogbR6LZzADhJuWGcR2DTu60GZIZ4Rz-rEe0yh6_dqoa0TGfDgzPdVm2rl2xUNTMBYGWiKw8KUYaR_YsklijhC52ZavJfLISGmhnQrXJ-X/s3000/R0003347.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele fingerboard" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO78o511b9N3aGdX1qAMtBh9AkGqmQkesUALH60TeW7_om0toIyXEpjj1jM0DRrmxC_9jLJQNfF4i1yDogbR6LZzADhJuWGcR2DTu60GZIZ4Rz-rEe0yh6_dqoa0TGfDgzPdVm2rl2xUNTMBYGWiKw8KUYaR_YsklijhC52ZavJfLISGmhnQrXJ-X/w640-h426/R0003347.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele fingerboard" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Beyond the plastic nut is an inoffensive headstock with some nice enough shaping on the top. The Winzz logo and an 'oh so stereotypical' palm tree emblem are laser etched into the wood which looks cheap. Just a black screen print would look so much better.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm97Hdr_OS4gTaIuOi9kQgGCi5-XcSq0YqmN0r-iGM9rRvHIKhV8Z6drOk2xxVepblAgIPN-E6bkVkGhA3WxlAG3R3MeF93tEwwDNAUvSMYKSAIBOoQziekydXSA4Jknt3SJwDAAxdx7sPLsfHXLQ_uYPtwRcAfUEkiV41oKBYxqB906BDcoJDv8l/s3000/R0003348.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqm97Hdr_OS4gTaIuOi9kQgGCi5-XcSq0YqmN0r-iGM9rRvHIKhV8Z6drOk2xxVepblAgIPN-E6bkVkGhA3WxlAG3R3MeF93tEwwDNAUvSMYKSAIBOoQziekydXSA4Jknt3SJwDAAxdx7sPLsfHXLQ_uYPtwRcAfUEkiV41oKBYxqB906BDcoJDv8l/w640-h426/R0003348.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The tuners are generic chrome open gears with small black plastic buttons. Nothing life changing but they work reasonably ok are are equal in tension without any grinding. They do jump in tuning a bit though.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ORDzIMaOh8cooeY8k5EYmZ4vwkFmDO0wUtrbHqNzkw0aqrNPOLd0IegorUfOZXsVMfqAJL8wSPXydSRQgCGN6_5GbU5YaMUKue4_PAnXeFchX2x2fnFztCmQKMRIINbB5I6yUdElW36ivq-k_KvJxw2IuHtCQU66M2aeeZiqv3dkzMHHOkYYDe53/s3000/R0003349.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ORDzIMaOh8cooeY8k5EYmZ4vwkFmDO0wUtrbHqNzkw0aqrNPOLd0IegorUfOZXsVMfqAJL8wSPXydSRQgCGN6_5GbU5YaMUKue4_PAnXeFchX2x2fnFztCmQKMRIINbB5I6yUdElW36ivq-k_KvJxw2IuHtCQU66M2aeeZiqv3dkzMHHOkYYDe53/w640-h426/R0003349.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />Finishing things off are a branded gig bag in a kind of denim material and the usual 'goodie bag' which comes with a cloth, capo, tuner, strap, picks and fingerboard note stickers. And for that little lot (bear in mind Amazon dynamic pricing!) you are going to pay a penny short of £41. So really not a lot of money at all.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_suez1kF3uE_GTv7M_8vIK5ZZyycuhbzhhZ_3wBMnBfsu4k0nmb1Zkn2YrD-z5tfiGX8LwLKuZ09hAwmjTvav9d_QdjOVunhbqapofFNfjOwAEniOvU_DD9GDsnNmowvI1Tm6gJU0lf74HS8yZXanVIGkgwPDVdI65YDmBZ7kj-vOoUpihl1G6lSC/s3000/R0003351.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele extras" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_suez1kF3uE_GTv7M_8vIK5ZZyycuhbzhhZ_3wBMnBfsu4k0nmb1Zkn2YrD-z5tfiGX8LwLKuZ09hAwmjTvav9d_QdjOVunhbqapofFNfjOwAEniOvU_DD9GDsnNmowvI1Tm6gJU0lf74HS8yZXanVIGkgwPDVdI65YDmBZ7kj-vOoUpihl1G6lSC/w640-h426/R0003351.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele extras" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the positives, I suppose this has something of a striking look and the price is very much impulse purchase territory. Some of the finishing though is quite scruffy, simply not finished at all or fatally flawed which lets it down. The setup lets it down too with a string height at the 12th above 3.5mm and a nut that also needs to come down. It's not massively heavy at 530g and balances ok.</div>
<div><br /></div><div>The volume here is reasonably good and it doesn't feel strangled. The sustain though is poor and drops off very quickly. The setup, particularly the high bridge height makes playing it an absolute pig for getting your fingers tangled.</div>
<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlb2BSD77dG5Q44k_zXG9JvPVa_z3Tvu1LSLPpuzP2uEH8bUfhVL3ZtX-syAo0QtGyotdVM3rkAKGcxM21Wbi64bQVrXaAbOyZFvlrSZ4Roni1g5kVulmFe7e9PHQEXg-3M5LTOey7IqW2y6knDsAIomNgDg5g6ssDh6TM02Hkb83QRIlJ02CmVzF/s3000/R0003350.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlb2BSD77dG5Q44k_zXG9JvPVa_z3Tvu1LSLPpuzP2uEH8bUfhVL3ZtX-syAo0QtGyotdVM3rkAKGcxM21Wbi64bQVrXaAbOyZFvlrSZ4Roni1g5kVulmFe7e9PHQEXg-3M5LTOey7IqW2y6knDsAIomNgDg5g6ssDh6TM02Hkb83QRIlJ02CmVzF/w640-h426/R0003350.JPG" title="Winzz Kids Concert Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The tone though is pleasant enough with a crisp edge to it that is surprisingly not muddy considering the cheap body wood. When strummed it's very staccato on account of that lack of sustain, but it gives it a bouncy feel that ticks the basic ukulele requirement box. Yet there isn't really any character to the tone played this way and it doesn't give the player much inspiration though. Yes, you can hear all the strings in the mix, though they are not doing much with each other by way of harmonisation and shimmer.</div><div><br />Fingerpicking highlights that even more with quick drop off on the notes and whilst they are clear, they are very one dimensional. Add in the poor setup and it's just not that enjoyable to play. Weirdly though, I have seen worse at this price, though it still left me a bit flat.</div><div><br /></div><div>So rather like the other Winzz I looked at this is more of the same - not an absolute dog in the basics, but far FAR too shabby and they clearly have an issue with their own factory QC. And it's also indicative of what happens when you cut out the independent QC check that a specialist uke dealer brings. Yes, Amazon have a good returns policy (though incredibly wasteful), and yes, you could get one arrive in better shape. But then.. you could also get one in worse shape. You see, that's the roulette game with box shippers like 'the Zon'.. You simply don't know, and with brands who are lax with their QC it's a bit of a lottery.<br /><br />I can only review what is in front of me though and this is an instrument that could have been a lot better. Heck, I even rather like the tone, and it's cheap as chips, but it is still flawed.</div><div> </div><div>There are a lot of cheapies out there though and this is just too shabby for me. Avoid.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=goauk-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0C7BNF3NS&asins=B0C7BNF3NS&linkId=05859ea0584eefe31b4635884eb76ab4&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Winzz Kids Ukulele </div><div>Scale: Concert</div><div>Body: Laminate basswood</div><div>Bridge: Maple, tie bar</div><div>Saddle: Plastic</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 42mm</div><div>Finish: Painted flat colour</div><div>Neck: Maple?</div><div>Fingerboard: Maple</div><div>Frets: 18, 12 to body</div><div>Nut: Plastic</div><div>Nut width : 35mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded open gears</div><div>Extras: Bag, picks, capo, tuner, cloth, strap, note sticker</div><div>Country of origin: China<br />Weight: 530g</div><div>Price: £40.99</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Inoffensive looks</div><div>Nice contrast between maple and the body<br />Good enough volume</div><div>Pleasantly crisp tone</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Scruffy finishing and build</div><div>Busted neck!</div><div>Bare wood on bridge</div><div>No side dots</div><div>Cheap tuners<br />Terrible setup</div><div>Poor sustain</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 8 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 3 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 7.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 7.5 out of 10</div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 6.5 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com2United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-35761037358606401292023-10-08T14:31:00.000+01:002023-10-08T14:31:11.275+01:00Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">It's been a little while since Got A Ukulele looked at the REALLY little guns. Time to set that straight with a look at the Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDByXgIx8xINdpyrj97U-h_QqpMxqDYfeDN2c96j18lwEknTdROeLMAwuFwCHgj0_quT25XUEWdHBpV_n2ei3RD_19Ph8mXIx8ryOmbMrPitxyOrjk9481PZtuXK-n4QZ6t9JLwfmYTANotW_nF__VGDrFBjFfhyphenhyphenITkI0U_8xRJXyM2O39qHPz0Qt/s3000/R0003329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDByXgIx8xINdpyrj97U-h_QqpMxqDYfeDN2c96j18lwEknTdROeLMAwuFwCHgj0_quT25XUEWdHBpV_n2ei3RD_19Ph8mXIx8ryOmbMrPitxyOrjk9481PZtuXK-n4QZ6t9JLwfmYTANotW_nF__VGDrFBjFfhyphenhyphenITkI0U_8xRJXyM2O39qHPz0Qt/w640-h426/R0003329.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>Kiwaya are the Japanese based brand that I have long admired with some of their instruments falling into the 'pretty much perfect' category of ukuleles. A few years back they broke with tradition and introduced a set of entry level, made in China instruments under their watch called their 'Student Series'. I think it was a clever move as even the laminate Japanese Kiwaya instruments (under the name Famous) can be on the higher priced side, reflecting the cost of production in Japan. Building in China of course means far lower costs and whilst that can also mean lower quality, it is possible to employ a level of quality control to overcome that. Kiwaya largely did that with other student line instruments I have looked at, but I've never looked at one <i>this</i> small from them. It's been around for a couple of years but taken me a while to buy one to take a look at.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sg57Oheb9l0?si=YweTHwjeeTatEzPS" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center><div><br /></div><div>The U-Trip series comes in a couple of flavours - either the 01 model which is a double bout shape or the 02 which is a pineapple. Both are smaller than Soprano in scale (at about 11.75 inches as opposed to the 13 or just above you will see on most sopranos - there is a picture further down the review of it side by side with a regular soprano) and are made from all laminate mahogany. I have no idea what the 'Trip' means in the name, perhaps it signifies ease of travel. Like their other student line laminates the instrument is very much 'down to basics' with no real decoration to speak of, just well put together laminate pieces. It's the same here, with a deep reddish brown stain to the body and a smooth open pore satin finish for protection. It's not a totally flat colour and there is some grain striping and even a bit of shimmer on the back, but it's still basic. Simple but some may prefer more decor interest going on.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpZruOjExy0QKvyXYF0S9icoq5uJKB39cusZ8xy8Ci_46PQBkuehGlPmWMRrT8ByetaDCUlljQw8FP0LH6Ue2L8wNL-lJJsNgY2xedOnC97vMdX7h1fe0cL8o1QnJtySHzS5ZPQGSH_fSlOiXsfYxZjAYAg86_TCMgiMsc5fzMQXiIpiHHHD9dnnM/s3000/R0003330.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpZruOjExy0QKvyXYF0S9icoq5uJKB39cusZ8xy8Ci_46PQBkuehGlPmWMRrT8ByetaDCUlljQw8FP0LH6Ue2L8wNL-lJJsNgY2xedOnC97vMdX7h1fe0cL8o1QnJtySHzS5ZPQGSH_fSlOiXsfYxZjAYAg86_TCMgiMsc5fzMQXiIpiHHHD9dnnM/w640-h426/R0003330.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br />The bridge is made from black walnut and is a simple, small slot style that is very tidily finished with some end shaping rather than just being a rectangular block. It's naturally nice to see a slot bridge as the idea of sticking a tie bar or pins on a sopranino is ludicrous. That holds a straight topped bone saddle with pleasing end carving to match the slightly sloped sides of the bridge. Spacing here clocks in at 41mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaGlrhiZL3RbXfGKymQaiEmLQVVnnZEiSt2PPx5uZPjRgusP3K0DNY_e5Lw1iWDVTaS8WbPT4lwmu3V4GbV2721QRZLHoMgVgvQ9mwvQD48-f3OWcaQdM4cKg5piQGv7T4CM_JodF3GSEX_ZAd92N_x1qfq1CfWbvJfdPMLUTEuMNZunoMuk8LLfa/s3000/R0003331.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaGlrhiZL3RbXfGKymQaiEmLQVVnnZEiSt2PPx5uZPjRgusP3K0DNY_e5Lw1iWDVTaS8WbPT4lwmu3V4GbV2721QRZLHoMgVgvQ9mwvQD48-f3OWcaQdM4cKg5piQGv7T4CM_JodF3GSEX_ZAd92N_x1qfq1CfWbvJfdPMLUTEuMNZunoMuk8LLfa/w640-h426/R0003331.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Decor, as I say is absent and the only real thing to speak of is the satin coat which is even and not too thick. As there is no edge binding you can see the laminate in cross section which doesn't concern me too much and also shows that, like other Kiwaya laminate instruments, it's not a piece of thick plywood.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDDvCHyK9ikUs2JMZi20cs99BPKM9-p-ZC7mCLthtyRi3b2hTJ5QvcJlqAr7C78RMqBilpf6ddAqQrJjWY-rryRcQS12h7287-Sdv7k7M-h5RmtuZhBQKIh2cxxQeECTeu4zUBoodBRGCWsDgJQn1_lbwuHJP1apCRgL3rS-1Q_A-5bSuaJVrYGO2/s3000/R0003332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele finish" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDDvCHyK9ikUs2JMZi20cs99BPKM9-p-ZC7mCLthtyRi3b2hTJ5QvcJlqAr7C78RMqBilpf6ddAqQrJjWY-rryRcQS12h7287-Sdv7k7M-h5RmtuZhBQKIh2cxxQeECTeu4zUBoodBRGCWsDgJQn1_lbwuHJP1apCRgL3rS-1Q_A-5bSuaJVrYGO2/w640-h426/R0003332.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele finish" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Inside is simple with notched linings and thin braces and largely tidy bar a bit of glue seepage around the tail block (i've seen worse). The images here suggest the top is thick, but I think that is deceptive due to the size of the body - it's as thin a set of laminate as you will find on other Kiwaya instruments.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBNxMHio5mQoaDGDrEH-le1WuOsx2atovoKb5kbxDZqVqAJrGv3p8rq6savK17t-emIXjZW197M7KnlC_n_0U15ccNGs4uAEB8W7FrG7f8s0kiv2oYFUhMeU-XjEREsE0tkR_9biUNLxBtgWrQ_HbntzYW3vd7O5IGH8sLE2e8QQSsTFEGUG2yG1H/s2592/IMG_8896.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBNxMHio5mQoaDGDrEH-le1WuOsx2atovoKb5kbxDZqVqAJrGv3p8rq6savK17t-emIXjZW197M7KnlC_n_0U15ccNGs4uAEB8W7FrG7f8s0kiv2oYFUhMeU-XjEREsE0tkR_9biUNLxBtgWrQ_HbntzYW3vd7O5IGH8sLE2e8QQSsTFEGUG2yG1H/w640-h480/IMG_8896.jpeg" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The neck is made from mahogany with obvious heel and headstock joints. Being a sopranino the heel looks a bit out of proportion to the rest of the uke, but I don't find it obtrusive. That too is finished in satin and tapers down to an average rounded profile and 35mm nut with 27mm spacing. Whilst I prefer wider nut instruments I am conscious that this is smaller than a soprano so understand that most (not all) are narrower. This is kind of regular soprano width and a touch wider than the Ohana sopranino's which is a good thing. Saying all of that, there is no reason why it couldn't be wider still, though perhaps you need to go the luthier route to find that with something like the <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2017/07/dj-morgan-mini-pineapple-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">DJ Morgan Mini Pineapple</a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Fingerboard is made of more black walnut and seems to be in great condition. I can't work out if it is edge bound or the frets are just very well fitted in slots that don't reach the end. Either way it means you don't see them or feel them. You have 12 of those, and any more would be unplayable overkill! As a further plus the edges of the board are rolled back meaning no sharp angles and more comfort. That's a nice boon! It comes with pearl position dots at the 5th, 7th and 10th and they are paired on the side.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO4Y0SnjhU-zcMSmo4GjOdKdN-VyEQX49PCykj7kQPqJRKd_DxHNmGrawEj9_nM8f8dvSsEiqz6K__on2wOdmh4c_Q05bpjcsXQRvQoFyQI20X-GPoDslpiDAniQH_nEvUpjmOWx8Tw6OGa6mmMPq1niA1ZvvzHAayHXSSwOZy26Ks4yosdlI6e5G/s3000/R0003333.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO4Y0SnjhU-zcMSmo4GjOdKdN-VyEQX49PCykj7kQPqJRKd_DxHNmGrawEj9_nM8f8dvSsEiqz6K__on2wOdmh4c_Q05bpjcsXQRvQoFyQI20X-GPoDslpiDAniQH_nEvUpjmOWx8Tw6OGa6mmMPq1niA1ZvvzHAayHXSSwOZy26Ks4yosdlI6e5G/w640-h426/R0003333.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The headstock is the usual Kiwaya crown shape and whilst it's a similar size to their other sopranos strangely I don't find it too big like I do on sopraninos from some other brands You don't get a Kiwaya logo on the top which I think is a shame but instead a stylised uke graphic in a screen print under the satin. It's a little too 'twee' for me, but it's very small and wouldn't put me off buying it. I'd still like to see the Kiwaya logo too though, quite simply because it's a logo i've always liked and don't see why it can't have both.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4NgVJwN4zYsezjUTIUPZVIioc9hXB3TOLacHqJUkA3OsrcsEH_-y6vizCnBi0qrpmN0ary4kjEu797jfYNULpOZxhd_DDemwiotdeVSy1vGUxC77wQOvm0zmhx-tBLnhI8vsc8rDdK4dcSmo6djwckTmFjBGvbqc5uLQPgQ2M1xqLSAZdp60li6T/s3000/R0003335.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4NgVJwN4zYsezjUTIUPZVIioc9hXB3TOLacHqJUkA3OsrcsEH_-y6vizCnBi0qrpmN0ary4kjEu797jfYNULpOZxhd_DDemwiotdeVSy1vGUxC77wQOvm0zmhx-tBLnhI8vsc8rDdK4dcSmo6djwckTmFjBGvbqc5uLQPgQ2M1xqLSAZdp60li6T/w640-h426/R0003335.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The tuners are entry level open gears in chrome with small black buttons. A small instrument like this is just crying out for rear facing friction pegs to lose the 'ears look' so I immediately don't like them myself. Saying that, whilst they are entry level the mechanisms look good enough and they work ok.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXilPMASJ-lBNOQGNcbH4bYfMBx3clxhj1yzvZgPNYSR5dDlzFYsdIdk0A-Zo9_avkB4fvYNWGTbLs0Im-xKXQJ1U9DgFBlnj3d1iWDN0v4qLG6zXNZ-C1wwuB6YV4EVIpSEDM1sJMeWNRums6OgBsaoYOjxUt0RZbqfTDiBY5LTWR9I_Wl7D8CDM/s3000/R0003336.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXilPMASJ-lBNOQGNcbH4bYfMBx3clxhj1yzvZgPNYSR5dDlzFYsdIdk0A-Zo9_avkB4fvYNWGTbLs0Im-xKXQJ1U9DgFBlnj3d1iWDN0v4qLG6zXNZ-C1wwuB6YV4EVIpSEDM1sJMeWNRums6OgBsaoYOjxUt0RZbqfTDiBY5LTWR9I_Wl7D8CDM/w640-h426/R0003336.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And it comes with a set of un-named clear fluoro strings and a basic black gig bag for the very reasonable price of only £110 or thereabouts in UK stores. Saying that, it's quite hard to price check it. The Ohana Sopranino instruments cost more, but are all solid woods. The <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2019/07/ortega-keiki-k1-sopranino-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Ortega Keiki K1</a> is quite a bit less, but then I thought it was distinctly average.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XN-8FEaPqgYrs0eVv_FhwEpszGqWO8EYLEuo8oF9veszSYzSJ6AX27r7GtvIvsRy5Cmy7FwrTnuFgqa7XLPAJ2DKSwnVBFMcMc8zDucUVx-R5bXKD9ruCn_DVTS4icrgfLYQ89aAxI6eln62zuRnfKSbfhqF5aAtSXyLQPY55MrCsVieELm4k8Pu/s3000/R0003338.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele size comparison" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XN-8FEaPqgYrs0eVv_FhwEpszGqWO8EYLEuo8oF9veszSYzSJ6AX27r7GtvIvsRy5Cmy7FwrTnuFgqa7XLPAJ2DKSwnVBFMcMc8zDucUVx-R5bXKD9ruCn_DVTS4icrgfLYQ89aAxI6eln62zuRnfKSbfhqF5aAtSXyLQPY55MrCsVieELm4k8Pu/w640-h426/R0003338.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele size comparison" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So, all in all, nothing really 'wrong' here at all, with some nice touches such as a very tidy bridge, slightly wider than average nut and the rolled fingerboard edges. It is very simple of course, but that is what the student series are about. I have no issues with the build or finish. It's very light at only 325g and balances nicely too.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAzPvkpu8MbvZwOqYKpInUIT1ypyOBWUK2O2sVeQCrVaRV_NkJh9hvafGXmNiLhdNFJvtIDd9cyHjVl0pf7pwPpubBQoqLKo0mT0h1PcPasRP2UL9ujQOG083YR7S5kR4r2BaVBo03-p_of9mNAhQoYfJ6fThtHH2rBp7UixSitnL_z3LIlgNoYp9/s3000/R0003337.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAzPvkpu8MbvZwOqYKpInUIT1ypyOBWUK2O2sVeQCrVaRV_NkJh9hvafGXmNiLhdNFJvtIDd9cyHjVl0pf7pwPpubBQoqLKo0mT0h1PcPasRP2UL9ujQOG083YR7S5kR4r2BaVBo03-p_of9mNAhQoYfJ6fThtHH2rBp7UixSitnL_z3LIlgNoYp9/w640-h426/R0003337.JPG" title="Kiwaya U-Trip-01 Sopranino Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Tone wise a word first about tuning. These come with strings that will take GCEA tuning, but as I have often said about smaller than soprano instruments I think you should experiment with higher tunings to see if they get more response from the small body (they usually do). For the review I have had this tuned up to D tuning as in GCEA I found the strings a bit flabby otherwise. I think I'd possibly consider a touch higher still as even in D i'd like a bit more bite, but that may require a slight string gauge change and I wanted to review it with what it came with. The point here - don't be afraid to experiment - and in fact that goes for ALL ukuleles!</div><div><br /></div><div>Basics first, being a small instrument a lot (but not all) of sub soprano instruments can suffer on volume. This is not the quietest I have heard but you would hardly call it a boom box. Passable only on this element for me. Sustain is usually similarly hampered, but here it's surprisingly good, beating some cheap laminate sopranos I have played. This doesn't surprise me though as there is one thing I find Kiwaya tend to do well and that's create instruments with some life to them. The intonation on all sopraninos can be a bit finicky and it's the case here. You need to tune them very precisely, but also play them lightly on the fretting. If you notice some discord in the video I can assure you that is my shonky playing with fat fingers on a small neck as the intonation is actually dialled in nicely here.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the overall sound, well as I say above it certainly benefits to my ears being tuned up a little, but has a bright zingy chimey tone. Of course, sopraninos have a thinner tone and that is the case here but what is nice is how clear the notes are without sounding muddy or confused. Strummed this is peppy, jangly and bouncy and very much in soprano territory. Picking is surprisingly pretty too with decent response further up the neck. I'd struggle to play it this way on some of the ultra thin neck sopraninos, but can just about manage here. Bell like and sweet. Of course, saying all that about the tone, you have to bear in mind that this is a step away from either the soprano sound. Yet it has a purpose and as I say, they are a very popular scale choice, but they are not for everyone.</div><div><br /></div><div>Summing things up I think this is a fun little instrument. Of course there is always a certain element of 'novelty' to the sub soprano sizes, but it's a plain fact that a great many ukulele players love them and many have one in the collection. No, this is not a solid wood uke and you can get cheaper laminate sopraninos if you go looking, but I think this easily stands up to the Ohana offerings for considerably less money. That is if you are happy with the plain look of course, which is very subjective. The build and finish though are great though with a nice neck for a sopranino. Perhaps it's a bit of an impulse purchase just for fun rather than serious play, but if you are building a uke collection and wanting to include a sopranino in your mix, this seems a no brainer for the asking price and core build quality. I say, why not?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.kiwayasbest.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.kiwayasbest.com/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Kiwaya U-Trip-01</div><div>Scale: Sopranino</div><div>Body: Laminate mahogany</div><div>Bridge: Black walnut</div><div>Saddle: Bone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 41mm</div><div>Finish: Satin</div><div>Neck: Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Black walnut</div><div>Frets: 12</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 35mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded open gears</div><div>Strings: Un-named clear fluorocarbon</div><div>Extras: Gig bag</div><div>Weight: 325g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £110</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Sound build and finish<br />Nice bridge</div><div>Nice fingerboard feel</div><div>Decent sustain for the size</div><div>Crisp clear tone</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Too plain for some? </div><div>Geared ear tuners!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 8 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 8.6 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com1United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-81844537321568629762023-09-30T13:52:00.001+01:002023-09-30T14:03:30.228+01:00Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">The ukulele world doesn't sit still and we now regularly see new models that cause a big buzz in the market. Here's one of those - the new Flight Comet tenor ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcVHs3JCuCC9SSjbrO8RMnYBOwhQEmZ4SAW174wzhuP1JovJyfjPLSdRUraCYGX-2aTixPEQJbxwPKTCF1JM9chuhXIMxN9wyxQppIM-25YkUqMJ2Y5Ba4_iHHQYk9ChjRdMAJobXtr9G_pm5ieWTYIeVZ9grC7t_l5lJUWTvhp3AnmQ6mw-N2H1I/s3000/R0003288.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcVHs3JCuCC9SSjbrO8RMnYBOwhQEmZ4SAW174wzhuP1JovJyfjPLSdRUraCYGX-2aTixPEQJbxwPKTCF1JM9chuhXIMxN9wyxQppIM-25YkUqMJ2Y5Ba4_iHHQYk9ChjRdMAJobXtr9G_pm5ieWTYIeVZ9grC7t_l5lJUWTvhp3AnmQ6mw-N2H1I/w640-h426/R0003288.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div>The Flight brand needs no introduction on this site as I have reviewed models from their extensive range regularly. The thing I always mention about Flight is that they are constantly working and looking to develop new ideas. And when I first saw talk of this model it was clear that they had done that again. My first impression looking at this one was that they were seeming to take something from their (incredibly popular) <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2020/09/flight-fireball-eq-tenor-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Fireball series of ukes</a>, but also apply something of recent popularity of the coloured top instruments like the <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2021/03/anuenue-uc10-color-series-concert.html" target="_blank">aNueNue Color</a> or their own <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2023/03/flight-iris-concert-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Iris ukulele</a>. That seems like a clever choice and whilst those coloured top ukuleles were more towards the value end of the market this one goes up in the seriousness stakes.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div>
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<div><br />The Comet is a double bout shape ukulele with attractive modern curves that is the same shape as the Fireball. We are talking all solid tone woods here and an interesting pairing of solid flamed maple for the top and solid mango for the back and sides. That is immediately going to provide some grain interest and contrast before we even get to the colouring, but the flaming on the maple is just divine here and reminds me of their <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2021/05/flight-a10-qm-aqua-blue-anniversary.html" target="_blank">Anniversary Series model</a>s. The mango wood also has bags of interest without looking 'sooty' on this model. I think the woods here work together very well indeed. Great contrast.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3HKPd8sNqFfBSjBqbg9McKvjlZr2RP7uN5VpDYjdaxn_KRw0hT2dDAKzOC3uew_24Dix2tnHXlT9E053GKsbewpKgydsKf_JHp_wxLQ9mJBDJMhcHWAt_bBVzbLLPAz4kGtKX8E7rrMclN9atf4WIxpgQjUufIulRBykvTJ_4xSFnuqyVV_bFMZy/s3000/R0003289.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3HKPd8sNqFfBSjBqbg9McKvjlZr2RP7uN5VpDYjdaxn_KRw0hT2dDAKzOC3uew_24Dix2tnHXlT9E053GKsbewpKgydsKf_JHp_wxLQ9mJBDJMhcHWAt_bBVzbLLPAz4kGtKX8E7rrMclN9atf4WIxpgQjUufIulRBykvTJ_4xSFnuqyVV_bFMZy/w640-h426/R0003289.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is similar to that on the Fireball and is a pin style made from Indian Rosewood. It carries as similar inlaid wooden purfling strip that sets it off nicely and the whole thing is very tidy. The pins are not capped with a jewelled inlay like some other Flight models, but I think that works here as the focus is really on that colour top. The saddle is compensated and looks to be bone. Spacing here is 42mm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuPJekf6HfYc9qpDt-62iPNjTUuR64r2WVjkP92V6FQgxCsD-f9R5CvFYjzde3itd0xxT-c4gJA0wFJ5iq9eipMef1HhNWNbfDyiHja-mi7lwHzu86cIZAEQ-GJj2NJRkdE1iLdCTQZufeie5raOAcaDQrei15d9Y68uNZ11Khuj3rQJUL1Djaxpn/s3000/R0003290.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuPJekf6HfYc9qpDt-62iPNjTUuR64r2WVjkP92V6FQgxCsD-f9R5CvFYjzde3itd0xxT-c4gJA0wFJ5iq9eipMef1HhNWNbfDyiHja-mi7lwHzu86cIZAEQ-GJj2NJRkdE1iLdCTQZufeie5raOAcaDQrei15d9Y68uNZ11Khuj3rQJUL1Djaxpn/w640-h426/R0003290.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But it's all about the finishing and that colour. The Comet presently comes in two colours, a green or a blue like this one. The staining is more translucent than other colour top ukuleles which allows the flaming of the maple to shine I will say that some of the buffing back seems a touch over-done in parts (see the top cutaway), though that will differ between examples. Kind of gives it a worn denim look.. This also has a black top binding and tail strip, a black comfort edge on the lower bout and a black scalloped cutaway at the top. Around the soundhole is a solid black ring also like the Fireball. They all hang together nicely with the coloured top nicely. This one also goes with a side sound port, but not in the 'jewel' design of the Fireball, but more of an abstract wave type motif that looks great. The body is then glossed which looks nicely done and makes the top colour and back grains really pop. Granted, I know coloured ukuleles are not for everyone, but I really do like the look of these and it grabs me more than the Fireball.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptEvaGOVN5hJxSzbcKKWfFHQ9Gp2AqZNfBUL-uAurbXrLv-KHkHJiby3zckWRhi6wqw9WXj-G2Ka423QHzH6qcu13nyOAqVZQJFlQmolE0s4zZIFoTGIKnBdiyf-mXG-kNc2BxYQ6uArr2CO4GzM66AaOklm2ZjDazPMlBta98WVQirCpd_SBlbXU/s3000/R0003291.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptEvaGOVN5hJxSzbcKKWfFHQ9Gp2AqZNfBUL-uAurbXrLv-KHkHJiby3zckWRhi6wqw9WXj-G2Ka423QHzH6qcu13nyOAqVZQJFlQmolE0s4zZIFoTGIKnBdiyf-mXG-kNc2BxYQ6uArr2CO4GzM66AaOklm2ZjDazPMlBta98WVQirCpd_SBlbXU/w640-h426/R0003291.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside is very tidy with notched linings and thin braces. A couple of the top lateral braces are also drilled through for weight saving, Kanile'a style.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzq4kzuuGV7ndSIWK3fYri88ZRXx2pF3N0y2Chdl1C1lyl-F_0lbdO9K3yPc4MRTvASokfHmynONOPCu4P03uDNmY-P62F0qckATT-aXx775HjlL1cGIRWYagN7ouhApSX8yqeuIdEuY-VQJHS8eTHLs04d80DZfkoPgeira4kDPOazThTCKliOaGE/s2592/IMG_8872.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzq4kzuuGV7ndSIWK3fYri88ZRXx2pF3N0y2Chdl1C1lyl-F_0lbdO9K3yPc4MRTvASokfHmynONOPCu4P03uDNmY-P62F0qckATT-aXx775HjlL1cGIRWYagN7ouhApSX8yqeuIdEuY-VQJHS8eTHLs04d80DZfkoPgeira4kDPOazThTCKliOaGE/w640-h480/IMG_8872.jpeg" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The neck is made from African Mahogany and like the Fireball is jointed at the heel and headstock, but also down its length with a black skunk stripe. Thankfully this one is also satin so is fast to move around on. The profile is slightly rounded, but comes with a very comfortable 38mm but which is 30mm from G to A.</div><div><br /></div><div>Topping that is more rosewood for the fingerboard which is in great condition and largely uniformly dark in colour. It is edge bound in black and has 19 semi hemi ended frets (14 to the body) which means absolutely no sharp edges. Position dots match the colour of the top and are offset at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th and these are paired with white dots on the side. If I have on personal criticism it's that I personally think they would look better in white, not blue. Minor point.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2qARKdMZ2X44JIq8K8lc-RkiPnVSnIojhfH9eXe6H93ryOXSh8RFTVTjWEHZ6Z9rQPRU4AANr9lahK2OAgG9uj7-PkrY9ID2Axgz43BTz0mxOUGBUAAC7Quaj6eDfcVdcuzdxNFicGelWkku6TVEAhZAb0HUr1pjNHT3p3U6UvSp15crGuebFpwf/s3000/R0003292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2qARKdMZ2X44JIq8K8lc-RkiPnVSnIojhfH9eXe6H93ryOXSh8RFTVTjWEHZ6Z9rQPRU4AANr9lahK2OAgG9uj7-PkrY9ID2Axgz43BTz0mxOUGBUAAC7Quaj6eDfcVdcuzdxNFicGelWkku6TVEAhZAb0HUr1pjNHT3p3U6UvSp15crGuebFpwf/w640-h426/R0003292.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Beyond the bone nut is the commonly used Flight open frame headstock which all looks very tidy. It's faced in more flamed maple with a top stain in blue which creates a very attractive 'layer cake' look to the opening where you see both the neck wood, the unstained maple and the blue top. The Flight logo is a small inlay at the top. I think this headstock looks particularly great.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHLjCI14Gbm1pCDjKzjdrKW0YLSwHAOx_nGGzVqpmSX4-L2fpmhn9d5Zxx-fF5hayBcwocrW9Ek7Q0SnORqZdC493ZN7x0waJ4ET-17TH1-wgx45pwDjC2rcNNUDoSXQiHWzAsZYiSldEhcELImtJdy1ANVwcMFcIw7HBUd8hJv5pTgYoft6qlglV/s3000/R0003293.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHLjCI14Gbm1pCDjKzjdrKW0YLSwHAOx_nGGzVqpmSX4-L2fpmhn9d5Zxx-fF5hayBcwocrW9Ek7Q0SnORqZdC493ZN7x0waJ4ET-17TH1-wgx45pwDjC2rcNNUDoSXQiHWzAsZYiSldEhcELImtJdy1ANVwcMFcIw7HBUd8hJv5pTgYoft6qlglV/w640-h426/R0003293.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>I've seen these tuners on Flight ukes before and they are good quality open gears by Prowel in black and gold. Good quality and work great too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjXYZG4Jua-4mURr4fr5XEZQ91xyFKqp2HbbQifUaUUfXAi-9fTbINcrYHdGVflaCQCEHcPwC0-Mpn96fUXbnMqV4zLf-PDzAsyv3g5cHthSxjNK3Mz3fq5h7D0e-PCEq_NA1iQaQ6AKDePhdihAojZjSD_0DxHm86Wz-IF1hYIpGEE6IXFeB9FxB/s3000/R0003294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjXYZG4Jua-4mURr4fr5XEZQ91xyFKqp2HbbQifUaUUfXAi-9fTbINcrYHdGVflaCQCEHcPwC0-Mpn96fUXbnMqV4zLf-PDzAsyv3g5cHthSxjNK3Mz3fq5h7D0e-PCEq_NA1iQaQ6AKDePhdihAojZjSD_0DxHm86Wz-IF1hYIpGEE6IXFeB9FxB/w640-h426/R0003294.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>And finishing it off are a set of Worth Brown strings (a string set you don't often see as standard on ukes, but are very good), one of the very nice Flight red padded gig bags and the same sort of active Double brand pickup with controls inside the sound hole edge that Flight have used before. No, I don't go for actives myself, but again, fair play to Flight for not sticking an ugly control panel on the side of the uke. I just wish there was an acoustic only version. And for that you are looking at similar pricing to the current Fireball money at around £599 in the UK. No, that's not a 'cheap Flight' but considering the appointments here it's a pretty fair one I think. I've given it the same value for money score as I gave the Fireball for that reason.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotEWnqE_5uw4okv6ztPdjmH7nrQCoh6eZjJ_9n8o6ci4pn577m_wlD_UaP5OxHudaoajINKJjKRqQUiuHVC36_BP3vXyrfFpC9Y36g0Nf66IydbwF84w-S6IDOne7IwnBvthPv3bDGOM-90-Pqwgr7qPnFlOjLD-M06v8Il_ye4rKJwnpORXnc-Iu/s3000/R0003295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotEWnqE_5uw4okv6ztPdjmH7nrQCoh6eZjJ_9n8o6ci4pn577m_wlD_UaP5OxHudaoajINKJjKRqQUiuHVC36_BP3vXyrfFpC9Y36g0Nf66IydbwF84w-S6IDOne7IwnBvthPv3bDGOM-90-Pqwgr7qPnFlOjLD-M06v8Il_ye4rKJwnpORXnc-Iu/w640-h426/R0003295.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So all very good so far and a striking looking ukulele for sure. The build and finishing here are good too and it feels nice to hold in the same way the Fireball did. With the pickup there is some added weight clocking in at 700g but it's not overly noticeable. The setup on this example is decent and it balances well too.</div><div><br /></div><div>First off, this is not the loudest ukulele I have played and it has a more laid back punch to it. That's not to say it's quiet, just more reflective and soft in the attack. I suspect the maple top will open up over time, but out of the box it was noticeable. Sustain is excellent with a harmonic shimmer to it which tells you the instrument is working with itself. Very nice.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tone wise I had to go back through my memory banks and realised I'd rarely if ever seen a solid maple top instrument on the channel. The Flight Anniversary model sprung to mind, but other maple instruments have tended to be laminates where the wood is used for looks only. As such I went into this a little clueless as to what to expect. Maple has a crisp clear tone that sits down the middle of the tonal range, but coupling it with the more koa-esque mango creates an interesting mix. The Fireball, being all mango was an instrument that reminded me more of an all koa instrument with a quite broad richness that had both warmth and 'zing'. So what have we here?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMDlbMokX-MaHDyDVaM7Aqh1aRvzJuBLU0vHNKz39Vqtg7YsAM80BSTu_9fwEvIrUVJT0gWONmLkq8G6ClSSP73-RgqTfr4cVXrHJ04JeCeDOrLnAazqaB2Eq64Cl_b9qJyj5pvVhsPtiN796v8amerfRjTMKD2AfYluefCSyLAFrZlgE6n33Nmu5/s3000/R0003296.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele side port" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMDlbMokX-MaHDyDVaM7Aqh1aRvzJuBLU0vHNKz39Vqtg7YsAM80BSTu_9fwEvIrUVJT0gWONmLkq8G6ClSSP73-RgqTfr4cVXrHJ04JeCeDOrLnAazqaB2Eq64Cl_b9qJyj5pvVhsPtiN796v8amerfRjTMKD2AfYluefCSyLAFrZlgE6n33Nmu5/w640-h426/R0003296.JPG" title="Flight Comet Tenor Ukulele side port" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>This certainly has a more direct and brighter edge to the tone, but I think it's more a case of it batting down the middle on the tone scale without the richer more rounded tones of the mango top instrument. That's not to say unattractive though and in fact with the laid back volume it works very nicely as a contemplative sounding instrument. Stummed it has a clear shimmery edge to the tone with each note staying pronounced and obvious in the mix. Often with tenors I am more impressed with the picked tone (which is very nice here too) but strumming wise I found this extremely pleasing and relaxing. Very pretty</div><div><br /></div><div>Picked the tone is chimey and clear everywhere on the neck, but again with a more laid back punch which is relaxing too. Kind of a 'late night, kick back and noodle' sounding instrument. </div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, it's not as complex to my ears as the Fireball, but it's very pretty sounding in a different way. And, as I say, considering how few solid maple top instruments there are out there, something rather unique sounding too.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ultimately though there's not a huge amount between this and the Fireball on quality grounds. Clearly the looks do differ widely and I'm in love with the 'playful yet serious' style of this one. Sound wise they differ too with this a more down the middle tone and a laid back feel, but your choice on that will be totally personal. </div><div><br /></div><div>Either way though, Flight have cleverly pulled it out of the bag here I think and I've loved playing this. What a cracker. Highly recommended!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://flightmusic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://flightmusic.com/</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: Flight Comet</div><div>Scale: Tenor</div><div>Body: Solid flamed maple top, solid mango back and sides</div><div>Bridge: Indian Rosewood, pin bridge</div><div>Saddle: Bone, compensated</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 42mm</div><div>Finish: Gloss</div><div>Neck: African Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Rosewood</div><div>Frets: 19, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: Bone</div><div>Nut width: 38mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Prowel gears</div><div>Strings: Worth Brown</div><div>Extras: Double sound hole mounted pickup, Flight gig bag</div><div>Weight: 700g</div><div>Country of origin: China</div><div>Price: £599</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Gorgeous look</div><div>Striking tonewoods</div><div>Smooth comfortable neck</div><div>Well finished example<br />Good sustain</div><div>Shimmery sweet clear tone</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Would like an acoustic only version</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 9 out of 10</div><div><br /></div><div><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.1 out of 10</b></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>
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<b>THANKS!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">copyright Barry Maz and Got A Ukulele 2008-2021.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-1294456653497966842023-09-24T15:34:00.000+01:002023-09-24T15:34:00.106+01:00GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">My first time with this European ukulele brand that i've been meaning to get around to for a while. This is the GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham2oClu3vZ5zpF1fnMLAudR7urUkIC85LlT50WoDJh6Awa43DEyVxipWvt0vnw7gMhv0dOubZ6XkImPZA3eki4JqOLRGz4-7hYjdjirtUnBKr6jvL92w4Z-pGzTupCLfiIDKNYwM1nTniDYH2jBMnolgxOpwISr2R07kxWBg2vEx48QODWP78oJL6/s3000/R0003276.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEham2oClu3vZ5zpF1fnMLAudR7urUkIC85LlT50WoDJh6Awa43DEyVxipWvt0vnw7gMhv0dOubZ6XkImPZA3eki4JqOLRGz4-7hYjdjirtUnBKr6jvL92w4Z-pGzTupCLfiIDKNYwM1nTniDYH2jBMnolgxOpwISr2R07kxWBg2vEx48QODWP78oJL6/w640-h426/R0003276.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>GEWA are a German musical instrument brand that have been around since the 1920's and are still carrying a range of instruments from strings to drums, keys and wind instruments. I believe these days they are largely (if not solely) marketing far eastern instruments under their own brand name, but as a name they are well known in Germany and widely available in European stores. They also seem to be the European parent now to some other well known brands like Ovation guitars and DW drums. Their ukulele offerings are numerous and range from the less serious models with printed design tops to more standard looking instruments like this one. </div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div>
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<br />The Manoa series are a range of solid spruce top instruments that come in soprano through to tenor with a couple of electro versions added to the mix. This is the straight acoustic concert version and at first glance it's standard and classy even if it isn't going to win any awards for individuality. As I say, this has a solid spruce top which is clearly not an AAA grade tonewood selection as there is a bit of wavering in the chubby grain lines, but it's hardly unattractive to look at. The back and sides are made of laminate Sapele which provides that classic contrast with the pale yellow top. The Sapele is much less interesting, and whilst it has a nice enough orange / brown stain but not a lot else going on to speak of. This has a two piece top and back, but interestingly a single side piece. It's all rather generic for me, but they are not the only brand to have something looking like this in their stable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWdI-D7QCY4mrYNETlRhE0g3bLpCzSTvHOAcfkpkbatDdW-K3axhYUiekwMI6j8Q0AeN6tEKzniOM488JFpNsxjmFnqB5ZSxO5nSOlNbonK2zSQMiVH6PUTGQubRNDM232H9jfBAt1_tJ20RKcwHvfnr-PUm8hdOBSSKqRR9pDlSdSJ6qnmnd5XsV/s3000/R0003277.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWdI-D7QCY4mrYNETlRhE0g3bLpCzSTvHOAcfkpkbatDdW-K3axhYUiekwMI6j8Q0AeN6tEKzniOM488JFpNsxjmFnqB5ZSxO5nSOlNbonK2zSQMiVH6PUTGQubRNDM232H9jfBAt1_tJ20RKcwHvfnr-PUm8hdOBSSKqRR9pDlSdSJ6qnmnd5XsV/w640-h426/R0003277.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The bridge is made from walnut and is a tie bar style, screwed in place. It's pretty shabby on the wood finishing with some noticeable burrs and shavings hanging off various places. The saddle is made of NuBone and has a straight top. Spacing here is 39mm. Something about the whole bridge looks a little large to me too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqzBKg9hSisxDa3oeB79urmm12lqP0ouYD9eUBGp-KfJvaW4Uq8jHKsoX3p7cUbh-0zD5ms7tpmEuSpJ4Ep8YyKNQao9_ocIA_JK8N6dIlx3aFiAnOrmtwB9t2xbcXVxsxYlV6kxi7yoN-1a7GAOsFUv6Z445ADPIRrrAUvcEtSygRdouVIu7eU7p/s3000/R0003278.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqzBKg9hSisxDa3oeB79urmm12lqP0ouYD9eUBGp-KfJvaW4Uq8jHKsoX3p7cUbh-0zD5ms7tpmEuSpJ4Ep8YyKNQao9_ocIA_JK8N6dIlx3aFiAnOrmtwB9t2xbcXVxsxYlV6kxi7yoN-1a7GAOsFUv6Z445ADPIRrrAUvcEtSygRdouVIu7eU7p/w640-h426/R0003278.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />The decoration is low key but effective enough and thankfully not big on the bling. Around the top edge is a white / cream edge binding strip and this is paired with some herringbone wood inlay marquetry around the top face. This same inlay is repeated around the sound hole. Sadly the finishing here is scruffy in several places where the finish looks to have blown out the delicate wood pieces. They are not noticeable from a distance, but they are when you look more closely and with a repeating geometric design, stand out. The body is then finished in an open pore satin which, apart from those inlay flaws is not gloopy or over done. In fact it's very light and thin.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicei9un4sPnBuCtE9X7uD8I78xcXF1sHMG5XaHITAEaDbbV8QOfKkwUjQrIIUocfvUS4So6rNi7nHpLDJsYIadqkbrkGGsW34reUfDRbUrDWLK7j_ZNXbT3odLKqIlKSyAuxcXnQLxXX8yjrOn7hkpMJbdnWlUHpCIYksdivG1TH0eB02YD5MXaHzY/s3000/R0003279.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicei9un4sPnBuCtE9X7uD8I78xcXF1sHMG5XaHITAEaDbbV8QOfKkwUjQrIIUocfvUS4So6rNi7nHpLDJsYIadqkbrkGGsW34reUfDRbUrDWLK7j_ZNXbT3odLKqIlKSyAuxcXnQLxXX8yjrOn7hkpMJbdnWlUHpCIYksdivG1TH0eB02YD5MXaHzY/w640-h426/R0003279.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Inside is fairly standard with thin braces, notched linings and not a lot of mess. The top is X braced too. What I do notice though is just how monumentally thick the top wood is. Sure, it's solid, but I can't help feeling that they've over cooked it for fear of splits and returns. This looks chunky to me. One of those where I say I would take a good thin laminate top over a top that is 'solid for the sake of it'.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau0H4FM0La2LpL6uVTmRm4darhj-dFOE4nwyiLE_2zcirtL7gt5vtIL5wFedEVdsaEoKYBHtNAbPTq40sbHZi2FIx2m1b9p3aBPLgeXhgz3pLnY-XzlgtdiyU4VXYoaFKyzQX3TrCtbD13Re8toGAAFyK14RP9IG8WFBd9BmzYTx5KtMWFSlYdiZl/s2592/IMG_8868.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjau0H4FM0La2LpL6uVTmRm4darhj-dFOE4nwyiLE_2zcirtL7gt5vtIL5wFedEVdsaEoKYBHtNAbPTq40sbHZi2FIx2m1b9p3aBPLgeXhgz3pLnY-XzlgtdiyU4VXYoaFKyzQX3TrCtbD13Re8toGAAFyK14RP9IG8WFBd9BmzYTx5KtMWFSlYdiZl/w640-h480/IMG_8868.jpeg" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The neck wood is not specified, so will be a generic hardwood like okoume or nato. There are multiple stacks on the very visible heel joint and an equally noticeable headstock joint which isn't straight. Thankfully it's finished in satin. Less happily I see it has a very far eastern rounded back profile and generic 34mm nut with 27mm G to A. Not for me personally. Where the neck joins the body there are more flaws in the finish too.<br /><br />That is topped with more walnut for the fingerboard which looks to be in good condition. It's also edge bound in more similarly coloured wood and, surprisingly, the side edges are 'rolled' for comfort. That's nice and surprising for the price. It comes with 18 frets, joined at the 14th which are all dressed well with not a hint of any sharp edges. Sadly though a couple of the upper frets are tarnished on this example and need polishing. Pearl position dots face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th, double 12th and 15th and these are paired with dots down the side.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8x34Gz96K_EieVI4eW23hqkLgUubCvq9NbRUAHy9nNDJTR1iGbBbzqhE4alZ2JYID9gRCE1Sz06BUM35t4XQBaep0qD9ZXCFHqt2F_arPK3z_nJlFsYuhuZs9X34VVa20Wij2pr3wzNDxiNai1yvwRPzfINc_cn3QiyDwcYB3TWEGoSlf0VnCq4s/s3000/R0003280.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8x34Gz96K_EieVI4eW23hqkLgUubCvq9NbRUAHy9nNDJTR1iGbBbzqhE4alZ2JYID9gRCE1Sz06BUM35t4XQBaep0qD9ZXCFHqt2F_arPK3z_nJlFsYuhuZs9X34VVa20Wij2pr3wzNDxiNai1yvwRPzfINc_cn3QiyDwcYB3TWEGoSlf0VnCq4s/w640-h426/R0003280.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><br />Beyond the NuBone nut is an asymmetric headstock that reminds me of the look of those on <a href="https://www.gotaukulele.com/2014/03/kremona-coco-tenor-ukulele-review.html" target="_blank">Kremona</a> ukuleles. It's faced in a reddish darker wood and looks rather plain, particularly with the bore-fest of the GEWA screen print 'logo' which is just a basic font in black. A word here though, as I see there seem to be various versions of this headstock including a dark faced version with gold lettering and one with a more stylised logo which looks better still. This is the worst of the bunch and bear in mind I didn't get a choice! I think this is cheap and tatty looking.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nkS3Y7eY5zS348qiUXazmTRv6c6UaxcQ7ZSkxQalFtjYJKf021EYG83qGKTDfVjxOnTdNLF1WBGOo08gOOSXUVSAM_Ztrnmo5u6Jiy68WCpY_y0K0xip0PHuCBfUQuqiAxkYHcyx-bEdz1X-z5VgUXrdE2zTGsPKoMC-0rI3UwmN08bHNCgmWC9k/s3000/R0003281.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nkS3Y7eY5zS348qiUXazmTRv6c6UaxcQ7ZSkxQalFtjYJKf021EYG83qGKTDfVjxOnTdNLF1WBGOo08gOOSXUVSAM_Ztrnmo5u6Jiy68WCpY_y0K0xip0PHuCBfUQuqiAxkYHcyx-bEdz1X-z5VgUXrdE2zTGsPKoMC-0rI3UwmN08bHNCgmWC9k/w640-h426/R0003281.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The tuners are unbranded open gears in gold with small black buttons. They look like they are trying to be Grover, but the quality is not quite at that level. Still, they seem to work ok if a little gaudy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaXBfa3CweogsgBKwDnl46BQ188_VR7c_eKC4OIrdIkYl8RCxY7VhIk-EUtDMgA5wsw6SgGwvL0-IGrCaydYwb_PWgqIr9iVoeZngngkgOBaCS9K4ac7NJFj3yqVTp8zYaNRLWeN_S_zDMDNe-b4Xcrw463st_B0MlCRx5oG5RYgkC2RuTwqxa1DI/s3000/R0003282.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaXBfa3CweogsgBKwDnl46BQ188_VR7c_eKC4OIrdIkYl8RCxY7VhIk-EUtDMgA5wsw6SgGwvL0-IGrCaydYwb_PWgqIr9iVoeZngngkgOBaCS9K4ac7NJFj3yqVTp8zYaNRLWeN_S_zDMDNe-b4Xcrw463st_B0MlCRx5oG5RYgkC2RuTwqxa1DI/w640-h426/R0003282.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It comes finished with a set of Aquila strings and a basic branded padded bag. And the RRP on these in UK pricing comes in at about £160. Whilst that's not a lot of money in the scheme of things, it does place it in a very congested point in the market so will need to shine to stand out, particularly with these generic looks and QC issues.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqBV9HycX7ad3ee9UQfZXZCHoROJDSnEdUa3FSanhQ8YVARudaDIrA0I3bQnHV7XYJag4yRSuzlIQbDIJyu9etDc2LBGR6wsVnf4eny6PRlLOT71pOg3lWAdUAU6b0-XWA1P1d9vW45ML3KNX_P6Kj81vNbPycbMFlLz5Zv54ELlSJ6jbWWbkzLR2/s3000/R0003283.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqBV9HycX7ad3ee9UQfZXZCHoROJDSnEdUa3FSanhQ8YVARudaDIrA0I3bQnHV7XYJag4yRSuzlIQbDIJyu9etDc2LBGR6wsVnf4eny6PRlLOT71pOg3lWAdUAU6b0-XWA1P1d9vW45ML3KNX_P6Kj81vNbPycbMFlLz5Zv54ELlSJ6jbWWbkzLR2/w640-h426/R0003283.JPG" title="GEWA Manoa M-CO Concert Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />So it's not one that has set my heart racing so far, partly because of the generic look, but also the irritating finish scruffs. On the other side of the coin the core build seems ok and it doesn't 'feel' like cheap junk to hold. The setup though needs work. Whilst the nut is only a touch high it's not too bad but the 12th fret action is right at the top end at 3mm (possibly a touch more). That needs taking down. It's not overly heavy though at 490g and balances ok.</div><div><br /></div><div>In basic terms the volume here is ok. It's not the loudest ukulele I have played, but it's not going to let you down in a group and is reasonably good. Sadly the sustain is too low for my tastes and that dies off rather quickly meaning characterful play is going to be more difficult.</div><div><br /></div><div>A spruce top you would expect to be bright and whilst they can be tempered by darker back and side woods, I find that works less well with laminate back and sides. And so it is here as this is just far too 'one trick pony' on the brightness stakes for my ears. It's certainly a crisp sound when strummed, but I find the brightness turns a little confused and muddy with some strums rather than producing a cut glass sound. Hey, it works as a uke sound, but it's as generic when played as it is on looks.<br /><br />Fingerpicking is a touch nicer as spruce gives a clear bell like chime to the notes which, despite the poor setup, seem to deliver higher up the neck too. The lack of sustain though brings me back to the 'one trick pony' reference as it's not delivering a great deal more played this way. Not much character here either. It plays notes, but not much more.<br /><br />All in all, this is not a terrible ukulele and had I looked at something like this fifteen years ago it would probably stand out more than it does today. Nowadays though, ukes like this are ten a penny and many I have seen (including the Amazon only stuff) not only look like this but beat it on tone, play AND price. So, no, it's not a huge sum of money, but when you are up against such a wide range of alternatives it's hard to give it a recommendation. </div><div><br /></div><div>That doesn't mean you made a mistake if you bought one, as it <u>does</u> work as a core uke. Just easily beaten. </div><div><br /></div><div>Time has moved on.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.gewamusic.com/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.gewamusic.com/en</a><br /><br /><br /><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: GEWA Manoa M-CO</div><div>Scale: Concert</div><div>Body: Solid spruce top, laminate sapele back and sides</div><div>Bridge: Walnut, tie bar</div><div>Saddle: NuBone</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 39mm</div><div>Finish: Satin</div><div>Neck: Unspecified</div><div>Fingerboard: Walnut</div><div>Frets: 18, 14 to body</div><div>Nut: NuBone</div><div>Nut width: 34mm, 27mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Unbranded open gears</div><div>Strings: Aquila</div><div>Extras: Gig bag</div><div>Weight: 490g</div><div>Country of origin: China?</div><div>Price: Circa £160</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Generally sound build</div><div>Nice fingerboard edges</div><div>Decent enough tuners</div><div>Reasonable volume</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Very generic looks</div><div>Several finish QC and setup issues<br />Thick top</div><div>Neck is not for my hands</div><div>Headstock looks cheap</div><div>Low sustain</div><div>Confused overly bright tone</div><div>Easily beaten on price</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Looks - 8.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 7.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 7.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money - 8 out of 10 </div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 7.9 out of 10</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4724767841739249964.post-63993702209150410262023-09-17T14:47:00.003+01:002023-09-17T14:49:51.003+01:00DJ Morgan Vintage Style Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW<h2 style="text-align: left;">It's always important to look at the work of ukulele luthiers in these reviews and not just factory brands, so I'm pleased to feature this one. A DJ Morgan Vintage Style Soprano.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtOsxTDv1qVOHlp-vVClt_EGDHDIz0sJVM3bhFMriX5ZRS6iaa1K5_Xtrr44fzPWLX9UJR_u8gPMamTS5GoExhqva9onhOh3F3pFL4eBPWgq23Bg65XH8k4k415KbujtBKAKTZEmCmTBwdVUe2IszNcACPsgsrWc9jm-bzaTQZSwE5snqqHZfiq8h/s3000/R0003264.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtOsxTDv1qVOHlp-vVClt_EGDHDIz0sJVM3bhFMriX5ZRS6iaa1K5_Xtrr44fzPWLX9UJR_u8gPMamTS5GoExhqva9onhOh3F3pFL4eBPWgq23Bg65XH8k4k415KbujtBKAKTZEmCmTBwdVUe2IszNcACPsgsrWc9jm-bzaTQZSwE5snqqHZfiq8h/w640-h426/R0003264.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>The 'D' in DJ Morgan is Dave (Morgan) from the Midlands in the UK who I have featured before on this website as a fine ukulele builder indeed. It's low volume stuff with Dave and as ever with luthier reviews these are, somewhat strangely, less about the instrument in the review and more about reviewing their skills more generally. And that's because with a lot of luthier built stuff they are not production line models and can even be bespoke instruments. That's kind of the case with these as I think Dave only recently made a couple of them, and I bought one for myself personally! That's not to say he won't make them again, but as it stands this is a review of something you can't immediately go and click to buy. Where a luthier review IS positive though, I hope it's an indication for you to put them on your radar and keep an eye on their output. You get the idea.</div><div><br /></div><div>I first need to get the 'subjective / bias' out of the way. It's well known that I have a <u>big</u> passion for very traditional soprano ukuleles, so when I saw Dave had made these I immediately took a closer look. Then when I saw the detail that went into the build (which you will find on his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/djmorganukuleles" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>) I couldn't resist and bought one. The specs simply ticked all my boxes. So with that out of the way, i'll now try to be as objective as I can!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pKlAtoJrxls?si=Z7slRbSIUDP068f9" title="YouTube video player" width="600"></iframe></center>
<div><br />In making this instrument Dave was inspired by both the looks and build on a vintage instrument he'd taken a look at - a 1920's Royal Hawaiian brand soprano to be precise. I will point out those details as we go through the review.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpNW5niLP0FIwuzZnMZFeQlf7fZZGG_hQRMAleVKi3KCJbXD1afoSmNji_1iDZuzlNV2aLULnWRDHAlv5z4sCQfWN6LtgkUU0-A2NcD-NDKwcxlRGzS50jHwZFwBOezYhVONsK-8B5Uor2MfBed3AOp1wwDFJoQMS_Rucc7DBaJjZ5MEjlvHkAhE0/s3000/R0003265.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele body" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpNW5niLP0FIwuzZnMZFeQlf7fZZGG_hQRMAleVKi3KCJbXD1afoSmNji_1iDZuzlNV2aLULnWRDHAlv5z4sCQfWN6LtgkUU0-A2NcD-NDKwcxlRGzS50jHwZFwBOezYhVONsK-8B5Uor2MfBed3AOp1wwDFJoQMS_Rucc7DBaJjZ5MEjlvHkAhE0/w640-h426/R0003265.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele body" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As you can immediately see this is a very traditional shaped double bout soprano ukulele and is made from all solid mahogany with single sheets used for the top, back and sides. As for body looks this is exactly what I want in a soprano - simple wood, simple shape. The wood isn't boring though and has some nice shiny grain stripes to it which add a bit more interest, but it's still simple. There's not much more to say here, but the interest and vintage modelling comes more to the fore when I discuss the construction further on.<br /><br />The bridge is a simple slot style made from Macassar ebony and is extremely smooth and tidy. Sitting in that is a very traditional saddle choice as this is made from ebony wood too. Spacing here is 43mm. This sort of saddle is 'just right' for a ukulele like this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcWr2ZDMvUddmDJ3fQlX6nr4nD0BNpB1VaaZC-EGV6eQT7OkkFtWH0_rf_5EA7slM9oS4rvBsf9qF0HpYrOXcPEcu953osg3oOHqJp5Td_WPc6kLZw9XZ9fYLe9X0JugHh-h56dObJaoosu26YMEPaJbGVtZBIbHeruZKyVeXQgr-5B8cwPqLyfrY/s3000/R0003266.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele bridge" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcWr2ZDMvUddmDJ3fQlX6nr4nD0BNpB1VaaZC-EGV6eQT7OkkFtWH0_rf_5EA7slM9oS4rvBsf9qF0HpYrOXcPEcu953osg3oOHqJp5Td_WPc6kLZw9XZ9fYLe9X0JugHh-h56dObJaoosu26YMEPaJbGVtZBIbHeruZKyVeXQgr-5B8cwPqLyfrY/w640-h426/R0003266.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele bridge" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The finish and decor is very much in keeping with the vintage look. The decoration on the body is limited to a sound hole rosette inlaid from pieces of cherry, maple and walnut in a rope style which is both done exquisitely but also carries the right old time / Nunes type vibe. The body is then hand finished in a natural cellulose open pore finish which feels great and will age naturally over time. Naturally, being hand made, there are no sharp or severe edges here either and the top and back joints are nicely smoothed off to create a more comfortable instrument, particularly as sopranos are more likely to be hand held when played. This is simple but very effective decoration and don't underestimate the work that goes into a hand inlaid rosette like this!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPXUktb3fIJAio_lzNkjVBkJuZiILyLFtFJoO1WlPXUQf1hSd6REglzc5y8jhXbIEpF-CGZZS2aCt7JFB_MpZYaDGCU-3PSJNWX034I5VZf8x8fVr8MaeEQB6l6AFEfzVGp8YDVFwbUqT3dOfusY68pST6P8W0kzgPDazFFvAdJcys8s9acbNkzJq/s3000/R0003267.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele decor" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPXUktb3fIJAio_lzNkjVBkJuZiILyLFtFJoO1WlPXUQf1hSd6REglzc5y8jhXbIEpF-CGZZS2aCt7JFB_MpZYaDGCU-3PSJNWX034I5VZf8x8fVr8MaeEQB6l6AFEfzVGp8YDVFwbUqT3dOfusY68pST6P8W0kzgPDazFFvAdJcys8s9acbNkzJq/w640-h426/R0003267.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele decor" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />Inside is where things get very interesting. It's braced normally, has un-notched kerfing in line with vintage instruments and is extremely tidy. A nice touch is the signed and dated bridge plate which, of course, will never be seeen! But the way this is put together is very traditional too. Rather than building a body then screwing and glueing a separate neck in place, Dave built the body around the end of the neck block with the body sides slotting onto this part first. The top is fitted next and then the back last which you can see as the heel cap is integral to the back wood. This makes for a very secure build something akin to a dove-tail or a Spanish heel. It also allowed Dave to make another adjustment to the neck which I will come on to below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBESFYU29mxN7A_GQIXt9BOqGGL3IGgOHnZDve0FIV2pD6WhuPEwQqmjcVN__gVs7MuZOcBywUmXqy9a6QKmWnAR4YRO0KJdaLhSLatjzM9mt4FCuPLbT-lSoVS5ZtOhtSIesWakO0JOrrcgNaMkWtuRoEiMGrTubsvuneGK6hIO0nyY0yzG_JPM1t/s2592/IMG_8843.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele inside" border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBESFYU29mxN7A_GQIXt9BOqGGL3IGgOHnZDve0FIV2pD6WhuPEwQqmjcVN__gVs7MuZOcBywUmXqy9a6QKmWnAR4YRO0KJdaLhSLatjzM9mt4FCuPLbT-lSoVS5ZtOhtSIesWakO0JOrrcgNaMkWtuRoEiMGrTubsvuneGK6hIO0nyY0yzG_JPM1t/w640-h480/IMG_8843.jpeg" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele inside" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />The neck is made from walnut in a single piece and tapers to a nice shallow nut profile and wide 37mm nut (30mm G to A). Again, very traditional and how I think all sopranos should be. That is satin too and feels great.<br /><br /></div><div>The fingerboard is made from a wood called Tambooti (a new one on me - a decorative hardwood from the southern parts of Africa) and is flush to the top of the body in a very vintage style. Dave advises that on the original 1920's instruments this led to a very high action which was countered in later developments with the introduction of the raised fingerboard. To counter this he has set the angle on a neck inside that integral body joint. It's actually hard to spot as the fingerboard still runs flush with the top, but you can see it more looking at the ukulele in reverse as the back has a taper. Clever. That board comes with a very traditional 12 almost bar style frets and no other fret markers (the originals didn't have them!). Simple and clean.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAlzgOC9rNCTJpiFnHLzTpRlzmXjH1qKdampNDCgvegbTJVSZSW9s-5WADHY4tarWibmNRUtDL-ikBlH54dwTnfIbXD_HfnpHb2PH4HHLG6dKE98o8XTV7iPY1W8mya_SVeD95_GDGGZPcks9HJqHhshFwKHENOtutrCy6VW7rBde1-7bnQj0ebxn/s3000/R0003268.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele neck" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAlzgOC9rNCTJpiFnHLzTpRlzmXjH1qKdampNDCgvegbTJVSZSW9s-5WADHY4tarWibmNRUtDL-ikBlH54dwTnfIbXD_HfnpHb2PH4HHLG6dKE98o8XTV7iPY1W8mya_SVeD95_GDGGZPcks9HJqHhshFwKHENOtutrCy6VW7rBde1-7bnQj0ebxn/w640-h426/R0003268.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele neck" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The nut is ebony too and beyond that a crown headstock inlaid with more rope marquetry to match the sound hole. This really sets it off, though I suppose some more of this detailing down the middle of the fingerboard would have been the ultimate! Either side of the rope-work are curved wooden inlays which add some of the DJ Morgan usual decor to the headstock.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWBurmzLLf5qCeQHBJKpkHcS1KPJijVnfRPEHwfIP8pzPITn1-FHKIWt4uXENCxSMoUx7Fp2irf1kO-00CVCQZ9eaQ7n1nYfhKwKFpJzPXo8RNUXL2oECW5olIzvvzLr0H0ZbTdpBr3z6mRbV9GQmbtgRYUTREzNJI8a43xlLkaz9sA4lnl5iQq_T/s3000/R0003269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele headstock" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWBurmzLLf5qCeQHBJKpkHcS1KPJijVnfRPEHwfIP8pzPITn1-FHKIWt4uXENCxSMoUx7Fp2irf1kO-00CVCQZ9eaQ7n1nYfhKwKFpJzPXo8RNUXL2oECW5olIzvvzLr0H0ZbTdpBr3z6mRbV9GQmbtgRYUTREzNJI8a43xlLkaz9sA4lnl5iQq_T/w640-h426/R0003269.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele headstock" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It comes with friction pegs made by Der Jung which are on a par with good Grover tuners so are just fine with me. Gears would look ridiculous on an instrument like this! If you <u>must</u> have gears, UPT style pegs would be an easy swap.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FX7TtheKxG9xI5ubLgN-LFrbzEEWxJLT2LDXJfeE4ndB0ssZbl8kZOcdrFL2QVZF36-nJLBIwkG91Kdlc1jwZI3NFFt96R8NIURtMuQhLm6I9RR3dQVbVXf_1fjn_4Ge-rod38Ie9eGZ9WZ0fZwtk246taXDY6yn5mMEddIGKzPTpzUvlfWxlWvi/s3000/R0003270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele tuners" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FX7TtheKxG9xI5ubLgN-LFrbzEEWxJLT2LDXJfeE4ndB0ssZbl8kZOcdrFL2QVZF36-nJLBIwkG91Kdlc1jwZI3NFFt96R8NIURtMuQhLm6I9RR3dQVbVXf_1fjn_4Ge-rod38Ie9eGZ9WZ0fZwtk246taXDY6yn5mMEddIGKzPTpzUvlfWxlWvi/w640-h426/R0003270.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele tuners" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />It comes with unspecified clear fluoro strings and this was listed at £395. I never suggest paying too much regard to the pricing score in luthier reviews as it totally depends on the specs of the instrument, but considering the build and finishing on display here (and the time that will have taken), I consider that to be a bargain whichever way you slice it. Turn that into man hours...</div><div><br /></div><div>Back into the subjective for a moment. When I saw images of this ukulele and knowing what a good builder Dave is, I was immediately hooked. This is pretty much the perfect trad soprano for <u>my</u> tastes. Taking off the subjective hat again, there is still no denying the build quality, detailing and finishing craft here which is just wonderful at every turn. I get that not everybody will like the ultra traditional ukes, but you can't argue with the quality here. It's also one of the lightest build sopranos I think I've ever had in my hands (including the Ken Timms) which is something Dave was going for. It's only 310g and you almost don't know you are holding it for that reason. It balances wonderfully too and just feels right to hold unsupported. Light as a feather.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRy55gmW9wBOS_op6ZftCSg73JXwXBhPkhAnvD3aBeJD-UZG5xaxSD6f7ncROKrCY4QDl_V0dDlD-1hTvMs0h5JYBJmat4BXF23K7eaBnffrzidiUy9riK0mbjl8k5S-6lLDPtGwAeAwlswk5qa8h9WFwWxW-ZO-R-uJh6wJLhNe0KDT3jRDbchcUK/s3000/R0003271.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele back" border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRy55gmW9wBOS_op6ZftCSg73JXwXBhPkhAnvD3aBeJD-UZG5xaxSD6f7ncROKrCY4QDl_V0dDlD-1hTvMs0h5JYBJmat4BXF23K7eaBnffrzidiUy9riK0mbjl8k5S-6lLDPtGwAeAwlswk5qa8h9WFwWxW-ZO-R-uJh6wJLhNe0KDT3jRDbchcUK/w640-h426/R0003271.JPG" title="DJ Morgan Vintage Soprano Ukulele back" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br />So.. a very light build, thin woods, accurate construction - this all bodes well for the obvious and sure enough the volume here is absolutely stellar. Dave said it's the loudest soprano he has built and his other instruments are no slouches. This punches like a cannon and is certainly one of the loudest sopranos I have ever played. Heck it's louder than some tenors I have Sustain on sopranos is always more compromised than other scales due to the smaller body, but a resonant body can certainly help. And so it is here as the sustain is decent meaning it's not going to be a totally staccato one trick pony. </div><div><br /></div><div>Things are looking good here and, thankfully, it doesn't fail to deliver on tone either. Being a soprano it certainly has that jangly, peppy, bouncy tone when played strummed for rhythmical patterns. In fact it delivers exactly how a soprano should on that score. But unlike some that can sound a little nasal and whiny whilst this has a peppy tone there is a woody warmth to the background too. It certainly cuts through (with no notes getting lost or sounding muddy), but has a tonal balance through the mids which work wonderfully and keep it to an almost mellow edge that I love.<br /><br />Some people claim sopranos are not for melodic play (which I call nonsense on - take a look at Andy Eastwood playing one) and here it shines too with great clarity and chiming tone no matter where you play it on the neck. Sure, you have a limit to your register with the twelve frets, but then it wouldn't be in keeping with the vintage uke it is inspired by with any more. Never mind that though - for chord melody type play this won't let you down as the comments I made about the strummed tone still apply - nicely balanced, not whiny and a nice woody edge. Really characterful.<br /><br />I knew of Dave's work before buying this so knew that he doesn't turn out rubbish, but I didn't have any idea how this one would work on account of the more trad construction - it was the looks that lured me in. I need not have had any concerns as this ticks every soprano box for me in spades. A truly wonderful instrument! Is he going to make more? You'll have to ask him, but as I say with all luthier instrument reviews this is more about reviewing their skills rather than an individual instrument. And he's hit the target with three out of three reviews on here.<br /><br />I think therefore you can take it from me that whatever he puts out next will be worth a look!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://djmorganukuleles.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://djmorganukuleles.co.uk/</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Model: DJ Morgan Vintage Style</div><div>Scale: Soprano</div><div>Body: Solid Mahogany</div><div>Bridge: Macassar Ebony</div><div>Saddle: Ebony</div><div>Spacing at saddle: 43mm</div><div>Finish: Cellulose open pore satin</div><div>Neck: Mahogany</div><div>Fingerboard: Tambooti</div><div>Frets: 12</div><div>Nut: Ebony</div><div>Nut width: 37mm, 30mm G to A</div><div>Tuners: Der Jung friction pegs</div><div>Strings: Clear fluorocarbon<br />Weight: 310g</div><div>Country of origin: United Kingdom</div><div>Price: £395</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE PROS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Wonderful trad looks</div><div>Superbly clean build and finish</div><div>Supremely light weight</div><div>Great neck feel</div><div>Volume off the scale</div><div>Great sustain</div><div>Textbook bouncy, jangly soprano sound</div><div>Balanced tone</div><div>More than fair price</div><div><br /><b>UKULELE CONS</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing </div><div><br /></div><div><b>UKULELE SCORES</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Looks - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Fit and finish - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Sound - 9.5 out of 10</div><div>Value for money 9.5 out of 10</div><div><br /><b>OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.5 out of 10</b></div><div><br /><b>UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.</div>Barry Mazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15731777711884288947noreply@blogger.com4United Kingdom55.378051 -3.43597327.067817163821154 -38.592223 83.688284836178838 31.720277