Well this one proved to be one of my most popular competitions with hundreds of entries from all around the globe. The names have gone into the hat, and as in previous draws one lucky winner has been drawn by my five year old daughter!
This shiny, brand new Makala Waterman is winging it's way to..
Would you like to be in with a chance of winning a fabulous Makala Waterman ukulele? Of course you would. So with thanks to the kind folks at Kala UK, I am giving one away in this free to enter competition!
You may have read my review of the Waterman and seen that I quite like it. The model on offer is brand new and in the orange swirl pattern, complete with Makala Waterman box and gig bag. All you have to do is a bit of snooping on this website to answer the following easy questions:
Well it was a little time coming over to UK shores for this blogger, but the much awaited Makala Waterman plastic soprano has finally launched in the UK. The musical instrument was officially released this last weekend, but I have been lucky to have had a trio of Waterman ukuleles on test for the last week. Are they worth all the hype?
The Makala Waterman is the latest in what seems to be an endless stream of plastic ukuleles that are hitting the market (and I have reviewed three or four others already!). A couple of bits of housekeeping from the off:
Time for another long term test review of a ukulele that has been with me for some time. The Makala Dolphin.
I intend to run a number of long term tests on instruments I have kept, as often the long term views can be more illuminating than the initial impressions. (See my REVIEWS PAGE for other long term tests I have done). So for this one - the Makala Dolphin, a uke I first came across nearly three years ago now. You can read my initial review of that instrument HERE. The Dolphin is an absolute entry level soprano ukulele made by Kala. This model featured the one piece moulded plastic back and sides.
So, how has it been? Well, the Dolphin is a cheap starter uke, and as you will see from my reviews I have since owned (or still own) a range of instruments with far bigger price tags since then. But you know what? The Dolphin still gets played on almost a daily basis.
Here is one of my dolphins today (yes, yes I know, it's not red, its purple, but I bought two when I wrote that review, and the red one has been gifted to my young nephew since then - this is the one we kept and gets played - same vintage!).
The reason it gets a lot of play is twofold. First, this kind of became my daughters ukulele. She is between three and four years old, so this uke is almost as old as she is! For that reason it sits in the living room, always on hand, and whenever she gets it out, I end up having a play too. But the second reason is because it really is just so good. In fact picking it up today it never ceases to amaze me how full and loud a sound these things can deliver. In that respect, what I said when I first got one still stands today.
And another plus point. Because this uke has been in the hands of a toddler, it stands to reason that it has been dropped, trodden on and generally abused. It is chipped and dinged in all sorts of places (that Dolphin thick glossy finish does chip easily I have found) but it still plays just fine.
So I will happily find myself still strumming this when at home - perhaps more than I do some of my other instruments. The tone is good, nothing offensive at all. I have even busked and played it publicly. Can't give it a much better endorsement. Friends in the band have also bought them as 'travel ukes' (the sort of instrument you won't shed a tear over breaking or being stolen) and band members have taken these to the far east and Australia last year!
As such, this retains its position as about the best starter ukulele I can recommend to people (for those wanting to spend next to no money). But my advice still comes with a couple of provisos.
1. Buy from a reputable shop. Southern Ukulele Store stock these, but going back to my original review I bought mine from Nigel at Highly Strung in Wantage. Ask him to check the setup - in fact, ask any shop to check the setup) A well setup Dolphin is just great, but at this price there WILL be duds.
2. I am not sure what strings they are now shipping these with, but you really want to try Aquilas on them. I know I don't like preaching about strings, and that you should experiment, but these have quite thick tops and the Aquila power can really drive them to get a good tone and volume.
And that is about that - highly recommended, even after three years. Also childproof!
As posted last week, I bought my daughter a plastic dolphin and thought I'd provide an update on setup (considering I rate these so highly)
I bought my first Dolphin from the Highly Strung online store (based in Wantage). Its a shop I very much like, cos I know it is run by a musician who cares. I knew the dolphin would come with nasty strings so ordered it with Aquilas. Even though he knew I would be changing strings, he set it up for me very good - adjusting the nut slots and the saddle height - the thing played perfectly on arrival - all for £25 plus £2 packing.
Anyway, Highly Strung only do them in three colours, and I wanted something different for my daughter - have been keeping an eye on UK stores waiting for confirmed plastic models to come in - I found one at Bonsai Guitars LINK who I had never seen before - in fact I found loads there - in tons of colours. £25.50 and free delivery - I ordered her purple
The service was great - and it arrived in super quick time (despite the free postage)
Setup though was, sadly, lacking - mainly at the saddle which needed a major sanding down. One of the tuners was also loose. I have set it up myself and put Aquilas on it - and it now plays great - the beauty of these Dolphins.
In summary therefore, if you are looking for no nonsense well set up instrument in the UK - go to Highly Strung. If you desperately want to get a wackier colour - go to Bonsai - but be prepared to do a bit of work on it yourself.
You will have read my posts on here about how great I think the Makala Dolphin plastic back ukes are - great sounding beater uke when loaded with Aquila strings - tough, and only £25!! (honestly folks, ignore ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS PRICE BRACKET... nothing cuts it for the money like a Dolphin)
Anyway, I bought a red one and I love it. I also have a 9 month daughter who is mesmerised when I play my uke. I therefore figured, what the heck - I wont let her touch my expensive ukes, but she can play with the dolphin - it was only £25.... Anyway, she likes it so much, that if I leave it on floor with her toys, thats what she goes to pick up more than anything else. She explores it, tweaks the tuners, and importantly plucks those strings! Admittedly, she also turns it over on her lap and bangs the back like a drum, but hey, that is all good too!
So.... I couldnt resist - found Bonsai Guitars website who stock a massive range of colours in the plastic back range - and ordered her very own purple model. (never uses Bonsai before -so fingers crossed. Limited range, but lots of Kala and Makalas available plus accessories - plus Paypal checkout available and for limited time, free delivery!!!)
Sure she cant play it, sure, I may be mad - but its going to live in her toy box, and who knows how soon she will start to figure it out. She loves the sound it makes, and her face lights up when she catches the strings with a good wallop and they ring out.
Call me mad if you like, but couldnt resist for the price.!
The obvious question - can cheap be cheerful? Answer - not always - see my video test, which I think makes it quite clear that some cheapies (ie the Mahalo) are rotten, but some are great (such as the Makala)
If you dont want to shell out big bucks - fun can be had for a low outlay - just choose wisely!
Well, as I earlier mentioned, have been waiting and waiting for the plastic bodied Makala Dolphins to make their way into UK stock. These are highly regarded cheap as chips instruments, that many report got that little bit better since Kala decided to mould the back and sides in one piece polycarbonate.
Highly Strung, Wantage, had them in stock ( Click Here ) and I ordered - arrived today - in red burst finish (red with some sort of black smudgy bits that I do quite like). Also available on Amazon most of the time too if you prefer. Before I go on any further, please note - this is a £25 instrument. That's right a £25 instrument - half the price of some video games. Really really cheap. You have seen me rally on before about how cheap instruments can be more of a hindrance to the beginner than anything else. I play instruments in the £150+ bracket - so why would I want one of these? Well I read good things about the Makala, so thought I'd give it a go - if it was playable, it will become by beater, travel uke to sling in the car!
It arrived in lovely condition - no real finish flaws - few marks on the side of the neck, but again, this is a £25 instrument (I am gonna keep repeating that!!!). The finish is very glossy and looks quite deep. Frets are finished in brass colour. Bridge (in a dolphin shape) is a dark rosewood type of wood, as is the fingerboard (which I think is just wood, stained). The top is laminate wood, and has a simple white painted rosette around soundhole. Cant see the join between wood top and plastic sides at all. Neck joint is similarly clean. Really like the look of the back of the uke - the plastic body is slightly bowed out - I like different things like that. Have tried to take a pic (but not too easy to show). Makala logo is on headstock in silver.
Fret markers in faux mother of pearl at the 5th, 7th, and 10th (why oh why, not the 12th, please?) with white painted versions on the top side of the neck (if you are right handed!!)
The tuners are open backed, cheap geared tuners. Note though, they have nice small tuner buttons - something you don't always get on cheap instruments where makers raid the parts bin - they put on guitar tuners which are heavy, and make the uke look like Mickey Mouse. Nice plus that. Tuners are tight and work OK. Nut and bridge appear plastic.
Arrived strung with cheap black nylon strings. These were immediately changed to standard soprano strings from Aquila - the word on the street is that the aquilas really drive the wood top on these ukes well. Why change them? Well, this is a £25 instrument - don't expect miracles on the string provision!!
All strung up, and strings stretched, and away we go. To hold, the uke is nice and balanced, and light. The intonation really is spot on - all over the neck, and I have checked it with a digital tuner - for £25, that is pretty amazing. Really nice harmonic chime if I strum a barre across the 12th and 7th frets - cor! For £25??
Bridge saddle height seems fine, and action is just how I like it. Finish at the nut was a bit scruffy, and I may think about ever so slightly (ever ever so slightly) lowering the nut slots. But honestly - the action is fine, as is the tuning. Cant complain.
Sound is bright and fun - given a more vigorous strum, it really projects quite a bit of volume - not as loud as my Flea, but louder than any other cheap uke I have played. It actually sounds quite sweet too with the aquilas. Very easy to play, fret, hold etc.
Final point - comes with a cloth gig bag - not sure they can really call it a "bag" - more just a bit of cloth. Least said about that the better....
So do I recommend it, and what for?
Well, yes I do - its a well made, accurate good looking instrument that would be perfect for a beginner - the set up and finish on this is not going to work against you if you are starting out. It will never be loud enough to compete with a band, but for a beginner, I think it is just perfect (just be prepared to change strings - it really isn't that hard!)
I would also recommend it to more seasoned players like me as a beater uke for taking places I wouldn't take my expensive instruments (camping for example) - it seems perfect for that.
So give them a look - For £25 (there, I said it again) I really don't think you can afford NOT to buy one!!
SCORES
Looks - 6
Fit and finish - 7
Sound - 8.5
Value for money - 10
Well, whilst it is not as if I need another uke, I have been waiting for the budget Makala brand to start shipping their new model dolphin ukes into the uk
The dolphins are cheap and cheerful starter ukes, pretty well made, made of plywood or something. BUT...., they have started making the bodies (back and sides) now from molded plastic. Not only does this make them more resilient, it has given them a sound all of their own.
Slap some aquilas on and you have a superb travelling uke to throw in the back of the car!
Its one of these...(in red), again thanks to the fine folks at Highly Strung.
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