Martin 0X Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW

A ukulele scale in this particular series that I had been hoping for for quite some time now. This is the new Martin 0X Tenor Ukulele.

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Martin TKE Uke Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW

I always enjoy looking at Martin ukuleles so i'm happy to bring you this one which is new for 2024. This is the Martin TKE Uke Tenor Ukulele.

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Martin C1K Concert Ukulele - REVIEW

It took a few years on Got A Ukulele, but today completes something of a trio. This is the Martin C1K Concert Ukulele.

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Martin 0XK Concert Ukulele - REVIEW

Another ukulele from the limited number of new Martin instruments that have came along in the last couple of years, this week I am looking at the Martin 0XK Concert Ukulele.

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Mahimahi MC-3M Concert Ukulele - REVIEW

It's a first appearance for this brand on Got A Ukulele. This week I look at the Mahimahi MC-3M Concert.

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Ukulele To The Stars!

Ukulele fans may want to keep an eye on the upcoming SpaceX launch on 15 September 2021 - because Chris Sembroski is taking a custom designed Martin ukulele with him on the mission. And all for a very good cause too!

Credit - Martin Guitars

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Martin 0XK Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW

Something this week that may look quite familar to you on Got A Ukulele. It's the Martin 0XK Soprano Ukulele.

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Ohana SK-39 Soprano - REVIEW

There is something of a collection of Ohana brand sopranos building on Got A Ukulele now and it's time to look at another new release from the US musical instrument brand - the SK-39 Solid Mahogany Soprano.

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Sigma SUM-2S Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW

I don't know whether it's a result of my personal passion for them or just that the ukulele market is stronger in them generally, but it's time to look at yet another mahogany soprano. This time it's the very Martin-esque Sigma SUM-2S Soprano Ukulele

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Martin 0X Uke Bamboo Soprano Ukulele - Review

Here's a ukulele review that has been intriguing (and, if I'm honest, worrying me) for quite a while. From that esteemed old brand of musical instruments. It's the Martin 0X Uke Bamboo Soprano Ukulele... Hold on to your hats folks.

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Martin S1 Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW

It surprises me a little that with a name so very well known in ukulele history, I've only reviewed one ukulele from C. F. Martin before on this site. Time to change that with a look at their S1 Soprano ukulele.

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A Little Imagination In Your Ukulele Headstocks Please!

There's a point you may have noticed me raising often in ukulele reviews on this site, and that's a grumble about less than imaginative ukulele headstocks. Recently I had someone message me asking me more about my gripe, so I figured it would make an interesting discussion piece.

My gripe is quite simple really. From what I can see, there is a massive preponderance of ukulele headstocks that simply choose to copy the Martin three pointed crown style. What is the three pointed crown style? Well, you know it. I am sure you know it. You know it because it appears on SO many instruments. You don't? You DO! They look like this...

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string update on the Bruko slimline

As posted earlier - not really happy with my usually reliable Aquilas on my Bruko slim - they were a bit "too much" for it if you see what I mean (such a light delicate little instrument)

I have some Martin Flouros on order, but then digging inside one of my uke cases I found the set of Ko'Olau golds that I had fitted to my Mainland.

I really wasnt happy with the tuning of them on the mainland, and found them too precise and slippy.

Anyway, whilst I wait for the Martins, I have just popped them on the Bruko.  Immediately I know I am on the right track moving away from the Aquilas - whilst I worry about the Ko'Olaus  in terms of tuning stability, when in tune on my Bruko, they give a much sweeter tone to this little thing- chiming sound, and as good a volume level as Aquilas (and no booming)

Will leave these on for a while to determine if they suit this, and it was just the Mainland they didnt like.  I figure that if I hit the same tuning probs, I put on the Martins - this being the same route I followed on another sweet delicate uke in my collection - the Mainland

More to follow

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New strings for the bruko?

If you read my earlier posts, you will note that my new Bruko slimline came with the usual (in my view nasty) Pyramid nylon strings.

I swapped those out for Aquilas.  Now, I did that for a couple of reasons:

1. Aquilas are in my opinion a great string that work in a wide variety of situations (but see comments below)

2. I used to own a Mahogany solid Bruko 6 and I really liked Aquilas on that uke.

All of that said, as much as I love Aquilas, they are not ALWAYS right on every uke in my opinion.  They drive thick topped ukes (and non solid beginner ukes like Dolphins) really well as they are seriously powerful.

 But....  I did learn a lesson with my Flea and my solid Mainland, where Aquilas seemed a bit overkill, a bit boomy, and a bit.... well, too much!

I now run Worth clears on my Flea and Martin Flouros on my Mainland and in each case I think I have found my Nirvana on those instruments (personal choice I know)

Anyway - the Aquilas I put on my Bruko slim seem too much, too powerful - it is such a light delicate little thing.

Bit the bullet, and have some more Martin Flouros on the way to test on the Bruko - review to follow.

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Martin Flouro strings update

Well my new (ish) Martin Flourocarbon strings have been on my concert mainland for quite a while now, and can report that I think they are staggeringly good.

Every time I pick up my uke, these strings have remained bang in tune, and still chime beautifully and feel great. As I posted earlier, aquilas on a sweet solid instrument like this are not really my cup of tea, I think you need something sweeter - tried ko'olaus but found them temperamental on tuning.

Standard nylon Martins were always a string I would avoid, but these new flouros are superb. such a sweet tone on my Mainland.

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String update

a while since i've been on. String update!

Not impressed with the Ko'Olau gold strings i've been trying on my concert Mainland. Nice strings, don't get me wrong, but very fussy on tuning. I find they are too sensitive to heat - and once tuned, even the heat from fretting fingers can throw them out of tune.

Now trying Martins on the Mainland - not the shoddy nylons, but their newer flourocarbons- first impressions are great - hold tune well, light on the fingers, lovely chiming tone.

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Ukulele beginners tips - All things strings

(NOTE - This is a very old Got A Ukulele post from 2009. I used to update it to reflect changes in string brands, but it became an endless task. I therefore consider it a bit out of date! Bear that in mind!)

A bit like guitar, there are a range of strings available for the Uke. If you are a Ukulele beginner and have bought an entry level instrument, the chances are, it will arrive with cheap basic strings on it (usually GHS). You can tell, they will be jet black and shiny, or clear and shiny.

One of the very best upgrades you can make to a cheaper Uke is a string upgrade - probably costing you no more than about £6 or £7.

Now, dont expect to walk into your local music shop and see a huge range - that aint gonna happen. The internet, and ebay, is your friend however. As for which, it's hard to recommend a perfect string for everyone, simply because such a thing doesn't exist. The thing is, we all have different ukulele, different playing styles, different tastes and different ears. There is no one size fits all. What may suit one person may not suit another. The answer is to experiment.

A couple of brands that you may come across include:

Aquila - Italian made from a substance called nylgut, which attempts to recreate the properties of real gut that instruments used to be strung with. They are pretty thick, and are not slippy - have a kind of rough coating. They are white and opaque. make sure you get the right set for your size of instrument (ie soprano, tenor etc), and choose high or low G string.

In my view, Aquilas are superb strings, particularly at bringing cheap ukuleles to life - they are loud, have loads of bell like sustain and are quite bright sounding. Some people, however, dont like them - they are thicker than some strings, and if you are an absolute beginner, they can hurt the fingers. The rough coating can also make a noise when you slide your fingers on them that some people dont like. For me though, as a guitar player - my fingers are used to the soreness, and the noise you get from wound strings. If they dont sound right for you, take a look at the next suggestion.

Worth - these are Japanese strings, and come in a bewildering range of styles. As well as size styles, they come in different thicknesses, and two colours (brown and clear). I personally like the Brown Mediums, labelled as BM (well... duh!). These strings are thinner than Aquilas, and are smooth in finish (so slippy). I think they also have less tension, and are easier on the fingers. They sing better than Aquila to my ears when picked, but I prefer Aquilas when strummed. - Horses for courses I suppose. They work very well on mahogany instruments. Some say there is no difference between the brown and clear strings, but to my ears, the brown are mellower. Worths generally I find are a mellower sound than Aquila.

Others - you will probably struggle in the UK to find much else to buy - but if you do see others, try out Martin flourocarbons - nice strings apparently. I think the key is to go for flourocarbon strings, not nylon.

To be honest though, there are SO many and you want to know what I use don't you? I use these. Seriously!

Have fun - but I do urge you - if you have an entry level instrument with cheap strings - upgrade - it is well, well worth the effort.

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