Comments on: McNally StrumStick Ukulele Full Review

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:18:10 +0000

I am confused. this is a ukulele. has 4 string tuned gCEA, and it is fretted like a uke also. It has the body of a mountain dulcimer but it is a ukulele.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:41:00 +0000

Why then, EJ, in the name of Holiness and all small animals, would the company owner mail one to an exclusively ukulele website, and knowingly for a review?

By: EJ

EJ — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:02:06 +0000

I honestly Don’t Understand why that this is being compared to a uke. It’s a guitar type Appalachian (Mountain) Dulcimer, Not a Uke (Nor even supposed to be close to one.) It seems like thats picking up an Auto-Harp and expecting it to be close to a Mandolin. I mean goodness, tabs for the App Dulcimer even work with this (albeit in reverse order). I don’t’ own one, but had the chance to play with one about three weeks ago. The owner (an AWESOME dulcimer player) played American and Irish Folk music and bluegrass on it, which is where this instrument really belongs.

It is what it is, nothing more nothing less–Not a uke, nor is iteven trying to be.

By: David Remiger aka Ukester Brown

David Remiger aka Ukester Brown — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:03:45 +0000

Another manufacturer trying to jump on the uke band wagon?

By: Sven

Sven — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:21:23 +0000

I agree with joedanboyd. I, too, abhor the Martin Backpacker “anorexic” guitar. It’s neither good in the backpack, nor as a guitar. Not only unsightly, but it’s also clumsy to hold and sounds like fishing line pulled taut over a Maxwell House can. It remains one of Martin guitars “outhouse” series–those guitars that sound best in the tidy confines of an outhouse. The more dry rot, and a half moon peephole, preferred.

I’m glad the strum stick did not take form or function from the Martin backpacker guitar.

By: uke66

uke66 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:45:00 +0000

I agree with you. I found the review interesting.
My comment was meant to be a generalization that a strum stick was a strum stick, a Uke was a Uke & the twain should never meet.
If the two were to get together it would be a new instrument and should have a different name. The match between the Banjo & Ukulele became the Banjolele.
Perhaps the Strumolele?

I must admit a Strum stick is on my wish list

By: joedanboyd

joedanboyd — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:42:06 +0000

Actually, this review was my introduction to the Strumstick concept in any form. When I saw the photo, I thought it looked exactly like the Martin backpacker guitar (6-string) that I bought in the 1990s as a travel guitar, but which I have used very seldom. On the few occasions I have used it in public, the general response has been one of either humor or, in the words on one observer/listener: That’s the ugliest guitar I have ever seen and he was entirely serious. On the basis of my experience with the Martin backpacker guitar, I never bought one of their similarly styled Martin backpacker ukuleles. I have never been really happy with the Martin backpacker guitar (either in sound or shape), so I approach the Strumstick concept warily, and thought the review sounded very on target. On the other hand, I have recently bought one of the ukulele banjos made by Zither Heaven and so far really like it’s softer sound compared with my other two convention ukulele banjos (one a no name concert size, the other a Gibson soprano size). I encourage a review of that instrument by this site. Where does one get one of the Zither Heaven ukulele banjos? I got mine on e-bay via Mandolin Chick, but Zither heaven has a website, which I have not visited, but which probably describes their ukulele-banjo which is made entirely of wood and is tenor size. –JOE DAN BOYD

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:04:06 +0000

I have not had this many comments in a long time, thank you all for 1. commenting, and 2. for not flaming.
Keep in mind this is not a true strumstick. it is just like a regular uke with sharps and flats. the normal strum sticks are whole note only.
By definition it is a ukulele. Tuned GCEA.
I am not a fan, I just found it to be not useful in my uke arsenal, I see others find that it would work for them.

thanks for all the comments

By: Bonita

Bonita — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:36:58 +0000

Actually, I agree with uke66 and appreciate Bryce’s comment. It is a unique instrument and just as some love the sound of the banjo, dulcimer, soprano vs baritone ukes, etc and some don’t, I appreciate the variety of stringed instruments that produce the wide range of sounds/music that can be played. This was a good review Tim, but perhaps your perspective (comparison to ukuleles) impacted your review if it is marketed as a Ukulele. Is this marketed as a Strumstick or a Strumstick Ukulele? What might be helpful would be a comparison of qualities/traits of different kinds of hybrid ukuleles and should one expect similar sustain, volume, or sound from these different forms – probably not. I applaud those people willing and able to experiment and produce new kinds of instruments.

And Tim, I actually enjoyed what you played and wasn’t expecting it to sound like an instrument I might have fun playing. I liked the sound of this instrument – actually more than my banjo uke, a little tinny and shallow as opposed to almost harsh and bombastic. To each his/her own – what a boring world it would be if we all liked the same thing. But I would never be able to play anything with a neck that thick.

Tim, thanks for your reviews. Appreciate the time and effort it takes to write them. Bought my David Gill ukulele after ready your story – it said so much about the builder as well as the uke.

Bonita

By: Sven

Sven — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:08:51 +0000

I disagree, respectfully, with the comment below. Although this is not a traditional ukulele, it is an instrument with four strings, and was sent by the manufacturer to ukeeku.com, a ukulele website, knowingly and with full disclosure. Had the manufacturer not wanted it reviewed by the site, they needn’t have sent the instrument.

As it is, the review is fair and honest and will help a ukulele player decide if the strum stick is right for them, personally.