Eddy Finn v. Lanikai 6″ Banjo Ukulele Full Review
April 19, 2011 at 3:35 am | Posted in Banjo, Eddy Finn, General, Lanikai, Reviews, Soprano | 4 CommentsTags: banjo, banjolele, Full review, Laminate, posts, review, uke, ukulele
For the first review of Banjo Uke Week we have a double header. The Eddy Finn EF-UB-1 versus the Lanikai LB6-S.
NOTE: Eddy Finn is Morgan Monroe, they decided to come out with the Eddy Finn brand to separate the banjo from the ukulele world, really no big deal, Just in case you are wondering about a Morgan Monroe banjo uke that looks the same…it is.
To say this is a competition would be funny, these two are really the exact same thing except for a couple small choices, like head material and hardware finish. These are really just 2 banjo uke from quadruplets that came from different parents! the other 2 are the aNueNue Banjo Ukulele I Soprano and a Rally soprano that you see in the UK and eBay.
In the end it is which one speaks to you. Do you like the headstock, the finish, or the type of head they used. Because they are the same in every other way.
Read on to find out more about these brothers from different mothers, or is it sisters from different misters? I can’t decide.
Specs: marked the differences in red
| Eddy Finn EF-UB-1 (E for scores) Soprano : 19 Fret Tuners: Open Geared Maple & Ebony 3-Leg Bridge Bone Nut Head Material: Coated Plastic Head Size” 6″ Rim: 8 Layer Mahogany Tone ring: None Back: Open Neck: Mahogany, Rosewood Fretboard String attachment: Knot # of J-Hooks: 10 Coordinator: Metal Finish: Satin, Chrome hardware Weight: 2.5 LB Case: Padded gig bag Full Specs: http://www.eddyfinnukes.com/EF-UB1-Banjo-Juke.html |
Lanikai LB6-S (L for scores) Soprano : 19 Fret Tuners: Open Geared Maple & Ebony 3-Leg Bridge Bone nut Head Material: Synthetic Skin Head Size” 6″ Sides: 8 Layer Mahogany Tone ring: None Back: Open Neck: Mahogany, Rosewood Fretboard String attachment: Wrap Around a Post # of J-Hooks: 10 Coordinator: Metal Finish: Satin, Antiqued hardware Weight: 2.5 LB Case: Padded gig bag Full Specs: http://lanikaiukes.com/laniblog/ukuleles/stage-series/#specs |
Looks
First look: (E:4 L:5) One of the great things about writing a review is that I get to state my opinion.. The reason for the point difference is that I think the Lanikai is much nicer on first inspection if you looked at them side-by-side. The antiqued hardware and synthetic skin head gives it this really old-time feel that people equate banjos in general with. The Eddy Finn is fine and nice, but it looks like a boring banjo. But as my late stepfather use to say “Opinions are like assholes..everyone has one, and they all stink”.
Fit and Finish: (E:5 L:5) I look at both of them and find no issues with either. They are both have no glue marks or frets sticking out and everything is as straight as can be on both. The only small, and I mean so stupid that I even mention it, is that on the Lanikai’s coordinator rod there are some small scratches from when they adjusted it. It is such little thing that I almost didn’t mention it.
See the little scratches?
Sound:
Sound Type: The sound is different between the two, just like siblings, they kind of sound alike except for some small differences. the Eddy Finn is a brighter in comparison to the Lanikai’s mellower sound, but that may have to do with the strings and the head difference. The Eddy Finn has a coated plastic head with clear strings of some sort, while the Lanikai has a synthetic head with Aquilas (assume they are Aquilas). Just another choice that makes them just a little different. one major similarity is the shallow sound since it is samll and the head is stretched over the rim instead of a tone ring
Intonation: (E:5 L:5) If the intonation is off, it is your own fault for the most part. most banjo ukes are shipped with the bridge laying down and you have to set it up, or find someone to do it for you. These were both easy to setup. I will have another article this week talking about the basics of setting up a banjo ukulele.
Rim Laminate
Volume: (E:4 L:4) You would think that since they are banjo ukes that this would be a 5, right? These will both over power most ukuleles, but in the banjo world they are pretty tame. I say this because I have a smaller banjo uke and it is way louder because it has a tone ring. Neither of these do and I think it really makes a difference. On one side I think that is due in part to cost. Tone ring = $100+ more on most banjo ukes.
Sustain: (E:5 L:5) Looooooooooooooooooong.
Feel:
String Height: (E:Med-Low L:Med-Low) Since both of them have coordinator rods and where setup right from the factory. they seem to be as low enough, but there is a little room if you want it lower
Neck Radius Depth: (7/8″) a lot thicker than a regular ukulele, it tappers out to a full inch at the 12th fret. Solid is a word that come to mind.
Frets: (E:5 L:5) Both are perfect. Normally to get no frets sticking out. I was amazed.
Tuning: (E:4 L:4) I found that with both I would turn the tuner and it would move up to the right place then just go sharp. I think the tuners work fine, it is just really annoying when you have to play around for a minute or two to get it in tune.
Comfort: (E:4 L:4) I found that since both did not have an armrest that it was hard to hold comfortably. I used a Uke leash to correct the issue by latching one to the a j-hook above the neck and another below the tail piece. NOTE: Never attach anything to the bolt that hold the tail piece in place, it can make it move and cause you issues.
Sound Hole Smell: What sound hole? The rim smells like glue
Final Thoughts
If you add up the scores, sure, the Lanikai wins by a point, but it is for cosmetic reasons, and that is lame, instruments are about sound, right? I think so, and in that way they are tied. It really does come down to which one do you prefer, oh and price, since the Lanikai is about $60 more. just like some people love koa over mahagony, or a spruce top. Is one better than the other? Not really, it is a preference and part of the sound that you want. The great thing about a banjo uke is that you can change more about it than a standard ukulele to get the sound you want. you have strings like a regular uke, but you can change the head and bridge until you find that sound that you want.
Review 1 and 2 done, 4 more to go.
And if the pictures look nicer than usual, it is because my wife is starting to help with that.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
Eddy Finn EF-UB-1 Lanikai LB6-S
| First Look | 4 | First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 | Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Bright and shallow | Sound Type | Mellow and shallow |
| Intonation | 5 | Intonation | 5 |
| Volume | 4 | Volume | 4 |
| Sustain | 5 | Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Med-Low | String Height | Med-low |
| Neck Radius Depth | 7/8″ | Neck Radius Depth | 7/8″ |
| Frets | 5 | Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 4 | Tuning | 4 |
| Comfort | 4 | Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | What sound Hole? | Sound Hole Smell | What sound Hole? |
HD Audio Clips:
Eddy Finn
Lanikai
Places to buy on the web:
Eddy Finn – Music Land Central- $219
Eddy Finn – Daily Music -$209
Lanikai – Elderly Music – $269
Lanikai – Google Search – $269
Gallery:
__________________________________________________
Cordoba 25CB & Paulele KBUS Side By Side Full Review
March 26, 2011 at 11:30 pm | Posted in Concert, Cordoba, General, Kiwaya, Paulele, Reviews, Soprano | 3 CommentsTags: bamboo, cheap, Full review, Humidity, Laminate, posts, review, uke, ukulele
Quick preface to this article; I wrote this a long time ago, but the Cordoba ended up cracking before I could finish the review. I have never had an instrument crack before, and I keep the humidity between 40-50% at all times. So if some of this article seems like you have read it before, you have. I took parts of it to get the Kiwaya one done. I now have another Cordoba 25CB and now I am able to get this baby out….with a few edits.
HERE is the Full Review of the Paulele.
What we have is a comparison of two bamboo ukes. The Cordoba 25CB and the Paulele KBUS made by Kiwaya, but first a joke.
A panda walks into a diner, sits down, and orders a sandwich. He eats the sandwich, pulls out a gun, and shoots the waiter dead. As the panda stands up to go, the manager shouts, “Hey! Where are you going? You just shot my waiter, and you didn’t even pay for your sandwich!”
“Hey, man, I’m a PANDA!” the panda shouts back. “Look it up!”
The manager googles panda and reads: “Panda: a tree-dwelling mammal of Asian origin, characterized by distinct black and white coloring. Eats shoots and leaves.”
Sorry, best bamboo joke I found, but since we are thinking about bamboo now, let’s talk about the newest oldest material used for ukuleles!
Paulele Body
If you have been watching the trends in the instrument world you may have noticed that many companies are trying to go “green”. For example Martin is now making a cherry ukulele because it is a plentiful wood that is fast growing. The other material is bamboo. Bamboo has been used for thousands of years for food, building materials, and musical instrument (Mostly wind, and some acoustic). Talk about fast growing! Some bamboo can grow 12-48 inches a day and is so prevalent that the only place you don’t find it is Europe (and do you blame it, who wants to grow in Europe! I kid, I kid)
Using bamboo makes a ton of sense being that it is a hardy grass, yes a grass, it is super strong, looks awesome, and it is pretty moisture resistant. On the tough side I have seen pictures of a guy (G Randal Wright) doing a handstand on a custom Bamboo uke (I would have tried it but 1. They are not my ukes. 2. I can’t do a handstand)
Both use the same tuners
So here is where I am confused…Is it a laminate? A bamboo shoot would not be big enough to make a ukulele so they glue them together, but side by side. So does that mean it is a solid top, sides, and back? Really most ukuleles are 2 pieces that are book matched and they are considered solid top and back. When you use bamboo it is just several pieces joined side-to-side. For arguments sake I will say these ukes are solid bamboo, and I mean almost all bamboo. The top, sides, back neck, fret board, bridge, and lining are all bamboo. The only things that are not are the nut, saddle, tuning machines, and the bracing (I think they both have maple bracing which is a good choice)
In this review I was lucky enough to have them both at the same time and figured I would do a comparison, there is not a declared winner in the end. These are very different and also the same and it really comes down to personal preference. Read on or skip to bottom for scores and final thoughts, and if you have read this far then why not read the rest.
Specs:
| Cordoba 25CB (C for scores below) Concert : 18 Fret Tuners: Open Geared Bone nut & saddle Top: Bamboo Sides: Bamboo Back: Bamboo Neck: Bamboo and Bamboo fretboard String attachment: Tie Finish: Satin Case: Padded gig bag Full Specs: http://www.cordobaguitars.com/25cb |
Paulele KBUS (P for scores below) Soprano : 12 Fret Tuners: Open Geared Bone nut & saddle Top: Bamboo Sides: Bamboo Back: Bamboo Neck: Bamboo and Bamboo fretboard String attachment: Tie Finish: Satin Case: Padded gig bag Full Specs: http://www.kiwayaukuleles.com |
Looks
First look: (C:4 P:4) Although both will stand out in a crowd with the unique bamboo grain I find them kind of boring. They have no zing, zip, pizzazz, and other words like that. My friend Alex nailed it when he said “they should have more contrast. A rosewood or dark stained fret board and bridge would have made it a lot more interesting to look at”. I agree with Alex and I would have like to see a little bling like a rosette around the sound hole. for $200 I would think they might have some decoration.
Fit and Finish: (C:1 P:5) Both look really nice and well made. Both are sporting
Do you see the crack?
a nice matte finish and tight seams, but the Cordoba had some major things that I thought merited a 4 point deduction. Many of the joints have glue sticking out, the second one I received looks like it is also cracked, and it has small pits and scratches all over . You can feel it and see it if you look close. Another thing that sets them apart is how the back bracing is done. The Cordoba has a normal slightly curved back that goes from the butt to the heel and has nice bracing. The Paulele has no bracing and is an arched back, and that is so awesome. An arched back is a really cool thing to have that you see in violins and some guitars that have laminate back. The arched back adds to sound and not having bracing just lets it sing and adds depth to the sound.
YUCK!! Butt Glue!
Sound:
: The Cordoba is a nice clear mellow sound that you would get from a spruce top ukulele. The Paulele is a punch and forward sound that seems to jump out of it as you play. it almost throws the sound in front of the sound hole. Both a preference of the sound you want.
See, No back bracing!! How awesome is that?
Sound Type
Intonation: (C:5 P:4) As you can see the score differ a little bit between the
two ukes. we will start with why the Paulele scored lower. when playing chords that involve the first to the third frets the notes can go sharp if you press all the way down to the fret board. I think this is due in part to the nut being a little high, something that can be addressed by a good music shop. Beside that both are spot on with intonation all the way up. The Cordoba plays like a $250 uke should.
Volume: (C:5 P:5) Here is where we are comparing apple to oranges when it come to these ukuleles. It would be un fair to say that the Paulele is not as loud, it is a soprano and the Cordoba is a concert. both are very loud and should not have any issues being heard. I will say the Paulele is a screamer and may actually be too loud for some people.
Sustain: (C:5 P:5) Long and nice. I think the bamboo might actually have an advantage over wood in this aspect. It just seems to ring longer than my other ukes.
Feel:
String Height: (C:Low P:Medium) The Cordoba was setup with really low action and it seems to not be an issue. Very easy to play. The Paulele is medium, just a regular heith which I think hurts it since the nut is high and messes with playing.
Bamboo Galore!
Neck Radius Depth: (1/2″) Standard neck, Both feels like a normal C Neck.
Frets: (C:4 P:4) This is my “What the Hell” moment for both of them. If I am going to pay $200+ for a ukulele I expect the fret s to not be felt on the sides of the fret board. that is the only issue I see and it is with both. the frets are well done beside sometimes getting caught while strumming with the frets sticking out where the fret board is in the body. Maybe I am too critical.
Tuning: (C:5 P:5) Same exact tuners on both and they work great, I wish they were friction tuners but really it is what sells to the masses. they tune easily and stay in tune, what else could you ask for.
Comfort: (C:4 P:4) I ding both of them for the exact same thing, heavy head that throws the balance off. I think bamboo is lighter than regular wood so the tuning machines over light friction tuners seem to make them feel head heavy.
Sound Hole Smell: Cordoba: Peanuts and wood. Paulele: the sweet smell of a glue stick that you use to have in your desk in like 3rd grade.
Final Thoughts
When I look at these ukuleles I am torn. On one hand the Paulele is better built and just seems tighter but has issues with a nut that is too high, while the Cordoba is nice and plays well but it has glue marks and seems to crack. I think in the end I would get the Paulele and get it setup, but really that is because I don’t have a loud plucky uke in my collection. Having a Bamboo uke would also be kind of fun an novel to show off. “Look what weird thing that I have!!”
Addition from when I first wrote this: I have played several other Cordoba models and find them to be really awesome ukes, I just think that they need to figure out how to work with bamboo and keep it stable
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
Cordoba 25CB Paulele KBUS
| First Look | 4 | First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 1 | Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Clear and mellow | Sound Type | Punchy and forward |
| Intonation | 5 | Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | 5 | Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 | Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | low | String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 1/2″ | Neck Radius Depth | 1/2″ |
| Frets | 4 | Frets | 4 |
| Tuning | 5 | Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 4 | Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Peanuts | Sound Hole Smell | Glue stick |
HD Audio Clips:
Paulele KBUS
Cordoba 25CB
Places to buy on the web:
Elderly: Cordoba 25CB- $249
Uke Republic: Paulele KBUS – $198
Amazon: Paulele KBUS – $198 Cordoba 25CB – $249hello
Gallery:
__________________________________________________
Chords4Uke iPhone App Review
March 15, 2011 at 2:25 am | Posted in Products, Reviews | 2 CommentsTags: Application, Chords, learning, posts, tuners, tuning pegs, uke, ukulele
A few weeks a go Calven Eggert of Mulva and Gipple contacted me about a free (Yes as cheap as free) app for the iPhone called Chords4Uke. I don’t own a iPhone currently so I convinced one of my co-workers to install it on his phone, and have been stealing his phone for lunch to play with this wonderful little app.
Side Note: This will work on an iPhone touch also, the tuner may have issues on some of the older ones that do not have a built-in mic, but remedied with iPhone head phones with the mic or attach one with one of the many adapters.
Pros:
Free- Great if you are like me and like to find new ways to play chords, like G, D, D7 are great at the second fret. A lot less movement of the fingers and more control over muting or jazzing things up.
- Since it is on an iPhone it is with you all the time (assuming you are like me and carry your phone with you.)
- You can easily switch from C to D tuning, so if you are new to baritone you can actually play with the “regular” uke people.
- Simple to find the chord anywhere on the neck and add the 7th or augment it.
- Intuitive interface.
- Did I mention that it is free?
Cons:
- Tuner is not perfect compared to my clip-on tuners, but it works in a pinch.
- I wish it was a Flash web app (I don’t own an iPhone, so….)
And please comment below about what you think.
_______________________________________________________
Cordoba UP110 Ukulele Pack Full Review
December 28, 2010 at 11:24 pm | Posted in Brands, Concert, Cordoba, Reviews | 9 CommentsTags: Full review, Laminate, mahogany, review, uke, ukulele
Full Frontal
Stop me if you have heard this one; A guy walks into Best Buy to purchase computer stuff and comes out with a ukulele. Funny? No? Don’t get me started about Best Buy selling musical instruments, that I could write a novel about, or at least a really long blog post.
Today I have the Cordoba 10CM, or what you will find on the streets and Google as the ukulele that comes in the UP110 pack. It is a starter ukulele from Cordoba Guitars. I think this is the lowest end instrument from them, and that says a lot as you will see as you read.
Yes you can get it from Best Buy, but there are plenty of other places that sell them like Ma & Pa stores in the burbs of Chicago to many online retailers. Funny thing about getting the UP110 pack from Best Buy was that they were offering it free with purchase of a $400+ guitar purchase as a black Friday deal.
I will tell you right up front this is a great starter uke. I would get this thing for any person interested in ukulele and has not purchased one yet.
So you know, I am comparing this to the likes of the Oscar Schmidt OU-2 and the Mitchell ukuleles that are in the same price range. Read on to get the full story.
Specs:
The Pack
Concert : 18 Fret (they say 19, I count 18)
Tuners: Open geared with Pearl Buttons
Bone nut & saddle
Top: Laminate Mahogany
Sides: Laminate Mahogany
Back: Laminate Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany with a Rosewood fretboard
String Attachment: Tie
Finish: Matte
Case: Gig Bag
Other: Pitch Pipe (Really? who uses a pitch pipe?)
Full Specs:
http://www.cordobaguitars.com/up110
Looks
First look: (5) I have to say that it is striking. Very crisp and simple. The grain is nicely defined and it looks really well made. It is not all blinged out or anything. It has no binding, just a nice rosette around the sound hole. Super even finish that looks silky, not flat like most matte finishes
Dirty Fretboard
Fit and Finish: (5) I gave it a 5, but…and it is a minor but, it has glue marks around almost every fret. it looks chalking and bad. That is my only complaint and to fix it all I did was take a almost dry paper towel and clean it off to make it look perfect. It is the small things like glue marks that can turn some people away. This is a very well made instrument. it has a ton going for it. Since it is in lower range in price I do not expect that the bridge and sides of the nut are as smooth and rounded as they are. Also a small thing that shows that they care is the end of the neck, where it meets the body is flush with the back. The other thing that I don’t even see in some $300 ukuleles is the use of kerfed lining. most ukes in this price range use just a thin piece of wood for the lining. All in all it is solid and every other detail is spot on, even better than most ukes that are triple the price.
Kerfed Lining
Sound:
Sound Type: Bold and clear. Better than the Oscar Schmidt OU-2
Intonation: (4) It is not awful, but not the best. I noticed that if you play a G it is a little sharp. Most people would not notice. As with any uke in this price range it was not setup with the most care in the world. I am just happy that it has a nice low nut so you can play most any chord like an A or F without going completely out of whack.
Volume: (5) Loud for a laminate. Most laminates seem to muffle or mute the sound. This one lets it all hang out. I was very impressed
Sustain: (5) Long and nice. I think the volume helps.
Feel:
String Height: (medium Low) Just right. You have a little travel but it is a nice height.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Average radius depth for a C shaped neck.
Fretboard Cleaned
Frets: (5) The smartest thing for an inexpensive uke is to bind the fret board. it makes it so there is no way to have frets sticking out the side. This ukulele has that and it is nice. beside seeing glue marks on almost every fret, the frets are dressed perfectly.
Tuning: (5) I have found very few sub-$100 ukes that have friction tuners. These are very nice and don’t make the head of the uke heavy and work really well.
EXTREME CLOSE UP OF TUNING MACHINEBody
Comfort: (5) I am so impressed with how smooth this ukulele is, and I mean like butter. The one thing that I check is if the body has rounded edges, and this has really well done edges. I find it really nice to hold and it is pretty light and balanced.
Sound Hole Smell: Nothing, I blew my nose to make sure. It has practically no smell. Just weird. I don’t know if I would buy a uke that smells like nothing, Just joshing, it is weird though.
Final Thoughts
I hope that all the ukes that are being sold out there are as nice as the one I received. I do have my reservations about a uke that you can buy at Best Buy, but on the flipside I see that it is at least available in places that may not have ukuleles.
The Cordoba 10Cm in the UP110 pack is one of the ukes that I recommend for people just starting out for so many reasons. One is that you can get it at Best Buy. The others are that it is a really nice ukulele for the price and plays well. I pulled some out at Best Buy here in Normal, IL and found that they are all like mine in every way. The only thing that I think is funny is that they put a pitch pipe in with it, WHO uses a pitch pipe anymore? That is why we have electric tuners. Just saying.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Bold and Clear |
| Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium Low |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 5 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Nothing |
HD Audio Clip
Places to buy on the web:
Best Buy $99
Amazon $99
Honestly, if you find it for less than $99 it would be weird. I think that is the static price that everyone is told to sell it at.
Gallery
-
- Body
-
- The Pack
-
- Fretboard Cleaned
-
- Dirty Fretboard
-
- Back
-
- Full Frontal
-
- Tuners
-
- Little head
-
- Nice flush heel to the body
-
- Kerfed Lining
-
- Really? Who Uses a Pitch Pipe?
-
- EXTREME CLOSE UP OF TUNING MACHINE
-
- Showing the layers in the laminate
_______________________________________________________
Martin OXK Full Review
July 6, 2010 at 12:49 am | Posted in Martin, Reviews, Soprano | 12 CommentsTags: Chris Martin, Full review, Martin, OXK, posts, review, uke, ukulele
Front
I never thought that within my first year of the site that I would have the opportunity to review a Martin ukulele. Mainly most of them (actually all until now) were out of my price range of below $300. Also it is Martin, they are huge and sell some of the finest instruments in the world.
Enough kissing butt.
I have never been impressed with a new Martin ukulele. I own a Martin DC16-GTE guitar that I love (For sale for the right price since ukuleles have taken over my life). Many love the really old Martins from the 20′s, they are awesome and sound great. The new ones, such as the Martin S-O are just not worth the money since there are so many ukes in the same price range that sound better. That is the current sentiment for most people, and Martin is working changing that, hence the OXK.
Martin has been making the X-series guitars for a while. Some have an aluminum top or special graphics such as Felix or Martin’s History. Very durable and stable guitars. You can take them anywhere since they are less susceptible to humidity and heat issues. Now they are coming out with a ukulele made the same way. A high pressure laminate body and a neck that is also a laminate. The big thing is that it is under $300 and sounds awesome.
Back
Specs: Soprano : 17 Fret
Scale:13.614″
Tuners: Grover nickel friction with white buttons
bone nut & saddle
Top: High Pressure Laminate material (Hawaiian Koa pattern)
Sides: High Pressure Laminate material (Hawaiian Koa pattern)
Back: High Pressure Laminate material (Hawaiian Koa pattern)
Neck: brown Stratabond neck with solid Morado wood fret board
Case: Padded gig bag included
Full Specs: HERE
Looks
First look: (4) When you first look at it, it is dull, average looking, and nothing special to look at, but you know that something is different about it. To me it looks like every other standard ukulele. It is not until you really look at it do you realize that you are looking at something new.
The high def printing of the top, sides, back, and head stock will fool most into thinking it was real wood. It is when you look into the sound hole to you realize that it is not wood at all, but a laminate. One thing I noticed is that the pictures that are shown on musiciansfriend.com show the edge as rounded and not black. I played another at NAMM and it was like the one they sent me with the black line around the body.
Also the neck is also kind of peculiar. It is a sort of laminate also. I personally like it, some that I have talked with are not so impressed. Since it is made of strips of wood glued then formed into a neck it has some different patterns where the glued edges kind of shine.
Side
Fit and Finish: (5) It is a Martin, they know how to make fine instruments. I found no issues with any of it. No glue under the bridge, frets sticking out. Not a single thing to complain about. Where the top meets the side it is perfectly joined.
The specs also say that the neck is dovetailed to the body, adding strength, unlike some the others that use an alternate materials for the body, that bolt the neck on.
There is still bracing, a neck block, and a tail block. They did not need the tail block since the sides are one piece joined below the neck, but it is there so if you do add a strap button or pick-up it will support them.
Sound:
Sound Type: Loud, but mellow. I was able to play a 1920′s Martin at UWC. It sounds more like that than the current S-O. Clean but held back a little. Not super in-your-face. Just a mellow nice sound, not quiet or cheap sounding.
Intonation: (5) I take all my instruments to Martin certified repair shops. Martin knows how to make an instrument have perfect intonation. Like many of the current ukuleles that are coming to market they have compensated bridges, this does not, all the strings look to be resting on the same line. This means it is made right and does not need to be fixed after the fact.
Volume: (5) I usually change the strings to Aquila, but not this time. The Martin Strings are really nice and seem to make a great sound. Why change it if it is working. For a soprano it is really loud and projects while keeping its mellow sound.
Sustain: (5) Long and loud. Fades nicely with no whine at the end.
Feel:
String Height: (Medium) It is where I would want it. Not high and not really low either.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Average radius depth for a C shaped neck.
Frets: (5) Can you call frets perky? Most frets are low and kind of look like a mushroom from the side. These seem to just come straight out of the fret board. They are a little taller than some I have seen. I find that I am able to get notes a lot cleaner than with other ukes, even when I mess it up a little.
Tuning: (4) Seem like great tuning machines, but I am not in love. They stay in tune, it is easy to get to tune without going sharp and all that. It is just one little thing that I have seen on most of the new Martins. You will start turning and it will turn, then catch and start moving. I tried tightening and loosing, made no difference. A really small thing. Nothing like the Koloa
Upclose of body at the seam where side and top meet
Comfort: (5) I would ding it for being heavy but it is a soprano ukulele, you don’t even notice when you are playing. The edges on the body are cut at a 45 so the it does not feel sharp at all, it may have been sanded a little too. Very comfortable to play and hold.
The neck it nice and smooth with nothing sticking out and with the classic Martin head stock it easy to get to any chord with no issues.
Sound Hole Smell: It smells like a new Martin. I have a martin guitar and it smelled the same. Like fresh cut wood and glue. Lovely.
Final Thoughts
Front of headstock
A funny thing happened at the UWC. Martin was nice enough to express ship me the OXK so I would have it for the UWC to show it off. Since you can’t buy this uke yet, as of the time I am posting this review, no one had even seen one yet. When I got there I started showing it off and letting people play it. The reactions were kind of weird. Those who owned Martin ukes said the same thing. “I don’t like it, sounds weird” then they would play it for a little while longer or pick it up later and basically do a 180. They said they actually really liked it. Everyone else thought it was great also. One great thing about it was the fact that it never really fell out of tune due to temp changes. It was 90 then in the 70′s later that night. Held up like a champ.
I also wonder if this is a way to be more “green” since less wood is used to make it. Just a thought.
Back of the Head
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Loud, but mellow |
| Intonation | 5 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 4 |
| Comfort | 5 |
| Sound Hole Smell | like a new Martin |
Places to buy on the web:
Elderly Music: $279 Expected arrival date 08-18-2010
Musiciansfriend: $279 Available 08-31-2010
Video:
Koloa KU-600/ Silver Creek Soprano Full Review
May 10, 2010 at 2:12 am | Posted in Brands, Koloa, Reviews, Silver Creek, Soprano | 6 CommentsTags: Full review, Humidity, koloa, posts, review, silver creek, Solid, tuners, uke, ukulele
The Head of the Koloa
I am perplexed by this ukulele. first of all it goes by two names, Koloa KU-600 and Silver Creek soprano. Why? I have no clue, but they are the exact same instrument. Either way this is a review for both. (Side note: if it is a Silver Creek, it is one of The Music Link’s brands)
The other part that I struggle with is the overwhelming feeling that I should really like this ukulele. It is solid wood, super high gloss, looks like the tuners are high end, and is sturdy as a rock. So why am I not in love?
As I look it over I can imagine a group of people purchased ukuleles from all the major ukulele makers and decided what they liked from them all, but they really had no idea on how those things worked together to make an instrument to compete in the price point it is at. read the review below to see the good and the bad of this ukulele.
Specs:
• Solid Mahogany Top, Back & Sides
• Mahogany Neck
• Deluxe Adjustable Friction Tuners
• Bone Nut & Saddle
• D’Addario Strings
• Scale Length: 13-9/16″
Looks
First look: (5) I have never seen such a high gloss instrument. This thing is so reflective that I use it as a mirror, believe me I know what shinny is, just take a look at my bald head. Most ukuleles have binding and ornamentation, but this one is very sleek and plain and this is good. My first impression when I saw one in a store was “Man does that look expensive” One of the other striking things on it are the large tuners. they look like the ones you find on Kamaka ukuleles.
Click to Enlarge
Fit and Finish: (4.9) It is almost perfect, and I looked it over from head to heel and only found one issue. Between where the fret board ends and the sound hole there is some cloudiness in the finish. I felt every edge of it looking for a part that was not touched and smoothed. The body edges are all rounded, frets are filed back, the butt of the neck to the body is even with the back and is almost seamless. Craftsmanship is really well done.
Sound
Depth compared to a standard soprano
Sound Type: (Shallow and muted) The best way to describe the sound is to call it trapped. It is in there but seems to be stuck. I know it is weird to say but I think it has to do with the top. I do not have calipers to measure it but it is definitely about 50% thicker than most ukuleles I have. I even changed the strings to Worth clear CM to try to liven up the sound and let it escape. The other thing that may affect the sound is how deep the body is. Most ukes are 2.5″ deep, where the koloa is just under 3″. this can make a difference in the sound and make too much room for it to make good sound. That also explains why the hard-shell case does not work with any of my other soprano ukes. If this was a sub $100 I would not say any of this, but for the price it seems like it should be better.
Intonation: (4) Better than most sopranos that I have been playing lately. I find that playing an A that the C is sharp, not the case as much with this ukulele. From open string to the 12th fret it is pretty much dead on.
Volume: (3) Back to the trapped sound, it is not all that loud. You can’t even feel the body vibrate when you play it, so I am assuming that the soundboard is not vibrating much either to produce volume.
Sustain: (4) It holds a note for a reasonable time, but without volume it fades faster than most instruments. If you like the old time short sustain this is that kind of ukulele.
Feel
String Height: (Low) I prefer low strings, with this it is well done and as low as you will find. It does not buzz and you barely have to push down to get a clear sound. A lot of care was taken to get it just right.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″ and Very Wide) One of the selling points to this instrument is the fact it has a wide neck. It starts at about 1.5 inches and it ends at just below 2 inches. Most sopranos start at about an inch and get up to 1.5 inches. If you have large hands or issues with movement on a soprano, this is a great ukulele for you. Plenty of room get your fingers on the right strings.
Frets: (5) Well dressed. Can not feel anything when you run your finger down the sides of the neck. Also it is a flat fret board, it is preference, and makes no real difference.
Koloa Tuners
Tuning: (2) If you buy this, change the tuners out, they just plain suck. sorry to be blunt, but they are a huge pain to try to tune a ukulele with. I either went sharp or flat, never really could get it tuned in less than 7-10 tries per string. I tried adjusting them a million times. Tuning gets a 2 because it at least stays in tune when it is finally in tune. I think they thought if Kamaka had them them, they should, except Kamaka tuners work.
Comfort: (5) The edge of the body is nice and rounded off so you won’t get a nasty line in your arm and it is also very light and easy to play. The tuners make it seem like it would be head heavy but it is nice and balanced. I also like how solid it feels.
Final Thoughts
Please do not get me wrong, if you own one of these or are thinking about getting one, and you want something that is crafted really well, this is your instrument. The people that made it really tried to make a top notch ukulele. Also if you have big hands and want to play a soprano (Because you think those that play anything but are cheaters) then this is the best you will ever find.
I kept this for two months to make sure that it was not just a new ukulele thing. It did open up after a while, but I feel the sound is just a little dull for me. I play my Lanikai CK-S, 1920′s Richter, and Rogue (With the same strings that I put on the Koloa/Silver Creek) and they are all louder and more full sounding. All I can say is find one and play it. It is a dream to play and hold, just don’t lose your mind trying to tune it.
The case that came with it, sold seperatly, was really nice. It is bullet proof (have not tried it) has a humidistat built in.
Case with Uke in it
Humidistat at the head
- Case
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explan5tion of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 4.9 |
| Sound Type | Shallow and muted |
| Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | 3 |
| Sustain | 4 |
| String Height | Low |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ and Very Wide |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 2 |
| Comfort | 5 |
Eleuke Concert Full Review
March 23, 2010 at 3:28 am | Posted in Brands, Concert, Eleuke, Reviews | 37 CommentsTags: BugsGear, Electric, Eleuke, Full review, posts, review, Solid, Strap, uke, ukulele
Full Front View
Imagine if back in the day when Led Zeppelin was forming and Jimmy Page decided that his main instrument would be a ukulele!!! If that did happen, and Eleuke was making these ukuleles, he would have played it. I think Led Zeppelin would have been even bigger than they were!…….. Maybe not, But it would have been cool to see.
When someone says ukulele most think of the standard design of a 3 inch deep hollow box with a wood neck, with the wood grain showing, and friction tuners. They don’t think of a 1/2″ thick solid sparkle blue ukulele with a cut away body, geared tuners, no sound hole, and 3 jacks in the end. But why NOT! Uke players can rock out with the best of them gosh darn it!!! (Gotta keep it family friendly) And with the personal MP3 player input you can rock out along with the best of them without disturbing the whole house when you use the built in amp with your headphones plugged in
Eleuke was nice enough to send me a concert sized eleuke a few weeks ago and below is the full review, enjoy.
Specs:
Full Rear View
Model: CCK100BL-MP3
Concert : 19 Fret
Bridge & Saddle : Rosewood
Nut : Rosewood
Pickup : Eleuke original
Output : 1/4″ Phone Jack, H/P output
Input: MP3 Input with connection cable for your MP3 player to play along with backing track.
String : Aquila
Peg : Closed Gear chrome
Bag : Softbag Included
Looks
First look: (4) Its Bright blue, you can’t miss it. My 2009 Honda Civic is the same color (Atomic Blue) I like it because it makes a statement. For some it may not be to their liking, but you can get these in a pineapple, natural wood (Really cool looking since they do strips of different wood), and they also come in purple and red. One of the details that is really hard to photograph is the sparkle in the paint. It looks like car paint, which is not uncommon and means that it is a really sturdy finish. With the mother of pearl binding around the edge of the body and fret board it makes it look like a well made instrument that people took care in making.
My only real turn-off is with the headstock. It has mother of pearl inlay around the body and the position markers, but the headstock logo and design is screen printed on in a flat gold. Just takes away from the overall look.
Headstock
Close-up of the paint
Fit and Finish: (5) When making and instrument there are telltale signs that it is quality. One of them is smoothness of the edges. Every edge has been rounded (Except the bridge where you want it to be crisp). The paint is perfect with no weird blotches. I will say at first I was worried about the paint because it will look kind of dark at the edges when you look at it at an angle. I think this is a two part thing with the sparkle and major thick gloss finish they use.
Other things like the fret board are also just great. The frets are filed back with no edges to catch on. Every joint and part that is not suppose to have paint on it was handled very well. You can tell that it was taped because you can see a small micro space around the fret board at the body from the tape. Not noticeable unless you A) have your face an inch away looking for it , or B) just too picky and expecting a sub $200 ukulele to not have any tiny finish flaws. Either way top notch.
Sound
Sound Type : Depends on where you have the tone knob. All the way down it is mellow and muted, all the way up sharp and tinny.
Intonation: (4) The intonation is not perfect, but I have yet to find a ukulele that is perfect from the factory. With a professionals help it would take a little time to shape the saddle to make it perfect. The only people that would notice are those who are crazy sensitive to pitch. No matter where you play on the fret board it will sound really awesome and right.
Regular Jack, Headphone, MP3 Player in
Volume: (NA) How big is your amp? Unplugged you can hear it, kind of, it is a solid body electric. If you plug this baby into a Marshall double stack and crank it, you could level a house, if that is how you roll. Don’t forget that this has one really unique feature, A built in personal amp. Just plug in some headphones and turn the volume up to make it as loud as you want without disturbing anyone else.
Sustain: (5) Beside the fact that it is an electric, and you can hear the sound as it degrades for longer, it has really good sustain. The Aquila strings have a lot to do with the sound and sustain.
Feel
String Height: (Medium-High) Both the nut and saddle are higher than I would like. Not slide guitar high. The nut could come down a mm or two, and the saddle has room also to come down a bit.
String Height
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Average radius depth for a C shaped neck.
Frets: (5) I measured the fret spacing and found that they are perfect. Along with the frets they are very well dressed with no issues. For the price I was surprised to not to be able to feel the frets from the side of the neck. This is something that shows that great care was taken on the fret board.
Tuning: (4) I know I will get flack for this, but I think ukuleles should come with friction tuners. The ukulele stays in-tune after the strings have settled. Tuning it is very easy with the geared tuners. Perfect ratio for tuning a ukulele. small turns make small changes.
With a Strap
Comfort: (5) The rounded edges, no frets sticking out the side, and the fact that it is very small makes it very comfortable to play. It can sit on your knee while you are sitting. Also has a strap button/amp jack lets you put a strap on it, you just need to tie it to the head on the other side. Very comfortable to play and nothing gets in the way with the cut-out in the body so you can hit the highest notes.
Final Thoughts
I own a Risa solid soprano, so this is not the first electric uke I have played. I love the volume and tone knobs. Very useful when you are playing and need to adjust the sound. The Eleuke is bigger and less compact, but it comes with a great padded clothe case (No kidding at least 2 inches of padding on both top and bottom) and also easier to hold if you don’t want to strap it on. Just a really well made instrument for anyone who wants to play on stage, practice without having others hear it, or just being loud for loads sake.
IF this was my instrument I would take it in to have the action lowered. The way I got it was totally playable, I just am really picky. I would also buy some more fun knobs like these that got to 11. The last thing I would do is put a strap button behind the neck where it meets the body.
If anyone asks me what solid body ukulele to buy, I would say that this is my top choice.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Depends |
| Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | NA |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium-High |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 4 |
| Comfort | 5 |
Ukestar Ukulele Strap Review
March 11, 2010 at 5:13 am | Posted in Products, Reviews | 8 CommentsTags: Full review, home made, posts, review, Strap, uke, Ukestrar, ukulele
I have to start this by apologizing to Hannah, the really awesome strap crafter (Says it on her business card) from Ukestar Straps. Hannah was kind enough to send me one of her handmade ukulele strap back in January. No excuses, time got away from me. So on with the show!! 
Most guitar players have a strap for their guitar, especially electric guitar players. Guitars are big and most people can’t hold a guitar while standing and play it (Unless you are my friend Paul, he is weird). Ukuleles are small; you can wedge it between your belly and your arm and still play it just fine, right?
The answer is yes and no. On one hand you can simply hold it with your arm and gut. It is light and that is what a lot of people do, perfectly fine, but………..You knew there had to be a but. When you wedge the uke you are creating some problems:
- You are not letting the instrument completely vibrate, letting the full sound come out.
- You put a nice line in your arm from holding it too long.
- After a while a buildup of sweat and “stuff” will start to show where you hold it with your arm and can cause permanent discoloration.
- Your strumming hand is limited to what it can do since it is locked into position of the arm holding the uke.
Me Holding my Jenny Using the Ukestar Strap
To resolve these “problems” people will buy a strap for their uke. As I mentioned before in a earlier post there are several straps. The one from Ukestar Straps is a handmade classical guitar strap style but made for ukuleles, meaning that it holds the instrument by the sound hole, but Ukestar Straps are way better than your mass produced ukulele straps from Levy.
- It is handmade in America with love ( I could stop here)
- Many different fabrics to choose from (NOTE: She has 5 up presently, but there is a spot that you can custom order size and fabric LINK)
- There are 3 sizes. Absolutely genius mainly because I see so many different sized people playing ukulele. As a 6″ 1′ man with a slight gut I got a medium, IZ would have benefitted from a large, where Jake could probably use a small.
- Unlike the levy strap that has a hard plastic clip, these have an amazing clothe covered hook to protect your beloved ukulele.
- For $20 you cannot beat it. A factory made one from Levy is $15. For a whole $5 more you have a product that is so much better in so many ways.
Clothe Wrapped Hook
All I can say is that my strap changed my playing. I love it, I love it , I love it. The real beauty of it for me is the fact that I don’t have to take it off to change ukes. Just unhook and hook another one on.
The Star Button on all Straps
Buy one today, Hell buy two (one for you and one for a friend)
A few fun things to know about Hannah. Besides being a strap crafter she is in a band called the Ukettes and is a graphic designer (Which explains the really professional tags and other printed materials that come with the strap)
Lil’ Rev Drop Baby Drop CD
February 2, 2010 at 3:52 am | Posted in General, Products, Reviews | 1 CommentTags: CD, jamming, learning, review, uke, ukulele
Funny story; I went to the 1st Annual Milwaukee Ukulele Festival last September and as most know that is where Rev lives. Lil Rev and the awesome Milwaukee Ukulele Club put together an amazing festival. I met so many people and reconnected with a million more. I actually sat and talked with most of the artists that performed. While I was there I was handing out these little promo things with my site on it (Gotta plug the site when you can) But before I would even think about handing them out I had to make sure that Rev said it was OK. So I corner him, he was running like a mad man, and asked him about the swag I wanted to give out. Luckily he thought it was great and I was on my way. A few hours later Lil rev finds me and hands me his new CD and asks me to review it. Now why did it take me so long to review it?
I lost it, thought it was in the trunk of my car. Looked everywhere and I thought that maybe the car ate it and it was getting dark. Life happened and I totally forgot about it until I was looking for a one of my electric tuners and I ran across the CD, never found the tuner. And the long of it is what brings me here.
The Review
Drop Baby Drop By Lil' Rev
Click Here to listen to samples on Amazon
The best way to describe the album is written on the back:
“Drop Baby Drop is an enchanting collection of rare blues, rooted originals, novelty, old time country, and rusty old tin-pan alley classics performed on concert, tenor, baritone, banjo, and resonator ukuleles by award-winning Uke master Lil Rev”
It is true that it has all that, but to me this album is a must if you play ukulele. I play more recent songs from the Beatles and maybe throw in a little AC/DC, but I also find myself playing a lot of the songs like the ones on this CD. This CD is a great collection of songs to really learn from. I can’t read music to save my soul so I listen to others play and use it to get the melody, rhythm, and lyrics for when I try to play the songs.
In the course of listening to the CD at least 100 times, since I found it again, I have found a few things that I would improve on. The recording quality is lacking a little, you can tell that it was recorded in a home studio. It might have been intentional to make the vocals and some of the instruments seem like they are far from the microphone or made to sound old. I think it might of needed some more mixing to balance vocals and instruments. The other issue is use of echo on almost every vocal makes it seem faked big room. Just record in a bathroom and it will come across more natural. Please don’t get me wrong these are things to be expected from an independant CD.
All in all this is a must have for any ukulele lover. Each song leads right to the next. I never find myself skipping to other songs in the album. I just put it in, crank it up, and sing a long. Also if you ever have seen Lil’ Rev play live this will bring back all those memories.
Go Buy it NOW!!!1
Papas Boxes Concert Build
December 4, 2009 at 7:16 pm | Posted in Brands, Concert, Papas Boxes, Products, Reviews | 2 CommentsTags: cheap, cigar, cigar box, DIY, home made, learning, posts, tuners, tuning pegs, uke, ukulele
New Kit from Papas Boxes
A month or so ago the kind folks at Papas Boxes sent me an e-mail saying that they were back to taking orders again. On a whim I e-mailed them and told them about my blog and they responded really quickly and asked what size, I went with concert. Not very many people have seen the soprano cigar box ukulele that I made 2 years ago, but I found the kit on EBay and it was basically a fret board, rough neck, floating bridge, and zither pins for tuning, Very basic and well-made kit. It played ok and the tuning was a little hard to do, so I bought the tuner kit and also replaced the bridge that came with it with a Grover 4 string banjo bridge. Now it plays really well and is a ton of fun. That is one of the best things about the kit. You can either put it together and play, or keep changing it and adjusting it until it is what you want.
Neck
I do not have the tools to make a full ukulele at my house which is why I bought the first kit. The new kit I received from Papas Boxes is a major upgrade from the first one that I made. The fret board has really nice light wood inlays and it is already glued to the neck. Another big thing that they did that I like with the neck is the little head piece. If you use a clip tuner this makes it possible to clip it to the head and not on the floating bridge. The L bracket is still there but recessed along with the floating bridge. I did not go with the zither pins for tuners on this kit and got the tuners and they also included the pickup (I think they make the pickups, looks kind of steam punk inspired). They also sent a cigar box but I really wanted to find something that was all wood and did not sound so dead. I ended up finding out that almost no one makes nice sounding cigar boxes big enough to make a concert sized ukulele, so I ended up buying a plain box at a craft store. Trust me the box will not look plain Jane when I am done with it!
Bridge, L Bracket, and Drill bit
The great thing about the kits that I have received from them is that they come with everything except the drill, screw drivers, and saw. The drill bits, templates, and many other little doo-dads are included so you can make the best instrument you can. How far you take the build is up to you.
The build will be several posts in the next few weeks, hopefully done by Christmas, and will begin with prepping the body (cigar box) then putting it together, and ending it with tweaking it. My end goal will be a full review and then next summer giving it away at a ukulele festival.
Stay tuned.
Other Pics.
Dry Fit of Bridge and Neck
Pickup and Another Drill Bit
****UPDATES****
The building of the box is posted!! Click HERE
The Post on final assembly and a video is posted! Click HERE
.
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
