L.R. Baggs Five.O Ukulele Pickup Full Review
April 2, 2012 at 12:59 am | Posted in L.R.Baggs, Pickup | 4 CommentsTags: Full review, NAMM, pickup, posts, review, uke, ukulele
For this review We are changing things up a little. Instead of hearing what I think, I recruited a friend to do a review.
Why did I not to this review you may ask, and it is simple.
1. I don’t have a uke worthy of putting it in
2. Colin Helped me out big time with the last NAMM show, Taking thousands of pictures
3. Colin has a really nice uke that he wanted to put one of these buggers in
4. Colin is a billion times better player than me, and I figured it would be cool for y’all to see him, if you have not already.
Here is his review
Info about Pickup
http://lrbaggs.com/uke/
I want to thank Colin for doing an awesome job with this review. It must have taken a ton of time to get all the video down and edited. MAke sure to ask him about the it when you see him at Ukulele world Congress or any other uke thing you might run into him at.
Info about Colin (Because I know you want more)
Colins YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/CoLmesUke
Places to Buy on the Web
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PegHed Tuners Full Review
March 20, 2012 at 3:45 am | Posted in General, PegHed, Tuning machines | 13 CommentsTags: Full review, posts, review, tuning pegs, uke, ukulele, wood pegs
I knew that when I ordered my custom Boat Paddle 5-string that it had to have PegHeds (I originally wanted the old style wood pegs, but figured out pretty quickly that it would be a pain). I loved the look mostly, but also knew that in my mind, a high end ukulele had to have PegHeds to be truly perfect. I know a lot of players prefer geared tuners, and that is great, but for me it had to be PegHeds.
What makes PegHeds so unique? They have the looks of classic peg tuners, but they are actually geared. They use a planetary gear configuration, meaning that there is a center gear with a few other gears that spin around it. Since I cannot take one completely apart, I can’t truly verify how many it uses.
Here is how I imagine PegHeds came about.
I could give the history, but really it is not that exciting. John Herin created them for the violin, viola, cello, and they were adopted by uke players. Now we see them on a lot of ukuleles, both high end and lower end. But why is the real question. Are they really that awesome to command $50 – $80?
This will be a little different review since this is not a ukulele. I will use as many of the measures as I can.
Specs:
Weight: 0.2 oz
Button: Plastic or wood
Shaft: Metal
Finish: Matte
Full Specs:
http://pegheds.net
Looks
First look: (5) So many people have played my Boat Paddle and are blown away when I tell them that the tuners are geared. Upon first inspection you would think they are old fashioned peg tuners. That is the beauty of them, they look like old fashioned pegs but have the ease of geared tuners..
Fit and Finish: (5) These tuners are so simple looking and clean. There are no screws, and no collar where the post sticks out on the front of the head. the only markings you might see would be if you had the plastic buttons, you can see a little line where it was injection molded. I have ebony buttons on my uke and they are super smooth and very well crafted.
Plastic Button
Feel:
Tuning: (5) In my opinion these are the most responsive tuners on the market. With a 4:1 gear ratio they move just enough, and they stay.
Ebony Button
Comfort: (5) I went to my local post office and weighed several tuners.
Normal friction tuners: 0.30 oz
Old Banjo style: 0.60 oz
Grover geared all metal: 0.80 oz
Waverly with wood buttons: 0.67 oz
PegHeds: 0.20 oz.
Why does that matter? I have played and reviewed a ton of ukes where the head is so heavy and it makes the uke feel unbalanced or head heavy. Also the ukulele is a small instrument, lighter tuners make a big difference when it come to weight. My 5 tuners on the Boat Paddle weigh 1.0 oz, that is 1/3 the weight of an average letter. Lighter tuners can make for a lighter and more comfortable ukulele.
Smell: Mine smell minty, not sure why.
Installation: (Professional) These are not the simplest tuners to install. Unlike your basic friction tuners where you can usually just unscrew a little screw and they come apart, and you just put new ones in, these require that the hole be reamed to a precise size. These screw into the hole. Most sets have 2 Left and 2 right tuners. Since there are no screws to install them the shafts have threads that screw into the carefully prepared hole, and the different sides are threaded so that the pull of the sting will pull it tighter, instead of possibly loosening them. A little glue is recommended to keep them from backing out from the hole also. I know that if you asked Elderly to install them they charge $120, and that is after you purchase the PegHeds for $80. Most people who are ordering a uke where they can choose tuners, and PegHeds are available, I tell them to do it then.
Final Thoughts
Would I put these on a Makala Dolphin, Hell No. I would say that a uke that is $300 and above would benefit from having these and it would justify the extra cost. I know that Bradford Donaldson makes a $350 all koa uke that he puts them on, and it is perfect since it is so small and light the Pegheds don’t weigh it down at all. As I said before, I would want these on every uke I own, or have built. I asked Chuck Moore of Moore Bettah Ukes why he uses them on a lot of his ukes, he said;
“Honestly, The primary reason I install Pegheds is because people ask for them. There must be a reason. In my mind there are a few.
The weight, (or lack of it) is a definite plus in my book and they are excellent quality and craftsmanship. I find the 4:1 geared ratio to be adequate for fine tuning although I would prefer something closer to 6:1. They hold the tuning well though once you get used to the tension adjustment. But there is also a definite advantage for the inlay artist. Pegheds are visually the most unobtrusive tuner on the market, hardly noticeable surrounded by inlay work. If I’m doing an especially nice inlay on a head stock i will always opt for the Pegheds. Personally I love the styling.”
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 5 |
| Smell | Minty? |
| Installation | Professional |
Places to buy on the web:
PegHeds.net $48-$60 and he has choice of sizes and wood buttons
Gallery:
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- Ebony Button
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- Plastic Button
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Lichty Red Cedar Top Tenor Full Review
March 7, 2012 at 1:34 am | Posted in General, Lichty, Reviews, Tenor | 8 CommentsTags: Full review, Lichty, posts, review, Solid, uke, ukulele
Every so often I am asked to review ukuleles that are out of my normal price range ($400-$500 ukuleles), this one is only about $2000 above my $300 or less that I usually review. I could have said “No thank you”, but that would be irresponsible of me to do, right?
A little history; I had never heard of Lichty Guitars until I read an article on UkuleleReview.com, when he made a uke for Julie, who runs the site. From what I could tell the uke that Jay Lichty made for her was a super high end beast of a ukulele. The sound and build quality was out of this world high end . I never would have thought I would ever play one. Jay, of Lichty Guitars, contacted me not to long ago, just before I went to NAMM, and wondered if I would be interested in being a stop on a special ukulele’s tour around the country. I calmly said “Are you kidding me?!?! Hell yes I will review a high end uke!” Needless to say, I was excited that I would have the opportunity to review, let a lone to play a ukulele of this caliber. Then reality set in when someone pointed out that it is a $2300 ukulele. Am I able to be objective of a uke in that price range? Will I just be writing nothing but 5 for everything and basically be gushing over it like a schoolgirl at a Justin Beiber concert? So, I put on my big boy pants, told myself that I have played ukes that cost three or four times more than this, and I have had countless conversations with people who love, make, and obsess about ukuleles and what makes a “perfect” ukulele. I had high hopes that this ukulele would meet my every expectation of a high end ukulele.
Read on to see what I thought.
Specs:
Tenor: 19 Frets
Tuners: Closed Gear Grover
Nut & saddle: Bone
Top: Solid Western Red Cedar
Sides: Solid Granadillo
Back: Solid Granadillo
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Bridge: Ebony
String Attachment: String Through Body
Finish: Gloss
Full Specs:
http://lichtyguitars.com/2011/12/29/granadillo-tenor-ukulele/
Looks
First look: (5) Upon first inspection everyone has the same reaction that I did.The ukulele is beautiful and it draws you into it, and you have no choice but to grab it and say “Mine?” with a little glimmer of hope that maybe you get to keep it, at least for a little while before someone else sees it.
The wood used is very pretty and it has binding for the binding. If you look at the side of the neck it has binding under the bound fret board. The sides and back blow people away with the two tones of the granadillo. The fretboard goes past the sound hole with a sexy swoosh, and the little squares that adorn the sound hole make it sparkle. This ukulele looks custom and you know it is handmade with love. To top it all off it has a really luxurious wet looking high gloss finish. I would have to say that it has most of the bells and whistles of a high end uke.
Fit and Finish: (3) Let us start with the high points of this fine steed of a ukulele. As noted before the ukulele looks like a piece that may be at home hanging on the wall as a piece of art as much as it would be in someones loving arms as they played it. The finish is top quality. Not too thick or thin, just right, and a good choice for an instrument that may have to bare the abuses of a life on the road with a professional musician. With that the choice of woods set the stage for every other piece to shine. Working with a two tone wood can be tricky and getting them to match is sometimes impossible. Instead of man handling the colors to match Jay seemed to accentuate the beauty of the granadillo sides and back, then outlined every detail with layer after layer of binding and inlay, sparing almost no corner or seam. The Fretboard is bound like any other fretboard you see on higher end ukes, but he goes a step further by 
adding a few delicate lines where the fretboard meets the neck. This is a small detail, but shows a lot of style and craftsmanship. the amount of small detail work is something that I keep looking at and finding new things that blow me away. Over all the design and decoration is very subtle, but it can take your breathe away with one look.
Now, why did I give it a 3? Keep in mind this is a $2300 ukulele. Many of the issues I have I would forgive if it was an $1100 ukulele. Let us start with aesthetics; The L on the headstock is off center, and the little dots on the bridge are not lined up with the string holes making it look off. Some of the binding did not want to bend around the hip on the front and needed to be filled in and now it looks off and very noticeable, along with the tail block stripe, it is a little wonky with one side missing some gold and it goes crooked at the end.
What about the build? One big no-no in building a wood instrument is that you do not finish the inside. I asked several builders to confirm this. By putting finish on the inside it will seal the wood completely and not let it breathe. Along with that the headstock is so thick that it weighs the uke down and I had an issue when changing the strings with one of the collars around the tuners coming undone and I had a hell of a time getting it to screw 
in since the head stock is way too thick (1/2” thick!!). Along the lines of thickness, I think the top could be thinned by 1/3 of what it is. It is a ukulele, not a guitar, and that is a common thing for guitar makers to do. The over braced top could benefit from it being thinned and it would sound even better if he could trust that it will not crack if he goes thinner. My last issue is the fact it has a bolt on neck. Yes it is a mechanical joint and it helps keep it together. Many builders like to glue and screw. a bolt on neck is the kind of thing I expect of a builder who does not trust that they have made a good enough joint to hold the neck joint.
Sound:
Sound Type: Mellow with a lot of mid and lows. The cedar top tends to give it the mellow tones. It can be a little cutting with the highs, they seem crisp, but the mid-tones, and lows win by coming forward more than anything else.
Intonation: (5) Perfect. Jay has a slightly askew saddle to help with the intonation and as expected it is perfect all the way up and down.
Volume: (4) louder than most ukes in part because it is a tenor. There is more sound coming out of the side sound hole than the front, and with a pickup that could be a good thing. Over all it projects and gets the sound out. it could be better with a thinner top and less bracing.
Sustain: (5) One thing I was amazed with was how long each note could just sing. Has to be the longest sustain I have ever witnessed on a ukulele. Maybe it is the glass beads that are tied to the ends of the strings, or that it is a very resonate piece of red cedar. I have found that when the builder lets the top float, instead of being anchored down to the sides with glue, it creates more sustain. Playing this uke it is evident that Jay knows how to make an instrument sing.
Feel:
String Height: (medium-low) Nothing crazy..It is where it should be. I think it could have been lower, but that is a preference.
Neck Radius Depth: (7/8″) C shaped neck. A very thick neck for a ukulele, but that can be good if you want to put higher tension strings on. Also the thicker neck can be more comfortable for people with bigger hands
Frets: (4) You can feel some of them from the sides. Nothing sharp, but still there. One of the advantages of binding a fretboard is that you can hide the frets in them if done right.
Tuning: (4) The tuners are high end, but nothing special. If I were to spend the money on this uke I would expect PegHeds or super blinged out friction tuners with wood buttons. A closed gear tuner is bulky and not needed and takes away form the look and adds unneeded weight.
Comfort: (4) The only downfall of this uke is that it is heavy. Every other part makes it comfortable to play.
Sound Hole Smell: Like a Martin. I mean that in the best way. I would wear a cologne that smelled like that.
Final Thoughts
My job is to be critical of the ukuleles that people send me and to be honest. To be honest if I bought this uke I would have sent it back. I have played Moore Bettahs in this price range and they had beautiful inlay and played with such ease, and weighed half as much as this one does.
That being said, all artists are trying to make the best thing they can, and also learning as they go. I am hoping that this all can be taken in the spirit of a critique of the instrument and not of the person. I know that with a few changes that Lichty ukuleles could be one of the premiere uke builders. The wood choices,sound, craftsmanship, and the wow factor are all there.
Thank you so much Jay for letting me play this lovely instrument, and I hope to see more in the future.
Jay Lichty Response:
“I respect a man who writes as he sees it, however I would like to defend a couple of points that are up for debate. As you know there are more ways to skin a cat and just because one builder does it another way does not always make it wrong. I speak of the finish on the inside. That is up for debate and my studies show that there are benefits to this practice, hence why I do it. Here are two links to a discussion on this very topic. http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-202066.html and http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/88630#.T1bDkZghxWg Regarding the bolt on neck…most of the high end guitar builders are doing this now. I’m not sure about the uke folks. I think it makes a great joint and so does Taylor guitars among a bunch of others. http://www.taylorguitars.com/global/pdfs/bolt_on_neck.pdf“
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 3 |
| Sound Type | Mellow with a lot of mids and lows |
| Intonation | 5 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium -Low |
| Neck Radius Depth | 7/8″ |
| Frets | 4 |
| Tuning | 4 |
| Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Like a Martin guitar |
Places to buy on the web:
http://lichtyguitars.com/
HD Audio Samples:
Gallery:
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G7th Ukulele Capo Full Review
February 7, 2012 at 6:45 pm | Posted in Capo, G7th, General | 10 CommentsTags: Capo, Full review, jamming, NAMM, Play, posts, review, uke, ukulele
I learned something new while researching this capo, yes I do research and not just pull the whole thing out of my butt. At least most of it any ways…
capo (short for capotasto, Italian for “head of fretboard”)
I had no idea that capo was short for something, I guess you can learn new things when you get old!!
Any who…I actually was able to convince G7th to give me this capo at NAMM 2011 and I figured I should actually write about it instead of just keeping it around staring at me all accusingly like.
A capo is a capo is a capo right? well I don’t know, this one is very different from the others I have used. For many years I used one of those spring loaded ones, kind of like a clothes pin design, and it worked fine. I have also had the elastic kinds to when I played more guitar. Both worked, but you had very little control of how hard they squeezed the neck and fret board.
This is different since it has no springs and you can put it on at whatever pressure you choose, and that is most defiantly different than any other I know of, at least for a ukulele.
So you know this is sold as a banjo capo, so when you go searching for one you will not be driven crazy looking for the ukulele version.
Specs:
Fits Soprano – Baritone
Finish: Matte
Weight: 1.9 OZ
Span: 1 5/8″
Full Specs:
http://www.g7th.com/capos/performance
Looks
First look: (5) It looks like a little bird skull, I like that in a sick way. It is very sleek and looks very well made. When it is on a uke it also looks really nice and almost hidden from the front view
Fit and Finish: (5) I have had this for a year sitting on my desk. I play with it all the time, by that I mean I am opening and closing it and pulling on it, and it has not broken yet. Since it is heavy it seems to be built really strong. No failures yet.
Sound:
Sound Type: I found that it does not change the sound, except pitch. I was a little worried since it had pretty soft rubber.
Intonation: (Depends) You can mess with intonation. if you press it to tight it will throw some ukes off. That being said, that is the best feature. you can make it as tight or soft as you need it to be
Sustain: (Depends) Seemed to not do anything to sustain.
Feel:
String Height: (Low) since it will bring the strings down to the fretboard the strings are super low the closer you get to the capo.
Neck Radius Depth: (1.5″) it can accommodate a 1.5″ thick neck. Most are less than 1″ at the thickest.
Tuning: (No) I would say no to tuning with it on. it has no way for the strings to slide under, like some capos that use rubber wheels per string.
Comfort: (3) This thing is heavy for its size, but once on the ukulele it is fine. My issue is that it can be a little bulky to play with when you need to get to frets near it. I have to angle it a little to make it so that I am not moving it to much. I may have big hands to.
Smell: Rubber and Metal Plating.
Final Thoughts
Someone said to me when I told them that the capo retails at $40 “I paid less for my first ukulele than that capo!!” Granted that is a low end uke, it does say something about how much it is, but………..You get what you pay for. This is a heavy duty, road ready capo. I am going to buy one when this one leaves my house (It goes to the winner of the Going Acoustic Ukulele Challenge)
Truly a nice capo that I have really enjoyed having in my case when I was too lazy to switch keys of a song, or it just was too hard to play in a key that sounded good with my voice. Take it or leave it. for some it is worth the money, for others they may have a hard time justifying the cost.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | No Change |
| Intonation | Depends |
| Sustain | Depends |
| String Height | Low |
| Neck Radius Depth | 1.5″ |
| Tuning | No |
| Comfort | 3 |
| Smell | Rubber and Metal Plating. |
Places to buy on the web:
Hard time finding places that sell this uke. Found one lace that has a case just like it, but I know Ohana does not put their name on the cases.
Amazon $40.68
Elderly $39.95
Video:
Gallery:
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NAMM 2012 Taylor Builders Reserve Ukulele
January 19, 2012 at 6:50 pm | Posted in General, Taylor, Tenor | 10 CommentsTags: NAMM, Play, posts, review, Solid, Taylor Guitar, uke, ukulele
The first thing that I had to see at NAMM this year was the Taylor Guitars ukulele. I had heard so much about it that I had to see it first, and I brought some better players than I to play it.
Specs:
Tenor: 20 fret
Tuners: Geared (We will find out who made them)
Nut & saddle: Bone
Top: Solid Koa
Sides: Solid Koa
Back: Solid Koa
Neck: Mahogany?
Strings: Bridge Pins
Finish: High Gloss
I am not going to write a whole review on it since you know it is awesome. Just know that it is super light, very responsive and what a high end uke should embody. I am very privileged to be able to have seen it and played one since only 30 have been made as a set (A matched guitar comes with it)
I will be updating this as we get more information after we meet with Andy Powers (If we can find him). Say tuned
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Ohana SK-70MG Soprano Ukulele Full Review
January 10, 2012 at 4:57 am | Posted in General, Ohana, Soprano | 1 CommentTags: Full review, Laminate, mahogany neck, mahogany sides, posts, review, rosewood fretboard, Solid, uke, uke world, ukulele
I have a deep dark secret….I am attracted to blondes, SHHH, don’t tell my wife, she is a brunette.
I realized the other day that the two main ukes I actually own are spruce top ukes, I think it may have something to do with loving my first guitar, a Guild D4 (Spruce top). It seems that I review a lot of them lately. Are the spruce tops not getting a lot of love or what? I see them a lot and I know some people feel they are not traditional, but I say “Screw them”. I think they are another extension of what people are playing. Most folk guitars are made with spruce tops, so why would that not happen in the uke world as more people are playing folk type songs and want a punchy clear sound?
Read on to see what I think of this slim wasted blonde, and see if you maybe want to ask her out on a date some time.
They say blondes have more fun, and they may be right.
Specs:
Soprano : 15 Fret
Tuners: Gotoh Friction Tuners
Nut & saddle: Bone
Top: Solid Spruce
Sides: Laminate Flamed Mahogany
Back: Laminate Flamed Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany with a Rosewood fretboard
String Attachment: Knot in a slit
Finish: Gloss
Case: Not included. Reviewed with a hard case
Full Specs:
http://www.ohana-music.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29796
Looks
First look: (5) From the first look it looks like a regular glossy soprano. You may not pick it out of a crowd. It is the fine details, like the flamed mahogany and modified rope binding, and the flamed mahogany sides and back, that you notice this is a really nice ukulele. One of the things that I did not notice for a while, but knew something was different, was the bridge. It is not just some cheap squared off bridge. It has round sides that tapper down, not leaving some hard edge like other cheaper ukes. Although I wished they would have used the flamed mahogany as the headstock veneer, it is still very nice with the shinny Ohana logo and black and white binding.
Fit and Finish: (5) I gave it a 5, and I have one issue with it. Does Ohana not put their label in the middle of the headstock? The vita uke was the same way. Beside that this thing is made superbly. I found no issues at all. What I really like is the string attachment at the bridge. Sometimes with a slit style bridge you will eventually blow out a slit since they are so thin. They made a very beefy bridge with very thick walls to hold the strings and not let the knot pull out, chipping a piece with it. Beyond that it is pretty light, not the lightest, and it all is straight and good. Basically it is a well made instrument that people actually took their time with and made sure it was right, not just some quick factory build.
Sound:
Sound Type: Punchy and Clear. I have read several reviews and some places that say they sell it, but are sold out, that this is the loudest soprano they have heard. It is really loud, but it has tone too. I would say it is walking the line of a sharp sound like the Ohana Vita-uke, but does not cross over. It is not the loudest, just an FYI.
Intonation: (5) Perfect. Not a single issue to be found. The Nut is low, and it is dead on up and down the fretboard.
Volume: (5) Loud, Yes. Loudest ever, no. The loudest would be the Big Island Honu or the Bradford Donaldson. But those are 2-3 times more expensive.
Sustain: (5) Long since it is so loud.
Feel:
String Height: (Medium) Setup really well. Just where it should be.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Basic C shaped neck,
Frets: (5) No binding and it is still smooth as butter. You can see some of the slot that were made from the sides but they filled in and you can not feel a single fret on the sides. They are also well dressed and tapered off as they should be. Same thing I said about the Vita uke. Seems to be an Ohana thing.
Tuning: (5) Nice friction tuners. They are nice and easy to tune with and stay in tune.
Comfort: (5) Not the lightest soprano, but by no means a brick. Very easy to hold since the nice binding was rounded off. The balance is also really nice with the lighter tuners. it just feels right.
Sound Hole Smell: Glue with a hint of musk.
Final Thoughts
I like this ukulele. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a spruce top soprano, and at below $200 it is an amazing deal for the sound and looks. Although not a solid wood uke, it is pretty awesome. I really don’t buy into the solid wood uke idea as much, and this uke is an example of why. I think a good solid top, and nice sides are a great combination. One of my favorite guitars (I still have a couple) is a Guild D4, and it is amazing and blows a lot of $1200 guitars out of the water on sound and the low tones.
I found this uke hard to find on the interwebs. I hope more people will carry it. I know that if people could get these in their hands they will be blown away.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Punchy and Clear |
| Intonation | 5 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 5 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Glue and Musk |
Places to buy on the web:
Hard time finding places that sell this uke. Found one lace that has a case just like it, but I know Ohana does not put their name on the cases.
Brindley’s $179 Shipped for the Ukulele
Uke Republic $65 for the case
HD Audio Sample:
Gallery:
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Ohana CKP-70 Vita-Uke Full Review
January 8, 2012 at 4:10 am | Posted in Concert, General, Ohana | 6 CommentsTags: Full review, Laminate, posts, review, Solid, uke, ukulele
What is a vita-uke? I understand how a normal uke looks and why a pineapple is called a pineapple, but what is a vita? According to Frets.com “They were called “Vita” after the famous Vitaphone movie shorts in which Roy Smeck appeared.”. In short it is one of the most famous ragtime uke styles. If you know about ragtime you know about Roy Smeck and all the stuff he did. In my opinion he was one of the best uke players in the world and did great things with it musically and also did not make it seem like a toy but a fun and real instrument. If you click on the Frets.com link up above you can see what an original vita-uke looks like. It is basically the same as the Ohana CKP-70, except for some small thing like the more defined seal sound holes and the tuners and head are very different. I have had the pleasure to play a few real vita ukes over the years. They are super light and really loud. One of the hard things to see in the pictures is that the old ones had an arched back, where the Ohanas don’t. Not a big deal, it is just different. The reason you don’t see a lot of the old ones is mainly because they were super fragile and broke easily. They were made to play, not to last.
Read on to see what I thought of this crazy big butted thing.
Didn’t Freddy Mercury have a song that went “Fat bottom ukes you make the uke world go round”?
Maybe not.
Specs:
Concert : 12 Fret
Tuners: Open Geared
Nut & saddle: Bone
Top: Solid Spruce
Sides: Laminate Mahogany
Back: Laminate Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany with a Rosewood fretboard
String Attachment: Knot in a slit
Finish: Satin
Case: Not included. Reviewed with a hard case
Full Specs:
http://www.ohana-music.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29790
Looks
First look: (5) Are those seals for sound holes? No they are not, but close. I think this is a beautiful uke. the light wood top with a ton of grain that you can actually see is really nice. The binding on the top and bottom really makes this a nice looking ukulele and something that has a lot of workmanship and detail. From across a room you either know what it is or you are scratching your head, either way you smile.
Fit and Finish: (4)although it is a looker, it has some small cosmetic issues. The build
Glue On the neck
over all is really good with all the structural thing being spot on when it comes to straight bridge and neck and the frets are all perfect, there are none sticking out. Where I found issue is in minor things such as a little glue mark under the bridge, fret board on the body, and some at the neck joint can be seen. Also there are sanding marks on the fretboard, most noticeably where it meets the body. To be extra picky, the Ohana label is not centered on the headstock. All non-issues overall and do not have any effect on the playability or sound. For a sub-$200 (Street price) uke it is really well built.
Glue under the bridge
Sound:
Sound Type: Clear but sharp. When I say sharp I do not mean the notes. the sound cuts. it is not mellow or real warm like a mahogany. Since it is a spruce top it would be expected to be sharp, This one is the sharpest sound I have heard. Another key note is that since it is a 12 fret the sound is different from strumming above the fretboard compared to where I think it is meant to be strummed, between the top of the sound holes and the point of the fretboard. Roughly the 14-16th frets.
Intonation: (4) it is pretty good, could be better. If you are sensitive to intonation then this may not bother you so much. I could see someone going in and changing the saddle to have the E be a little more forward than the rest and it might be better. Also the nut is a little high making some first fret chords a little sharp if you press to hard. Plenty of room to get it perfect if the person knows what they are doing. It is very playable up and down, it goes noticeably off at the 7th fret area.
Volume: (5) Between the spruce and the huge butt on this uke it is loud, maybe annoyingly to some. I play spruce top most of the time and this one does not disappoint. I would not say it is banjo uke loud, but when you hit it, it screams
Sustain: (5) Long since it is so loud.
Feel:
String Height: (Low-Medium) Setup really well when it comes to string height except the nut could be lower.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Basic C shaped neck,
Frets: (5) No binding and it is still smooth as butter. You can see the slot that were made from the sides but they filled in and you can not feel a single fret on the sides. They are also well dressed and tapered off as they should be.
Tuning: (5) It tunes, stays in tune, does not get bound up. Nothing to complain about. Wished they would use friction tuners..
Comfort: (5) With its fat end to hold on to it is easy to hold. Also that sweet backend can be rested on your leg to hold it up. The edges are nice with the binding, so that is also a plus on long playing sessions..
Sound Hole Smell: Glue.
Final Thoughts
If you are a ragtime nut, then you should have one of these in honor of Roy Smeck. Or you want a solid spruce top ukulele, then this would also be a good choice. With it being extra loud and very different, and we know uke players like to be different, this can be a real winner. I would change the strings to something warmer like Worth browns to mellow out the sound and cut some of the sharpness.
If I ever own one I would also buy the case for it since it is made for it. If Ohana stops making the cases then you will out of luck and have a hard time finding a hard case for it. I tried putting it into my Fremont case and it did not fit. The butt was to wide.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 4 |
| Sound Type | Clear and Sharp |
| Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Low-Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 5 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Glue |
Places to buy on the web:
Elderly – $149
Ukuleleworld.com – Just the case $73
HD Audio Sample:
Gallery:
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- Sanding marks
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- Glue under the bridge
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- Glue On the neck
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Fusion F1 Soprano/Concert Ukulele Limited Edition 2011 Full Review
December 13, 2011 at 5:11 am | Posted in Cases, Concert, Fusion Bags, General, Reviews, Soprano | 3 CommentsTags: Care, Full review, NAMM, posts, review, uke, ukulele
In the nature of full disclosure, I purchased this case and bag for a really good price. The idea is that how would I review it then send it back. They would never be able to sell a used bag as new and they don’t do seconds. Who would want a second on a case?
This case is the final piece of a long journey I have been on this summer in getting my Custom Boat Paddle 12 fret. I felt that I could not just put it in a plain Jane, vanilla case. It is way to cool for that. So why not the most obnoxiously colored thing I could find? Right?
Every year Fusion Bags chooses a different instrument to do a limited case for with all the bells and whistles. This year it was the ukulele!! Lucky us.
I saw prototype last year at NAMM and have been trying to get one for review all year, and it finally happened. I was really excited about the extra backpack thingy, I did not realize at the time that you can attach another whole case to it also. long story short, I got a little over a week ago and they really wanted the review quickly so they could possibly reference it, that is if they like the review.
We shall see. Read on to see my thoughts……and concerns.
Specs:
Color: Navy Blue & Lime Green
Padding: 30mm high density foam padding for all round protection
Outer material: Jacquard hard wearing, water resistant polyester, rip stop material, fashionable piping with no visible webbing. Commuter friendly reflective panels, segment piping and print
Inner material: Soft non scratch, non fibrous quality foam backed velvet and linen interior
Inner protection: Adjustable velvet padded headstock pillow with security strap and adjustable 5mm padded strip that can be molded to shape of instrument
Pockets: 2 x A4 zipped pockets to front of bag, bottom front pocket with organizer pockets and organizer compartments
Zips: Rubber zip pulls to prevent scratching of instrument, inverted zips for slick appearance
Carry system: Ergonomic adjustable backpack straps that can be stored in the rear zipped cushioned compartment. Integrated MP3 player/mobile phone pocket in backpack strap. Padded adjustable waist belt
Handles: 2 x Chunky riveted carry handles
Fuse-on: Fuse-on system on front of bag that can attach the Limited Edition Concert Ukulele case or Limited Edition 2011 Medium Backpack
Base: Hardwearing rubber base with floor studs
Branding: Limited Edition uniquely numbered metal badge with a Union Jack rubber badge at rear of bag. Rubber logos and screen printed Fusion branding
Dimensions: (Converted for us silly Americans)
External length: 31.5″ including top handle
External width: (at widest point) 14.2″
Internal length: 28.4″
Internal width upper bout: 9″
Internal width lower bout:10.2″
Weight: 4.4 lb
Full Specs:
http://www.fusion-bags.com/products-in-ukulele-gig-bags/f1-soprano-concert-ukulele-limited-edition-2011-69774
First look: (4) If they wanted to have something go gang busters in Japan, then they did it right. The bright green and flowers are a little much for me. When I carry a ukulele around I tend to not get noticed much, with this monster, big, blue and green bag on I will noticed for blocks. Will they know It is a ukulele? I doubt it since it is pretty large and does not really have the shape of a “normal” ukulele case.
on first glance I would have to say this thing looks huge and cumbersome with the huge straps, especially so with the additional bag on it, it looks insanely big. once you get closer to the bag you can tell that it is not your usual instrument case, I could mistake it for some kind of hiking bag with the waste straps and all the pockets.
Fit and Finish: (5) This is an expensive case, no way around that, and you really do get what you pay for in so many ways. Some will only see these cases online and not be able to see all the thought that went into it. Every zipper (all 9 of them on just the case) is super nice and hardcore. Almost everything zips out or off when it comes to the inside of the case. The straps that hold the neck down are attached, but the neck rest has Velcro on it to keep it down but it has a zipper to get to the padding if you want to mod it, also all the harder plastic type foam that makes the case somewhat rigid is also assessable by way of zippers. not sure how useful that is, but still nice that you can configure it beyond the normal case. One drawback might be when I travel to NAMM with this case and the TSA see all the crazy zippers and hiding places. should be fun.
With all the zippers, the stitching and construction is perfect. you will be hard pressed to find anything wrong with it. This thing was built to last. Also any zippers that could come in contact with the instrument are kept under a piece of stretch cotton so that it will not harm anything. It is the little things like that that show the craftsmanship in the case
One neat feature is the movable neck rest and also the movable padding. I found it great for my custom Boat Paddle, since it is such a weird shape I was able to make sure it does not move, keep stuff with it, and a humidifier next to it without it touching the wood itself.
When it comes to the truly unique thing about this case, the Fuse-On system, I find it a mixed bag. I love the fact that you can buy multiple cases and attach them together. The backpack parts of the case hideaway nicely so that it can be attached to another case. I am always carrying more than one uke (3-9 depending on the event) and having a nice package I can just put on my back is sweet. I was only sent one case and the additional backpack to test, but I may have to get another case so I can have 2 with me.
One of the parts I do not like is the backpack thing that you can also buy that attaches to these cases. It is weirdly designed and awkward to use. The way it attaches is very secure and that is what I base my assumption that another case would be awesome. The bag has 2 main compartments that are not all that deep and one, the deepest, is not accessible unless it is unattached from the case completely. Also the straps don’t seem to have as nice hiding place as the case does for its backpack straps. Don’t get me wrong, it is awesome that there is a bag that attaches to the case, and it is comfortable to wear and seems to not weigh the pack down when wearing both as a set. I filled it with a ton of books, binders, sheet music, capo, tuners, stickers, and case tags. It was very full and it was really nice having it attached to the case and just throwing the whole deal on my back. There is a bigger pack and it may be better. I have not seen one.
The other thing I am not a huge fan of is how much Velcro is on the sides. I wish they would have just used clips for the Fuse-on stuff. It leaves this weird, long, stabby Velcro thing on the edges and I think it looks weird, and I also trust clips more than I would the way that they attach the bag. It seemed really secure, but I am not fan.
One last note about the case and the additional pack. even without a full frame (Like a hiking pack) this is super comfortable and configured to be worn for a long haul.
Smell: (New Shoes) Weird I know, but it reminds me a little of new shoes like the ones at target or Wal-Mart. Not overpowering,
Final Thoughts
people go gaga over the Reunion Blues cases since they are soft sided and all that jazz, and they are $115, spend a little more and you get a lot more, in my opinion. Over all this case seems like it is a bit over kill and crazy big, but if you love your ukulele and want to protect it, but not have some heavier case, then this thing plain rocks. Sure it is a little over the top, but it is a limited edition case, it is meant to be special and not like the others. I thought at first it was a waste of money, but I get it now. Sure I look like a weirdo with a reflective/lime green/navy case with a backpack attached to it (I play ukulele, I am use to it), but it is really nice and worth the money. Just know that these are not a permanent thing in the catalog for Fusion. they choose a new instrument to do this to every year. They will only be available for a limited time before they move on, and that is it. I am happy to say that it is permanent home for my Boat Paddle.
Please know that this is not the end of the review. After NAMM I will edit this with how it did, and if it is one carry-on or two.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Smell | New Shoes |
Places to buy on the web:
Elderly $135 for the case
Elderly $80 for the bigger pack
Gallery:
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Cooperstand Pro-Mini Ukulele Stand Full review
November 30, 2011 at 9:08 pm | Posted in Cooperstand, General, Reviews, Stands | 11 CommentsTags: Care, Full review, laser, NAMM, posts, review, Stand, uke, ukulele
If you have ever seen my wall of ukes you know I hang them by the neck. I have found that it more secure, and frankly it looks cool to boot. But when I am out playing I do not have my lovely wall or any of my large stands with me. What am I to do? That is when I rely on stands that are small enough to travel with. It has to be compact and also keep my uke from falling over and that jazz.
Last year at NAMM I was walking by a booth that had a ton of people gathered around it. I had to see what it was all about, so I elbowed my way in to see these little stands. I did not understand why they were so cool, there ukulele and guitar stands, big deal. “Cool, they fold” so what. I talked to someone and took some info on them and left. When I got home I sat down and looked at all the stuff I had taken from all the vendors and came across the flyers that I took on these stands, read a little and felt stupid for not investigating a little more. So the short of it is that I contacted them and after a bit of e-mail tag and waiting for them to catch their breath they sent me one to review. I have not had it long, but I have been traveling with it, and since this is not a ukulele I really had to shorten up the review criteria. Who cares about how the stand sounds right?
Read below for what I thought.
Specs:
Fits Soprano, Concert, and Tenor.
African Sapele construction
Inert silicon pads at contact points
Closed cell neoprene padding at exposed areas
Hard neoprene in support areas
Finish: Satin
Case: Velvet Bag
Measures 5 3/4″ x 3″ x 1 1/4″
Full Specs:
http://cooperstand.com/buypro-mini.html
First look: (5) The stand is actually pretty. I can’t say I notice music stands very often, but this one is made of really nice wood and is very different from those metal tube with foam on them. At the same time is also very unassuming since it is so small. The wood and finish are like that of a nice ukulele and it looks very expensive.
Fit and Finish: (5) Have you ever looked at something and said “OK, these people are not joking around!”? when you look at it, It looks like a folding stand, a very pretty stand, but it is a stand, it is holding a ukulele upright so you can see it in all its glory and makes it easy to just pick up your uke and play.
Many people may not appreciate the thought and the choices that went into this stand, but there are many and they are all the right ones. The wood does not matter, but it is a nice touch, it adds class and it finished really well. I am always a fan of products that use laser etching to add their logo. I think it looks really nice. The big hinge on the back is nice and beefy, and might be over kill, but is locks and is very sturdy, a good thing if you like your ukulele. Honestly the only thing I see that could break is the little hinge at the top. If a kid was playing with this it could be forced open wrong and really screw this thing up. The fact that it also opens and closed very nicely and there is no assembly is really nice too, but all those things are nice and are a small thing compared the biggest choice they made that sent this over the top for me.
The neoprene lined areas with the silicone nubs sent me over the moon with joy. I know it sounds weird, but you have to understand why this is super important. Open cell padding, like you find on cheaper (Not just super cheap) stands will eat lacquer if left in contact with it for just a few days. I have seen it happen to a guitar. The neoprene and silicone are benign and will not react with any finish, ensuring that your instrument will be safe. Another plus is that it is really grippy and will not let the ukulele slide.
Final Thoughts
Over all I really like this stand, it is a little pricey, but in comparison to the Kala stands it is right in the same price range. I do have one of the low end Kala ones that slide together and have left it in the rain and it was fine, not sure how this one would do.
In the end this one is really nice looking, sturdy, and has everything you could ever ask for in a travel stand. I really hope they come out with an Ecco version to bring the price down.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Smell | Like Rubber |
Places to buy on the web:
Cooper Stands – $54 Shipped
Amazon – $44 shipped if you have a prime account
Gallery:
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McNally StrumStick Ukulele Full Review
November 3, 2011 at 3:26 pm | Posted in Concert, General, McNally, Reviews, StrumStick | 13 CommentsTags: Full review, laser, posts, review, Solid, steel string, uke, ukulele
This is one of those reviews that I hate to write. I did ask the company to send me this uke to review, and they had no issue doing it. My problem is that in short this uke is a good idea gone wrong. I don’t fault McNally since they make instruments that are in a diatonic scale, meaning that if you hold down one string and strum that it will sound good. That being said they are not really ukulele builders, more of a rustic mountain dulcimer maker.
Just read on to see what I mean.
As a side note, they are made pretty well and care was taken in making it. It just is not a good form for a ukulele. Also please take a look at their site for a blast back to early 90’s web design
http://strumstick.com
Specs:
Concert: 15 fret
Tuners: Geared
Nut & saddle: Plastic
Top: Solid Spruce?
Sides: Solid Spruce?
Back: Solid Spruce?
Neck: Solid Spruce?
Strings: Steel, attached with a loop on a post
Finish: Matte
Case: Fitted Gig Bag
Specs:
http://strumstick.com/html_pages/Ukelele%20Strumstick.htm
Looks
First look: (4) Although it is weird looking, I have to not totally knock it for how it looks. It looks fun and like nothing you will see normally. That being said, yes it is not the prettiest thing in the world either.
Fit and Finish: (2) My guess on how this thing is made is that they get a 2 X 4 cut a notch down the center, spread the sides a part and stick a piece of wood between then to make the sides and neck. Then fit some pieces of wood on the top and back and trim it down to the body, then sand liberally. The next step would be to slam some frets on the “neck” and call it done.
Now to be fair, it is not sloppy or done without care. Everything is straight, and there is a really nice laser cut sound hole. The action is really good and all that, but the wood choice is weird and the neck is 2” thick?? Also the finish on the “Fret Board” makes it impossible to bend the strings at all. It is just done quick and cheap.
Sound:
Sound Type: Tinny and shallow. There is no sound box, I would have to say I would put a pickup in it.
Intonation: (4) Pretty good. Not really off and it seems good up and down the fret board.
Volume: (4) If it had nylon strings there would be no way to hear it. The steel strings make it be heard.
Sustain: (2) It is not like I am muting it with my sleeve, but it dies super quick. I expect more out of steel strings
Feel:
String Height: (medium-low) The strings are where they should be.
Bridge
Neck Radius Depth: (2″) Cut a 2 X 4 in half long ways, round the edges. That is what it is like
Frets: (2) The frets are good, they are not the issue. The fret board as whole sucks, too wide, cannot bend and dents since it is so soft
Tuning: (3) I am not sure the pictures do it justice, but the tuners are, as I can tell, cheap classical tuners that have the 3rd tuner cut off.
Classical guitars have tuners that come in 3s on each side.
Comfort: (3) Like a Risa Solid, this uke requires that you use a strap to play it. I find that the one that they included is really uncomfortable and ugly to boot. Also the super thick neck makes it extra weird to play
Sound Hole Smell: Woodshop
Final Thoughts
Ukuleles are compact enough; there is no reason to make them smaller. I have to commend them on a good try since they did pay attention to things like a nice case, and the nice laser cut sound hole inlay. Beside those things it is a total disaster from the tuning pegs to the posts that hold the custom strings that you can only get from them. The floating bridge looks nice, but is really weirdly placed, and trying to play this thing is really strange. I might be the fact it has steel strings that confuses my fingers or the tension of them, but I found this thing a bear to play. I also did not care for the sound either. Playing with others you get really dirty looks, worse than playing a reso-banjo uke in a crowd of “Normal” uke players.
I would say this thing is not for me. I think I could spend my $200 on something a little nicer.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 2 |
| Sound Type | Tinny and Shallow |
| Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Sustain | 2 |
| String Height | Medium -Low |
| Neck Radius Depth | 2″ |
| Frets | 2 |
| Tuning | 3 |
| Comfort | 3 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Woodshop |
Places to buy on the web: You can find regular StrumSticks online, but not the Ukulele
Only place I have seen them is on their site LINK – $198
Currently the cart does not work, may have to call to order.
Response from StrumStick
“We make the Ukelele Strumstick strictly for fun and its unique sound. There are plenty of great regular ukes out there, we were not trying to make yet another traditional Uke. This has steel strings, and a tiny soundbox, it has a banjo/mandolin kind of sound, and nobody needs it. But, it is a fun character sound, it is all handmade, and the Uke has a long history of interesting novelty varieties being made. The woods are Padouk, Spruce, and Maple, all solid woods. (Not all spruce as listed in the review). This is an instrument made to be inexpensive (as handmade instruments go), simple, but well made of high quality materials, for a specific niche purpose. It is not supposed to sound like a regular Uke, and it is supposed to be as small as possible. I have no issue with anyone not liking the sound (or the looks), but I must say, no 2×4′s were slammed with frets in the making of this instrument.”
HD Audio Samples:
Gallery:
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