Mainland Concert Banjo Ukulele Full Review
April 20, 2011 at 4:24 am | Posted in Banjo, Concert, Mainland | 7 CommentsTags: banjo, banjolele, Full review, posts, review, Solid, tuning pegs, uke, ukulele
I am not sure what stories you may have heard about the journey that Mike took to bring this uke to market, but you should know that Mainland has been trying for a few years to bring one to market that is below $300 and up to Mikes standards. At Ukin’ in the Woods Mike told me a story about one prototype he got where the frets were all crooked and there was clay and debris in the hardware, it was total junk, and that was his 2nd or third try at finding someone who could make them for him. Thanks to Mike and his wife Tootkas hard work and patients we have the Mainland Banjo uke. and this is not the last one either.
They will have the matte finish mahogany and a maple version available soon in both soprano and concert scale, also just like all the mainland ukes, you have the option of what tuners you want on your banjo ukulele (Friction in silver and gold with different color buttons, or sealed with different types of buttons. There are 10 different tuners currently)
Specs:
Mainland Concert Banjo Ukulele
Concert : 18 Fret
Tuners: Silver Friction w\ Amber Buttons
Maple & Ebony 3-Leg Bridge
Bone Nut
Head Material: Coated Plastic
Head Size” 8″
Rim: Mahogany
Tone ring: None
Back: Closed
Neck: Mahogany, Rosewood Fretboard
String attachment: Knot
# of J-Hooks: 8
Coordinator: None
Finish: Gloss rim and neck, Chrome hardware
Weight: 2 LB
Case: Optional Hard case
Full Specs:
http://shop.mainlandukuleles.com/product.sc?productId=74&categoryId=12
Looks
First look: (4) OK, who forgot to put the rope binding on the head? I know that it is not suppose to be there but I wish is had a little decoration. It is kind of sparse and plain looking, and the lack of j-hooks makes it look like it was done to save money, and it may be that way. It is under $300, so something have to give, and since the number of J-hooks is not the most important part, the 8 hold the head down just fine.
Fit and Finish: (4) I am usually hard pressed to find an issue with any Mainland ukulele. The gloss is really nice and feels really nice and solid, but not heavy like other banjo ukes. Roger Vittitoe (my Banjo guru here in BloNo) was amazed on how it was made and very impressed that it did not need a coordinator rod and it still has nice thin sides. Like all Mainland the fret board is dressed perfectly and the action is where it should be. My issue is with the choice of hardware. the j-hooks seem a little cheap and not all flush with the body, and the tail piece is a thin bent piece of metal. Beside that it is really nice, I just wish those were a bit nicer for the price.
Sound:
Sound Type: Punchy with some twang. I think something in the hardware does vibrate a little with the strings and it gives it an extra “banjo” sound. The closed back seems to also help push the sound out, instead of being lost on my fat belly.
See..not coordinator rod. But it Lights up pretty cool!
Intonation: (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. This one came setup and ready to play
Volume: (5) The closed back helps the volume project out. making it really loud even though it does not have a tone ring or a resonator. It is not as loud as a resonator banjo uke, but it would be heard. On the volume front, that is one small drawback to the design, no way to stuff it without taking the head off.
Sustain: (4) Pretty good, but expected it to go longer. still good.
Feel:
String Height: (Medium) This one has room to be lowered if you would like it to be, but I felt like it was nice to play and good for my style of playing. You know, Flailing like I am being electrocuted while playing 5 foot 2.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Still thicker than a normal concert, but not the tree branch that you see on the other banjo ukes. This one actually starts out smaller at the hard and gets thicker as it goes to the heel.
Frets: (5) Perfect. You would think that it had binding on the fretboard it is so smooth.
Tuning: (5) I love the friction tuners that Mainland uses, they are like butter. easy to tune and stays in tune to boot. Also unlike the other banjo ukes I have been playing with, this one seems to not go sharp super quick when I am trying to tune it.
Comfort: (5) The lack of j-hooks actually makes this very comfortable to play. The weight is not that bad and my arm can hold the body with my forearm between j-hooks. Also since it is so light and the j-hook spacing, I don’t need a strap to hold it if I am playing standing up.
Big spacing between j-hooks makes a nice place for your arm
Sound Hole Smell: What sound hole?
Final Thoughts
My first note is more of a challenge; Someone needs to put a light in this uke! that picture looks totally RAD!!! If you are brave enough balls to drill a hole in one then you will be the king of the banjo ukes when you turn it on, OR maybe run the light off of a pickup or something. Any who…
I credit Mainland for the popularity of the banjo uke right now, and I think they did a great job of coming out with a product that is not the cookie cutter banjo uke. I had to have it for banjo uke week, and Mike was happy to send it to me. The sealed closed back and the neck that that is not the same thickness all the way from the head to heel. it is built like a uke, but with a banjo head, and you know Mike will stand behind it and you will get the best service in the world when you buy one, it’s a frick’n Mainland! I know some will not like the sound of it, so change the head to a real skin head or an uncoated plastic head. And if you don’t like banjo ukes, then don’t buy one!
I will have this one at the Mighty MO Ukulele Fest this May if you want to try it out.
Review 3 done, 3 more to go.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 4 |
| Sound Type | Punchy, some twang |
| Intonation | 5 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 4 |
| String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 5 |
| Sound Hole Smell | What sound Hole? |
HD Audio Clips:
Places to buy on the web:
Mainland – $299.50, case is $50 extra
Uke Republic – ON SALE $285, Case is $50
Gallery:
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Eleuke EAS-C Acoustic Full Review
April 11, 2011 at 3:34 am | Posted in Concert, Eleuke | 5 CommentsTags: BugsGear, cheap, Electric, Eleuke, Full review, Laminate, posts, review, Solid, uke, ukulele
A little over a year ago I was able to review a solid body concert Eleuke (the CCK100BL-MP3, review here) and I really liked it, so did the guy I was able to give it to. All I ever knew Eleuke as was a solid body ukulele with really cool electronics. A uke you could play and listen to with your headphones without bothering everyone around you. Now they have acoustic models? I was so confused, and many people that I showed it to ask the same question “Why did they make that?” My only answer was “Because they could!!” and I am really happy they did. I see the need and how it is still as relevant as the solid body ones. Sure you can’t be as discreet with it but really it is still awesome to have an instrument that you don’t need headphones to hear and you can plug your mp3 player into it and a set of headphones and play a long, how cool is that? Another thing that I do is plug the headphones in and plug it into my amp, kind of works as a monitor so you know how well you are playing. The cool thing about Eleuke is that they keep coming up with new products and they also listen to their customers. I am pretty sure people had asked for this uke and they delivered. (Keep your eyes peeled for the peanut)
Read on to see what I thought of this ukulele.
And did I mention that I am giving away 2 of these? Stay tuned for more after Banjo Uke week April 17-23.
Specs:
Concert : 19 3/4 Frets (E and A have 2 more than G and C)
Tuners: Silver Sealed Geared
Nut & saddle: Bone
Top: Solid Spruce
Sides: Rosewood Laminate
Back: Rosewood Laminate
Neck: Mahogany with a Rosewood fretboard
String Attachment: Tie
Finish: Matte
Pickup: Under saddle piezo Eleuke custom pickup. MP3 Input, headphone output, 1/4 inch output
Case: Super padded Custom bag
Full Specs:
http://www.eleukeusa.com/item/eleuke-acoustic-electric-spruce.html
Looks
First look: (4) I would give it a 3 if it was not for the off center sound hole and the fretboard coming down into the body really far. Honestly from a far it is pretty plain, it is the sound hole and the knobs sticking out that will grab many people’s attention. If it was not for those two things it would look like any other plain Jane uke with a spruce top. I wish it had some binding to cover the laminate edges and that they would make a nicer headstock logo, instead of the gold that blends into the wood.
Body Shot
Side shot of the solid Spruce top
Fit and Finish: (3) I think I have the first 2 off the boat so they may have fixed the issues, but the review ones I received have some issues. The first one I received had the sound hole all beat up and some minor finish issues that are hard to see unless you look at an angle in the right light (Yes I look at everything) also both have some rough edges that needed to be sanded down. I think these things are the result of keeping it under $200. NOTE: When I had the sound hole issue they fixed it right away and I know these people, they stand behind all products they sell.
Sound:
Sound Type: Mellow, but clear, plugged in it is smooth and not over driving. You can really tell that it is an acoustic
Nice Knobs!
Intonation: (4) Found that it is about 5% off at the 12th fret. Not uncommon for most inexpensive ukes. If you are super sensitive about that kind of thing then don’t get this one unless you are willing to have it professionally setup. 99% of players would never notice. The nut is pretty low, so the issue of going sharp on the first fret will not happen.
Volume: (4) The top is solid spruce and respectably thin. It could be louder, it seems to not want to push the sound out as much as I thought it would. In the end it is not bad, but could be better.
Sustain: (3) Not super long. Seems to die quickly. in some ways this is good since it is meant to be plugged in.
Feel:
String Height: (medium) It is good, not awesome.
Neck RadiusDepth: (3/4″) Basic C shaped neck.
Frets: (3) The first one I received the frets are perfect, dressed right. The second one is not as good and you can feel them all the way down the side of the neck. I would expect it from a cheaper instrument.
Tuning: (5) I do like traditional friction tuners, but it seems that few mass produced ukes do that anymore. These are nice and easy to tune with. Kind of wished it had a built-in tuner, which would be nice.
Comfort: (4)You don’t notice how heavy the solid body Eleukes are. The battery and other electronics make this acoustic version feel heavy. Still easy to play, I wish they would round the corners a little more; it leaves a line in my arm that feels like it is cutting in a bit.
Sound Hole Smell:Glue
Final Thoughts
I don’t want to leave you with the feeling that I don’t like this ukulele. I think it is a weird mix of compromises. On one hand it sells for under $200, but it has a ton of features like solid spruce top, sealed tuners, and a custom Eleuke pick-up system with a personal amp. To do this, things like binding, better back and side woods, and maybe quality had to be compromised a little bit to keep affordable.
When it comes down to it I would say this is a good all-around uke for someone who can only have one ukulele and they need it to be durable, play pretty well, and have a pick-up in it. The heavy gig bag alone is worth $25, and the pick-up system would be $100, so the $80 you pay for the actual instrument seems to be dead on for the quality.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 3 |
| Sound Type | Mellow, nice plugged in |
| Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Sustain | 3 |
| String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 3 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Glue |
Mic
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- Laminate back
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- In its case
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- Body Shot
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- Electronics seen from the soundhole
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- Headphone and MP3 jacks
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- Nice Knobs!
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- Side shot of the solid Spruce top
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Ohana SK-21 Sopranino Full Review
March 23, 2011 at 12:09 pm | Posted in Ohana, Sopranino | 6 CommentsTags: Full review, NAMM, Ohana, posts, review, Solid, sopranino, sub-soprano, uke, ukulele
Are you sick of trying to manage playing a huge soprano ukulele? do you struggle to reach the 7th fret with your pinky when your first finger is on the 1st fret? Well no more, now there is the Ohana SK-21 (Better known as the Sopranino). It is a 12 fret, sub-soprano dynamo!!! Why play that bulky soprano when you can play a sopranino?
All kidding aside, I was confused by the sub soprano uke market. Between the Ohana and the Kala pocket ukes, I was really confused on the point, and I have played both. As time has gone on I think I get the sopranino at least, the jury is still out on the pocket ukes.
The first time I played one of these was at NAMM in Nashville last year. Mim, of Mim’s Ukes, had one and had to show it to me. She had hers tuned to C (gCEA). over a year later I convinced Chesbro music to send me one to review
Keep reading to see what I thought.
Specs:
Sub-Soprano : 12 Fret
Tuners: Friction tuners, whit buttons
Nut & saddle: Bone
Top: Solid Mahogany
Sides: Solid Mahogany
Back: Solid Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany with a Rosewood fretboard
String Attachment: Knot in a slit
Finish: Matte
Case: None
Full Specs:
http://www.ohana-music.com/sopr/sk21/master.html
Looks
First look: (3) When I first saw it I thought it was a cheap uke. Don’t get me wrong, I know it is a solid wood uke with really nice binding, but really it looks like a laminate. I think it is the fact that they put binding on the top and back, usually done to conceal the laminate showing. One thing that screams cheap is the fact that I can see the slide on logo on the headstock.
Fit and Finish: (5) Here is the funny part, one of the reasons it looks like a cheaper ukulele is that it is too perfect. the matte finish is perfect and every glue joint and parts are perfect. what I think is really crazy is that the body is 3 pieces of wood, instead of the normal 6. The top bottom and sides are 1 piece each. the neck is only 2 instead if the normal 3 or 4. Beside the logo I see no workmanship issues at all.
Kerfing on the inside
Sound:
Sound Type: Clear and forward, with a little mellowness
Intonation: (5) I found no issues at all. it seems very solid all the way up and down the fret board. I have heard, and find it to be true, that when tuned to D you don’t notice intonation issues or that it is out of tune as easily.
Volume: (5) Clear and very loud. I would expect an instrument that is smaller to have less volume, but this thing can stand up to pretty much any uke twice its size, and kick its butt.
Sustain: (5) Long and nice.
Feel:
String Height: (medium Low) Just right.
Neck Radius Depth: (3/4″) Basic C shaped neck, a little thicker than a normal uke since it is shorter and the 5th fret is really at the 7th.
Frets: (4) Frets are good all the way to the last 3 (10, 11, and 12) I find that my finger gets caught when I strum there. All the rest are perfectly dressed, but the issue is nothing a fret file would not fix in less than a minute.
Tuning: (5) The friction tuners move with little effort, and that is good when you are trying to tune in D (aDF#B). I was glad to see that the tuners are not cheap at all and look nice to boot.
Comfort: (4) The 4 has nothing to do with anything more than the size. I find it awkward to hold since it is so small, it is worse on a Kala Pocket uke, but it is not always super comfortable to get to the chords. The edges are nice and rounded and it is super light. It could be lighter if they had also slimmed the bracing a little bit.
Sound Hole Smell: Maybe Easter is coming, but it smells like freshly peel carrots.
Final Thoughts
I have a problem, well I have many, but my one with this one is that I started thinking of it as mine. I sing tenor for the most part and many songs that I get are a little low for me. The sopranino tuned to D lets me take those songs and play them up one full step without having to transpose it, and that is nice. Sure I can’t just whip it out and play the same chord shapes while others play with me, but alone it is really awesome to not have to use a capo or transpose. So needless to say I will get one of these someday, it is on the list.
I do have one word of warning about this uke. There is no tail block. usually not an issue, but if you want to put in an under saddle pickup and the port goes out the back, you better hope that no one steps on the chord or yanks on it. I had a friend that his completely blew out the back when someone tripped on the chord.
The way I see it, anyone who is collecting ukes of different sizes, this should be one that you have in your arsenal. So the new line-up should be sopanino, soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone (With a version of all sizes in pineapple, banjo, 6 or 8 string, and regular)
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 3 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Clear, forward with a little mellow |
| Intonation | 5 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium Low |
| Neck Radius Depth | 3/4″ |
| Frets | 4 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Carrots? |
Places to buy on the web:
Mim’s Ukes – As of this review she did not have any on hand, but can get them. there are stories of her sending them in baby blankets, since they are so cute like little baby ukes.
HD Audio Sample:
Gallery:
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- Kerfing on the inside
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Kala Travel Soprano (KA-SSTU) Full Review
February 9, 2011 at 4:54 am | Posted in General, Kala, Soprano | 11 CommentsTags: Full review, Kala, Laminate, posts, review, Solid, uke, ukulele
When I travel I take a ukulele with me everywhere, usually it is one I am reviewing. I find the uke a great instrument to travel with since it is so small, so that begs the question; a travel uke? Really? Isn’t it small enough? And I would say yes, but……It could be smaller.
I had to convince Kala to let me review this uke. I have been lusting after one since I played my friend Alex’s when I went to Ukin’ in the woods last October. As a side note, Alex had the one with a working compass in the head. But really this is a thing of wonder to play and I feel that people should know about it. Of all the ukes that Kala makes, this is the one that sets them apart from all others. And so I don’t get slammed, yes I know they make the pocket uke, and it is cute, but not nearly as playable as the travel ukes.
Read the review and feel free to tell me what you think in the comments below.
Specs:
Soprano : 12 Fret (Most have 14)
Tuners: Machine Tuners with Black Buttons
Nut & saddle: Bone
Top: Paper Thin Solid Spruce
Sides: Laminate Mahogany
Back: Arched Laminate Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany with a Rosewood fret board
String Attachment: Tie
Finish: Matte
Case: Fitted and Padded Gig Bag
Full Specs:
http://kalaukulele.com.mytempweb.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=KA-SSTU
Looks
First look: (5) From far away you will wonder what you are seeing. When you get up close you will think it is a joke, a really well made and pretty joke. Then you play it and know that Kala is not kidding. It looks like a high end uke that someone mis-measured the sides and went with it.
Fit and Finish: (5) I get wet when I see an arched back with no bracing. The crazy part is that it is not the most sexy part. The top is about half as thick as any uke I have ever seen. Also it has binding everywhere (Body, neck, bridge, and butt). Also the matte finish still brings out the mahogany on the sides and back. The last thing is that no matter how hard you look it has no glue marks. I don’t know who makes these for them in China, but man they have great quality control.
Sound:
Sound Type: LOUD and clear. Don’t let the size fool you. If you buy one so you can play at
Compared to a sopranino
night while your wife sleeps you will never play it. It is louder than many “regular” ukes I have played.
Intonation: (4) It tunes fine and is dead on at the 12th fret, the nut is a little high so playing and A or F can go weird since the strings go sharp when you press all the way down to the fret board.
Volume: (5) Loud is a word that comes to mind. It is thin but the arched back and paper thin top make this thing a beast.
Sustain: (5) Long and nice. The thin top really helps to let it ring.
Feel:
String Height: (medium) The Nut could be lowered and it would help the intonation.
Neck Radius Depth: (5/8″) C shape. May be the only thing with a normal thickness.
Frets: (5) I have said this before, And I will say it again, a bound fretboard is the way to go. Period
Tuning: (5) I use to be all down on machine tuners, but these are really nice and small and do the job really well. I think friction tuners would be weird since it would make the head thicker than the body.
Comfort: (4) Very light and all the edges are rounded like they should be. My issues are in holding it. Since it is thin and the bridge is pushed back a bit to make it shorter there is not as much room to hold it with your arm. I find myself having to prop it on my belly and having my arm come up from the bottom so I don’t mute the strings with my forearm. Beyond that it is great.
Sound Hole Smell: Glue, sorry
Final Thoughts
The winning combination of a solid spruce top and laminate sides make this ukulele one of my top 5 ukes that I tell people to buy, and not just as a travel uke. Kala is one of the few companies that have made the ukulele their focus and they have so many great ukes to choose from. The U-bass is amazing but the travel ukes are just as innovative.
It is easy for me to write good reviews, I can make them very flowery and nice, but I truly feel this is the real deal. Sure you can get other solid tops for less but you would be hard pressed to find one of this quality and that sounds this good. Enough of my gushing, just buy one and you will love it.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 5 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | LOUD and clear |
| Intonation | 4 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 5/8″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Glue |
Places to buy on the web:
Elderly $145
Amazon $145
Bananas at Large (Never heard of them) $129
HD Audio Sample:
Other Reviews
Gallery:
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- Compared to a sopranino
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Bamboo Paulele KBUS Full Review
January 4, 2011 at 4:16 am | Posted in General, Kiwaya, Paulele, Soprano | 7 CommentsTags: bamboo, Full review, posts, review, Solid, uke, ukulele
Full frontal
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 googled 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!
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)
Don't try this at home kids!
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. Not my uke. 2. I can’t do a handstand)
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)
What we have here for review is a Paulele not made by but distributed by Kiwaya. Kiwaya is known for their ukes and they only deal in high quality instruments that they know they can stand behind. I am not sure where it is made but my guess is china. Read to get the full story.
Remember all scores are out of 5.
Specs:
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
Body
First look: (4) Although it will stand out in a crowd with the unique bamboo grain I find it kind of boring. It has no zing, zip, pizzazz, and other words like that. My friend Alex nailed it when he said “it 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 it might have some decoration.
Look Ma, no bracing!
Fit and Finish: (5) It is sporting a nice matte finish and tight seems, Another thing that sets it apart is how the back bracing is done. A normal ukulele has a slightly curved back that goes from the butt to the heel and has bracing. The Paulele has no bracing and is an arched back or a violin 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.
Notice the bowed out back
Sound:
Sound Type: The Paulele is a punchy and forward sound that seems to jump out of it as you play. It almost throws the sound in front of the sound hole.
Intonation: (3) The Paulele received a 3 because 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 it is spot on with intonation all the way up. I have to say that for a $200 ukulele this should not happen.
Bamboo Fretboard
Volume: (5) The Paulele is a screamer and may actually be too loud for some people. A crazy thing to say about a soprano, but it is really loud.
Skinny in the middle but she got much back
Sustain: (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: (Medium) The Paulele is medium, just a regular height which I think hurts it since the nut is high and messes with playing.
Frets: (4) This is my “What the Hell” moment. 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. 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: (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: (4) The Paulele has a 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 it feel head heavy.
Sound Hole Smell: The sweet smell of a glue stick that you use to have in your desk in like 3rd grade.
Final Thoughts
This is one of those instruments that I am not sure if it is the fact that is says Kiwaya on the label so it feels well-built or it is just really well-built. 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!!”
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 4 |
| Fit and Finish | 5 |
| Sound Type | Punchy and forward |
| Intonation | 3 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Sustain | 5 |
| String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 1/2″ |
| Frets | 4 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Glue stick |
HD Audio Clips:
Places to buy on the web:
Uke Republic: Paulele KBUS – Pre-order $198
Amazon: Paulele KBUS – $198
gallery
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- Don’t try this at home kids!
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- Body
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- Bamboo Fretboard
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- Skinny in the middle but she got much back
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- Full frontal
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- Unique Banboo grain of the top
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- Back of the head
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- Head
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- Look Ma, no bracing!
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- Notice the bowed out back
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- Namaste on ukulele
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Gold Tone GU-100 Full Review
October 21, 2010 at 1:02 am | Posted in Brands, Gold Tone, Soprano | 3 CommentsTags: cheap, Full review, Gold Tone, posts, review, Solid, uke, ukulele
This is short because I was just like “Meh” about this uke. I just could not get excited about it. Gold Tone is known for making the premiere banjo uke, This is not their strongest product, It was the only one under $300 they make. I know that I am not going to be invited to do another review for them anytime soon either after this. But this is what I thought. I struggle with reviews like this, but if a company is willing to send something then I should be honest.
Specs:
Soprano : 12 Fret
Tuners: Open Geared
Wood nut & compensated saddle
Top: Solid Mahogany
Sides: Laminated Mahogany
Back: Laminated Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany with a Mahogany fretboard
Finish: Matte
Case: Hard case
Full Specs:
http://www.goldtone.com/products/details/w/instrument/85/GU-100-UKE
Looks
First look: (3) Not a looker by any means. Looks like a cheaper ukulele. Just a flat finish. that really does not show any grain pattern at all. I would pass it by if I saw it in a store. The top is really thick and is noticeable at first glance.
Fit and Finish: (3) Well made with no real issues that affect playing. They did sand down the fret board a little when they dressed the frets. beside that no glue marks. Over all it is well made and sturdy, I know it would last a really long time, it just looks cheap. Seems like a quick factory built uke that is set up in the states.
Sound:
Sound Type: Quiet and mellow. With a really thick top it hinders the sound output.
Intonation: (5) This is where I think it really shines. Someone took the time to make a bridge and saddle that made each string perfect all the way up and down the fretboard. The saddle was set for each string.
Volume: (3) It came with some GHS strings on it and I replaced them with Aquilas and it was still pretty quiet. Although it has a solid top, it is really thick.
Sustain: (4) Not long, but ok. Nothing to write home about
Feel:
String Height: (Medium) Not super low, but felt ok to play.
Neck Radius Depth: (7/8″) A little bigger radius depth for a C shaped neck.
Frets: (5) Low and rounded. Near the nut they sanded down the fret board a little. just a sign of an inexperienced tech, or someone did not care. Could not feel them from the side which is good.
Tuning: (5) With the geared tuners it makes it very easy to tune. It stayed in tune pretty well after it was humidified properly and the strings settled.
Comfort: (4) A little heavy but the corners are nice and rounded. No sharp edges.
Sound Hole Smell: Like Elmer’s glue. nothing inspiring
Final Thoughts
When I saw the uke at NAMM I thought it would be a good instrument, hell it is made by Gold Tone. But I guess they just don’t have this one dialed in or it is there to round out the catalog.
All Rating on a scale of 1-5
Click here for an explanation of reviews
| First Look | 3 |
| Fit and Finish | 3 |
| Sound Type | Quiet and mellow |
| Intonation | 5 |
| Volume | 3 |
| Sustain | 4 |
| String Height | Medium |
| Neck Radius Depth | 7/8″ |
| Frets | 5 |
| Tuning | 5 |
| Comfort | 4 |
| Sound Hole Smell | Elmer’ glue |
HD Sound Sample
Places to buy on the web:
Amazon $179 – It says concert, but it is the only one I found. The GU-100 is a soprano.
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David S. Gill Ukuleles
July 19, 2010 at 8:05 pm | Posted in Brands, Concert, D.S.Gill | 4 CommentsTags: cheap, Concert, D.S.Gill, Divid Gill, fest, festival, Gill, Pineapple, Play, posts, Solid, Spalted, uke, ukulele
Accounting System
Every so often you find something that seems too good to be true. You may find $20 on the ground or you get something for half off and you feel lucky. When I found D.S.Gill ukes at Weed Patch Music in Nashville, IN I could not believe that there was a guy making ukuleles in his garage out of solid wood for only $350, and they sound awesome.
Please don’t get me wrong, they are not made of super high grade lumber that is purchased from a high end luthier woodshop, but they still look, sound, and play like most any high end ukulele that you will find. At $350 I am hard pressed to find anything in the $1200 range that has the quality and sound that his ukes have. I will get into more about the wood, but first a little about David S. Gill.
David holding my baby
I first met David during the Ukulele World Congress (UWC). It was kind of by chance that I was able to meet him. The Saturday morning of the UWC is left open so people can explore Nashville and buy ukes from Mike at Mainland. I decided to go into town to eat breakfast and to find Weed Patch Music; I was told that there were these great ukuleles that they had that are made in Columbus Indiana. So after some searching I found the place and was absolutely amazed. I played a soprano and then picked up a mahogany concert pineapple; I said to myself “this would be great if it had a spruce top”. Also at the time I did not have $350 to spend on a new ukulele (that and my wife would kill me, 15 ukes is her limit). I went back to UWC and ran into a few friends that also played a few of the Gill ukes and told them that I love the concert pineapple but would love it with a spruce top. By chance one of my friends had called David Gill to see if he made tenors (He does not……Yet) and said I should call and ask, so I did, and he did have a concert pineapple with a spruce top at his shop. Now I did not have $350 to buy it and I figured that he would not have one, but I had to at least see it. I asked if my two friends and I could come and see it and also his shop, he said “Yes, I love when people come by and talk uke” and away we went on our 45 minute drive. We get there and we see a sign that says Handmade Ukuleles and an electric car out front.
"router"
We had heard that David is very unique. When we got there we did not know what to expect. We heard that he had not purchased gas in several years and he drove a golf cart everywhere, and both are true. David has not purchased gas in 3 years. He has geothermal heating and cooling and his “car” runs on electric, and this works for him just fine. He does not need to go very far for anything. Mostly people come to visit him, like us. David is a retired injection engineer which makes sense why his ukuleles are so spot on in every way. Every piece is precisely measured and he has jigs for every part to make sure that it is made just right, down to the micro-meter. His 2 car garage is filled wood working equipment, jigs, and wood. One of the tools he uses to make the dovetail joint for the necks and cut the body pieces is this weird looking router thing that he used to own the patent on that he invented in the 80’s. How it works is still a mystery to me, I could have asked but figured that I had too many other things I wanted to ask.
Davids Car
One thing that many do not know about Gill ukes is that they use to be sold by Bushman under the name of Bluebird and a few other models. They were new wood ukes unlike the ones he makes currently. I actually played a bluebird and loved it, but I could not afford a $400 ukulele at the time and had to pass. But it was very nice. In the end John Hall did not want to sell them anymore and stopped.
Lineup
My Spruce Top Concert Pineapple
That brings me to my ukulele. Yes I did buy it; it just was another trip a few weeks later. But we went to his basement that he has the ukuleles that he has finished. I picked up the spruce top concert pineapple (They are rareish, you can find them from a few makes like Mele and Oscar Schmidt, but you will not see many concert pineapples) It was love at first play. It is light as a feather even though it has geared tuners and it sings. Basically I love it. I am hard pressed to find anything wrong with it. What you will notice is that it is not super decorated with nice purfling or binding; this is because David feels that it weakens the joint. He also does a few other things that most builders do not do. The lining is put in backwards to add stability and he also has thinned out the bracing so that it will vibrate more with the top. Also he makes a 3 piece neck. Not in the way that most do, but it is one continues neck out of one piece but he cuts it in half and puts a strip of walnut between to reinforce the neck. He builds like an engineer and less like an artist like Geoff Davis of Hoosier ukes and the Bluestone Folk School (BSFS). Geoff will make a Ukulele and fine tune as he goes, always adjusting and trying to work with the wood. David knows every aspect of what the size will be and how each part fits and can guarantee it is made exactly to spec.
As I mentioned earlier, the wood that David uses for his ukuleles is a little bit different than most ukulele builders. For the most part David does not buy wood for his ukes, it is all recycled or reclaimed in one way or another. The mahogany that my uke was made with comes from old patterns. (A pattern is a large piece of
Aromatic Cedar Uke
wood that is carved to make molds for casting things. Mahogany was popular since it is so stable) the spruce is from some furniture, I think, and the walnut stripe in the neck if from another pattern. Some of the other woods I saw were the aromatic cedar (That uke smells awesome) that he gets from a place that makes veneers and he gets the pieces that cannot be sawn any thinner due to limitations of the machine, and they come about 1/8 of an inch thick, so perfect start for any instrument. Another place he gets wood is from is friends who happen to find really neat pieces like the spalted maple that he is looking at making into the sides and back of a pineapple.
One of the funny things about David is that there are no models per say. Yes he makes sopranos, concerts, and concert pineapples but the woods that he uses are on a whim. He loves to experiment with woods, like the spalted maple, to see how it will sound. Good or bad that is how it is. For the most part you will find he works in African mahogany and is currently on an aromatic cedar kick.
Spated Maple
In the end if you are looking for an awesome one of a kind ukulele that is made in the USA, then this is the one I would recommend. Visit Weed Patch in Nashville, IN ASAP to experience a true gem for very little money.
HD Sound Sample:
Side
More Pics
The 3 Piece NeckBackNice Butt!
Nice Butt!
BackNice Butt!
Summer NAMM 2010
June 22, 2010 at 2:49 am | Posted in Eleuke, Events, Papas Boxes, Products, Shows | 5 CommentsTags: BugsGear, Chris Martin, cigar, cigar box, Eleuke, Kala, laser, posts, Solid, uke, ukulele
I love tradeshows. I like meeting new people and seeing new stuff. I have been to a few technology shows since by day I do computer stuff and am also a computer nerd along with a ukulele nut. Both actually come in handy from time to time.
The atmosphere at NAMM is over whelming in so many ways. You want to look at everything and the noise from all the instruments is deafening at times. It made it real hard to hear the instruments or to take any kind of video that you could hear anything on. The summer NAMM is pretty much just one giant room, not like winter, so I am told, were it is several floors and there is an acoustic floor. I really hope I can make it to that one.
Mim From Mimsukes.com with here Ohana sopranino
While at NAMM I talked with a ton of people and vendors about everything about ukuleles, straps, and home recording. I have about 30 different business cards from the vendors alone and I also made a couple connections with people that sell them like Mim from Mim’s Ukes. She Has a Hawaiian shaved ice store and she also sells ukuleles there (and online) in Charlotte North Carolina. Also in the post before this I have a pic of Chris Martin of martin guitars holding 2 of his ukes.
Funny story about Meeting Chris Martin, I actually almost knocked him over coming out of the Martin booth, so I stopped and asked if I could take his picture and he said sure. The funny part was that I texted 2 of my friends that were with me that I had just met Chris Martin. They thought I met the Chris Martin from Coldplay. It was not until I showed them the picture that they realized who I actually met. and for the record I would rather meet the Chris Martin that I met. Very cool and nice enough to talk with me for 5 minutes
Cool stuff that I saw:
Bamboo Pauleles
Bamboo ukes from Kiwaya called Pauleles. Played nicely and I am hoping that I will have a chance to review one along with their Kiwaya KS-1. I don’t have a picture since it was not at NAMM, but Cordoba is also coming out with a bamboo uke very soon.
Banjo ukuleles from Morgan Monroe, and they are under $300 street price!!! That to me seems like one of the holy grails right now. They are loud and really well built. I am hoping that sometime in November, when they catch up with orders, to get one in my hands to review and show people.
Morgan Monroe Banjo Ukulele
- Morgan Monroe Resonator Banjo Ukulele
Mahalo Camp Ukulele
So, I was at the Saga Music booth looking at the Mahalos and I see what I know to be a camp ukulele, but I look at it and it says banjo ukulele. I scratched my head and laughed a little. An owner of a music shop wanted to know what I was laughing at. She thought I was being condescending about the products on the wall. Yes they are on the lower end, but they are still ok. I said to her “that is not a banjo ukulele” She asked then what is it because she has one in her store an no one will buy it. I told her that it is a camp ukulele, I have seen several of them and it is called that. She rushed over and grabbed the sales guy and told him “you need to talk to this young man, he knows his stuff!!” I proceed to tell him what it is and he pulls out a pen and changes the name of it on the little tag hanging with it and tells the marketing guy to also change the name in the catalog. It was a good feeling to have someone change something because you recommend it. Excuse me as I go deflate my huge head.
Maholo Wall
Felix Bass
One of the interesting ukuleles I saw were the Oriolo ukes. The Oriolo family owns Felix the cat and the brothers decided to start a guitar company. They look fun. I like the way they did the base with Felix’s head, his nose is a knob of some sort.
Grapic on a Orio Guitar
Felix Ukulele
Riptide Golf Ukulele
On the topic of interesting design, Boulder Creek Guitars had a booth showing off their guitars and ukuleles. They are the ones with the off-set front sound hole and one on the side. They have the regular laminate mahogany and a line of solid wood ukes, but they are also coming out with a couple with a printed top. The designs are fun. One with a wave and the other with a golf theme.
Riptide Wave Ukulele
For completely crazy design I would give that to Eleuke. A “tie dye” electric. I like the idea, I am not in love with the colors they used.
Eleuke Tie Dye
Kala Pocket Uke
We cannot leave Kala out. They had all of their well known products like the U-bass, and that is all the guitar and bass people talked about, and the travel ukuleles. They had 2 things that I really thought were cooler than everything else. The pocket uke and the new 10 watt “Round about” amps.
Kala Round About Amps
The last new thing that I will talk about is from Papas Boxes. I did not even know they were going to be there. I just ran into their booth. They now make whole ukuleles and they are beautiful. They use lasers to etch the boxes and cut the holes. It was fun to go to a booth where the owner is really happy to meet you. I think they will be very successful with their new instruments along with the kits.
Papa's Boxes
A couple I lusted after:
A Collings
I can dream can’t I? I had to stop by the Collings booth. I played the one pictured and it is like butter. I also played a Santa Cruz, and a few of the high end Big Island Ukuleles ( I was able to take their least expensive home for a review, a SP-KRGT, so watch the site for the review). Also while I was at the Kiwya booth Augutino LoPrinzi ukuleles was also in the same booth. Very very nice ukuleles. the one pictured was really neat with the 2 shoulder holes, very loud. If I say loud I mean it, it was loud in the convention center.
LoPrinzi Ukulele
The other side:
Crappyleles
Ukuleles are popular. They are blowing up. I heard from several companies that their ukuleles sales are 75% of their sales in the last few months, so with that people want to jump into it also. I saw several like the ones below that are toys and not real instruments by any means. that makes me mad. Just don’t make them or carry them if they are such junk.
Not sure how I feel about ukulele lamps. I want one, don’t get me wrong, I just feel bad for the little guy.
Uke Lamps
I need to thank all the vendors that I talked to, I am a total spaz at times and I was also sweating like crazy, so embarrassing. Also my two friends, Paul and Marc, for hanging with me and not beating me while trying to leave and I get lost at another booth that caught my eye, and spreading the word about Ukeeku to everyone you saw.
I really want to go to winter NAMM in Anaheim CA, time will tell.
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 |
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