The key to make a budget version of anything is to build up to the price point. The question is 'how can we make the best widget for this price?' rather than 'how many corners can we cut and still get people to pay up?'. For a student instrument the main requirement is that it not keep them from playing and learning.
As an beginner instrument, easy to change strings and can hold a few chords to get interested, kids who can hear the chords are more likely to continue. These reviews are invaluable as at least there are instruments for every budget, helping to avoid the fire wood. Another honest review, thanks and have a great week
I think it looks quite nice! Certainly better than my first piece of fire wood (thanks Mike K) which looked "natural" in the picture but turned out to be plywood painted brown...
I'm glad people aren't getting a crap starter instrument, but it's still a surprisingly hard sell at it's pricepoint. At least on the US side of the pond. It's pricepoint is sitting right next to the Enya Nova Mini U starter bundle (which now has strap buttons) and runs between $40-$50 on Amazon.
Thank you for the review. It's good to have options at the cheaper end that are playable. In any hobby (I also spin and weave) cheap options aimed at children that don't actually work (I've tried weaving with children's looms - they are generally dreadful) will put children off potentially interesting hobbies. Better than expected and it sounds better than my first instrument which had *no* sustain, intonation issues, wasn't from Amazon and cost more (I hadn't found your site at that stage)!
A good value proposition that sounds (unexpectedly) good strummed. It should definitely be considered for children / beginners. We need this price point reviewed. Thanks for this.
Yes, indeed, there are much cheaper ones. I buy them from charity shops, sand them down an paint them down and paint them. Recently, I painted one inspired by George Harrison. Was great fun. It now hang on the wall and an orchid is happily living inside the sound hole 🙂
Nice effort to add some interest with the shape of bridge and end of the fretboard. Again, the bridge has had attention to get away from having blocky corners that jab in your forearm. Maybe make a good purchase for the school music room? If you’re buying a Uke as a present for a young person, it has to be able to tune-up, play and sound like music….it fits the bill.
Hola. Thanks for this video. I found one of these in perfect condition at the thrift store today for just $7! I plan to cover it in stickers and put some serious milage on it :)
Great review, but don't look so pained Baz; you've found a half-decent entry-level on Amazon which are about as rare as hen's teeth. Ok, it looks hideous but sounds like it punches a little above it's weight. At only 40 quid & is it really less than half as good as a £100 uke? Plenty of howlers at that price point, too.
As a child's first ukulele, to see if they're interested, not bad at all! It's a lot easier to move up the 'quality ladder', than it is to come down. Nice to see someone out there actually putting at least a BIT of an effort into building an instrument, as opposed to a piece of gaily painted crap. 🤷♂️ Good review, as per Baz 👍
It is better than about half of the instruments that people bring to my classes. Yes, it is thin and sounds boxy but at least it has some character and they have tried to make something decent for the price. I agree that it is plug ugly though.
I like that it is built pretty well and I love sopranos but this one is far to orange for me. I don’t mind the light fret board and the light wood sound board. But the back sides and headstock is terrible. It could be ok to to begin on. I think the sound is as good as some more expensive say $90 to $100 prices. Not bad. To learn on. Good review….thanks….DOC
It sounds better strummed than plucked. I’ll tell you, we could do a lot worse to get a kid started. I don’t get what makes it a kit, though. Good review, ukes like this that aren’t great and aren’t Howlers are hard to figure out.
Listen to it on this end for £40 it would give someone a chance to try the ukulele and not be offended if they did not keep it up, even better if they did though
The key to make a budget version of anything is to build up to the price point. The question is 'how can we make the best widget for this price?' rather than 'how many corners can we cut and still get people to pay up?'. For a student instrument the main requirement is that it not keep them from playing and learning.
Totally agree
As an beginner instrument, easy to change strings and can hold a few chords to get interested, kids who can hear the chords are more likely to continue. These reviews are invaluable as at least there are instruments for every budget, helping to avoid the fire wood. Another honest review, thanks and have a great week
Thanks Mike
I think it looks quite nice! Certainly better than my first piece of fire wood (thanks Mike K) which looked "natural" in the picture but turned out to be plywood painted brown...
I'm glad people aren't getting a crap starter instrument, but it's still a surprisingly hard sell at it's pricepoint. At least on the US side of the pond. It's pricepoint is sitting right next to the Enya Nova Mini U starter bundle (which now has strap buttons) and runs between $40-$50 on Amazon.
Yep - fair point
Thank you for the review. It's good to have options at the cheaper end that are playable. In any hobby (I also spin and weave) cheap options aimed at children that don't actually work (I've tried weaving with children's looms - they are generally dreadful) will put children off potentially interesting hobbies. Better than expected and it sounds better than my first instrument which had *no* sustain, intonation issues, wasn't from Amazon and cost more (I hadn't found your site at that stage)!
Totally agree!
Agree. Nothing kills any beginner's interest than a cheapo, hard-to-play "learner" instrument.
A good value proposition that sounds (unexpectedly) good strummed. It should definitely be considered for children / beginners. We need this price point reviewed. Thanks for this.
Not too bad for a first uke. Great review!
Thanks!
Any sense of why someone would want this vs the Flight travel ukes, which seem like great starter instruments?
More traditional I guess - I know a few people who don't like the plastic necks and backs on the travel ukes
Yes, indeed, there are much cheaper ones. I buy them from charity shops, sand them down an paint them down and paint them. Recently, I painted one inspired by George Harrison. Was great fun. It now hang on the wall and an orchid is happily living inside the sound hole 🙂
Sounds better than it looks to me, I paid around 40 quid for a Flight travel soprano.
Nice effort to add some interest with the shape of bridge and end of the fretboard. Again, the bridge has had attention to get away from having blocky corners that jab in your forearm. Maybe make a good purchase for the school music room? If you’re buying a Uke as a present for a young person, it has to be able to tune-up, play and sound like music….it fits the bill.
Indeed!
Hola. Thanks for this video. I found one of these in perfect condition at the thrift store today for just $7! I plan to cover it in stickers and put some serious milage on it :)
Hi. Have you ever reviewed the Hora line of ukuleles that are made in Romania?
No, afraid not. Recall contacting them, but never heard back
@@GotAUkulele oh well. Thanx for replying back.
For a child's first ukulele, one could do a lot worse as you pointed out! Great review, Baz!
Thanks Chuck!
Hi did you do a review on a kmise tenor zebra stripe
No, afraid not
Looks like a deal for cheap, what with the real wood and all. I even like the sassy orange color with the maple top.
Great review, but don't look so pained Baz; you've found a half-decent entry-level on Amazon which are about as rare as hen's teeth. Ok, it looks hideous but sounds like it punches a little above it's weight. At only 40 quid & is it really less than half as good as a £100 uke? Plenty of howlers at that price point, too.
As a child's first ukulele, to see if they're interested, not bad at all! It's a lot easier to move up the 'quality ladder', than it is to come down. Nice to see someone out there actually putting at least a BIT of an effort into building an instrument, as opposed to a piece of gaily painted crap. 🤷♂️
Good review, as per Baz 👍
Thanks Chris!
Ah, the total crazyness of amazon prices! this is now sold in italy at 126 € (150 for the "mahogany" version) 🤣
Wow..
It is better than about half of the instruments that people bring to my classes. Yes, it is thin and sounds boxy but at least it has some character and they have tried to make something decent for the price. I agree that it is plug ugly though.
Yep - much better
Doesn't sound too bad Baz. I've heard worse from ukes a bit dearer.
I like that it is built pretty well and I love sopranos but this one is far to orange for me. I don’t mind the light fret board and the light wood sound board. But the back sides and headstock is terrible. It could be ok to to begin on. I think the sound is as good as some more expensive say $90 to $100 prices. Not bad. To learn on. Good review….thanks….DOC
Didn't like the look too much, preferring wooden finishes, but I didn't think it sound that bad.
Looks not for me either - though compared to the thickly painted bright coloured ones, it's positively classy!!
How does the strap go on?
It's a halter strap - hooks on sound hole
It sounds better strummed than plucked. I’ll tell you, we could do a lot worse to get a kid started. I don’t get what makes it a kit, though.
Good review, ukes like this that aren’t great and aren’t Howlers are hard to figure out.
Quite agree with you Nickie
Not bad. A lot worse out there but not bad at all. Have a good week Barry
Listen to it on this end for £40 it would give someone a chance to try the ukulele and not be offended if they did not keep it up, even better if they did though
Pretty good for £40.
Indeed