Just bought one of these from a brilliant independent music shop in Carmarthen. I initially loved a Kala they had but as an enthusiastic strummer I really couldn't justify the £300 price tag. This Uke is defiantly a marmite one in the looks for sure but I love the head stock and the action for the price point is superb. In the future Id like to fit new tuning pegs like Grovers or something to set off how lovely the headstock is. Originals do spoil the look but overall a brilliant budget concert.
Thank you for bringing us reviews every week! Yes, I also think if the arm rest were dark as the bridge and fretboard or of the same / smimilar colour to the body, this uke would’ve look nicer.
Wow had better sound then I expected. I agree the arm rest looks like ware and definitely peg tuners! I have seen $60 Vangoa ukuleles that are as good but this would be a good starter instrument in the same category, for me at least.... Thanks as always.....DOC
Thanks for your review!! The "damaged" style looks good to me. I think this is what the company wanted ... that it looks "used". 100 pounds is not too much for this uke I think. I'm excited of your next review. Here in Wesseling (near Cologne) weather is also nice and I had a go for a walk. Have a nice sunday!
For the price, it has a nice sound! But, part of having a ukulele is looking at it and enjoying seeing it hanging on your wall when you are not playing it. This definitely fails that visual enjoyment part. Thanks for the review, Baz!
Nice truthful review! Love the headstock shape. Rear facing tuners needed, yes! I like the comfort edge, but the wood color is wrong. My arm would cover that while playing. They really need to reshape the neck and clean up the frets and fretboard. Do it and Jack up the price a bit to pay for it. The bridge is too big for slot tying. But they’re not far off from having a winner.
I agree, I have ukes from soprano to tenor, including an 8 string tenor, and have never seen the need for a strap. (I DO need one on my tenor banjo, though!) I find a strap just constricts (someone had one on a concert uke I bought secondhand, so I did try it), and ukes aren't exactly heavy to cradle for playing. If people want one, they can add the buttons themselves for a few quid.
You are male. 50 per cent of the population is not. I can play a tenor well enough without a strap, as it rests on my knee. But a soprano or concert without a strap? They move every time I breathe. And not everyone is confident at putting on strap buttons themselves. Give me a uke with a strap button every time.
@@eileenlander1380 I use strap buttons too if performing. I was agreeing with the comment about the fact I'd prefer the money to go into better finishing. Strap buttons are ultra cheap and easy to fit. Give me a neck without sharp frets over a strap button every time. For sure - some are not confident fitting them, but I'd wager those people would be even LESS confident doing fret dressing.
@@eileenlander1380 No need to jump on me - I didn't say nobody needed one. But, considering how many female uke-players I know who don't use them, I don't think you are qualified to speak for all females, either! Anyway, most sellers will install a strap-button at the point of purchase if you ask.
I am not as put off by the armrest as you (although I am not sure that small an instrument requires it), but the overly thick finish is lamentable. I have an all-solid acacia Ohana that had a lather-it-on gloss finish and I sanded and polished it down to a thin film and improved the tone remarkably. Not sure that would improve a laminate, and it was quite a bit of time to invest in a factory-built instrument.
I often wonder how much influence these distributors have over the quality. Certainly, they do over aesthetics. But can they specify measurements, thicknesses and materials? All of these Chinese instruments seem to be the same lady dressed in different clothes. And I do hope the workers in these factories are paid a living wage. Should we even care about that as we peruse the internet looking for another ukulele shaped object at the lowest possible price?
There’s actually quite a lot of variation in Chinese builds. Had this conversation with Flight. Sure, it’s cheaper to go ‘off the peg’ as it were but if you wanted to go crazy and demand a 40mm neck you’d get one
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Just bought one of these from a brilliant independent music shop in Carmarthen. I initially loved a Kala they had but as an enthusiastic strummer I really couldn't justify the £300 price tag.
This Uke is defiantly a marmite one in the looks for sure but I love the head stock and the action for the price point is superb.
In the future Id like to fit new tuning pegs like Grovers or something to set off how lovely the headstock is. Originals do spoil the look but overall a brilliant budget concert.
I like the sound and you're really getting to master these little ditties that you play. Thank you, stay safe.
Thanks!
I also make music ❤️ and I have got a Ukulele. I hope to learn this tool soon too
I bought one of these recently, I like it. It has a sweet tone and nice projection.
I'm far from an expert on ukes :)
Thanks for the reviews
I'd agree with you - and thanks!
Thank you for bringing us reviews every week!
Yes, I also think if the arm rest were dark as the bridge and fretboard or of the same / smimilar colour to the body, this uke would’ve look nicer.
Very much so
Love the headstock and hate the arm rest so totally agree with you on this one. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Wow had better sound then I expected. I agree the arm rest looks like ware and definitely peg tuners! I have seen $60 Vangoa ukuleles that are as good but this would be a good starter instrument in the same category, for me at least.... Thanks as always.....DOC
Thanks!
Great review. I actually disagree about the arm rest but the finish would put me off. Maybe charge a few quid extra and have some quality control. 👍
Fair enough!
Oh Barry I want one 😁 this sounds great
Thanks for your review!!
The "damaged" style looks good to me. I think this is what the company wanted ... that it looks "used". 100 pounds is not too much for this uke I think.
I'm excited of your next review.
Here in Wesseling (near Cologne) weather is also nice and I had a go for a walk.
Have a nice sunday!
I think that was the case with the Bowley. Not convinced it was the intention here myself. I think it was just made to a price
For the price, it has a nice sound! But, part of having a ukulele is looking at it and enjoying seeing it hanging on your wall when you are not playing it. This definitely fails that visual enjoyment part. Thanks for the review, Baz!
Absolutely!
I like the idea of the arm rest but it isn't subtle enough for me. It does sound pretty good though. Great review!
They are nice things, but this is just damn ugly
This sounds good. Dang. I think the sustain is a little bit short too.
that armrest... 🤣 ... and then your face... 🤣🤣
Tell me about it...
Nice truthful review! Love the headstock shape. Rear facing tuners needed, yes! I like the comfort edge, but the wood color is wrong. My arm would cover that while playing. They really need to reshape the neck and clean up the frets and fretboard. Do it and Jack up the
price a bit to pay for it. The bridge is too big for slot tying. But they’re not far off from having a winner.
no, not far at all.
Fair review, I find it interesting that they put strap buttons on a concert ukulele . Could’ve saved a little money there and worked on the finishing.
Yep. For sure
I agree, I have ukes from soprano to tenor, including an 8 string tenor, and have never seen the need for a strap. (I DO need one on my tenor banjo, though!) I find a strap just constricts (someone had one on a concert uke I bought secondhand, so I did try it), and ukes aren't exactly heavy to cradle for playing. If people want one, they can add the buttons themselves for a few quid.
You are male. 50 per cent of the population is not. I can play a tenor well enough without a strap, as it rests on my knee. But a soprano or concert without a strap? They move every time I breathe.
And not everyone is confident at putting on strap buttons themselves. Give me a uke with a strap button every time.
@@eileenlander1380 I use strap buttons too if performing. I was agreeing with the comment about the fact I'd prefer the money to go into better finishing. Strap buttons are ultra cheap and easy to fit. Give me a neck without sharp frets over a strap button every time. For sure - some are not confident fitting them, but I'd wager those people would be even LESS confident doing fret dressing.
@@eileenlander1380 No need to jump on me - I didn't say nobody needed one. But, considering how many female uke-players I know who don't use them, I don't think you are qualified to speak for all females, either! Anyway, most sellers will install a strap-button at the point of purchase if you ask.
I am not as put off by the armrest as you (although I am not sure that small an instrument requires it), but the overly thick finish is lamentable. I have an all-solid acacia Ohana that had a lather-it-on gloss finish and I sanded and polished it down to a thin film and improved the tone remarkably. Not sure that would improve a laminate, and it was quite a bit of time to invest in a factory-built instrument.
I just find it so glaring - totally dominates the top. No, don't think it requires it either..
Shame with Barnes & Mullins they keep doing this. They always seem to get just enough wrong to put me off. But for £100 it's a good sounding uke.
That’s a good summation. Never yet seen one that fully impressed me
Not bad for the price, but I'll stick with my $99 Cordoba concert. I agree, the "comfort" edge is uncomfortable to look at.
Yep - looks totally out of place.
oh, and the strap button... isn’t it, like, totally off-kilter?
In the right place in both to be honest. You talking about the neck heel one? I always put those offset myself.
@@GotAUkulele talking the one “in the butt"... erm, sorry 😊
100 quid and no gig bag? Looked good, sounded good but for that money I would want a decent finish Baz
Me too!
I often wonder how much influence these distributors have over the quality. Certainly, they do over aesthetics. But can they specify measurements, thicknesses and materials? All of these Chinese instruments seem to be the same lady dressed in different clothes. And I do hope the workers in these factories are paid a living wage. Should we even care about that as we peruse the internet looking for another ukulele shaped object at the lowest possible price?
There’s actually quite a lot of variation in Chinese builds. Had this conversation with Flight. Sure, it’s cheaper to go ‘off the peg’ as it were but if you wanted to go crazy and demand a 40mm neck you’d get one
But totally agree on the drive to cheapest prices.
You’ve lost weight Barry! Nice little uke but I’m not tempted this time
30lb since start of year!
@@GotAUkulele wow! Well done! I’m on a that journey too. A way to go to catch you up!