Aloha,
I'm trying to find a laminate concert with 12-frets to the body.
Searching comes up only with Mitchell ukes which seem to be the private label brand of Guitar Center and the 'open-book' crown shape of the headstock really puts me off and I cannot get past it. Also, they all seem to be with a heavy gloss coat and most needing major setup work according to many written and video reviews.
[edit #3] This is what the Mitchell MU-70 looks like:
I'd prefer to buy from a vendor that does setups, or if a used one, that has already had a good setup done.
New or used does not matter to me as long as the back of the neck is not full of divots and dings, for this impacts the feel when playing.
Brand does not matter nor origin, but I wanted to try one made like this because it puts the bridge lower, more into the mid-line of the lower bout, and since I'd like to tune it in fifths CGDA with the Aquila U31 strings, my guess is that it would provide better projection of the lower C3 and G3 notes used in this tuning.
I tried this tuning/strings combo on both a Mainland longneck concert all-solid mahogany (which has a shallow body depth) as well as my Mainland classic concert (which is 14 frets to the body) and on both, the sound was anemic in these lower frequencies...
I know other strings can alter the tone of course, if you've been following my constant string odyssey here on UU, but my guess and hope based upon the physics of sound waves and mechanics of instrument construction is that if the bridge is lower, that more mid-bass can project out of the instrument.
So, if I am missing something in my understanding, I am wide open for clarification, and please share what you know.
Also, if you know of any laminate concert ukes with 12 frets to the body that are NOT Mitchell brand and/or have a link for an example somewhere online, I'd appreciate it if you could share that too.
Mahalo,
Booli :music:
[edited to add] In lieu of something better, it seems that low-hanging fruit exists with the Oscar Schmidt OU2P pineapple concert:
in that it appears to have the 12-frets to the body, and on account of the pineapple shape, more surface area to the top, and the bridge seems to be in the mid-line of the widest part of the body.
Bonus that these typically sell for $65-75 most vendors, and that the fretboard is bound, but no reviews talk about the intonation 'out of the box'.
Opinions please on this one too? Mahalo again
[edit #2] I forgot to mention that I need MORE than just 12 frets, at least 15 frets.
I'm trying to find a laminate concert with 12-frets to the body.
Searching comes up only with Mitchell ukes which seem to be the private label brand of Guitar Center and the 'open-book' crown shape of the headstock really puts me off and I cannot get past it. Also, they all seem to be with a heavy gloss coat and most needing major setup work according to many written and video reviews.
[edit #3] This is what the Mitchell MU-70 looks like:
I'd prefer to buy from a vendor that does setups, or if a used one, that has already had a good setup done.
New or used does not matter to me as long as the back of the neck is not full of divots and dings, for this impacts the feel when playing.
Brand does not matter nor origin, but I wanted to try one made like this because it puts the bridge lower, more into the mid-line of the lower bout, and since I'd like to tune it in fifths CGDA with the Aquila U31 strings, my guess is that it would provide better projection of the lower C3 and G3 notes used in this tuning.
I tried this tuning/strings combo on both a Mainland longneck concert all-solid mahogany (which has a shallow body depth) as well as my Mainland classic concert (which is 14 frets to the body) and on both, the sound was anemic in these lower frequencies...
I know other strings can alter the tone of course, if you've been following my constant string odyssey here on UU, but my guess and hope based upon the physics of sound waves and mechanics of instrument construction is that if the bridge is lower, that more mid-bass can project out of the instrument.
So, if I am missing something in my understanding, I am wide open for clarification, and please share what you know.
Also, if you know of any laminate concert ukes with 12 frets to the body that are NOT Mitchell brand and/or have a link for an example somewhere online, I'd appreciate it if you could share that too.
Mahalo,
Booli :music:
[edited to add] In lieu of something better, it seems that low-hanging fruit exists with the Oscar Schmidt OU2P pineapple concert:
in that it appears to have the 12-frets to the body, and on account of the pineapple shape, more surface area to the top, and the bridge seems to be in the mid-line of the widest part of the body.
Bonus that these typically sell for $65-75 most vendors, and that the fretboard is bound, but no reviews talk about the intonation 'out of the box'.
Opinions please on this one too? Mahalo again
[edit #2] I forgot to mention that I need MORE than just 12 frets, at least 15 frets.
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