UkerDrew
Well-known member
Congrats on this stunning Bari! The bearclaw spruce top is certainly eye candy and the grain on the back and sides is very tasty too. All in all that is a dream uke for sure.
My MM spruce top Bari is much plainer. I think the brighter tending spruce is an excellent combination with baritones because they tend to be warmer and mellower sounding and the spruce can be used to balance that with the right strings as you discovered. I still love mine.
I agree the planetary tuners are an attractive upgrade. Did they change the balance at all? I'm thinking about installing them on my vintage Kamaka baritone which has the original friction tuners. They work ok but I change tunings a lot and geared tuners would be a welcome addition.
My MM spruce top Bari is much plainer. I think the brighter tending spruce is an excellent combination with baritones because they tend to be warmer and mellower sounding and the spruce can be used to balance that with the right strings as you discovered. I still love mine.
I agree the planetary tuners are an attractive upgrade. Did they change the balance at all? I'm thinking about installing them on my vintage Kamaka baritone which has the original friction tuners. They work ok but I change tunings a lot and geared tuners would be a welcome addition.