I've seen some positive comments about Kmise ukes, so when I saw a nice looking soprano on the AliExpress site, my finger hovered over the button - then it compulsively pressed! For my US $29.99 (inc p&p) I have received a really decent little uke.
It claims the body is mahogany, but I doubt that very much. It has all the hallmarks of HPL made to look like mahogany, and at that price, I wouldn't expect anything else. The body is bound top and bottom, and the sides of the fretboard are also bound - no scratchy fret ends! The purfling around the sound hole is faux abalone, tastefully applied i.e. not too broad and showy.
The Kmise logo on the headstock looks restrained, the end of the headstock has a nice "twin peaks" shape, and the tuners are small, neat open geared type. I'm not a fan of the heavier, encased geared tuners. The fit and finish is good, but not exceptional - well in keeping with the price.
The body is wider than most sopranos, and a little shorter. The effect is like a tiny jumbo guitar. My only quibble with the appearance is the overly large bridge design.
The action at the nut needed to be lowered quite a bit, but once I'd done that, and the strings started to settle, it proved smooth to play, and the sound is very pleasing. Loud enough, not too bright, and quite well balanced. The height of the saddle did not need to be adjusted.
The front has deformed slightly under string tension, but not to an alaming degree.
For the money, this is a surprisingly good instrument. I'd go so far as to say that if it was all I could afford to own, I would be well satisfied with it. It would be excellent for keeping in the car, except that I already have a very similar uke that performs those duties.
I need a second car.
It claims the body is mahogany, but I doubt that very much. It has all the hallmarks of HPL made to look like mahogany, and at that price, I wouldn't expect anything else. The body is bound top and bottom, and the sides of the fretboard are also bound - no scratchy fret ends! The purfling around the sound hole is faux abalone, tastefully applied i.e. not too broad and showy.
The Kmise logo on the headstock looks restrained, the end of the headstock has a nice "twin peaks" shape, and the tuners are small, neat open geared type. I'm not a fan of the heavier, encased geared tuners. The fit and finish is good, but not exceptional - well in keeping with the price.
The body is wider than most sopranos, and a little shorter. The effect is like a tiny jumbo guitar. My only quibble with the appearance is the overly large bridge design.
The action at the nut needed to be lowered quite a bit, but once I'd done that, and the strings started to settle, it proved smooth to play, and the sound is very pleasing. Loud enough, not too bright, and quite well balanced. The height of the saddle did not need to be adjusted.
The front has deformed slightly under string tension, but not to an alaming degree.
For the money, this is a surprisingly good instrument. I'd go so far as to say that if it was all I could afford to own, I would be well satisfied with it. It would be excellent for keeping in the car, except that I already have a very similar uke that performs those duties.
I need a second car.