keod
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2014
- Messages
- 310
- Reaction score
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New Uke: Loprinzi Concert- purchased direct from Augustino LoPrinzi Guitars & Ukuleles
I hesitate in writing a NUD – first because the quality and expertise of recently posted NUDs far exceeds my capability, but also because RafterGirl recently posted an excellent review of a more adorned version of this uke and I am not sure I have anything of value to add. But I do know how I love to see NUDs posts and pictures, always pictures – so hopefully something I will say will resonate with someone.
This joins a trio of outstanding solid wood ukes purchased from fellow UU members: a Loprinzi long neck mahogany soprano, a Koaloha Opio sapele concert and a big body Kinnard bear claw spruce/honduran rosewood soprano. Each is loved for its own voice and characteristics but the sound of cedar has always drawn me – typically not quite as mellow as mahogany but neither as bright as spruce. I rationalized that it would be different enough from my other ukes to justify its purchase and that having a second uke from the same builder, with different specs, would be an interesting experience - UAS at its best LOL.
Fit and Finish:
Playability:
Tone:
Customer Service:
Overall:
So, now I have 4 life-long, and dearly loved, ukes that give me the variation in size, tones, and playability that I like. It has taken me a long time (and more than a few laminate ukes that had to be re-homed) to get to this stage but the journey was totally worth it. I think that, for many, Loprinzi deserves a second look. Highly recommended.
Cedar top/rosewood back and sides
Finish – satin varnish
Fretboard and bridge–I believe both are rosewood, standard width (1-3/8 inch, signature Loprinzi slim depth neck profile), markers at 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, side and top (pearl)
Neck –reinforced with walnut/maple/walnut laminated strip
Tuners – upgraded to UPT with gold posts
Strings – Loprinzi (fluorocarbon?)
Rosette – white/black/white
Finish – satin varnish
Fretboard and bridge–I believe both are rosewood, standard width (1-3/8 inch, signature Loprinzi slim depth neck profile), markers at 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, side and top (pearl)
Neck –reinforced with walnut/maple/walnut laminated strip
Tuners – upgraded to UPT with gold posts
Strings – Loprinzi (fluorocarbon?)
Rosette – white/black/white
I hesitate in writing a NUD – first because the quality and expertise of recently posted NUDs far exceeds my capability, but also because RafterGirl recently posted an excellent review of a more adorned version of this uke and I am not sure I have anything of value to add. But I do know how I love to see NUDs posts and pictures, always pictures – so hopefully something I will say will resonate with someone.
This joins a trio of outstanding solid wood ukes purchased from fellow UU members: a Loprinzi long neck mahogany soprano, a Koaloha Opio sapele concert and a big body Kinnard bear claw spruce/honduran rosewood soprano. Each is loved for its own voice and characteristics but the sound of cedar has always drawn me – typically not quite as mellow as mahogany but neither as bright as spruce. I rationalized that it would be different enough from my other ukes to justify its purchase and that having a second uke from the same builder, with different specs, would be an interesting experience - UAS at its best LOL.
Fit and Finish:
Very well constructed, neatly fit and finished in a satin varnish, smooth and subtle. A little renaissance/conservators wax made the wood pop a little more. Inlays look great to my eyes. I passed on optional bindings/purflings/pick-up as I prefer things that are somewhat understated. Edges are very nicely roundly finished and I love the contrast between the top and side wood-grains.
Playability:
It is difficult to describe the “feel” of this uke other than to say it is “perfect” for me. The neck is very comfortable, easy to quickly move up and down and to reach the fourth string and barre chords with small hands. I really like radius fingerboards but, with the Loprinzi neck profile, I find this (flat) one just as easy to play. The body is smaller in width and depth than other concerts I have, and actually smaller in depth than my Loprinzi soprano- so I would have to describe it best as a smallish body concert. It is light weight and well balanced- but I still installed strap buttons LOL.
Tone:
Also difficult to describe in words – but for me, it is great with stock strings which look and feel like clear fluorocarbons. It is a little brighter, less mellow (or deep/dark) than my mahogany uke and less bright than my spruce top one. And all of this is exactly what I wanted- no disappointment. Notes ring very clear and are distinct. I think it is very resonate with good sustain and volume. I have played other concerts and tenors that I found to be “boomy” and not to my liking and with many ukes I have found that certain notes/strings sound a bit “thuddy” to my ears. I understand that is due to tuning, size, natural frequency of the tonewood etc but I have not experienced any of this with this uke. Intonation all the way up the neck is great. Harmonics at the 12[SUP]th[/SUP] fret sound beautiful and chimey. I will experiment with strings and tuning no doubt, but certainly not because anything is lacking as it came direct from Loprinzi. I expect it will sound just as fantastic with a low g.
Customer Service:
Outstanding! Dealing with Loprinzi was absolutely wonderful. Donna was very accommodating, lead times are extremely reasonable. It was packed well and included a nice quality hard case.
Overall:
10 out of 10 for value. This, to me, is a great concert uke at a very reasonable cost. I believe it holds its own against many other known brands at a fraction of the cost. I know many here have said “it’s not the instrument, it’s the player”, and, yes, the stellar players do make even a cheap uke sound wonderful. But I think a comfortable, hand made quality instrument certainly helps the novice– maybe because it just sounds better, is more forgiving of mistakes or maybe just as an incentive to playing/practicing more.
So, now I have 4 life-long, and dearly loved, ukes that give me the variation in size, tones, and playability that I like. It has taken me a long time (and more than a few laminate ukes that had to be re-homed) to get to this stage but the journey was totally worth it. I think that, for many, Loprinzi deserves a second look. Highly recommended.