Mattyukaholic
Well-known member
It's been a while since I've been this excited about a new 'ukulele'. As some of you know, I get through a lot of ukes and to be honest I've enjoyed every bit of the journey. I've only truly fallen in love with two so far - my Kamaka HF2D+ and my modern Martin style 3m. Well I'm in love with this.
It's a Pono Nui Baritone BN10. For anyone that doesn't know it is a tenor guitar size instrument but braced for nylon strings. The first thing I thought when I took it out of the case was 'wow!' It is fairly bling free but all that acacia striping on such a big body looks lovely. The second thing I noticed is, boy, this thing is big!
I believe it has 23 inch scale. It is still lighter in weight than most guitars though and feels comfortable on my lap. The bound fretboard is smooth as can be and the radius fretboard feels nice. I had to get used to making sure I didn't press to hard on the first string and bend it at first.
Some stretches are a bit tough on it but you just have to alter your style slightly.
And the sound...
Oh. My. Goodness.
It's beautiful. Sustain that goes on forever, a deep wide sound, almost with it's own natural reverb.
The strings it came with sounded good but I wanted to try my favourite combination - smooth wound 3rd and 4th from Southcoast and Martin 1st and 2nd (I used Baritone strings in this case.) I prefer then thinner baritone strings to what it came with. Intonation is still as good and it sings beautifully.
The tuning I love the most is CFAD or CFAC for slack key. It's so deep and mellow.
Have I eulogised enough? I really do love this ukulele. 'Ukulele??' Whatever it is, it's a keeper.
Matt
Ps. Thank you to the Southern Ukulele Store from whom I bought this one. As always - brilliant.
It's a Pono Nui Baritone BN10. For anyone that doesn't know it is a tenor guitar size instrument but braced for nylon strings. The first thing I thought when I took it out of the case was 'wow!' It is fairly bling free but all that acacia striping on such a big body looks lovely. The second thing I noticed is, boy, this thing is big!
I believe it has 23 inch scale. It is still lighter in weight than most guitars though and feels comfortable on my lap. The bound fretboard is smooth as can be and the radius fretboard feels nice. I had to get used to making sure I didn't press to hard on the first string and bend it at first.
Some stretches are a bit tough on it but you just have to alter your style slightly.
And the sound...
Oh. My. Goodness.
It's beautiful. Sustain that goes on forever, a deep wide sound, almost with it's own natural reverb.
The strings it came with sounded good but I wanted to try my favourite combination - smooth wound 3rd and 4th from Southcoast and Martin 1st and 2nd (I used Baritone strings in this case.) I prefer then thinner baritone strings to what it came with. Intonation is still as good and it sings beautifully.
The tuning I love the most is CFAD or CFAC for slack key. It's so deep and mellow.
Have I eulogised enough? I really do love this ukulele. 'Ukulele??' Whatever it is, it's a keeper.
Matt
Ps. Thank you to the Southern Ukulele Store from whom I bought this one. As always - brilliant.