johnson430
Well-known member
After a recent thread about Ace ukuleles that was started by SoloRule I decided to investigate this uke maker a little more. Here is the original thread:
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?123085-ACE-Brand-ukulele&highlight=brand
Once I found UU member and ACE artist GJ Lee on FB, I messaged him and asked him if he could tell some things about Ace ukuleles.
Perhaps other members might like to know this information as well.
I found the discussion very insightful. Especially the bit about the holes in the bracing. (This has been edited for content and understanding,also one uke maker's name was withheld because of a possible negative comment about that uke brand)
Here is how the discussion went:
ME: ...Also, do you know the history of the Ace ukulele company? Thanks
GJ:I am ACE artist in Taiwan , also hold(have owned an) ACE in Taiwan (for) about 3~4 years, I (was just a player) , ACE was just a new brand . It (is a) brand from China and made from a small team ... just about 10 people , the leader is a old luthier who already (has) 20 years experience.
ACE means top, means leader means best.... and the logo you can see ,triangle,it's not a traffic signal,it's the spirit of ACE brand.
Base of a triangle is means "fret" , frets influence many thing like pitch,sound tone,hand feel comfortable,volume......for ACE brand , these things is more important. so it's why ACE logo is.
ACE establisher (owner) is my friend , that's why I know all the detail.
Before my friend do ACE brand , he was already a musician , he play harmonica , but one day he know(found) the ukulele , and love it.
5 years ago ,there are no good ukulele in China , only like Kala... you know...
ME: very interesting
GJ: so he want to do a good quality ukulele is made in China , but price is cheap , because he feel (K brand) or other Hawaii brand is to expensive , and he feel (uke name withheld) is pitch not good enough and so heavy ..
ME: I have owned (uke name withhled).
GJ: for a musician or player , pitch is must important thing , but he don't know why almost (every) ukulele pitch is not good , so he want a good pitch first . second (most) important thing , he think is the hand feel , include the weight...so ACE is not heavy like (uke name withheld)...
ME: very good. I have seen photos of holes in the bracing, it must make ACE light in weight.
GJ:ACE weight is not only because bracing , in fact , the holes of bracing is not for weight , it's for sound~
weight is decide from finish and wood. ACE finish is thin then other gloss finish.
ME: so the holes make a better sound? I didn't know that
GJ: yes , these holes is not for weight. it's for sound because sound and air can circulate when we play.
ME: That is cool.
So , I am just a player , but these year , I saw ACE is getting better then better , I want to help him to do something ...For me, what I care is quality for ukulele ,and ACE quality is nice. ACE is not (most) beautiful, But for pitch , sound ,hand feel , it's really nice.
ME: Thank you.
THE END
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?123085-ACE-Brand-ukulele&highlight=brand
Once I found UU member and ACE artist GJ Lee on FB, I messaged him and asked him if he could tell some things about Ace ukuleles.
Perhaps other members might like to know this information as well.
I found the discussion very insightful. Especially the bit about the holes in the bracing. (This has been edited for content and understanding,also one uke maker's name was withheld because of a possible negative comment about that uke brand)
Here is how the discussion went:
ME: ...Also, do you know the history of the Ace ukulele company? Thanks
GJ:I am ACE artist in Taiwan , also hold(have owned an) ACE in Taiwan (for) about 3~4 years, I (was just a player) , ACE was just a new brand . It (is a) brand from China and made from a small team ... just about 10 people , the leader is a old luthier who already (has) 20 years experience.
ACE means top, means leader means best.... and the logo you can see ,triangle,it's not a traffic signal,it's the spirit of ACE brand.
Base of a triangle is means "fret" , frets influence many thing like pitch,sound tone,hand feel comfortable,volume......for ACE brand , these things is more important. so it's why ACE logo is.
ACE establisher (owner) is my friend , that's why I know all the detail.
Before my friend do ACE brand , he was already a musician , he play harmonica , but one day he know(found) the ukulele , and love it.
5 years ago ,there are no good ukulele in China , only like Kala... you know...
ME: very interesting
GJ: so he want to do a good quality ukulele is made in China , but price is cheap , because he feel (K brand) or other Hawaii brand is to expensive , and he feel (uke name withheld) is pitch not good enough and so heavy ..
ME: I have owned (uke name withhled).
GJ: for a musician or player , pitch is must important thing , but he don't know why almost (every) ukulele pitch is not good , so he want a good pitch first . second (most) important thing , he think is the hand feel , include the weight...so ACE is not heavy like (uke name withheld)...
ME: very good. I have seen photos of holes in the bracing, it must make ACE light in weight.
GJ:ACE weight is not only because bracing , in fact , the holes of bracing is not for weight , it's for sound~
weight is decide from finish and wood. ACE finish is thin then other gloss finish.
ME: so the holes make a better sound? I didn't know that
GJ: yes , these holes is not for weight. it's for sound because sound and air can circulate when we play.
ME: That is cool.
So , I am just a player , but these year , I saw ACE is getting better then better , I want to help him to do something ...For me, what I care is quality for ukulele ,and ACE quality is nice. ACE is not (most) beautiful, But for pitch , sound ,hand feel , it's really nice.
ME: Thank you.
THE END
