LameLefty
Active member
First, the basics, per the review guidelines here . . .
What year was it made? Where was is made? 2008; Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
How many frets? 17 total, 12 fret neck
Solid-Top? Laminated top? Solid top, back and sides
Any pickups or electronics? No
Body and neck woods? Solid American cherry top, back, sides and neck; katalox fretboard. All materials are certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council
Finish: Satin
Body style: Soprano
Bridge style: Traditional uke bridge
Tuners: Grover friction pegs; resistance adjustable via screws
Neck/Scale: C-profile, 13.6" scale
Included accessories: Fitted locking thermoplasic case, Martin branded, manufactured by TKL
Sound
This ukulele has a very satisfying sound. Cherry is a robust-sounding tonewood. It is not as bright or "plunky" sounding as koa, and not as brilliant and rich sounding as my Glyph custom curly mango. Both my Glyph and my Ko'Aloha are somewhat louder, but the 3C holds it own with them very well. It's also worth pointing out that both of my others are older and more opened up at this point. Single notes ring out bright and clear for fingerpicking, but strums retain a fullness that remains well-suited to singing.
Action, Fit & Finish
In a word, perfect, just what you would expect from a quality, Nazareth-made Martin, whether 4, 6 or 12-string. The fit, finish and playability are on par with my custom Glyph and frankly much better than my Ko'Aloha (which, I must point out in its defense, is a much less expensive instrument as well). Finish is Martin's non-catalyzed cross-linked satin lacquer, meaning it's very durable, resistant to most stains or solvents, and will wear into a lovely semi-gloss patina with use (the neck is already starting to shine up under the first five or so frets). Anyone who has seen a well-loved Style 15 Martin will recognize what I'm talking about. Inside, braces and kerfing are well-cut and nicely finished with no visible glue or other signs of sloppy workmanship. Fret ends are dressed nicely; in fact, the frets are "pocket-pressed," like all newer Martin guitars. This means that the fret slots are not cut all the way through the fretboard from side-to-side, but are rather cut into pockets into which the frets are pressed. This gives the smooth look and feel of a bound fretboard without actually being bound.
Reliability/Durability
This is a very well-made instrument. In four-plus months of ownership, I've found the tuners to hold well and the instrument to handle everything I've thrown at it with aplomb. I've played it outside and inside, in my car and under picnic pavilions, in my office and in my living room. It's lightly-enough made to resonate well, and sturdy enough to hold up to any reasonable use and wear.
Customer Support
I have dealt with C.F. Martin & Co. customer service occasionally in the past 9 years that I've owned their instruments. I've always found them to be helpful and responsive to my concerns. In fact, right now I am having a repair performed on one my guitars - the instrument is 7 years old and being repaired at no expense under Martin's lifetime warranty for U.S.-made instruments. Like the U.S.-made guitars and unlike the S0 uke and LX "Little Martins" made in Mexico, the 3 Cherry is covered by Martin's lifetime warranty.
Overall Rating: Excellent. Sadly, the price of a U.S.-made instrument will nearly always exceed what you can get in an import, but then again, some things are more important than bottom line price, at least to me.
What other gear do you own?
Ukuleles:
Guitars:
One final bit: according to Martin Customer Service, only 36 Style 3 Cherry ukes have been made; I have the only left-handed example.
What year was it made? Where was is made? 2008; Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
How many frets? 17 total, 12 fret neck
Solid-Top? Laminated top? Solid top, back and sides
Any pickups or electronics? No
Body and neck woods? Solid American cherry top, back, sides and neck; katalox fretboard. All materials are certified sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council
Finish: Satin
Body style: Soprano
Bridge style: Traditional uke bridge
Tuners: Grover friction pegs; resistance adjustable via screws
Neck/Scale: C-profile, 13.6" scale
Included accessories: Fitted locking thermoplasic case, Martin branded, manufactured by TKL
Sound
This ukulele has a very satisfying sound. Cherry is a robust-sounding tonewood. It is not as bright or "plunky" sounding as koa, and not as brilliant and rich sounding as my Glyph custom curly mango. Both my Glyph and my Ko'Aloha are somewhat louder, but the 3C holds it own with them very well. It's also worth pointing out that both of my others are older and more opened up at this point. Single notes ring out bright and clear for fingerpicking, but strums retain a fullness that remains well-suited to singing.
Action, Fit & Finish
In a word, perfect, just what you would expect from a quality, Nazareth-made Martin, whether 4, 6 or 12-string. The fit, finish and playability are on par with my custom Glyph and frankly much better than my Ko'Aloha (which, I must point out in its defense, is a much less expensive instrument as well). Finish is Martin's non-catalyzed cross-linked satin lacquer, meaning it's very durable, resistant to most stains or solvents, and will wear into a lovely semi-gloss patina with use (the neck is already starting to shine up under the first five or so frets). Anyone who has seen a well-loved Style 15 Martin will recognize what I'm talking about. Inside, braces and kerfing are well-cut and nicely finished with no visible glue or other signs of sloppy workmanship. Fret ends are dressed nicely; in fact, the frets are "pocket-pressed," like all newer Martin guitars. This means that the fret slots are not cut all the way through the fretboard from side-to-side, but are rather cut into pockets into which the frets are pressed. This gives the smooth look and feel of a bound fretboard without actually being bound.
Reliability/Durability
This is a very well-made instrument. In four-plus months of ownership, I've found the tuners to hold well and the instrument to handle everything I've thrown at it with aplomb. I've played it outside and inside, in my car and under picnic pavilions, in my office and in my living room. It's lightly-enough made to resonate well, and sturdy enough to hold up to any reasonable use and wear.
Customer Support
I have dealt with C.F. Martin & Co. customer service occasionally in the past 9 years that I've owned their instruments. I've always found them to be helpful and responsive to my concerns. In fact, right now I am having a repair performed on one my guitars - the instrument is 7 years old and being repaired at no expense under Martin's lifetime warranty for U.S.-made instruments. Like the U.S.-made guitars and unlike the S0 uke and LX "Little Martins" made in Mexico, the 3 Cherry is covered by Martin's lifetime warranty.
Overall Rating: Excellent. Sadly, the price of a U.S.-made instrument will nearly always exceed what you can get in an import, but then again, some things are more important than bottom line price, at least to me.
What other gear do you own?
Ukuleles:
- Ko'Aloha Koa Soprano
- Glyphy Custom Mezzo-Soprano, "The Goddess"
Guitars:
- Martin D-15
- Martin HD-28V
- Martin 00-18VS Custom
- Martin 000-42
- Martin 000-18GE
- Martin LX Black
- National-Resophonic Delphi
- Fender Standard Telecaster
- Ephiphone Dot 335
- Agile AL2800
One final bit: according to Martin Customer Service, only 36 Style 3 Cherry ukes have been made; I have the only left-handed example.