My first uke was made by Mitubagakki, Japan - a solid mahogany soprano. It sounded OK, and was good to play, but the side developed a bad split along the grain - then the bridge popped off. My second uke was one I made myself from scratch. Again a soprano, made from a wood called "sepetir", used in the furniture industry in England. I built it too lightly, and after about nine years the bridge was leaning at an alarming angle. I then braced it, but that made it sound "dead".
I can't remember what was the second uke I bought, but I've now got a whole herd of them grazing contendedly in my bedroom, and straying into every other room, too.
Ukantor.