It arrived, and first impressions say - I love it - have a look, and read on!
Pretty eh?
Love that headstock
Lovely grain on the solid body
Anyway - I own a Mainland concert, and a Flea Soprano alongside some cheap laminates, and decided I wanted an all solid wood soprano, but only had £100 to spend - sounds impossible?
Had a look at the Brukos - shopped around, and got this baby for £90 delivered from Thomannn in Germany. What a bargain! Cheaper than the Bruko website (sorry Bruko, but times are tough)
These are handmade ukes, from Germany - (made in Germany, not just stamped in Germany), all solid woods.
The Uke is faultlessly put together - I have been over it with a fine toothcomb and it is flawless - all solid mahogany body, maple neck that is as smooth as silk, silver frets, black markers and super distinctive veneered headstock. Neck is two piece, but joint is at the heel, not the headstock
No side markers on the neck, and the fret ends are not hidden, they are however smoothly finished.
I particularly like the fact the head is unmarked, the only makers mark is the Bruko logo that is branded onto the wood inside the soundhole ( and I mean branded). It has friction tuners of reasonable quality (certainly on a par with my Flea) with black plastic keys. Only odd touch is the white binding on the inside of the ring of the soundhole - never seen that before - dont think it totally matches the look of the instrument, but i certainly dont find it offensive.
Saddle is solid wood, and nut is wood too in a kind of sandwich of two different woods (see pic)
Inside is really tidy - surprised, not much bracing, and no kerfling (is that the right word). No glue or mess inside.
It is trad soprano shape, very very light (though the wood looks solid) and feels wonderful in the hand.
Action is perfect as it arrived, though the tuners needed tightening. Intonation is perfect all over - seriously, perfect. Great harmonic ring at the 12th, (much more than my Mainland or my Flea) and some harmonics at the 7th.
Let down sorely by the strings it arrived with - clear, nylon, slippy, no tension and a real "plinky plinky" bright sound. Gave them a chance, gave up, and took them off and replaced them with brown worth mediums.
It is still settling in to tune, but the worths are warm - and this little fella has a big personality - so so playable, the neck is a joy to hold, and those who think it is a little bright - i dont think so - not as bright as my Flea, and about the same volume.
really lovely instrument - I am struggling to find fault with it. I do prefer gloss finish I suppose, and this is a polished matt - but on the upside - this too really shows off the depth of the grain. I think it looks eccentric I suppose, but then, I play a Flea - do they get more eccentric??
I sound like I am gushing - but I suppose I am - not sure how they make these for the bargain price - it is wonderful.
Fits the gap I was looking to fill perfectly - will post more when I've let strings settle in.
Cheers!
Pretty eh?
Love that headstock
Lovely grain on the solid body
Anyway - I own a Mainland concert, and a Flea Soprano alongside some cheap laminates, and decided I wanted an all solid wood soprano, but only had £100 to spend - sounds impossible?
Had a look at the Brukos - shopped around, and got this baby for £90 delivered from Thomannn in Germany. What a bargain! Cheaper than the Bruko website (sorry Bruko, but times are tough)
These are handmade ukes, from Germany - (made in Germany, not just stamped in Germany), all solid woods.
The Uke is faultlessly put together - I have been over it with a fine toothcomb and it is flawless - all solid mahogany body, maple neck that is as smooth as silk, silver frets, black markers and super distinctive veneered headstock. Neck is two piece, but joint is at the heel, not the headstock
No side markers on the neck, and the fret ends are not hidden, they are however smoothly finished.
I particularly like the fact the head is unmarked, the only makers mark is the Bruko logo that is branded onto the wood inside the soundhole ( and I mean branded). It has friction tuners of reasonable quality (certainly on a par with my Flea) with black plastic keys. Only odd touch is the white binding on the inside of the ring of the soundhole - never seen that before - dont think it totally matches the look of the instrument, but i certainly dont find it offensive.
Saddle is solid wood, and nut is wood too in a kind of sandwich of two different woods (see pic)
Inside is really tidy - surprised, not much bracing, and no kerfling (is that the right word). No glue or mess inside.
It is trad soprano shape, very very light (though the wood looks solid) and feels wonderful in the hand.
Action is perfect as it arrived, though the tuners needed tightening. Intonation is perfect all over - seriously, perfect. Great harmonic ring at the 12th, (much more than my Mainland or my Flea) and some harmonics at the 7th.
Let down sorely by the strings it arrived with - clear, nylon, slippy, no tension and a real "plinky plinky" bright sound. Gave them a chance, gave up, and took them off and replaced them with brown worth mediums.
It is still settling in to tune, but the worths are warm - and this little fella has a big personality - so so playable, the neck is a joy to hold, and those who think it is a little bright - i dont think so - not as bright as my Flea, and about the same volume.
really lovely instrument - I am struggling to find fault with it. I do prefer gloss finish I suppose, and this is a polished matt - but on the upside - this too really shows off the depth of the grain. I think it looks eccentric I suppose, but then, I play a Flea - do they get more eccentric??
I sound like I am gushing - but I suppose I am - not sure how they make these for the bargain price - it is wonderful.
Fits the gap I was looking to fill perfectly - will post more when I've let strings settle in.
Cheers!
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