Leodhas
Well-known member
Hi I posted up a week or so ago about the uke I treated myself to at Chrimbo (a Kala KA-ST) and how it annoyingly had fret buzz on the 'c' string (1st 2nd fret) and that I was unsure if I should send it back to the on-line shop I bought it from or hack away at it myself.
Well, I sent it back (cost £9/ $15-ish) and they called me today saying they had dressed the frets and done a set-up on the uke and the issue is all resolved, so now I'm a happy man. They offered me another uke but I thought at least the uke I'm getting back has now been set-up (with dressed frets which doesn't happen in a standard set-up) whereas a new uke would be as it was straight from the factory. Anyway, all-round i'm happy with the result.
The only thing I'll add to this is, I've now obviously played the spruce and it is brighter/sharper than other ukes I've played (It is a Spruce soundboard after all so that is to be expected) and I'd say it has an element of travel guitar to the tone which I'm not 100% taken with, although that may change with time. At the moment I can only compare it to mahogany which for me has a more mellow honeyed sound, however this my change over time with the spruce as it loosens?
Nevertheless, all said I'm done I'm happy with today's results.
Dressed Frets, bonus! (I thought it was a fret issue)
Well, I sent it back (cost £9/ $15-ish) and they called me today saying they had dressed the frets and done a set-up on the uke and the issue is all resolved, so now I'm a happy man. They offered me another uke but I thought at least the uke I'm getting back has now been set-up (with dressed frets which doesn't happen in a standard set-up) whereas a new uke would be as it was straight from the factory. Anyway, all-round i'm happy with the result.
The only thing I'll add to this is, I've now obviously played the spruce and it is brighter/sharper than other ukes I've played (It is a Spruce soundboard after all so that is to be expected) and I'd say it has an element of travel guitar to the tone which I'm not 100% taken with, although that may change with time. At the moment I can only compare it to mahogany which for me has a more mellow honeyed sound, however this my change over time with the spruce as it loosens?
Nevertheless, all said I'm done I'm happy with today's results.
Dressed Frets, bonus! (I thought it was a fret issue)