I bought a Martin SO about 5 years ago based solely on the Martin name. I was fairly new to ukes at that time and when I got it home and played it in I was very disappointed in it - I really didn't like the sound, the action was really high and the intonation wasn't great. In addition, unless it was tuned a tone up to D there was very pronounced buzzing at the first fret on the two middle strings, tuning up a tone reduced this but didn't remove it completely. I was embarrassed that I'd bought a uke impulsively based on brand name and as a result it has spent the best part of the last 5 years in a gig bag in the cupboard - only appearing now and again for me to confirm how bad it was.
However.... Having spent a lot of time on this forum over the last 6 months or so I have now learned that a lot of these issues can be solved by a good set up and the correct set of strings.
I picked it up from a local luthier today who i'd asked to lower the saddle and raise the nut for me - I put a set of worth browns on it and I am DELIGHTED!!! It is a completely different uke and I can't put it down - it is now the uke I thought it was going to be when I bought it!! Plays really well, intonation is near to perfect all the way up and fret buzz gone. The tone is warm and quite mellow but with a bit of bark!! It's like having a 'new uke day' with a Martin uke arriving, but having only spent £40.00!!
I am 'well chuffed' (Scottish expression), and it's certainly going to keep me occupied until my next new uke day in December (kamaka concert long neck special)!!!
However.... Having spent a lot of time on this forum over the last 6 months or so I have now learned that a lot of these issues can be solved by a good set up and the correct set of strings.
I picked it up from a local luthier today who i'd asked to lower the saddle and raise the nut for me - I put a set of worth browns on it and I am DELIGHTED!!! It is a completely different uke and I can't put it down - it is now the uke I thought it was going to be when I bought it!! Plays really well, intonation is near to perfect all the way up and fret buzz gone. The tone is warm and quite mellow but with a bit of bark!! It's like having a 'new uke day' with a Martin uke arriving, but having only spent £40.00!!
I am 'well chuffed' (Scottish expression), and it's certainly going to keep me occupied until my next new uke day in December (kamaka concert long neck special)!!!
