OldePhart
Well-known member
...They had a much better uke selection than when I was in there about three weeks ago so they must be stocking up for the big classes.
Still mostly the same suspects though, Lanikai and Mitchel, mostly, with two or three Riptides with solid tops plus a Luna and a couple of Martins way up out of reach above the door inside the acoustic guitar room.
These were the first Riptides I've handled and I have to say I wasn't greatly impressed. They weren't terrible and were certainly more playable (better action and intonation) than the Lanikai and Mitchel offerings. But, for the money I think you can do better with Mainland or an Ohana solid wood model.
I think the "personal soundhole" moved to the bass bout is not necessarily a good idea - the Riptides didn't seem to have much bottom at all. As for the player being able to hear better - I suppose so but honestly the uke didn't sound as loud to me as my regular sopranos when I played it. On the plus side, it lets you see the bracing and it would certainly make it easy to install an under-soundboard pickup!
I found it interesting that there was no bridge plate on the Riptides - I guess on a soprano they can get away with just the fan bracing but most sopranos seem to have bridge plates just the same.
Well...enough rambling.
John
Still mostly the same suspects though, Lanikai and Mitchel, mostly, with two or three Riptides with solid tops plus a Luna and a couple of Martins way up out of reach above the door inside the acoustic guitar room.
These were the first Riptides I've handled and I have to say I wasn't greatly impressed. They weren't terrible and were certainly more playable (better action and intonation) than the Lanikai and Mitchel offerings. But, for the money I think you can do better with Mainland or an Ohana solid wood model.
I think the "personal soundhole" moved to the bass bout is not necessarily a good idea - the Riptides didn't seem to have much bottom at all. As for the player being able to hear better - I suppose so but honestly the uke didn't sound as loud to me as my regular sopranos when I played it. On the plus side, it lets you see the bracing and it would certainly make it easy to install an under-soundboard pickup!
I found it interesting that there was no bridge plate on the Riptides - I guess on a soprano they can get away with just the fan bracing but most sopranos seem to have bridge plates just the same.
Well...enough rambling.
John