Enya X1 ukulele

Jerwin · Aug 6, 2016

Hello there,

any thoughts on this? I am actually considering taking the risk.

http://www.banggood.com/Enya-X1-23-...oa-Ukulele-With-Classical-Head-p-1068730.html

Mivo · Aug 6, 2016

My two spontaneous thoughts: I'm not sure I'd buy from a site called "bang good", and second, unless I missed it, it doesn't say solid koa or rosewood, so it's probably a full laminate. I didn't watch the video, though.

Jerwin · Aug 6, 2016

They say 1mm thin high pressure laminate. Youtube sound-samples seem good.

Booli · Aug 6, 2016

That's pretty much an unknown brand here on UU, AFAIK, and the prices it's showing $119-134 is not any cheaper than a laminate tenor or concert uke from Lanikai, Kohala, Luna, Kala, Ohana, Cordoba, Gretsch and maybe even a dozen other well known brand names...

Does not mean it's bad, but you will not have the experience of previous buyers to guide you if it's crap or not.

Are you a gambler? If so then, be all means, roll the dice...

If it were me, I'd chose both a different brand as well as different seller, Amazon even (shudders) or one of the UK shops, being from the USA I know nothing of music shops for the Czech Republic...

Another problem is that 99% of the time, the uke you get from an Asain factory assembly line will require some setup which you are likely not going to get from a company like this.

Shops in the USA that do a setup are Hawaii Music Supply, Uke Republic and Mim's Ukes, (and a few others).

I'm pretty sure that Hawaii Music Supply ships worldwide for a very reasonable rate and last I say they had laminate concert and tenor ukes in this price range, plus you get their expert setup, and if the instrument is bad, they just will refuse to sell it. Andrew Kitakis (the owner) is an active member here on UU.

No, I do NOT work for them, nor am I compensated in any way for telling you this infor, I'm just sharing what I've experienced first-hand as a customer.

Jerwin · Aug 6, 2016

Booli said:
That's pretty much an unknown brand here on UU, AFAIK, and the prices it's showing $119-134 is not any cheaper than a laminate tenor or concert uke from Lanikai, Kohala, Luna, Kala, Ohana, Cordoba, Gretsch and maybe even a dozen other well known brand names...

Does not mean it's bad, but you will not have the experience of previous buyers to guide you if it's crap or not.

Are you a gambler? If so then, be all means, roll the dice...

If it were me, I'd chose both a different brand as well as different seller, Amazon even (shudders) or one of the UK shops, being from the USA I know nothing of music shops for the Czech Republic...

Another problem is that 99% of the time, the uke you get from an Asain factory assembly line will require some setup which you are likely not going to get from a company like this.

Shops in the USA that do a setup are Hawaii Music Supply, Uke Republic and Mim's Ukes, (and a few others).

I'm pretty sure that Hawaii Music Supply ships worldwide for a very reasonable rate and last I say they had laminate concert and tenor ukes in this price range, plus you get their expert setup, and if the instrument is bad, they just will refuse to sell it. Andrew Kitakis (the owner) is an active member here on UU.

No, I do NOT work for them, nor am I compensated in any way for telling you this infor, I'm just sharing what I've experienced first-hand as a customer.

I set up all of my ukes and guitars to my liking. I like banggood but I know there will be no quality check of the instruments. The price is banging and the uke looks very nice. The idea of ultrathin laminate for the money looks like bargain to me if the particular piece is built fine and that's the biggest question. I may actually gamble it for once

...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z-NPKnEQ9M

Booli · Aug 6, 2016

Jerwin said:
I set up all of my ukes and guitars to my liking. I like banggood but I know there will be no quality check of the instruments. The price is banging and the uke looks very nice. The idea of ultrathin laminate for the money looks like bargain to me if the particular piece is built fine and that's the biggest question. I may actually gamble it for once ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z-NPKnEQ9M

Just to be clear, by setup I am talking about compensation at the nut and saddle to correct both intonation issues and string action and/or buzzing, as well as filing rough fret edges and leveling and re-crowning the frets as necessary...

is this the same setup that you are doing?

Booli · Aug 6, 2016

Jerwin said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z-NPKnEQ9M

Also, in this video, (as a sound engineer) I can tell you that the audio is VERY heavily compressed (like a 20:1 ratio, which is considered extreme) and seems to be completely lacking in dynamic range, which is evident in that there are no SOFT parts or LOUD parts during the song, which is a natural part of acoustic energy, whether produced from an instrument or a human voice, and as SUCH, the sound here is not the organic sound that this instrument generates, but most folks dont care or dont understand why this is important, but just be aware of the fact that the sound you hear in this video is PROCESSED and likely to NOT be the same as this uke in your hands with your own ears.

I have pro studio monitors on my computer, and thus can hear subtle changes, but if you are using earbuds, a cel phone, tablet or laptop speakers to hear the sound, likely you will simply not be able to tell the different due to the physical limitations of such tiny speaker elements.

Jerwin · Aug 6, 2016

Booli said:
Just to be clear, by setup I am talking about compensation at the nut and saddle to correct both intonation issues and string action and/or buzzing, as well as filing rough fret edges and leveling and re-crowning the frets as necessary...

is this the same setup that you are doing?

Yes. that's what I mean.

I know the sound wont be the same but look up for more videos. This sounds more like that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsaTnW6sFVI

M3Ukulele · Aug 6, 2016

Jerwin,
Looks very interesting. The HPL in tenor is very interesting. The neck attachment is also unique and likely fits with this build of ukulele. Sound sample was clear but lacked dynamics as mentioned bit that could be recording technique. It's not going to sound like a solid wood Uke but I certainly didn't mind it and the benefits of HPL with its durability is a plus. At the price it's not a huge gamble. I'd like to hear more and get a review if you decide to take the plunge. I'm tempted. If I could hold and play it I'd know in minutes if I liked it. I have a walnut fluke for car/beach and my first impression is that this would do the same thing very well. Please post review if you get one. My .02 cents worth

UkerDanno · Aug 7, 2016

I mean...it comes with maracas, how can you pass it up?! :shaka:

Jerwin · Aug 7, 2016

M3Ukulele said:
Jerwin,
Looks very interesting. The HPL in tenor is very interesting. The neck attachment is also unique and likely fits with this build of ukulele. Sound sample was clear but lacked dynamics as mentioned bit that could be recording technique. It's not going to sound like a solid wood Uke but I certainly didn't mind it and the benefits of HPL with its durability is a plus. At the price it's not a huge gamble. I'd like to hear more and get a review if you decide to take the plunge. I'm tempted. If I could hold and play it I'd know in minutes if I liked it. I have a walnut fluke for car/beach and my first impression is that this would do the same thing very well. Please post review if you get one. My .02 cents worth

they even sell full solid mahogany for even less money... but this one has radiused fretboard and still i think the sound quality might be quite good. They seem to put quite some effort in this one. Look at the tuners! I love the pictures

...

Booli · Aug 7, 2016

Jerwin said:
they even sell full solid mahogany for even less money... but this one has radiused fretboard and still i think the sound quality might be quite good. They seem to put quite some effort in this one. Look at the tuners! I love the pictures ...

.
ok

so I will be a full-on enabler of UAS -

...if you like it so much, then why haven't you bought it already? What's stopping you? :drool:

Jerwin · Aug 7, 2016

Booli said:
.
ok

so I will be a full-on enabler of UAS -

...if you like it so much, then why haven't you bought it already? What's stopping you? :drool:

Because I still consider this one http://www.banggood.com/Kaka-21-23-26-Inch-Koa-Panel-Ukulele-with-Gig-Bag-KUSPCT-70-p-1035586.html

basicly half the price and can be sent from Eu warehouse. They just say nothing about the thickness, but may be lack of marketing. Both products are from Enya company aparently.

M3Ukulele · Aug 7, 2016

The Kaka would be laminate. For a little extra you get HPL with a new design and unique neck joint. Both would take different weather conditions. If I were gong standard laminate I'd get a KoAloha laminate tenor from HMS .
Good luck with your decision but my vote (worth nothing&#55357;&#56842

Would be the HPL unit. Big unknown is the step up for both but if you are ok on that....... I'd go for it.

Nickie · Aug 8, 2016

UkerDanno said:
I mean...it comes with maracas, how can you pass it up?! :shaka:

My Cocobolo came with maracas. At first, I couldn't figure out how to put them on the uke. My partner gently persuaded me to give that up. I do know MY maracas never need to be tuned!
Kudos to Cocobolo!

Jerwin · Aug 9, 2016

Ok, I ordered it. Very curious now... :rulez:

M3Ukulele · Aug 9, 2016

Did you order the HPL uke? If so , please post comments on build , feel and sound. If you have pics all the better. Of course sound sample would be nice. If not, general impression on sound and opinion on playability. I'm curious.
Thanks

Jerwin · Aug 9, 2016

I will try to put on some kind of review with samples. I think it will take +-1 month to get the uke here. They don't have it on stock yet.

Finally found website of the manufacturer. Googlin Enya ukuleles, instruments or whatever did not actually work.

http://www.enyamusical.com/

Worth checking. Probably not known much outside Asia but they really seem to make beatiful things!
Can't wait for the plywood version of their work!

Hms · Aug 10, 2016

From the specs, "Body Koa sticker."
I hope they don't mean sticky backed plastic, but plywood topped with a veneer of koa.
h

Booli · Aug 10, 2016

Hms said:
From the specs, "Body Koa sticker."
I hope they don't mean sticky backed plastic, but plywood topped with a veneer of koa.
h

...or worse yet, a wood-grain 'print' on shiny shelf-paper...i.e., a 'sticker' that looks like wood

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