Part 1:
Case:
Semi-hard case unlike anything I've seen before. It feels sturdy, is custom fit, and covered with a fabric that matches the uke color. When opening it I had a little trouble with the zippers in the curves. This can be remedied by pushing in while unzipping around those areas, I later found out. No shoulder strap(s). No accessory pockets. I'd like to see a shoulder strap added.
Accessories included in the box, inside of a cloth pouch, are:
Capo: Plastic with rubber sleeves. Spring loaded with a strong metal spring. Personally, I would not use this capo on the uke. I don't use capos on any uke, but if I did it'd be one with adjustable tension (some G7th or Shubb models) so you can install it with only enough pressure to hold the strings down. This particular capo is like a Kyser, a spring loaded clamp. I would be concerned that the pressure would push the strings into the frets too firmly causing damage to the frets over time.
Strap: Standard nylon type strap with leather-like ends to match uke color. The strap buttons on the uke are large so hold a strap securely. I can see (through the side sound port) that they are simply screwed into the material. That said, they feel secure so I'm wondering if they used some glue or other bonding agent to help hold them in. I will keep a check on them over time to make sure they don't loosen, as I do with any buttons.
Extra string set: They feel and sound good on the uke. They hold tuning very quickly compared to a lot of other strings. To me, they seem comparable to Worth light gauge/tension clear strings.
Onto the uke....
Upon first look of the instrument it is immediately apparent that this isn't a traditional ukulele build. I can't think of another ukulele that is really similar to this. It is made of a mixture of 30% carbon fiber with polycarbonate. This should be a very stable and durable instrument.
It is very sleek and modern. I find it to be incredibly well designed from top to bottom. Even the soundhole, headstock shape, and end of the fingerboard are all nicely designed details that really add to the aesthetic of this instrument. There is also a sound port in the upper bout. I can't say for sure how much this effects the sound perception of the instrument (I've determined it definitely does some), but it fits
in nicely with the design. The body shape brings to mind some acoustic instruments as well as solid body electric instruments such as the LP guitar. It is a really nice shape with a florentine cutaway as well as a scoop on the back side of the cutaway. This allows easier playability and access to the high frets. This should be especially appealing to lead players who are much more often reaching for the high notes. I did see one person mention the frets not being very slick. This is true as this material is not as smooth and slick as highly polished metal frets. I wouldn't have even noticed this personally because I don't bend strings in an electric guitar fashion while playing. Could these be polished like metal? Perhaps so. Are the majority of uke players going to need that? I'd say no. Most of us don't do string bends.
I measured the body dimensions. This will be in inches, and I'm not saying it's 100% accurate but it's very close:
Total length of the instrument from the tip/point of the headstock to end: 25"
Thickness of body at very bottom (lower bout) : 2"
Thickness of body near neck (upper bout) : 1.5"
It tapers in thickness, like some other instruments.
There's an arch in the back. It was too hard to measure thickness including the arch, but either way it's still a thin body uke. I find it extremely comfortable to hold and play, and I know that's a big part of why.
Width of the lower bout: 8.25" Width of the upper bout 6"
Scale length (saddle to bridge): 15.75" (Long concert scale)
Case:
Semi-hard case unlike anything I've seen before. It feels sturdy, is custom fit, and covered with a fabric that matches the uke color. When opening it I had a little trouble with the zippers in the curves. This can be remedied by pushing in while unzipping around those areas, I later found out. No shoulder strap(s). No accessory pockets. I'd like to see a shoulder strap added.
Accessories included in the box, inside of a cloth pouch, are:
Capo: Plastic with rubber sleeves. Spring loaded with a strong metal spring. Personally, I would not use this capo on the uke. I don't use capos on any uke, but if I did it'd be one with adjustable tension (some G7th or Shubb models) so you can install it with only enough pressure to hold the strings down. This particular capo is like a Kyser, a spring loaded clamp. I would be concerned that the pressure would push the strings into the frets too firmly causing damage to the frets over time.
Strap: Standard nylon type strap with leather-like ends to match uke color. The strap buttons on the uke are large so hold a strap securely. I can see (through the side sound port) that they are simply screwed into the material. That said, they feel secure so I'm wondering if they used some glue or other bonding agent to help hold them in. I will keep a check on them over time to make sure they don't loosen, as I do with any buttons.
Extra string set: They feel and sound good on the uke. They hold tuning very quickly compared to a lot of other strings. To me, they seem comparable to Worth light gauge/tension clear strings.
Onto the uke....
Upon first look of the instrument it is immediately apparent that this isn't a traditional ukulele build. I can't think of another ukulele that is really similar to this. It is made of a mixture of 30% carbon fiber with polycarbonate. This should be a very stable and durable instrument.
It is very sleek and modern. I find it to be incredibly well designed from top to bottom. Even the soundhole, headstock shape, and end of the fingerboard are all nicely designed details that really add to the aesthetic of this instrument. There is also a sound port in the upper bout. I can't say for sure how much this effects the sound perception of the instrument (I've determined it definitely does some), but it fits
in nicely with the design. The body shape brings to mind some acoustic instruments as well as solid body electric instruments such as the LP guitar. It is a really nice shape with a florentine cutaway as well as a scoop on the back side of the cutaway. This allows easier playability and access to the high frets. This should be especially appealing to lead players who are much more often reaching for the high notes. I did see one person mention the frets not being very slick. This is true as this material is not as smooth and slick as highly polished metal frets. I wouldn't have even noticed this personally because I don't bend strings in an electric guitar fashion while playing. Could these be polished like metal? Perhaps so. Are the majority of uke players going to need that? I'd say no. Most of us don't do string bends.
I measured the body dimensions. This will be in inches, and I'm not saying it's 100% accurate but it's very close:
Total length of the instrument from the tip/point of the headstock to end: 25"
Thickness of body at very bottom (lower bout) : 2"
Thickness of body near neck (upper bout) : 1.5"
It tapers in thickness, like some other instruments.
There's an arch in the back. It was too hard to measure thickness including the arch, but either way it's still a thin body uke. I find it extremely comfortable to hold and play, and I know that's a big part of why.
Width of the lower bout: 8.25" Width of the upper bout 6"
Scale length (saddle to bridge): 15.75" (Long concert scale)