Justin - I heard the same about the fingerboards. Not convinced I would ever drop the money needed to get a replacement fingerboard from Fleamarket - which will cost you more than the uke. Just by another Schoenhut!
I emailed them direct and they came back with prices. Not cheap though!
Review of this one coming soon on my site...View attachment 65054
I like that post dude!
I have been playing the Schoenhut all night. I am genuinely more divided with it than with any other instrument (and not just in respect of the build, but of the whole ethos of it).
I suspect my review will be either slammed or liked, but I don't really mind which as my review will be my review - I am but just one player.
I have had disagreements with at least one dealer and at least one manufacturer who got in touch to ask about reviews. When I said they are completely impartial, unpaid (if the instrument is too cheap to send back, it goes to charity), but I will not be told what to write, those who disagreed got quite stuffy about it.
Yeah, I know music instrument mags do paid reviews and will gloss over any old s** for a buck, but I won't.
I do however wonder, considering the massive threads on this particular review, who is going to snap back at me the most!
Seriously, its not wood - just taken a safety blade to mine. Its a very very thin sticker - they must have sheets of wood effect transfer and cut them out.
I guess what I am saying is - the Dolphin is far from perfect, but I have seen literally dozens and the work needed was really only on the nut and saddle. I've seen ukes costing £500 that needed that work too. Never seen a dolphin with broken tuners!!
I actually quite like it really, now I have it in shape. My gripe is the work a beginner will have to go through to get it in shape. Yes the pegs are plastic - but so bad that one was sheared inside the peg. That isn't ultimately useable.
But either way - I seem damned on this one whatever I report - only a few posts ago you were happy that I was going to be impartial!
Good for you! That's my boy, standing up for his position no matter what, jolly good! Just so that you know, I very much enjoy your website despite any minor truffles or imperfections we might encounter on the way.
I perhaps am not quite so ready to attribute an occasional failure to the brand at large. Otherwise, I'd be inclined to stop buying Kala's, which I obviously haven't.
The list of failures for most of the under $100 ukes are legion. Bridges, tuners, strings - you name it. What's more important is knowing that (a) it's warrantied, (b) returnable without question or cost and (c) that most of the time you'll get a good one. And most important for the buyer is...
...that you "quite like it, really". Quoting a famous reviewer who felt exactly that way, lol...
Again, bully for you! Now THAT is what I wanted to hear.
"Explain it like I'm five (yrs old)"
I can't ride this train any more without having some idea of the direction we are heading...
Thank you kindly,
Booli