besley
Well-known member
I've been lusting after a Beltona Resonator uke ever since I read Barry's review three years ago. Well a few weeks ago the leader of my Twin Cities uke club showed up at a jam with his brand new Beltona Concert uke in the cutaway design. I'd been reluctant to order one without at least seeing it in person, and it was all that one could hope for. He said that he'd ordered after seeing it available on Steve Evan's web site, and that there was a tenor there too. After some email problems I finally got through to Steve and placed the order. Steve was able to quickly switch to low G, add two strap buttons, and six days later the uke arrived in Minneapolis.
Mine is the traditional double shape which I prefer. It also came with regular geared tuners, and side dots. The graphite silver color of the uke Steve had on hand is just stunning, and turns out to be quite evocative of the silver you see on National resonators. As everyone else has said the craftsmanship is superb. The fretwork was perfect, as was the action at the nut. The action at the 12th fret was, at 3 mm, a bit higher than the 2.3 mm I prefer, but is still very playable, and no doubt contributes to the volume and tone. (I may get the action lowered in the future, but given the complexities of resonators and biscuits I will probably let a professional do the work.)
The tone is not harsh at all, and is definitely somewhere between a banjolele and a wood uke. At today's club jam there was someone trying out a Kala wood bodied tenor resonator, and the difference between it and the Beltona was remarkable. Not only was the Beltona louder, but the Kala was harsh and hollow sounding by comparison. Of course the Beltona was 3X the cost too. But the final result is a world class instrument that will be a joy to own and play.
If anyone gets one of these and needs a case, the UkeCrazy Polyfoam case fits the Beltona traditional design like a glove.
Mine is the traditional double shape which I prefer. It also came with regular geared tuners, and side dots. The graphite silver color of the uke Steve had on hand is just stunning, and turns out to be quite evocative of the silver you see on National resonators. As everyone else has said the craftsmanship is superb. The fretwork was perfect, as was the action at the nut. The action at the 12th fret was, at 3 mm, a bit higher than the 2.3 mm I prefer, but is still very playable, and no doubt contributes to the volume and tone. (I may get the action lowered in the future, but given the complexities of resonators and biscuits I will probably let a professional do the work.)
The tone is not harsh at all, and is definitely somewhere between a banjolele and a wood uke. At today's club jam there was someone trying out a Kala wood bodied tenor resonator, and the difference between it and the Beltona was remarkable. Not only was the Beltona louder, but the Kala was harsh and hollow sounding by comparison. Of course the Beltona was 3X the cost too. But the final result is a world class instrument that will be a joy to own and play.
If anyone gets one of these and needs a case, the UkeCrazy Polyfoam case fits the Beltona traditional design like a glove.