The Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele, shown here in Daphne Blue (or DPB for short) is the smallest and most affordable model in Fender's ukulele range, and its colour instantly conjures up images of the ocean. In keeping with Fender's approach of naming its ukuleles after towns in California, this model takes its name from Venice Beach - a name that suggests sand and sunsets before the first note has even been played. The Venice Soprano Ukulele features a light blue matt satin finish, which is offset perfectly by its white ABS binding and black front edge purfling. A somewhat unusual feature for a ukulele is the shape of the headstock, which takes its cues from Fender's legendary Telecaster guitar and accordingly features a set of four vintage machine heads of the kind also found on both electric and acoustic guitars.
The Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele follows the original ukulele design, making it ideal for players who are searching for that classic, bright uke sound. The Venice Soprano has the classic 345mm (13.6") scale length with which fans of the soprano ukulele will be familiar, and comes with the typical "reentrant" tuning (G-C-E-A), though it can also be tuned to A-D-F#-B if desired. Its four open-gear machine heads allow the strings to be tuned with a high level of precision and with significantly greater ease than with wooden tuning pegs with a 1:1 ratio as used on more basic ukuleles. The Venice ukulele's pull-through bridge also eliminates the complicated threading and wrapping associated with conventional bridges, which makes changing strings a breeze. Players can also rest easy knowing that Fender has opted for walnut wood for the Venice Soprano Ukulele's fingerboard and bridge instead of using rosewood, which is both endangered and protected.
With its characteristic "happy" sound, the soprano ukulele is an essential part of any complete instrument collection, and the Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele gives players exactly that sound at a very affordable price. Its Daphne Blue finish conceals a laminated basswood construction that makes the instrument both light and stable, while its satin coating protects it against the elements - perfect for playing outdoors and on the go. The Venice Soprano Ukulele is also a good instrument for beginners to start out on thanks to its compact size, and its narrow fret spacing makes chordal playing much easier for children and players with small hands. For players who have larger hands and perhaps want to branch out into solo playing rather than concentrating on accompaniment, however, a concert or tenor ukulele would be a better choice. For everyone who wants that joyful soprano ukulele sound in a light and portable package though, the Fender Venice Ukulele is an ideal choice.
Fender is without doubt one of the most legendary guitar and amplifier manufacturers of all time. The company was founded in 1946 by its namesake Leo Fender († 1991), whose innovative ideas brought a breath of fresh air into the musical world. His Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass are not only classics – they also continue to shape the styles of musicians in countless genres to this day. Timeless Fender amplifier models such as the Bassman, Twin, Deluxe, and Princeton also enjoy a stellar reputation. Besides maintaining its classic product portfolio, however, the company is also constantly developing new products that make Fender a driving force in today’s music industry.
The Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele will be right at home wherever people want to make music, and since it is so portable, it can be kept to hand for even spontaneous jam sessions. This latter attribute means it will go anywhere the player wants to go, in which case a suitable gig bag like the Thomann Soprano Ukulele Gigbag (article no. 142770) will be a worthwhile investment. Thanks to its sturdy construction and bound body, the Venice Soprano Ukulele is also robust enough for on-stage performances by both amateur and professional players, and its striking blue finish is sure to get the audience's attention. And should a little more volume be needed, a passive pickup like the Ziegenspeck Uke-Up (article no. 429216) can also be added, allowing the instrument to be amplified.