This is a beautiful looking piece.
On arrival one of the tuners was faulty but thomann sent out a replacement tuner. The tuners do the job. I specified I wanted just the part replaced as i was very happy otherwise, and had begun setting up the instrument to the best of my abilities. Their service was very prompt.
The fingerboard was very dry looking and I cleaned it with naphtha and oiled it, polishing the frets too (although they were pretty good anyway)
I think I lowered the action by sanding the bottom of the nut a tad too but it was low to begin with to be fair.
To get it to intonate farther up the fingerboard I fashioned and fitted a compensated saddle. (Not in every players box of tricks I know).
I'm unsure how necessary this is as it wasn't bad on delivery but I have fitted it with strings that have a wound C and had adjusted things as I've described so i thought I may as well. My hearing is not perfect pitch but it wasn't far off.
I normally play guitar (intermediate level self taught but I can finger pick and all that stuff, I don't use a plectrum) but wanted to try learning a bit of uke, which I've enjoyed.
The uke does not balance when trying to balance on a finger between the neck and body like one sees reviewers do on YouTube, as the body is quite heavy. Perhaps tenors in general are like this. I would imagine the wood is quite thick and weighty compared to some. But, anyway, I play sitting down. Still I think volume would be increased if they used thinner (more sanded) wood for the body / soundboard. Like you'd expect a good mahogany guitar to be.
Yet,
It sounds lovely now after about 8 months of moderate play. Certainly it has increased in the length of sustain. The wound C helps that of course (it's why I chose those strings) but even with that it has improved over time.
Another review says it is not a solid wood instrument but it is, there is just a thin strip of laminate on the interior protecting or reinforcing the sound holes, the gimic sound holes on the side is just that, a gimic really in my opinion but it doesn't detract from the sound either.
The varnish is finished to perfection on mine, but it is relatively thick (not gloopy in any way).
As I said it sounds lovely but I've not played many other ukes.
I may sound as though I am being very critical but I think it's worth the money.
It's a stunning looking wee sweet sounding instrument, that would have been fine without the messing about.
I've given it 4/5 stars as with a solid wood instrument you'd expect a compensated saddle and bit more of a set-up,and for the instrument not to feel as dry on arrival.
I hope this is helpful to someone.
K
