The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #141672   Message #3271395
Posted By: evansakes
10-Dec-11 - 05:32 AM
Thread Name: Ukulele advice?
Subject: RE: Ukulele advice?
My ukulele was bought from Hobgoblin London 5 or 6 years ago for about £50. It's a Blue Moon GR3604 made in Rumania for Gremlin (the former name Hobgoblin's imported instruments....I think they're now called Ashbury?)

It's an odd one....the scale length is tenor but the body size is more in line with a baritone so there's a big bodied sound (it's also mahogany which of course helps. Matt finish and unvarnished which I like. Intonation to the 12th fret is pretty good to my ears (and my electronic tuner agrees).

It came to me tuned standard DGBE and it remained that way until last year when I decided to experiment. So I restring it with a set of Aquila GCEA strings re-entrant style. I wasn't sure if this was wise considering the longer scale but so far so good. The bridge has stayed where it was and the strings are intact. The sound is now more ukulele-like of course but to me it's not as trebly as sopranos I've heard.

I think you should still be able to get something like this for well under £100 but I'd recommend changing the strings asap for a set of Aquilas....that might set you back another £12 but it'll be well worth it.