Honest review, warts and all. Regarding your thoughts on Amazon vs a legit ukulele store purchase and set-up... I live in Southern California where ukulele stores should be plentiful, BUT... most of the independent string instrument stores have closed since the pandemic began and the driving a distance across Los Angeles to a ukulele speciality store with limited inventory is a nightmare. In the past, occasional visits to ukulele stores in Lahaina, Maui were a treat, but now that is tragic history. This leaves on-line retailers, like Amazon, the only option. Fortunately, a hybrid solution worked for me: as mentioned in a previous video, I purchased a wonderful Enya M6 tenor ukulele in black that came directly from the US distributor in Texas. Packaging and setup was good, I am pleased. There will always be cheap tourist ukes and high end and expensive luthier made instruments, but the mid-range, intermediate player options are shrinking. You are most fortunate to have quality ukulele stores in the UK, serviced by professional staff.
Thing is though Greg, if you are having to resort to online shopping - the very best uke dealers in the USA (Uke Republic, Mims, Ukulele Site etc) - all do free shipping in US. They have to as they have to match Amazon on that. So what we have in the UK is just the same in the USA!
@@GotAUkulele Barry, the point of my comment is not about Amazon vs legitimate on-line ukulele stores, it's my frustration with quality music instrument retailers, with knowledgeable staffs, going out of business in my part of America. I like to touch and feel before my purchase, whether it be ukuleles, hand tools, or personal electronics. That option is closing in places like California where crime and violence have affected travel and safety. If I must resort to an on-line option, a un-bias review of American on-line ukulele retailers would be welcomed.
Oh I agree - Amazon are killing that. What I mean is if you are left with online only - the USA has decent shops that can do that. I like to pick them up - but... would you believe I've NEVER bought a ukulele that way myself? I just don't have that option. I'd still never buy on Amazon though. Check my website - I have a list of dealers - they don't pay to be on that list, in fact I ONLY list them if I know for sure they are decent - either through my own experience or that given to me by people I trust implicitly.
@@gregash7683 I get that - it's why I don't steer people to Amazon, in fact I steer them away - Totally agree. I too would like to buy in person. I just can't do that. The UK online sales are great, but so are some in the USA. If you MUST shop online (as I have to), the UK is indeed great. All I am saying is that so is the USA you use the right dealer. Places like Mims are superb.
I agree 100% One takes a bit of a risk and gamble when buying Amazon only products and cheap brands in general as opposed to investing in well known established brands like Kamaka, Kala, Cordoba, Flight, Oscar-Schmidt, Luna or Pono.
I bought Caramel as my first uke, about 8 years agp, directly from their website. I guess over the years they decided not to sell directly, and switched over to Amazon to sell their ukes. I bought a couple more different models/sizes of Caramels from Amazon last year that I like. (I love Flight and Aklot; recently discovered Hricane)
Thanks for the review, Baz! Yea, Amazon...whether you are buying a ukulele, metal detector, vacuum cleaner, etc., etc., it is caveat emptor for sure! Every time you review an Amazon uke, I think to myself, Barry is taking one for the team, again! I think you gave it the highest compliment for an Amazon import ukulele: Unoffensive. Thanks again, Baz!
Lovely to see such a balanced review. It looks like a decent design but sloppy execution... except for those tuning pegs. It looks like they are off a bass!
I definitely misunderstood. I thought it was a DIY ukulele kit from Amazon. Still, not a bad ukulele if you're lucky. Though I believe my UAS has been sated for now, I enjoy watching the reviews and all the ukuleles on them. I am very happy with the ukuleles I have. Three I bought because of your recommendations. 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you.
My first uke was an Amazon buy...a Eddy Finn koa concert. Actually not a bad uke for being my first. I've since bought a OHANA Pineapple and a gorgeous KoAloha tenor which is my current favorite.
Eddy Finn are a more established brand though, that are also in music stores. Brands like this ONLY sell on Amazon. My gripe with Amazon is not general brands selling on there, it's drop shippers who ONLY sell on it
Thanks again. This has to be a great example of a balanced review. Which is why people choose to tune in. My concern is the tone and sharp edging. For the money I would still go for an Octopus for a starter or to a specialist for a recommendation, have a great week. Thanks again.
Thanks - 15 years ago a ukulele like this at the price would be unheard of. These days though - whilst not absolutely terrible, easily beaten. Never been a better time to be a uke buyer.
Kanilea also puts geared tuners on Sopranos. The ones I've experienced were also a bit neck heavy. I agree with you 100% that sopranos should have friction tuners. People don't like them because most inexpensive ukes come with crappy friction tuners. I have a Phil Davidson Soprano Banjolele with friction tuners that are so good, you'd swear they were geared . . . BTW Phil is your fellow Brit. I wonder if you could get one of his ukes to review.
Hi Baz just bought my 2nd ukulele after your recommendation (Vtab concert from Matt at WoU) it’s safe to say I’ll be giving this one a miss 😉 have a good week mate 👍
Maybe you get to choose between okay setup and okay finishing. I guess that's the gamble with Amazon-style purchasing: you're the first one to check the uke out.
'Inoffensive' seems to about cover it. I'm biased against Amazon instruments (NOT Amazon per se, I personally buy lots of things from them). Since discovering dedicated ukulele stores, like SUS, W.O.Ukes et al, I just don't see why anyone would shop at Amazon for an instrument but realize that LOTS do. Anyway, thanks for the review Baz, it's good to see the 'ordinary' stuff, good or bad. As I've said many times, it's all about education and hopefully more people are aware of sites like this and PROPER shops, where FAR better instruments can be had, for a LOT less money than we might imagine. Have a good week, stay well! 👍
Agree with the Amazon issues, bought 4 off them, 50% good, Enya and Flight, others were cheap package deals not as good. This uke for the price is okay but there are better ukes out there.
Indeed - it's a roulette game with Amazon. Their returns system is good to be fair, but the idea of constantly having replacements delivered to get a good one isn't my idea of being sustainable.
The ukulele looks plain but for some reason the laminate top looks planky if you get what I mean.. like a table top. Sound is not the worst at the price range and maybe a good beginner ukulele. Someone could definitely learn on this one. Thanks as always ….DOC
Looks like you found a cubic zirconia in the rough...serviceable and a starter but maybe not a forever instrument. I wonder if the edge of the top will stand up to knocks and bumps. Great review👍👍
Great review! I dislike amazon very much, I refuse to buy off of it. I wonder which is lying about KOA, Amazon, or Caramel. Yes, it’s lying. I won’t be nice about it. The bridge should have been a slot bridge. Beginners don’t wanna change strings that have to be tied. What’s the problem with friction tuners? They look so clean. And they’re light. Kudos to them for puttin on the strap buttons. It sounds pretty one dimensional, but that could partially be RU-vid compression. The top does have pretty stripes. If it were thinner, it might have more character??? I’ve met a LOT of people who buy ukes off Amazon, they love the convenience. But I never recommend it either. It’s a crapshoot, and they’re downright cruel to workers. It’s very hard to research where your items are made these days. We all know a little about China….. That’s why custom built ukuleles are the only way to go, after the players first uke. Lots of people of moderate means are buying them. But that’s just subjective.
@@marj1585 The gears on this create one of the issues I hate more than the look - the neck is heavy - awful to hold. Total red line for me - they destroy the instrument. I understand many don't like friction pegs, but I firmly believe I could show anyone thinking that way good quality friction pegs and they'd see they are night and day different to cheap ones.
@@marj1585 I’ve had some lousy friction pegs. I took them apart, cleaned them and put in a tiny bit of graphite powder, and wow, now they’re nice, smooth as silk.
I didn't even see the video yet and I'm already worried about that "acacia koa" in the title... I have flashbacks of those GAU reviews of instruments made of "European Koa"...........
Is it set up, or is it “monkeys on typewriters?” I preferred the Amazon that consisted of Jeff Bezos delivering books in his car. And KOA (in big letters) is, to me, the main airport on the big island of Hawai’i. And what? They are not claiming the neck to be koa as well? Not scurrying online to purchase this one.
@@GotAUkulele well there is this nice old Chap from the USA who has got hundreds of ukuleles:)(Rich Davis RU-vid)he keeps on buying one ukulele after another:)))))And he has got a beautifull mango Caramel Bariton and a Kala mango Bariton, the Kala mango baritons used to be sold in the UK (Southern ukulelestore)but meanwhile they are out of stock. Greetings from Spain
But honestly, I am sure if I bought 25 Caramel ukuleles, the chances would suggest I'd get a good one or two. But I've reviewed close to 500 and played several hundred more - so my reviews are based on the full range out there, not just cheap Amazon brands. My considered opinion on this brand is you can easily do better elsewhere.
@@GotAUkulele I have been watching your channel for quite a while and I really like your reviews, there is something Id like to ask you in a couple of weeks I am going to buy another bariton Uke, I have got 2 on my mind the Kala KA-BEM Exotic Mahogany Bariton and the Barítono Lanikai OA-B Oak, have you reviewed one of those, if yes which would you chose?
Kit? In name, but not in nature. I'd be wary of a kit for £45. As for sound, It's one of the worst I've heard you do. It's good that you're doing these vids. Much appreciated.
I have many sopranos and get so bloody narked with heavy closed tuners that so unbalance that ukulele size .... to the point where I've swapped them for open tuners.....imagine your young child trying to keep their ukulele balanced while trying to learn to play it ! Barmy ! They need to be encouraged not discouraged !
Does the job for the price like you say there's better out there at the min the nova u is £47 you don't get a tuner but that's easy rectified by downloading an app .....has the music you play on these reviews got a name bad or Isnit something you've put together
@@GotAUkulele Ah, good point. What i should have said was a child, where if not treated right , it wouldn't be a great lost. Thank you again for your very good reviews. jeff
