Well it's been a while since I looked at my first Mexican Martin Ukulele. Since then I looked at a soprano, but nice to get to the Concert eventually. What do you think?
I had a Martin C1K circa 1935 that my uncle bequeathed to me. I am 79 and he started teaching me to play it when I was 12. Two Yeats ago I had Sweatwater in Ft Wayne In replace the bridge and one fret and I bought a new case for it. I then gave it to my 12 year old grandson. So this beautiful instrument lives on.
One thing I really appreciate about your reviews is that I learn a great deal about ukes and uke construction well beyond the specific uke you are reviewing. Thank you for making me a smarter buyer and player!
Martin are expensive, but one cannot be disappointed on them. Thanks for a nice review! The weekend is almost come to an end, so I wish you a good week to come! ❤️
I've never owned one but I always look for them to play when I go to local music stores. I could not disagree more. They are the worst ukes I have ever held, their tones are obnoxious and they feel cheap but cost more than many many many other better options. In fact I brought myself to purchase my current uke because not only is it also handmade, but it sounds better and is much cheaper. Martins are absolutely garbage ukuleles
@@LadyYdak Well...Now I have a Martin ukulele. Model s1. And I'm very satisfied with it. Maybe you just had bad luck and stumbled on a bad one in the music shop? I must, however, admit that my favourites are Eastman and Ohana 😀
I just purchased the S1k. Koa Martin soprano. I love it. Across the board same notes as on this concert scale version. I’ll be keeping it around for a long time. Thanks for the review
Hello! Six months ago I never would've purchased a Martin, but this model is set to arrive tomorrow! Thank you for all your reviews over the years. I learned a lot from you. I think the Martin sounds incredible! My playing improved recently, and I decided to go into hock for this one... Suddenly I could play a song I've been working on for 3-1/2 years and it gets better every day.
Ah, would be nice - but bought with blog donations on the basis that those donations stay in the site - so will go to fund more instruments for review!
Another great review. Yes, it is made in Mexico, it's a quality instrument, and the high price would 2-3 times as more, with less attention to finished quality, if it was made in America. Having watched many of your reviews, we all know that koa and mango have distinct grain patterns the prevent a 'common look' between instruments. This makes a strong case for visiting your local ukulele store to hand select the right instrument that looks right and plays well versus a blind purchase from Amazon. Now, if we limit our purchase decision to the instrument's appearance, sound quality and projection is not dictated by ugly grain on the back and side that most folks will never see. This 'plain Jane' Martin C1K Concert will never win a beauty contest, but are we looking for 'pretty' or performance?
Believe I would prefer they left off the screen-printed rosette. And in an age of CNC engraving, they could do something very interesting with the headstock logo. As for country of origin, I am skeptical of vehicles made in Mexico, but Mexican lutherie was already going strong when Martin was founded in 1833. In guitars and cowboy boots, Mexico offers the best bang for the buck in the Americas. I dare say Martin’s Mexican workers take home a smaller paycheck than their counterparts in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, though. I do enjoy the tone of this instrument. Surprisingly warm undertones for a concert.
Perfect timing for your review. I played one last week at The Guitar Shoppe in Laguna Beach. The frets were poking out ever so slightly which was a concern soI didn’t buy it. Like you, I really liked the sound and build (except the frets though I doubt they left the factory sticking out). There are so few outlets that stock quality instruments so it’s frustrating not to have another to compare. I’ve not had great success buying online in the past. They are $499 plus tax here so a bit of a gamble to buy blind even with a good online return policy. Thanks again for all you do Barry and have an excellent holiday with your family.
I do love Martin instruments, owning 3 Martin guitars and 2 ukes. This one is no surprise on the quality build and sound. I agree with the fretboard comments. If it matched the bridge color, it would look so much better. Thanks for the great review. Martins always bring a smile to my face!
You've been showing some quality little instruments recently. Martin have a long history and made some nice early ones. Love this concert one too. Quality of instrument that counts not country of origin. They surely are quality controlled by Martin. Has a nice 'jangly' tone.
I have a C1K that I purchased be fore the fingerboard and bridge(?) wood was changed. I heartily concur with all you said. It's a peach! I recommend it to all without hesitation.
I bought a C1K all the way back in early 2014 after watching your review of your T1K. Mine came with the darker rosewood fretboard, but otherwise it's basically identical... I still love it to this day, and it's usually my go-to uke for the string spacing and comfort.
As someone who reviews every week i'm afraid they sadly DO. And in my experience it comes from a dark place. Lost count of the amount of comments I have deleted because people have shouted out negatively because an instrument comes from China. China are making some GREAT stuff. It's nothing more than xenophobia.
@@GotAUkulele oh sorry, I meant to do a video for luthiers where you summarize your experience from the many instruments you reviewed on what makes a uke that stands out in form, function, sound, etc.
@@dassouki No, nothing like that, but just don't have the time. The aggregated videos kind of do that I guess - but luthiers know what they are doing better than me!
Thanks for the review. The tone there is great. As you mentioned, a good few niggles but nothing that’s a deal-breaker for me. Something of a temptation as an instrument that does what it needs to do.
Thanks for the great review. I agree for the money, the sticker logo shouldn’t be a thing, Martin are doing themselves a disservice. Really liked the sound, both picked and strummed. In fairness having an all Koa concert and made by Martin for under £600, on description alone would have peoples attention. You have a great week and a great break in case I can’t catch the next one.
It sounds absolutely incredible. 12 frets to the body might be traditional but it's a deal breaker for me. I do go up to the 12th sometimes and it's much more comfortable with 14 frets to the body. Also agree the headstock greetings card logo is not pleasant. Despite it's faults I'm sure it would still be a joy to play with that lovely tone.
I play a lot of classical and jazz finger style and the C1K is my go-to Uke. Never had a problem reaching the upper frets. 14th fret neck join makes an instrument a lot more trebly which, I think, is not a benefit for a ukulele.
Certainly playable but not comfortable for me. I don't like having to reach over the body joint to fret the 12th. I don't know how common 14 frets to the body joint is on concerts but it's a welcome change in my opinion. As I say this uke sounds marvellous but I wouldn't buy one for this reason. I do like the slot bridge that's very nice, absolutely hate tie bridges. My favourite are pin so I'm considering an Islander.
@@petercnixon personally like the 12th join - gives the concert that soprano feel that allows the rhythmical sound to shine whilst still giving the opportunity for melodic play. I find 14th fret joins on concerts just make them sound like overly bright tenors. (14th fret joins are by far the most common in modern concerts that I see - 12th fret joins were more old timey) Saying all that - my favourite concert is the KM Ukuleles build I have - joined at the 13th so kind of a halfway house. Each to their own of course.
Thanks as always for a thoughtful review. I tried to compare its sound with the T1k you tested several years ago and could discern a difference. But that might also be related to your sound equipment then and now. How are they different and how does it compare with the HPL concert? One other question if I may is the nut wider on the concert than on the tenor?
Oh for sure - that T1K was recorded with a laptop microphone - i now record with a Rode condenser. Chalk and cheese. I love the HPL concert but this edges it for me. Sorry don't have the T1K any more to measure the nut and back then i didn't include that in my review specs..
I noticed that Martin was not selling the soprano S1K on their website like all other stores are so I asked them why and they said they were discontinuing the Soprano in Koa but didn’t say why. Do you think it may be that the Koa wood on the Soprano body is just to bright for that small size and people aren’t buying as many as they are with the mahogany sopranos?
Great review. I've played Martin guitars for years but yet to get a Martin Uke. The Ukes always appear to have the same qualities that draw me to their guitars. I hope they bring back the HPL soprano some day.
Great review, Baz! It's a Martin, so no matter where it is made, you know it will not disappoint! Plain and simple and sounds great! I don't give a farthing where something is made. A craftsman is a craftsman no matter what country they come from. Martin does not hire folks that don't know their stuff!
I really tend to like nicely built plain instruments like this one. I also like the way the finish wares over time. I agree the neck could be darker and a harder wood. I don’t like the sticker brand either. I don’t have a Martin but I use Martin strings. They have a nice compromise between being stiff or flabby. One thing about the Martin ukuleles they really sound like a ukulele . I know you ukulele players understand what I mean. I love the sound of this one. Nice review Barry. Thanks again……DOC
Nah - other way around I think - if it was made in USA it would be much more expensive. Materials, machines, training, brand costs, marketing etc also don't change. Martin is not a Mexican company - labour is only part of the picture.
As a longtime guitar player (since mid-70s), and more recent ukulele “convert” (since 2020), I just regret the drift of Martin’s focus to mediocre instruments. When I started on this ride, Martin had 18s, 28s, 35s, 41s/42s, and “holy grail” 45s, in its various 0, 00, 000, and D guitar lines - all top-end (though not entirely out-of-reasonable-reach) “best in the business” acoustic guitars. While Martin still makes its “flagship” instruments, it now seems most focused on lines of mass-manufactured, kind-of-mediocre (and sometimes seemingly low-end) “trade in on the Martin name” instruments. I realize this may be just how the business now is, and maybe without the mass-produced semi-low-end “chaff,” a dedicated builder could not continue to make its classic flagship models. (As the owner of a now-30-year-old special issue D-41, I know how good it can be). The same seems to apply to its ukuleles. It still makes its classic Styles 0 through 5, . . . but the “bread and butter” seems now to be these more low-end styles with the awful “crap” pressed-on “raised” logo. I agree, this one sounds good. Maybe it’s best that Martin offers this one, with a somewhat cheaper-looking fretboard, “mimimal” finishing, A Martin just doesn’t seem like a Martin anymore . . . .
A very full and rich sound. Almost room filling. However for $500.00 I wouldn’t buy it because of the cheap stickers for the logo on the headstock that will peel right off. There’s really no excuse for this at this price point.
@@GotAUkuleleAfter finding out that Tiny Tim played a Martin soprano ukulele for the majority of his career and it no longer has the Martin logo on the headstock, I may still go ahead and purchase this concert version for the sound quality alone but now I’m also torn between this and the soprano because I prefer concert size ukuleles but the soprano is the iconic Tiny Tim model. I would love to buy the Beltora Resonator he last played but the website shows none available at this time and I believe the Beltora may be out of my price range anyway.
I don't see any reason other than the Martin name why someone would pay $500 for a mass produced instrument made in Mexico with so little features. There are certainly builders in the US that one could get a one off build for $500 that are probably just as good if not better. However that said I want one and I am struggling to not get one and have been for several years and this review just further enforces the fact tat I really "need" one. Thanks again for a great review.
Cost is all relative, so a rip off compared to what? Excellent thin tone woods, superbly accurate build and top notch projection and tone. I think it's good value myself.
@@GotAUkulele yeah sure it looks and sounds nice, but there looks far better for the £200 range and with logos that dont rub off with your finger. Martin used to be a quality company. What happened to let little details like that pass??
