Not that long ago I reviewed the Brüko Walnut Soprano Ukulele. I adore it, but one of my minor gripes were the strings they are sold with. I promised I would change them and I have...
Showing posts with label bruko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bruko. Show all posts
14 Feb 2020
1 Feb 2020
1 Feb 2020T13:42
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Brüko S523W Walnut Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW
Ahhh Brüko ukuleles.. it's been a while... And nice to have you back on Got A Ukulele. This time with an all walnut soprano ukulele.
2 Jun 2014
2 Jun 2014T12:06
Readers may have noticed that I have reviewed a couple of Brüko ukes over the years, including the No.6 Soprano. Those reviews will show you that Brüko kind of do things their own way, and I actually like them for that. Like them a lot!
These ukes are hand made in a small factory in Germany with a history of making ukes for over 100 years. They have also sometimes been hard to get hold of, but this has been loaned to me by Omega Music who are now dealing for Brüko which was great news to hear.
The No.9 is one of their standard models and is billed as a Tenor scale uke. But, not to my eyes it isn't. Not only is the body shallower and shorter in length, so is the neck. To me it is more of a jumbo concert, and in fact almost fits in a concert pod case. Why do they call it a tenor then? I have no idea - that is Brüko for you!
The body is made from all solid mahogany and is finished absolutely flawlessly in a satin coat. The woods are not that much to look at grain wise, but I think it is quite lovely in its simplicity. The small body size means the top and back can be made from single pieces of wood, as are the sides, with no joint at the base. Adornment is limited to a simple sound hole rosette. The build is impeccable, and almost looks like a dummy uke or a model. I don't say that to criticise by the way, it just feels almost too perfect!
The bridge mounting looks like rosewood and is a slotted style, with a drop in white plastic saddle. This is pleasing to see as the soprano I own (the No.6) doesn't use a separate saddle, and the whole thing is made from one piece of wood - a pain if you want to take the action down. I believe though that this is an option so be sure you know what you are ordering!
A look inside and everything is fairly neat and tidy, one or two glue drops but nothing serious. And of course, like all Brüko ukes, they don't employ a makers label, rather they brand the name on the wood with a hot iron. Very cool!
So we move on from a very plain body to an absolutely gorgeous neck. It's made of three pieces, one stacking the heel of the neck, and then the rest of the neck is made from two thin pieces of wood that run the whole length, sandwiching a long length of shimmery pale maple that runs up and through the headstock. I think it is stunning and definitely a real talking point.
The neck is capped with a rosewood fingerboard which is finished flawlessly. The edges of the fretboard are rolled and softened meaning no sharp edges and you cannot feel any hint of fret edges at all. Position markers are provided on the fingerboard itself, but sadly nothing on the side for the player.
But then comes a gripe. Considering this is billed as a tenor uke, it only uses 12 frets in total. Yes, they could have lengthened the fingerboard onto the body to add more in, but this only has 12 to the top of the body. That is pretty much what you will find on a basic soprano, and most tenors I have seen have around 14 frets to the body, and perhaps up to 20 in total. I like more frets, particularly on a tenor, but there is no getting away from the fact that this has a VERY short neck. Again, I have no idea why, it is just the Brüko way. Is it a gripe? Yes I suppose so, but looking at it another way, if you know what you are getting, perhaps it is just another Brüko idiosyncrasy. It certainly doesn't make the uke unplayable thats for sure, but 12 frets ARE a little limiting.
The nut is made of wood (another Brüko feature) which can be fiddly for taking the action down, but thankfully this (like every Bruko I have seen) is setup perfectly.
The headstock is a typical Martin style three pointed crown, but boosted by that lovely stripe of maple and no need for a makers logo. Brüko don't need one as people in the know will know what it is!
Tuners are friction pegs. Not the worlds best, but good enough and the same as you will find on a Fluke or a Flea and work well. Whether you like friction pegs or not is up to you, but I think the look they give the instrument is superb. No pegs sticking out of the sides. I love them.
The package is finished off with Pyramid Flourocarbon strings, of which I am not a fan. They have certainly improved over the Pyramids I have used on the No6 Soprano, but I still find them hard on the fingers, and kind of sharp in feel and sound. More on that below. Finally, these are available for £249 which I think for a hand made, solid wood tenor that isn't made in a Chinese factory is a bit of a bargain.
To play, its a joy. The uke is light and balanced, and the small body and depth make it really easy to hold without a strap. The fingerboard finishing is wonderful in the hand and is as smooth as butter. I don't think I have sat and noodled as much with a new uke arrival as I did with this one - it just begs to be played.
Sound wise it is bright. Very bright indeed, as are all Brükos I have played. I guess you will love it or hate it, but I am in the former camp. It doesnt really sound like a tenor to my ears, or a concert. It sounds like a Brüko! Intonation accuracy is spot on all over the neck and the action is just perfect for my tastes. The smooth neck makes quick playing up the neck nice and fast, although I do miss those extra frets if I am honest. Sustain is also on the short side for a tenor, and it kind of chirps rather than chimes.
And those comments seem to suggest bad things.... I knew this would be a tough one to review, because there are issues. But you know what? I pretty much don't care as I think it is wonderful for just being what it is. Your mileage may vary of course, but I think everyone should own a Brüko uke. I guess the way it should be approached is like this: Do not think of this as buying a tenor ukulele that sounds like brand X, Y, or Z. Just think "I am buying a Brüko musical instrument"....... And Brüko do things their way.
I would recommend it in a flash, but know full well that this could divide opinions.
PROS
Gorgeous build quality
Sublime neck feel
Stunning neck detail
Rear facing tuners
Brüko heritage
CONS
Short neck and lack of frets
SCORES
Looks - 9 out of 10
Fit and finish - 8 out of 10
Sound - 7.5 out of 10
Value For Money - 9.5 out of 10
OVERALL - 8.5 out of 10
VIDEO REVIEW
WHY NOT DONATE TO HELP KEEP GOT A UKULELE GOING?
THANKS!
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Brüko No.9 Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW
I was delighted when this one arrived as I am a big fan of this ukulele manufacturer. Be prepared for a uke with a difference. The Brüko No.9 Tenor Ukulele
Readers may have noticed that I have reviewed a couple of Brüko ukes over the years, including the No.6 Soprano. Those reviews will show you that Brüko kind of do things their own way, and I actually like them for that. Like them a lot!
These ukes are hand made in a small factory in Germany with a history of making ukes for over 100 years. They have also sometimes been hard to get hold of, but this has been loaned to me by Omega Music who are now dealing for Brüko which was great news to hear.
The No.9 is one of their standard models and is billed as a Tenor scale uke. But, not to my eyes it isn't. Not only is the body shallower and shorter in length, so is the neck. To me it is more of a jumbo concert, and in fact almost fits in a concert pod case. Why do they call it a tenor then? I have no idea - that is Brüko for you!
The body is made from all solid mahogany and is finished absolutely flawlessly in a satin coat. The woods are not that much to look at grain wise, but I think it is quite lovely in its simplicity. The small body size means the top and back can be made from single pieces of wood, as are the sides, with no joint at the base. Adornment is limited to a simple sound hole rosette. The build is impeccable, and almost looks like a dummy uke or a model. I don't say that to criticise by the way, it just feels almost too perfect!
The bridge mounting looks like rosewood and is a slotted style, with a drop in white plastic saddle. This is pleasing to see as the soprano I own (the No.6) doesn't use a separate saddle, and the whole thing is made from one piece of wood - a pain if you want to take the action down. I believe though that this is an option so be sure you know what you are ordering!
A look inside and everything is fairly neat and tidy, one or two glue drops but nothing serious. And of course, like all Brüko ukes, they don't employ a makers label, rather they brand the name on the wood with a hot iron. Very cool!
So we move on from a very plain body to an absolutely gorgeous neck. It's made of three pieces, one stacking the heel of the neck, and then the rest of the neck is made from two thin pieces of wood that run the whole length, sandwiching a long length of shimmery pale maple that runs up and through the headstock. I think it is stunning and definitely a real talking point.
The neck is capped with a rosewood fingerboard which is finished flawlessly. The edges of the fretboard are rolled and softened meaning no sharp edges and you cannot feel any hint of fret edges at all. Position markers are provided on the fingerboard itself, but sadly nothing on the side for the player.
But then comes a gripe. Considering this is billed as a tenor uke, it only uses 12 frets in total. Yes, they could have lengthened the fingerboard onto the body to add more in, but this only has 12 to the top of the body. That is pretty much what you will find on a basic soprano, and most tenors I have seen have around 14 frets to the body, and perhaps up to 20 in total. I like more frets, particularly on a tenor, but there is no getting away from the fact that this has a VERY short neck. Again, I have no idea why, it is just the Brüko way. Is it a gripe? Yes I suppose so, but looking at it another way, if you know what you are getting, perhaps it is just another Brüko idiosyncrasy. It certainly doesn't make the uke unplayable thats for sure, but 12 frets ARE a little limiting.
The nut is made of wood (another Brüko feature) which can be fiddly for taking the action down, but thankfully this (like every Bruko I have seen) is setup perfectly.
The headstock is a typical Martin style three pointed crown, but boosted by that lovely stripe of maple and no need for a makers logo. Brüko don't need one as people in the know will know what it is!
Tuners are friction pegs. Not the worlds best, but good enough and the same as you will find on a Fluke or a Flea and work well. Whether you like friction pegs or not is up to you, but I think the look they give the instrument is superb. No pegs sticking out of the sides. I love them.
The package is finished off with Pyramid Flourocarbon strings, of which I am not a fan. They have certainly improved over the Pyramids I have used on the No6 Soprano, but I still find them hard on the fingers, and kind of sharp in feel and sound. More on that below. Finally, these are available for £249 which I think for a hand made, solid wood tenor that isn't made in a Chinese factory is a bit of a bargain.
To play, its a joy. The uke is light and balanced, and the small body and depth make it really easy to hold without a strap. The fingerboard finishing is wonderful in the hand and is as smooth as butter. I don't think I have sat and noodled as much with a new uke arrival as I did with this one - it just begs to be played.
Sound wise it is bright. Very bright indeed, as are all Brükos I have played. I guess you will love it or hate it, but I am in the former camp. It doesnt really sound like a tenor to my ears, or a concert. It sounds like a Brüko! Intonation accuracy is spot on all over the neck and the action is just perfect for my tastes. The smooth neck makes quick playing up the neck nice and fast, although I do miss those extra frets if I am honest. Sustain is also on the short side for a tenor, and it kind of chirps rather than chimes.
And those comments seem to suggest bad things.... I knew this would be a tough one to review, because there are issues. But you know what? I pretty much don't care as I think it is wonderful for just being what it is. Your mileage may vary of course, but I think everyone should own a Brüko uke. I guess the way it should be approached is like this: Do not think of this as buying a tenor ukulele that sounds like brand X, Y, or Z. Just think "I am buying a Brüko musical instrument"....... And Brüko do things their way.
I would recommend it in a flash, but know full well that this could divide opinions.
 |
| Size comparison with the standard tenor sized Pono Tenor |
PROS
Gorgeous build quality
Sublime neck feel
Stunning neck detail
Rear facing tuners
Brüko heritage
CONS
Short neck and lack of frets
SCORES
Looks - 9 out of 10
Fit and finish - 8 out of 10
Sound - 7.5 out of 10
Value For Money - 9.5 out of 10
OVERALL - 8.5 out of 10
To understand my review scoring and see this result in context - visit my review page at
VIDEO REVIEW
WHY NOT DONATE TO HELP KEEP GOT A UKULELE GOING?
THANKS!
9 Jun 2012
9 Jun 2012T17:06
Brüko model 6 video review
As a follow up to my written review of the excellent Brüko 6 ukulele, I thought I would do a video too, with sound sample.
Enjoy
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Enjoy
2 Jun 2012
2 Jun 2012T11:06
Enjoy - click on photo for larger image.
Back row L-R - Makala Dolphin soprano, Mahalo U50 Soprano, Pono MHC Pro Classic concert, Kanile'a K1 Tenor, Brüko No.6 soprano, Koaloha Pikake soprano, Magic Fluke Firefly banjolele, Mainland concert, Vintage VUK20N soprano.
Front row L-R - Magic Fluke Flea soprano, Magic Fluke Fluke concert, Clifton (Lidl) soprano, Mahalo Flying V, Antonio Lemez Canarian Timple (ok, the last one isn't a uke, but let me off!)
No doubt over the years ahead, the collection will change, but most of these are keepers.
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The current ukulele collection
Ukuleles come and ukes go, and whilst I have owned others in my time, I thought I was overdue taking a photograph of the current crop.
Enjoy - click on photo for larger image.
Back row L-R - Makala Dolphin soprano, Mahalo U50 Soprano, Pono MHC Pro Classic concert, Kanile'a K1 Tenor, Brüko No.6 soprano, Koaloha Pikake soprano, Magic Fluke Firefly banjolele, Mainland concert, Vintage VUK20N soprano.
Front row L-R - Magic Fluke Flea soprano, Magic Fluke Fluke concert, Clifton (Lidl) soprano, Mahalo Flying V, Antonio Lemez Canarian Timple (ok, the last one isn't a uke, but let me off!)
No doubt over the years ahead, the collection will change, but most of these are keepers.
29 May 2012
29 May 2012T09:28
A tour of the Brüko ukulele workshop
Regular readers of Got A Ukulele will have read my detailed review of the Brüko No.6 Soprano uke that I really do like very much.
Well I always like looking behind the scenes so was delighted to find this excellently produced video that looks inside the Brüko workshop and features both Friederike and Hubert Pfeiffer. Really interesting.
Enjoy.
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Well I always like looking behind the scenes so was delighted to find this excellently produced video that looks inside the Brüko workshop and features both Friederike and Hubert Pfeiffer. Really interesting.
Enjoy.
26 May 2012
26 May 2012T11:59
Earlier in my ukulele playing I bought a Brüko 6, and sold it a matter of weeks later. I don't really know why I did, and immediately regretted it. That said, never got around to replacing it, until now. That came about seeing This video that I blogged which reminded me how nice an instrument it was. Am I glad that I replaced it? Read on!
The Brüko line of ukes are made in a very small factory by Hubert Pfieffer and his team in Kitzingen, Germany. They specialise in eclectic looking, extremely well made ukuleles for what I believe to be bargain prices. This is a completely solid wood ukulele (and more solid than most as I will explain further on), not made in the Far East, with a fabulous finish and was ONLY ABOUT £100 or €129 (there I have said it again!)
The body of the uke is solid mahogany, with a satin finish. The build is impeccable, and in fact the whole ukulele has a kind of "doesn't look real" quality to it - everything is so precise and sharp that it almost looks like a model ukulele if you see what I mean. I don't mean that in a bad way, but you get the idea. The top and back are a single piece of wood, so not book matched and the sides are also one single piece (i.e. not two sides joined at the neck and end block) The sound hole has a very basic ring to it. I don't suppose the look of the body is going to win any awards - this is not flamed or highly figured wood, but it is good wood.
Looking inside the uke and we see there is no kerfling (the ridged wood supports that help hold the top and back to the sides) which is intriguing as not sure how the uke is holding together. Koaloha ukes don't have kerfling either, but their bracing system does this for them. Inside the Bruko is some simple top and back bracing, and in their traditional style, no label, but just the Brüko name branded on to the wood (very cool!).
The bridge and saddle is a solid hardwood material (i.e. no separate bridge saddle) - which again echoes my comment above about this uke being more solid than most - in fact there isn't much on this ukulele that ISN'T made of wood! Some may have issue with the one piece bridge as the obvious problem it could cause is whilst you could (I suppose) sand it down to lower action, there is no way to raise it. I have no issue with this uke though, as the action is perfect. Strings are attached to the bridge via slots and held by an end knot, and the uke ships with Pyramid Carbon strings.
Moving on to the neck and we reach the element of the Brüko that is perhaps the most striking. The whole thing is made of exquisitely finished, very pale, maple. It is so smoothly finished it actually feels like holding a piece of marble - quite something. I actually also thought the neck was a single piece of wood (which would be truly amazing for a uke that is about £100), but its actually two pieces, with the heel being the bit added. The join though is nearly impossible to spot, and even the grain matches. The neck and headstock though are a single piece of wood.
Tuners are basic frictions but they work just fine. I think they may be the entry level Grovers like those that come on the stock Flea and Fluke ukes. I suppose they could have used better tuners, but honestly, these work, and remember, this is only about £100!!! Aside from the frets and the strings, this is the only thing on the ukulele that is not made of wood.
So how does it play? Well compared to the first No.6 I owned I think the sound is a little fuller. Not sure if they have changed the design in some way, but there were some criticisms of the earlier ones sounding a little tinny or boxy. This does sound very soprano-ish, and I am sure that I can probably mellow it a little more with the use of Worth Brown strings - but honestly it sounds just great. Sure, it's not got the rich sound of a Koa Kamaka or Koaloha, but come on, it's £100.
The whole package also feels an absolute joy to hold. The build quality is staggering and the smoothness of that neck is wonderful. As I said above, the action is perfect, and I have checked the intonation all over the neck with a Peterson Strobe Tuner and it is pretty much spot on all over. Amazing really for the money. And I think that is the best thing I can say about this uke. For the money, I can't see what is really better - a non far eastern, locally made, exquisitely finished all solid wood ukulele for £100. Dare I say it, but if some of the bigger brands out there (naming no names) put out a ukulele with these features, all solid and with this build quality, I think they would have it priced nearly double that.
The downsides are minor - that bridge and saddle may present an issue further down the line, and I suppose the tuners could be better, but you have to read that against the price. Some may still find the sound a little bright, but it is a soprano, and if you like that sound you will probably like this.
Another gripe I have to raise is how easy it is to get hold of these ukes - I have spoken to a few people in the uke world, and, particularly in the US, these are hard to find in dealers. I know you can order direct from Hubert, but I think most people would prefer a local dealer which they can sample first. Perhaps Brüko prefer to keep it this way as their production runs are low, but I am sure there is a demand for them. I actually had this one shipped from Germany myself as it's equally hard to find these in the UK. So come on Hubert - get these ukes out there!
Highly recommended if you can find one.
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Brüko No.6 Soprano ukulele - REVIEW
A bit of a story behind this one, but I recently acquired the second Brüko No.6 Soprano I have ever owned. This post provides my full review of the instrument, and you will note a common theme running through it - IT WAS ONLY ABOUT £100....
Earlier in my ukulele playing I bought a Brüko 6, and sold it a matter of weeks later. I don't really know why I did, and immediately regretted it. That said, never got around to replacing it, until now. That came about seeing This video that I blogged which reminded me how nice an instrument it was. Am I glad that I replaced it? Read on!
The Brüko line of ukes are made in a very small factory by Hubert Pfieffer and his team in Kitzingen, Germany. They specialise in eclectic looking, extremely well made ukuleles for what I believe to be bargain prices. This is a completely solid wood ukulele (and more solid than most as I will explain further on), not made in the Far East, with a fabulous finish and was ONLY ABOUT £100 or €129 (there I have said it again!)
The body of the uke is solid mahogany, with a satin finish. The build is impeccable, and in fact the whole ukulele has a kind of "doesn't look real" quality to it - everything is so precise and sharp that it almost looks like a model ukulele if you see what I mean. I don't mean that in a bad way, but you get the idea. The top and back are a single piece of wood, so not book matched and the sides are also one single piece (i.e. not two sides joined at the neck and end block) The sound hole has a very basic ring to it. I don't suppose the look of the body is going to win any awards - this is not flamed or highly figured wood, but it is good wood.
Looking inside the uke and we see there is no kerfling (the ridged wood supports that help hold the top and back to the sides) which is intriguing as not sure how the uke is holding together. Koaloha ukes don't have kerfling either, but their bracing system does this for them. Inside the Bruko is some simple top and back bracing, and in their traditional style, no label, but just the Brüko name branded on to the wood (very cool!).
The bridge and saddle is a solid hardwood material (i.e. no separate bridge saddle) - which again echoes my comment above about this uke being more solid than most - in fact there isn't much on this ukulele that ISN'T made of wood! Some may have issue with the one piece bridge as the obvious problem it could cause is whilst you could (I suppose) sand it down to lower action, there is no way to raise it. I have no issue with this uke though, as the action is perfect. Strings are attached to the bridge via slots and held by an end knot, and the uke ships with Pyramid Carbon strings.
Moving on to the neck and we reach the element of the Brüko that is perhaps the most striking. The whole thing is made of exquisitely finished, very pale, maple. It is so smoothly finished it actually feels like holding a piece of marble - quite something. I actually also thought the neck was a single piece of wood (which would be truly amazing for a uke that is about £100), but its actually two pieces, with the heel being the bit added. The join though is nearly impossible to spot, and even the grain matches. The neck and headstock though are a single piece of wood.
I love the feel of the neck, and particularly the heel arrangement where it joins the body. The next thing that strikes you about the neck is that the nickel frets (of which there are twelve) are set directly into the maple itself - in other words, there is no separate fingerboard attached to the uke. This is unusual in the ukulele world, but you may have seen electric guitars like that, particularly Fender Stratocasters. There is no reason why a uke cannot be built this way, and the addition of, say, a rosewood fingerboard is purely an aesthetic thing. In this case though, why not show of that beautiful maple - I love this - and more solid wood! Black inlaid markers are provided at the third, fifth, seventh and tenth. There are no side fret markers which I think would have been an easy addition. At the top of the neck we come to more use of wood - the nut. This is a wooden nut (to match the wooden saddle I suppose) that appears to be made of a sandwich of hard woods. Again, I like the look of it and it's in keeping with the overall feel of the uke, but adjustment may be seen by some as an issue.
On to the headstock, and we have the next most striking thing about the Brüko. There is no makers name, but just a patterned veneer faceplate made of two strips of mahogany and a central strip of maple. I adore this look and it certainly makes the uke stand out from the usual Martin copy headstock designs.
So how does it play? Well compared to the first No.6 I owned I think the sound is a little fuller. Not sure if they have changed the design in some way, but there were some criticisms of the earlier ones sounding a little tinny or boxy. This does sound very soprano-ish, and I am sure that I can probably mellow it a little more with the use of Worth Brown strings - but honestly it sounds just great. Sure, it's not got the rich sound of a Koa Kamaka or Koaloha, but come on, it's £100.
The whole package also feels an absolute joy to hold. The build quality is staggering and the smoothness of that neck is wonderful. As I said above, the action is perfect, and I have checked the intonation all over the neck with a Peterson Strobe Tuner and it is pretty much spot on all over. Amazing really for the money. And I think that is the best thing I can say about this uke. For the money, I can't see what is really better - a non far eastern, locally made, exquisitely finished all solid wood ukulele for £100. Dare I say it, but if some of the bigger brands out there (naming no names) put out a ukulele with these features, all solid and with this build quality, I think they would have it priced nearly double that.
The downsides are minor - that bridge and saddle may present an issue further down the line, and I suppose the tuners could be better, but you have to read that against the price. Some may still find the sound a little bright, but it is a soprano, and if you like that sound you will probably like this.
Another gripe I have to raise is how easy it is to get hold of these ukes - I have spoken to a few people in the uke world, and, particularly in the US, these are hard to find in dealers. I know you can order direct from Hubert, but I think most people would prefer a local dealer which they can sample first. Perhaps Brüko prefer to keep it this way as their production runs are low, but I am sure there is a demand for them. I actually had this one shipped from Germany myself as it's equally hard to find these in the UK. So come on Hubert - get these ukes out there!
Highly recommended if you can find one.
SCORES
Looks - 8
Fit and finish - 9.5
Sound - 7
Value for money - 9
OVERALL - 8.4
15 May 2012
15 May 2012T19:58
Quite beautiful, on a Bruko Ukulele
I love this find on YouTube - the Eric Satie classic and played on a Bruko 6 uke.
And I adore the Brüko - these are solid wood ukes made in Germany by hand, and amazingly only cost about £100. If this video doesn't persuade you to try one, I don't know what will.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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And I adore the Brüko - these are solid wood ukes made in Germany by hand, and amazingly only cost about £100. If this video doesn't persuade you to try one, I don't know what will.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
6 Jun 2011
6 Jun 2011T10:57
Teddy Thompson - In My Arms - on ukulele
Teddy Thompson plays In My Arms on ukulele. Unless I am mistaken, that looks to me like a Bruko slimline model?
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7 Aug 2010
7 Aug 2010T18:25
Ko'olau strings on the Bruko
Well, I have been playing my new slim Bruko all day with the Ko'olau gold strings on it.
I am very surprised and very pleased.
These strings came off my Mainland some time ago as whilst I loved their tone, I found them too temperamental.
They were properly stretched, but I was finding they would slip slightly out of tune with temperature change, particularly the temperature of the fingers - very odd. Anyway, as I say, I liked the tone, but they were, in my view, more trouble than they were worth.
Put them on the Bruko for the hell of it to replace the overkill Aquilas, and, well, they are great!
The uke sounds lovely and balanced now, and I have had no tuning issues with them.
They also look great in contrast to the black uke (they are a gold colour)
I read an awful lot on uke forums where people ask "which strings should I buy". This is a case in point that the answer is - it depends - try all strings on all ukes - some suit one type, some another, and all are subject to your own ears.
Read More »
I am very surprised and very pleased.
These strings came off my Mainland some time ago as whilst I loved their tone, I found them too temperamental.
They were properly stretched, but I was finding they would slip slightly out of tune with temperature change, particularly the temperature of the fingers - very odd. Anyway, as I say, I liked the tone, but they were, in my view, more trouble than they were worth.
Put them on the Bruko for the hell of it to replace the overkill Aquilas, and, well, they are great!
The uke sounds lovely and balanced now, and I have had no tuning issues with them.
They also look great in contrast to the black uke (they are a gold colour)
I read an awful lot on uke forums where people ask "which strings should I buy". This is a case in point that the answer is - it depends - try all strings on all ukes - some suit one type, some another, and all are subject to your own ears.
6 Aug 2010
6 Aug 2010T21:41
string update on the Bruko slimline
As posted earlier - not really happy with my usually reliable Aquilas on my Bruko slim - they were a bit "too much" for it if you see what I mean (such a light delicate little instrument)
I have some Martin Flouros on order, but then digging inside one of my uke cases I found the set of Ko'Olau golds that I had fitted to my Mainland.
I really wasnt happy with the tuning of them on the mainland, and found them too precise and slippy.
Anyway, whilst I wait for the Martins, I have just popped them on the Bruko. Immediately I know I am on the right track moving away from the Aquilas - whilst I worry about the Ko'Olaus in terms of tuning stability, when in tune on my Bruko, they give a much sweeter tone to this little thing- chiming sound, and as good a volume level as Aquilas (and no booming)
Will leave these on for a while to determine if they suit this, and it was just the Mainland they didnt like. I figure that if I hit the same tuning probs, I put on the Martins - this being the same route I followed on another sweet delicate uke in my collection - the Mainland
More to follow
Read More »
I have some Martin Flouros on order, but then digging inside one of my uke cases I found the set of Ko'Olau golds that I had fitted to my Mainland.
I really wasnt happy with the tuning of them on the mainland, and found them too precise and slippy.
Anyway, whilst I wait for the Martins, I have just popped them on the Bruko. Immediately I know I am on the right track moving away from the Aquilas - whilst I worry about the Ko'Olaus in terms of tuning stability, when in tune on my Bruko, they give a much sweeter tone to this little thing- chiming sound, and as good a volume level as Aquilas (and no booming)
Will leave these on for a while to determine if they suit this, and it was just the Mainland they didnt like. I figure that if I hit the same tuning probs, I put on the Martins - this being the same route I followed on another sweet delicate uke in my collection - the Mainland
More to follow
5 Aug 2010
5 Aug 2010T23:32
New strings for the bruko?
If you read my earlier posts, you will note that my new Bruko slimline came with the usual (in my view nasty) Pyramid nylon strings.
I swapped those out for Aquilas. Now, I did that for a couple of reasons:
1. Aquilas are in my opinion a great string that work in a wide variety of situations (but see comments below)
2. I used to own a Mahogany solid Bruko 6 and I really liked Aquilas on that uke.
All of that said, as much as I love Aquilas, they are not ALWAYS right on every uke in my opinion. They drive thick topped ukes (and non solid beginner ukes like Dolphins) really well as they are seriously powerful.
But.... I did learn a lesson with my Flea and my solid Mainland, where Aquilas seemed a bit overkill, a bit boomy, and a bit.... well, too much!
I now run Worth clears on my Flea and Martin Flouros on my Mainland and in each case I think I have found my Nirvana on those instruments (personal choice I know)
Anyway - the Aquilas I put on my Bruko slim seem too much, too powerful - it is such a light delicate little thing.
Bit the bullet, and have some more Martin Flouros on the way to test on the Bruko - review to follow.
Read More »
I swapped those out for Aquilas. Now, I did that for a couple of reasons:
1. Aquilas are in my opinion a great string that work in a wide variety of situations (but see comments below)
2. I used to own a Mahogany solid Bruko 6 and I really liked Aquilas on that uke.
All of that said, as much as I love Aquilas, they are not ALWAYS right on every uke in my opinion. They drive thick topped ukes (and non solid beginner ukes like Dolphins) really well as they are seriously powerful.
But.... I did learn a lesson with my Flea and my solid Mainland, where Aquilas seemed a bit overkill, a bit boomy, and a bit.... well, too much!
I now run Worth clears on my Flea and Martin Flouros on my Mainland and in each case I think I have found my Nirvana on those instruments (personal choice I know)
Anyway - the Aquilas I put on my Bruko slim seem too much, too powerful - it is such a light delicate little thing.
Bit the bullet, and have some more Martin Flouros on the way to test on the Bruko - review to follow.
2 Aug 2010
2 Aug 2010T11:39
Bruko black slimbody soprano - REVIEW
Here goes with a fuller review of my new Bruko slim soprano, which arrived courtesy of Duke of Uke.
I had wanted a slimline travel uke for sometime, something I could slip into a suitcase easily, and it was going to be this or the Kala.
This uke is handmade in Germany from all solid woods. Whilst the finish is matt black (everywhere - everything bar the frets are matt black!), the top back and sides are all solid maple. Not sure how many pieces the neck is in as it is painted, but it is also maple.
Its very thin, and very very light. It has plastic but good quality friction tuners which work perfectly and have needed no adjustment. Like other Brukos, it has a wooden one piece saddle and a wooden nut. 12 brass finish frets on a black painted fingerboard. Also like other Brukos, there is no labelling on the headstock, and the only branding is the Bruko name that is literally branded onto the wood and visible inside the soundhole.
It is very very plain! In fact my wife did say "how on earth is that over £100" and I can kinda see her point. Its the way its made and the materials used that lead to that price (handmade, not Chinese and all solid wood, not laminate)
Another interesting point is the way the fingerboard joins the body. As you'll see from the pics, it is completely level, not raised like virtually every other stringed instrument I play - this is cool though, as it allows noodling with odd notes beyond the fretboard onto the body itself.
Its well constructed and holds its tuning well. Intonation all over the neck is spot on, so no complaints there. The inside is braced, but there is no kerfling around the inner edges, so not entirely sure how it is held together. As I say, the finish is totally matt black which I think looks great. One or two imperfections in the finish on the top which is disappointing for Bruko standards - ho hum...
That totally black finish means no fret markers either (either on the fingerboard on even on the side of the neck). That niggles me a little as I do use them, but not a deal breaker I suppose, and it allows the uke to keep its dark and broody look!
So, how does it play? - well, as I say, tuning and intonation is spot on. Sound wise, its warmer than my old Bruko 6 which is very bright. Its quieter than most of my ukes which is hardly surprising, and doesn't have a great amount of sustain, though I need to experiment with strings. But it does its job well and I like the sound. Volume may increase if the top opens a little being solid wood - we shall see (my old Bruko 6 certainly did)
Playability is great cos it is so damned light! - great uke to leave lying around and just grab - it weighs nothing at all!
The downside I suppose of that thin body and lightness is that I find the way I normally hold my ukes mutes the sound on this. In fact, I've never played a uke before where strum location and how you hold it change the sound quite so much - it is really dramatic, and again something I will experiment with. Thats not a downer - its just something that requires me to work on playing style.
On the whole, pretty darned good - its not a solid Hawaiian sound (obviously) but it aint cheap trash either. Just be aware that you are getting travel uke sound - heck, my Dolphin is louder...
Gripes - well as above, finish imperfections not great, and the ease in which you can mute sound. Other than that, I would have to point out that the strings it arrived with (Pyramid Carbons) were dreadful. I don't like Pyramid strings and these were no exception. Slippy, dull and low tension so I'd find fingers catching in strings, and fretting bending notes. Put trusty Aquilas on it which, as far as playability goes, are spot on, but I need to think about the sound. Might try Martin Flouros.
Other than that - no case or gigbag, which is a shame. Being an odd thickness, this may rattle inside my hard soprano case. Kala travel ukes come with a branded zippered padded bag - Bruko, you may want to think about that?
In summary - its a handmade solid wood uke for just over £100, so that has to be decent value. Its not a full sized sound, but it works, and is a nice sound. Best of all though is the way it looks and how very very light it is.
Pleased!
SCORES
Looks - 8.5
Fit and finish - 7
Sound - 7
Value for money - 9.5
OVERALL - 8
Read More »
I had wanted a slimline travel uke for sometime, something I could slip into a suitcase easily, and it was going to be this or the Kala.
This uke is handmade in Germany from all solid woods. Whilst the finish is matt black (everywhere - everything bar the frets are matt black!), the top back and sides are all solid maple. Not sure how many pieces the neck is in as it is painted, but it is also maple.
Its very thin, and very very light. It has plastic but good quality friction tuners which work perfectly and have needed no adjustment. Like other Brukos, it has a wooden one piece saddle and a wooden nut. 12 brass finish frets on a black painted fingerboard. Also like other Brukos, there is no labelling on the headstock, and the only branding is the Bruko name that is literally branded onto the wood and visible inside the soundhole.
It is very very plain! In fact my wife did say "how on earth is that over £100" and I can kinda see her point. Its the way its made and the materials used that lead to that price (handmade, not Chinese and all solid wood, not laminate)
Another interesting point is the way the fingerboard joins the body. As you'll see from the pics, it is completely level, not raised like virtually every other stringed instrument I play - this is cool though, as it allows noodling with odd notes beyond the fretboard onto the body itself.
Its well constructed and holds its tuning well. Intonation all over the neck is spot on, so no complaints there. The inside is braced, but there is no kerfling around the inner edges, so not entirely sure how it is held together. As I say, the finish is totally matt black which I think looks great. One or two imperfections in the finish on the top which is disappointing for Bruko standards - ho hum...
That totally black finish means no fret markers either (either on the fingerboard on even on the side of the neck). That niggles me a little as I do use them, but not a deal breaker I suppose, and it allows the uke to keep its dark and broody look!
So, how does it play? - well, as I say, tuning and intonation is spot on. Sound wise, its warmer than my old Bruko 6 which is very bright. Its quieter than most of my ukes which is hardly surprising, and doesn't have a great amount of sustain, though I need to experiment with strings. But it does its job well and I like the sound. Volume may increase if the top opens a little being solid wood - we shall see (my old Bruko 6 certainly did)
Playability is great cos it is so damned light! - great uke to leave lying around and just grab - it weighs nothing at all!
The downside I suppose of that thin body and lightness is that I find the way I normally hold my ukes mutes the sound on this. In fact, I've never played a uke before where strum location and how you hold it change the sound quite so much - it is really dramatic, and again something I will experiment with. Thats not a downer - its just something that requires me to work on playing style.
On the whole, pretty darned good - its not a solid Hawaiian sound (obviously) but it aint cheap trash either. Just be aware that you are getting travel uke sound - heck, my Dolphin is louder...
Gripes - well as above, finish imperfections not great, and the ease in which you can mute sound. Other than that, I would have to point out that the strings it arrived with (Pyramid Carbons) were dreadful. I don't like Pyramid strings and these were no exception. Slippy, dull and low tension so I'd find fingers catching in strings, and fretting bending notes. Put trusty Aquilas on it which, as far as playability goes, are spot on, but I need to think about the sound. Might try Martin Flouros.
Other than that - no case or gigbag, which is a shame. Being an odd thickness, this may rattle inside my hard soprano case. Kala travel ukes come with a branded zippered padded bag - Bruko, you may want to think about that?
In summary - its a handmade solid wood uke for just over £100, so that has to be decent value. Its not a full sized sound, but it works, and is a nice sound. Best of all though is the way it looks and how very very light it is.
Pleased!
SCORES
Looks - 8.5
Fit and finish - 7
Sound - 7
Value for money - 9.5
OVERALL - 8
29 Jul 2010
29 Jul 2010T21:25
Bruko arrived
Well it arrived today, and its a lovely thing! Supplied expertly packaged and in mint condition by Duke of Uke (the only UK dealer I can find that stocks this model Bruko). I wanted a thinline uke for its light weight for travel.
Full review to follow. Its simple looking, very very plain, but so so light and comfortable. This thing is black everywhere except the strings and the brass frets.
Speaking of strings - it came with Pyramid Carbons, which I really dont like. To plinky plonky (if you see what I mean) - so I've put some Aquilas on it - much nicer, but perhaps too powerful - might try Martin flouros.
All in all, nicely finished, very nice to play and hold and surprising volume.
Good stuff so far.
Read More »
Full review to follow. Its simple looking, very very plain, but so so light and comfortable. This thing is black everywhere except the strings and the brass frets.
Speaking of strings - it came with Pyramid Carbons, which I really dont like. To plinky plonky (if you see what I mean) - so I've put some Aquilas on it - much nicer, but perhaps too powerful - might try Martin flouros.
All in all, nicely finished, very nice to play and hold and surprising volume.
Good stuff so far.
20 Apr 2010
20 Apr 2010T10:01
** IMPORTANT NOTE! This is a VERY old post. Things have changed. And things are constantly changing. It was written before I was writing regular reviews. I thought about updating it, but I'd be updating it every year.
Generally speaking, buying a uke is like buying any musical instrument. Go too cheap and you will end up with something that may hinder your learning and put you off, not a good thing!
I appreciate however that not everyone has lots of cash, and certainly not cash to blow on something they are not sure of. Heck, ukes can cost more than £500 but how low can you go?
A quick search of eBay will show a variety of brightly coloured ukes in the £15 - £20 range. Do beware. I bought one of these and it really is pretty ropey.
Step up a level into the £30 £50 range, and you are in to the level that I would recommend for beginners who really can't spend much. Look for Makala ukes for example ( including the brilliant Dolphin series), or others from Makala. Bear in mind that these entry ukes won't be solid, and will definitely benefit from changing strings to aquilas ( so budget another £6 ). They may also need a tweak to set up such as slight lowering of action. This will be a breeze if you are a guitar nut, but complete newbies need to take care, take advice or possibly pay a luthier.
Moving up into the £50 - £100 bracket and you start to get more improvements in quality, and some solid woods. This is though the category to take care with. We are getting into more serious money, and sadly there are more bad ukes here that shouldn't in my view command higher prices. In my view look for Kala, lanikai, ohana and Baton Rouge. If you can reach 100, check out entry level Bruko. Great all solid handmade ukes! All ukes in this range may still need action checking and may benefit from better strings.
Up a step again into the £100 - £200 category and your choice widens considerably. I think this is the range where you really can get ALL the uke you need without going boutique / pro. All of my upper end ukes are in this range. Wooden ukes will tend to be all solid in this range, and whilst still made in Asia probably finished in USA, such as brilliant Mainlands. Very nice Kala and Ohana ukes in this range too as well as the standard model Fleas and Flukes ( everyone should own one! USA made)
Higher still and it's a case if 'where do you stop'. You are looking at upgraded versions of the above in fancy woods, or with pickups fitted, or into beautiful hand made Hawaiian instruments!
So, what did I do in the early days? Simple!
Mahalo - horrible horrible, sub 20- junk waste of money
Vintage - £20 - kinda junk, works, 'sort of'...
Lanikai - £50 - nice sound, stayed in tune, well set up.... Sold to fund...
Flea £120 - brilliant and unique, can't really go wrong
Bruko £100 - solid wood
Mainland £160 - concert scale, solid, beautiful, bought to compliment Flea with warmer tone and longer scale neck.
Beyond that I ended up with about 60 ukuleles at one point!
Hope this helps if you are confused. Email me if you have any questions. Above all, select a couple of models, research them ( ukulele underground site forum is your friend here) and try if you can to play them ( saying that, I never have myself!)
Good luck! Go buy one, you know you wanna!
Read More »
Ukulele Beginners - What to spend? How cheap is cheap
** IMPORTANT NOTE! This is a VERY old post. Things have changed. And things are constantly changing. It was written before I was writing regular reviews. I thought about updating it, but I'd be updating it every year.
Instead - I would recommend looking at the full review list which is organised into price categories.. Anything scored over 8 out of 10 is recommended one way or the other. Higher the score the better
FULL REVIEW LIST! https://www.gotaukulele.com/p/ukulele-reviews.html
A common question this one, and I was here 2 years ago myself. Thought i'd share my experiences.
Generally speaking, buying a uke is like buying any musical instrument. Go too cheap and you will end up with something that may hinder your learning and put you off, not a good thing!
I appreciate however that not everyone has lots of cash, and certainly not cash to blow on something they are not sure of. Heck, ukes can cost more than £500 but how low can you go?
A quick search of eBay will show a variety of brightly coloured ukes in the £15 - £20 range. Do beware. I bought one of these and it really is pretty ropey.
Step up a level into the £30 £50 range, and you are in to the level that I would recommend for beginners who really can't spend much. Look for Makala ukes for example ( including the brilliant Dolphin series), or others from Makala. Bear in mind that these entry ukes won't be solid, and will definitely benefit from changing strings to aquilas ( so budget another £6 ). They may also need a tweak to set up such as slight lowering of action. This will be a breeze if you are a guitar nut, but complete newbies need to take care, take advice or possibly pay a luthier.
Moving up into the £50 - £100 bracket and you start to get more improvements in quality, and some solid woods. This is though the category to take care with. We are getting into more serious money, and sadly there are more bad ukes here that shouldn't in my view command higher prices. In my view look for Kala, lanikai, ohana and Baton Rouge. If you can reach 100, check out entry level Bruko. Great all solid handmade ukes! All ukes in this range may still need action checking and may benefit from better strings.
Up a step again into the £100 - £200 category and your choice widens considerably. I think this is the range where you really can get ALL the uke you need without going boutique / pro. All of my upper end ukes are in this range. Wooden ukes will tend to be all solid in this range, and whilst still made in Asia probably finished in USA, such as brilliant Mainlands. Very nice Kala and Ohana ukes in this range too as well as the standard model Fleas and Flukes ( everyone should own one! USA made)
Higher still and it's a case if 'where do you stop'. You are looking at upgraded versions of the above in fancy woods, or with pickups fitted, or into beautiful hand made Hawaiian instruments!
So, what did I do in the early days? Simple!
Mahalo - horrible horrible, sub 20- junk waste of money
Vintage - £20 - kinda junk, works, 'sort of'...
Lanikai - £50 - nice sound, stayed in tune, well set up.... Sold to fund...
Flea £120 - brilliant and unique, can't really go wrong
Bruko £100 - solid wood
Mainland £160 - concert scale, solid, beautiful, bought to compliment Flea with warmer tone and longer scale neck.
Beyond that I ended up with about 60 ukuleles at one point!
Hope this helps if you are confused. Email me if you have any questions. Above all, select a couple of models, research them ( ukulele underground site forum is your friend here) and try if you can to play them ( saying that, I never have myself!)
Good luck! Go buy one, you know you wanna!
26 Nov 2009
26 Nov 2009T18:48
My latest acquistion - handmade, solid wood Uke from Germany - the Bruko No.6. Really like the looks, very bright sound - dont see many of these about!
Read More »
New Bruko!
My latest acquistion - handmade, solid wood Uke from Germany - the Bruko No.6. Really like the looks, very bright sound - dont see many of these about!
------------------------------
Since posting this, have actually sold this uke - too many ukes not getting played, so off to the great ebay in the sky! - allowed funds to go towards the newest acquistion - yes, yes, I know that is self defeating and makes no sense, but what have you gotta do?....
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