What’s sad is a lot of stores here in the states will have these available but not a lot else. I was fortunate to buy a Enya nova concert for my first ukulele.

Fender shouldn't put out trash. It tarnishes their brand.

I think your review says it all. I've never been keen on black guitars or ukuleles. Not an inspring ukulele for the reasons you gave. I wonder if Fender can take note of the shortcomings and make improvements. A good honest review.

Spot on review. My local shop had some of these and he struggled to sell them for £30 each in the end.

Thanks again!

Thanks for another great review!

Thanks!

Fab review, obviously we appreciate your honesty and transparency despite how good/bad/indifferent instruments can be. It's always positive to find people like this on YT. Thank you ❤️🤘🏻

Thanks for a great review as ever. I quite like the headstock but that's it.

Great review👍

I nearly purchased that one .))(I have got a Kala Bariton and a Fender!!:)))) Redondo Guitar, well I dediced to order a Farley Tenor (Amazon 41 Euro:)))and ordered a set of Strings with low G, too , see what its like I am still waiting for it to arrive, Greetings from Spain

Very helpful review!

It's my first uke ever and I've been exactly like "oh it's allright", but now I'm a bit sad, cause I've never noticed any faults in it. Was really great to learn basics though, no complaints. I'm looking to buy something better now that I can actually play it :3

During finger picking I could hear some dead spots and strumming I could hear some fret buzz. More than likely it has a couple high frets and it constantly kept going out of tune. So I agree with you. Your $90.00 could be spent on many other ukuleles that would be better quality.

I bought my Fender Avalon today. Paid about 90 dollar. Not 90 pound. I figured a Fender tenor would fit because I have a soprano and a concerto from Fender before. And I'm a collector i must admit. Good to know: among the soprano, Fender Seaside is far more better than Fender Venice !!! Just sayin 😉

Strummed it sounded basically okay to me on the video, though a little dead. Fingerpicking it sounded dire. It’s possible to do *much* better around the £100 mark (£90 plus £10 or so for a new set of strings) isn’t it, even in tenor size? Knowing about those options is where your site’s really important, along with the specialist stores!

Couldn't even watch it to the end because of that tone. And I've played some rubbish cheap instruments in my time. Well, at least you could say that Fender are still not making decent ukes...

I do like the fender head stock. All the tuners on one side is great.

Ha ha, the headstock alone would stop me from ever buying a fender uke but it's good to know there are so many other reasons too! For just a few more quid you can get a gorgeous Snail (or any number of decent models I'm sure). Happy to have my baseless poor opinion of Fender justified, lol.

Fender does a specific thing very well. That specific thing involves no bracing. Given this reality, you’d think they’d go after the electric ukulele market. I wish musicians ran that company.

Wow, i'm not surprised at all, I had a feeling it's going to be a bit of a letdown when I saw the macro pics. People were all, ooooh, ahhhh black, great, ooo, and me, I saw a suspected crack between the top and fingerboard, very pale (possibly dry?) wood, and something horrifying, which turned out to be lint, luckily. The thick top was also visible. Sound's not great either... BUT IT'S BLAAAACK. 🙄

Well, at least Fender is living up to its established ukulele standards with this one.🤣 Which, tbh, I think is terrible. Thanks for another terrific review!

Well, the "sad" opening credits music said it all really. 🤓 It's a shame big brands often do this with products outside of their core range, and it's not exclusive to musical instruments. I think it adds no value to the brands at all. I have no doubt it's all about creating brand awareness (but no loyalty with this example), and the bean counters will know that it'll sell ok because "it's a Fender" and make a tidy little extra for them. A shame they don't engage with the ukulele community, they should be crushing it! Oh well... At least you're attempting to keep them honest, Baz. Cheers mate.

Thx for this review. I am looking in to getting a tenor uke, currently have a concert size. I have to say that I didn't like the tone of this Fender at all as you were playing so am so grateful for your review and demonstration.

thanks

I have that ukulele, but the neck is a little bit shorter

Ugh. Just. Ugh. Now to be fair, one of my fave ukes is my Fender Tenor Montecito. It looks great and plays great. This is insulting to ukulele players, and to their own brand! Thanks, Baz!

Hey man thanks for the review....i think it sounds cheap....thanks again 🤟

I have just bought a brand new Kala Pacific Walnut tenor Uke. The C string does not sound good especially at the fifth fret where there is a definite thud rather than a nice ringing note. I have been back to the dealer who says there is nothing wrong. I am very disappointed.

I hard to turn my volume down because of the sharp brittle sound

Another honest review, share your pain as listening to this being picked through the headset is just not great. Fender quality control must not care about Ukes. Can’t work out why their good build in guitars has trouble disseminating through to the Uke’s. Have a great week.

I agree a company like Fender should make better cheaper instruments then others as well. I don’t like the head but it is fender. Not a real pick up sound almost tinny. Not the worst under $100 but have played better and better cheaper ukuleles. Not my choice either… thanks again for a nice review my friend…..DOC

Those watching, UK BST and wondering why this comes FREE with selected Squier guitars... Here's why 😂👍🏻

I am looking for seaside soprano model, what do u think about that? If not what is substitute for same price?

My LAKA VUT40 Tenor is a far better quality than this thing and costs less. I'm guessing that some people may prefer the Fender just because it's a Fender and has a good reputation? Thanks for the honest review, I won't be buying one in the near future!

It's a shame. Maybe one day they will get it right. 😞 I'm grateful for the brands that already do (get it right). 😁

I really liked your review, as I always do, but I was certainly not impressed by the uke. Alright, it looked nice, but had a terrible sound. For 90 bucks one can get a nice VGS (Gewa) instead 😃

With a pickup and the price decreased by 50%, it would be a nice gigging uke :D

I saw the headline and thought, “Yep. That’s going to be a piece of cr*p.” Sadly, I was right.

What a shame. I was thinking of buying this line simply due the the name and reputation. Sounds like a step down from what I have. I will stick to my Aklot Tenor Mahogany uke which has a great sound and easy to play.

Came in to give a thumbs up but an early exit from this one. Catch you on the next one Baz

Baz, why on earth do Fender keep making these crap Ukuleles? I don't get it. Why not just make one great one and stop churning out utter rubbish like this. You would've thought being that they have such a great name in Guitars they could get one Ukulele right! Sorry rant over. Thanks for the review Baz. Always appreciate your hard work bringing them to us.

Ouch, I can hear the cheapness even through KZfaq. Fender probably just wanted to have it on the shelves in time for Christmas. (Footnote: Wasn't one of the tuners crooked?)

This seems to fall into the 'why does it exist' category. Given the price point and the alternatives, it doesn't seem to offer anything you can't get better elsewhere.

Very poor ukulele, so many better ukes for 90 quid.

Disliked just about everything about this instrument. I think I may be guilty of relating my brief to the brand name, as much as the actual 'fail' of the instrument itself... As a former guitar player, I remember - from a young age - the respect, bordering on adoration, of the Fender (guitar) name. What young, aspiring, wannabe rockstar didn't dream of actually owning one? I just feel, that by lending their name to - and let's be honest here, a string of miserable excuses for an instrument, they're basically just using a revered name, to sell garbage. That irks me, probably more than it should. I think that's just conning potential customers, who know little or nothing about ukuleles BUT think, "Well, it must be good, it's a Fender!" 🤷‍♂️ It's cheap, nasty, reprehensible and more than a little bit sad. Anyway, rant over 😬 Thanks as always for a great review mate. I consider these reviews of 'dodgy' ukes, equally as important, as those of high-end 'K' brands. Hope a LOT more potential Christmas present buyers get to see them too. 👍 PS. Sorry for going on but as a dad and granddad, who'll be investing some hard earned dosh this Christmas, to treat the next two generations of wannabe superstars, it's something that bothers me...just a tad. 👀

Fender is such a disappointment as a ukulele manufacturer. Great review!

You said Fender don't know what they're doing when it comes to Ukuleles, sadly I think they know all too well, stick that Fender logo on a Ukulele-shaped object, price them within reach of the masses and sit back & let the money roll in.

Christ, are Fender ashamed of their ukes or something? Do they not care about their hard-earned reputation? I've a 50 quid Makala better than that & that's garbage (bought it out of desperation from Guitar Guitar. long story involving, needing in instrument within an hour stranded miles from home, way too much booze & a dodgy Uber driver). Great review, as usual Baz. Thank you.

That was painful

I was gifted the soprano version of this instrument, the Venice. Mine was in Black. I was okay with the sound but the build quality was horrendous! From the pooling on the soundboard to the feeling of having to hover over the fretboard to make sure that I wasn't, as you say, "getting tangled up" in the strings! My biggest criticism was that the saddle and nut were glued down! That is a big pet peeve of mine when it comes to ukulele builds! I personally have a tendency to swap out both the nut and the saddle so as to get the best tone or at least the tone that makes me happy. Usually I choose a buffalo bone saddle and nut. So I've recently Frankensteined this uke to see what I could get out of it! I've put a new bridge on and replaced the soprano neck with a mahogany concert neck and newbone saddle and nut. Now I'm just waiting for the strings to stretch. The cold weather here in Iowa makes that a slow process! 😉

Oof. You're right, they're bad at those. Thing sounds like a toy

got one for free with a purchase

ok! This is getting utterly ridiculous! I mean, what is wrong w\ this company? I wish they would just 🛑 putting out ukuleles altogether! They are giving the instrument a bad name! Pisses me off! Just F it!

You’d think Fender could do better. That’s disappointing. They’re really proud of some of their models, particularly the Fullerton and Montecito. They should stick to guitars 🤦‍♀️

"Fender should stick to making guitars"....said everyone.

That sounds awful finger picked. Actually hurt my ears.

Why make a "fender bender" like this? Avalon, a lovely town on Catalina Island, deserves a better product image that truly qualifies as a instrument and not an overpriced toy. Their 'no-tie bridge' is a joke for any serious ukulele player who systematically replaces strings to achieve a quality sound. Are there any redeeming qualities to this thing? I doubt it.

The extremely ugly headstock alone is enough to make this a complete turnoff.

I do not understand putting pale colored wood saddles and fingerboards with a black body! Fender is disgusting me, they put forth that they believe the uke is a toy. They have no business putting out ukuleles. And in this entry level category, it’s gonna get its lower bout kicked. It sure is tinny sounding for a tenor. It should be stronger in the mids and lows. Maybe new strings??? I don’t think the intonation is quite on the money…. Only a true diehard Fender fan would buy this.

disappointing but you get what you pay for..!!! **( ͡~ ͜ʖ ͡° )** thank you...

Thanks!