Toasty!

LOL

🤣🤣🤣

So many people see a Ukulele and they go "oh how cute!" I don't want just cute I want confidence in what I'm playing!

What you can't see was - after doing the review I had to go and towel off - high temperature and my forehead was dripping wet and nose running! And not just because the ukulele is awful either! ;-)

GotAUkulele Aw! :( So sorry to hear that, Baz. You're the hero the Ukulele community needs! I wish you a speedy recovery (and better instruments arriving on the review bench) !!!!

Think the sound says it all!

I quite liked the Montecito

That’s the only way to review them. No point in lying.

Really threw me- in the stop press in the written review I 'think' I nailed it - but there is still some string buzz too.

I see what you did there

I can only review the one in front of me though.

Did you survive it?

How did it turn out?

@@allovertheparks9690 I'm a beginner and I've been using it for a week now... I just bought it to learn the basics on it, and so far so good! The price was convincing 😋

Ok so 2 months later.... I need an upgrade 😂

Me too

Been dreading recording this one. When I was thinking about it I was concerned it would come across like I was being picky. In the end though, I didn't need to be picky. It shows itself up all by itself. Still can't get over those tuners!!

Pleased for you. The model I was sent would put a beginner off for life though. And, understandably, I had to say so - it's obvious in the video.

What is its full price? I saw them 55$ new

Sadly - the name Fender causes issues here. I adore Fender and play their electric guitars - I can't fault them with those, But they are NOT a ukulele brand and seem to be toying at the idea. It's a shame as there is no reason they couldn't get it right. I've not yet seen it though.

Dodged a bullet!

Pleased for you - the one I looked it wasn't so great

You did - far better alternatives out there.

Exactly that - that's why they should be ashamed.

Thank you!

My pleasure!

Well dodged! There are far better instruments out there for the same money. I like Fender, but not when it comes to ukuleles

@@GotAUkulele yeah but you hit the nail solidly on the head... I also fell into the "It's a Fender right? It has to be world class right?" trap... I am now looking at the Mahalo MJ2 Soprano Uke... I have never played an uke before... so trying to just get a beginner instrument for now. Fender... not being it... lol

@@jacoschoeman155 I'd avoid Mahalo too i'm afraid! Look at brands like Makala, Kala, Baton Rouge. Mahalo are pretty ropey

@@GotAUkulele haha... Okey then. Noted. Thanks for all the advice sir!

Nice story - thanks!

Uketopian Lei*Abouts nah / the tuners wobble because they are not made properly. Only fix is to buy more. Yes like I said most issues here are fixable, if not all. My question was more a case of ‘why would you’? - you only end up with a better set up very generic instrument

Sorry, what do you mean though that you understand fixing it up is not worth it ‘for me’? I didn’t buy this as a ukulele for me. I’m a reviewer. I was objectively pointing out that I don’t consider it’s actually worth ANYONE spending more time and money fixing this up. All you’ll get is a well setup generic box.

I think the Fender headstock IS beautiful too. Just not on a ukulele...

Spicemaster yes I thought about a lower score but had to reflect the fact a lot of the issues could be fixed- if you could be bothered!

Doesn't look like they changed anything in the specs?

@@GotAUkulele But do you think the quality is a little better & more consistent?

@@phyllismorris94 I honestly suspect not - I've reviewed Fender each year and if anything they are getting worse not better. Far better ukulele choices out there for less money

Unique? The most ubiquitous headstock shape on the planet? Erm....

GotAUkulele unique for a ukulele. It is obviously common in guitars. I personally just order the fender Zumba ukulele (I would actually love your thoughts on it). For me it wasn’t about the brand I don’t care about the brand of a ukulele I personally was most attached to the colour but I couldn’t find much about it online so I thought I would give it a shot.

Suppose it is unique for a uke i guess. But then, suppose you have to wonder WHY there are so few others? I mean they can't be that great or everyone would make them

GotAUkulele so few other unique ukuleles or so so few ukuleles with the fender headstock? If it’s the former I think because it is a fender thing. It may not be the most practical headstock but at this point it’s iconic. You even mentioned you own fender guitars. I know videos skews things but yes it looks a little big but you reviewed a soprano so maybe a concert or tenor looks more proportioned. My point was you made it seem like everyone who buys a fender ukulele buys it just because it’s a fender. The first thing that attracted me to the zuma was the colour and then I saw it was fender and I was like “oh I didn’t know fender made ukuleles” I looked up reviews online and most of them were good so I bought it. But if I didn’t know fender many ppl wouldn’t so that same oh cab start conversations.

No - there are several other ukes with inline headstocks (Na Muai for one, G String used to do one) there are just not many because they don't have any real advantage. Fender do NOT have the licence on that style, only on the curved shape. Yes I own Fender guitars. LOVE my Fender guitars. But they are guitars. It's not really the size of it on the ukulele, it's the style. It's not 'better' or 'easier' or anything else. If it WAS, Kamaka, martin, Kanile'a, etc would have inline headstocks - they don't. If you read the review I didn't say that it was because 'everyone who buys one does so because it's a Fender'. I said the only two reasons for the headstock I could think of were a) that Fender are desperate for people to show off Fender (probably true and understandable), OR b) that players wanted to be seen with a Fender (possibly true, but not understandable - they don't make great ukuleles). Like I also say - this is a review of just the one in front of me. If you like your Zuma that is cool and all that matters. I don't review to tell people they are 'right' or 'wrong'. I merely tell my opinion. Your mileage may vary. But don't misquote me.

No point reviewing any other way!

alan read delighted for you!

If you like it, that's all that matters really. I'm a reviewer and cursed by that though! Means I have a lot of reference points for other instruments at this sort of price to compare it to. Didn't stack up for me i'm afraid.

Thanks for sharing!

@@GotAUkuleleI correct myself: The correct name is Fender Seaside soprano. The serie is named California Coast.

Ha!

Yeah - I liked the Montecito too Chuck. This is miles away. Many many miles

'perfect'?

Dodged a bullet!

That kind of sums up the quality control worry people have. As I say in the review, I have no doubt that there are some better ones of these about - this is the second of these i've played though and both were dreadful. That suggest to me that their quality checking is not what it might be. Great for those people like you who buy in a store and check it over, but a great many people will buy these online.

Poor quality control again

luke sarmento absolutely not

A chemical used in the finish - certain US states mandate they need a warning. Nowhere in the UK requires it. Have to say though, also, I really DON'T think this is a good Fender / Ukulele or otherwise. Much better options out there for the same money or even less.

Ooooof - that sounds like a nightmare!

My pleasure!

Without wishing to sound facetious, pretty much all others! More seriously, look at brands like Kala, Flight, Ohana, Baton Rouge, Snail, Kai at this price point.

GotAUkulele looking through your website reviews now, thanks a lot for the help :)

I should also add on this point. I am NOT down on Fender. Own several electric guitars by them including a Stratocaster I’d run into a burning building to save... but... I just don’t think they make good ukes. Love the brand, just not their ukuleles.

Really does

Pleased for you. This example was a shocker though.

I guess buying it from a physical store allows an easier return.

@@GotAUkulele Hi Baz, the Fender Zuma and Rincon are worth trying....and you have already featured the Monticito.

Will be quite some time now until another Fender review as I tend to space brands out.

@@GotAUkulele I watched a advert for the Fender Venice ukulele in Russian....I think it was dubbed cos the Russian guy could play it up and down the neck and it sounded in tune. The one I bought had cracked bracings and only playable on the first 3 frets....the action was too high going down to the sound hole.

Like any uke though, you can make a good one, or set it up right. But if your QC is cheap you won’t replicate that very often.

Never been that impressed by Cordoba personally

I have no idea who that is

@@GotAUkulele just another English KZfaq creator.

Anything from Makala - budget brand of Kala

@@GotAUkulele Thanks man! I'll give it a shot then!

Yeah, they at least made an effort on looks

Why does a kid have to put up with junk? I’d never buy my child something like this

GotAUkulele because he’s a FOUR YEAR OLD who drags it around on the floor and who knows if he’s going to take it seriously. I would not want to see a nice kala ukulele that costs 200+ dollars go to waste or be treated like that.

Jenae Laxson I didn’t suggest it had to be a 200 dollar uke either, that’s just silly. The point is, cheap and playable are not mutually exclusive. It can be done and just because they are a child it doesn’t mean they don’t deserve playability. In fact if there is one way to put them off for life - give them an unplayable uke. I bought my daughter a Makala Dolphin at 3 years old. It’s was much more playable than this and cheaper too.

Sorry - I always keep away from string recommendations - it's 100% personal to the player on taste and how they hear sound. Other people's opinions are useless - my advice is try a few sets and go with what YOU like the sound of

@@GotAUkulele ok thanks ! i think i will go with the aquila 100u

I love their guitars in a big way (and own a couple). Don't consider them a ukulele brand though, and those I have played of theirs have always underwhelmed me.

@@GotAUkulele Agreed the guitars are alright but the ukulele range was only ok.

I agree

Thank you!

Henry La trust me - I’ve tried to get them to engage again. I think they are going through a lot of changes though and need that working out first

@@GotAUkulele I didn't know Thanks for letting me know though

I am trying them regularly - just never seems to get over the line. It's their call though. Maybe they don't want to be reviewed!

Hopefully have a Lanikai coming very soon!

Booked up until end of the year but will look to get another Fender on the site in 2019

GotAUkulele thank you 😊

Yep - it was pretty awful!

Imtheavocado I wouldn’t

Thanks for reviewing this i wanst aware

Ooof

Like Epiphone - I really, REALLY wish they just focussed on making a killer ukulele. It CAN be done... In fact Epiphone used to make a Masterbilt ukulele that was reported to be absolutely superb. They stopped making them years ago though and now focus on guitar copies that are not very good.

All that matters is you like it. I'm a reviewer - it's a curse - I have to compare it to others for the same money.

Very mixed quality control, yep

I should?

lol. you're funny. just to see if its any better. you liked the montecito, but the soprano venices are bad. even the guy at my uke store said so and agrees with you. but there are no reviews on the grace signature one. (like honest not bought by the company reviews), to know if they stepped it up because it actually has grace's name on it.

it looks pretty in pictures so its tempting. sadly i am a sucker for gold tuners :) but who wants a bad sounding uke, even if its pretty. and the people can trust you.

I'm just booked solid for the rest of the year - will see what I can do in 2019

I think so. May be better examples out there, but not this one

You definitely will

lacer lacer what you are observing is ‘variable quality control’. I know others who have these which are just as bad and some that don’t. You are lucky to get a better example, others may not be. Which is why I can’t recommend it because I can’t guarantee what people would get

Fender are very careful who they loan instruments for review - only people with nice things to say.

@@GotAUkulele As we say here... Chale

Not played one - but I believe it's essentially the same construction as this without colour. To be honest i find it very hard to recommend Fender ukuleles of any variety so be careful

@@GotAUkulele it’s actually mahogany instead of basswood I believe

@@aidanfl The Venice or the Seaside? The venice is definitely listed as laminate basswood - the Seaside is laminate mahogany - the fact they are different woods in the laminate matters very little.

@@GotAUkulele I was referring to the seaside

@@aidanfl Yeah. Still - couple of laminates - the wood used won't impart tonal signature much if at all.

Yes - exactly!

A few months and a string change later and I'm totally liking the TUS-50. Cheaper too.

andynew2 Yeah, Flights are so good.

Yeah, I really like them.

I think you are right. The Seaside and Venice are their bottom level ukes. The quality REALLY drops off below the Zuma. Terrible really. Their QC seems to be non-existent on these - this one came direct from a Fender dealer. It should never have left the factory.

@@GotAUkulele I ended up getting the kala KAS, also made in China by the way, but that is world's different and a much better guitar then the seaside. I actually can't find anything wrong with the Kala. I'm looking into the Montecito as a companion for the Zuma. The Montecito now streets at about 200 usd. Does anyone else offer a solid KOA top anywhere near that price range to consider?

Doug J. I can’t think of another solid top but i honestly wouldn’t get swayed by it. Solid tops at value prices are rarely nicer than laminates. And often worse. Re Kala - yeah they get it right - but then they were one of the pioneers of getting them right in China. It can be done if you have your QC bang on. Kala always seem to

Joel yep - totally flawed

Dodged a bullet!

They still will sadly. They’d be making a big mistake...

pixpusher lmao... I just want it more now... I have a problem with buying crap that A, doesn’t work or B, is basically shit... And hell I’m going to be getting a guitar soon so I don’t believe I’ll play it much...... And a bonus I can annoying Ukulele players with it.... Considering there are so many “Ukulele players” at my school... Might just go around play a really high note.... I did that with my friends Ukulele😂

Mateo Stephens hilarious.......

Yeah - absolutely terrible example of quality control this one. And from such a well known brand too...

It can happen on any ukulele and it's usually down to a high nut slot and / or a high saddle. With a high slot like this one, when you fret the string it has to travel down so far to engage the fret that it stretches the string out of tune. It's fixable, but not right

Yep . Seriously dont

Shannon Rose it’s plywood! Trust me - thin finishes on well made ukuleles are NOT like this. Glad yours was ok though, but I can only review the model in front of me. Was I supposed to lie about the wobbly tuners?

As for being ‘too harsh’ - I just say what I see. Always have done. Saying I think something is great when I don’t believe it would really make every review here utterly pointless.

Not great is it?

Nah - he's just angry for money. I only get irritated where a uke is below par. And this one is WAY below par.

@@GotAUkulele didn’t mean it in a bad way haha, this review stopped me from buying myself one 👍🏼

Very much agree

Wasn't fun to make the video!!

I used to review Irish whistles (during the early internet, before KZfaq existed), and I rather enjoyed doing reviews like these, haha.

Vanessa Bourke it’s not a good beginners instrument though. It fails at that! I don’t really care what Grace says.

Vanessa Bourke but surely you realise she says nice things because she is paid by them???

Yep - it was at that point in the video I really just wanted to smash it against the wall.

I can’t be bothered to find out!!!

Exactly!

That’s what I find so sad. I adore Fender guitars and own two. Ukes? No thanks

when I was looking for my first tenor I was tempted by a Fender mainly because of the head stock and the Fender name - I bought a cheap Puka laminate that was fine for me at the time - I now have a Kala solid mahogany tenor which I love. Looking for a nice concert size atm - what do you think about the Ohana 5 string concerts?

I reviewed on long before I did video reviews - it’s on the site. Very nice as I recall

GotAUkulele is it possible it’s just like that on the cheaper end of their ukuleles?

Dani Alexandria - if I may be so bold as to answer a question not directed at me - NO. I have a little Iuku soprano that was half the price of the Fender. It has many of the Fender's issues - not very well finished frets, thick laminate etc. BUT the action is low and the intonation very good, and the wide spacing of the strings make it easy to play. It has an arched back and so it's loud when strummed and played claw hammer - and yet it is very sweet sounding when finger picked - oh and it stays in tune beautifully. I think the point being made here is that this is not really all that cheap for the quality - and it doesn't sound nice either - and yet people will buy them because they are made by Fender. Hope this helps

Sadly it happens quite a bit with guitar brands - their focus isn't on ukes, but they read news articles showing ukulele popularity and jump to put something out. But making a good ukulele is nothing like making a guitar. If you apply guitar making principles to a ukulele you will get it wrong. Plus, there can be no excuse at all for their lack of quality control.

I really, really would NOT use the term 'not bad'. More like 'pretty awful'

GotAUkulele ok

I'd agree with you if this was the standard of ALL 50 quid ukuleles. Would agree with you totally. But that simply isn't the case. I can recommend several that cost 30% less or more that are far better, objectively speaking. So at the ticket price - this fails. If they listed it at 30 quid, maybe it's worth more consideration, but even then is up against competition.