UKE Magazine Issue 25 - Competition Entry / Awards Vote

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In issue 25 there are a fantastic ten prizes on offer in our competition. To enter, you need to vote in the UKE Magazine Awards with the form below. Entries need to be in by 1 May, 2020.

Please note, only votes from UKE Magazine Readers will be counted. Your name and email address is required to enter, and only those who read the magazine will be entered - any other votes will be discarded.

Your email address won’t be used for anything else other than that verification. The awards are just for a bit of interest and fun, to look at some of our favourite performers and gear, and reflect back on events we’ve enjoyed in the past. As only readers can vote - please don’t share this voting form as it is intended for readers only.

Those nominated (by readers) are listed below.

UKE Magazine 25 - Tobias Elof - Hard Times Come Again No More

In issue 25 of UKE Magazine, there’s an arrangement of Hard Times Come Again No More, for Low G ukulele, by Tobias Elof. To help when you give this a go, here’s a video of Tobias playing the tune.

Tobias regularly releases more arrangements, and can offer advice on your own playing, at his patreon site - Tobias Elof Patreon

Phil Doleman Signature Soprano Ukulele Prototype Charity Auction

The Phil Doleman signature soprano ukulele from Millar arrives in December 2020.

I have the prototype here, which I am going to sell and use all the funds received for a charitable donation to Unicef UK. I will take on the shipping cost, anywhere in the world. I’ll be asking for bids using the form below. You just need to let me know how much you’d be prepared to pay for it (it’s regular price is £329, but there’s no reserve price).

I’ll contact the winning bidder on Tuesday 22 December to arrange for payment (if that person has changed their mind, I’ll go to the second highest bidder etc.)

You can read about this uke and see a demo here - Phil Doleman PD-210MN by Millar.

UKE Magazine Issue 24 Tab Play Through - Bach's Cello Suite No.1 Prelude

From Issue 24, here’s a play through of the excerpt from Bach’s Cello Suite No.1 Prelude

UKE Magazine Issue 24 Competition & Survey

To be in with a chance of winning a Tangelwood electro concert ukulele, complete this form with your answers to our short survey on the future of UKE Magazine. Entries need to be completed by 1 February 2021, and your e-mail is required only for notification if you win, nothing else.

The questions in this survey are posed to find out what the best model is for the magazine going forward. I like the printed version and I like that subscriptions aren’t recurring - but as you look at other magazines, they mostly operate different models. So, I want to check that what I am doing is still relevant, or whether things could change to help the long term sustainability of the publication. Thanks for your thoughts!

UKE Magazine Issue 24 Online Content Will Be Added Here Soon

Now that UKE Magazine has been dispatched, you’ll find that issue’s competition entry form and the play through of the Bach piece here very soon.

Maestro Ukuleles in the UK - An introduction to the finest ukes from Singapore

I’m delighted to be dealing directly with Maestro in Singapore, to bring a range of their ukuleles into the UK. Maestro Guitars are a prime example of how companies in the Far East are pushing to ever greater quality standards and innovation to produce some of the finest ukuleles - and often at a price point that compares very favourably with those made in the West.

A fairly young company, the vision for their instruments comes from their Master luthier, Hozen, who has continually innovated and upgraded his facility in Singapore to keep their ukes at the forefront of modern design. He has studied under renowned makers to get the best basis to make wonderful ukes. And they really are fantastic!

My initial selection of Maestro Ukuleles comes from their Island Series, all solid wood instruments with side soundports and a variety of wood combinations and exciting decorative touches. A couple of these are previous favourites, which I’ve had in before, but now I’m dealing directly with the company I can bring these in more rapidly, and keep the price competitive (and when I say competitive, they’re not cheap, but still represent great value and another great option at the high end of the ukulele spectrum).

The ukuleles I got in in the first batch, include five tenor ukuleles with a wider, 37mm nut, and a concert. They are as follows:

A uke I’ve had before is the UT-CO solid cedar and cocobolo tenor, which was the first one that switched me to to how impressive these instruments from Maestro could be. I’ve always been a fan of cedar for its even balance - but with Maestro’s five strut fan bracing, and that broad upper bout, it seems to have more bite than an average cedar uke, with a greater punch at the treble end and more of a bass response.

Another instrument to make a welcome return is the stunning Maestro UT-PA all solid padauk tenor ukulele - which looks utterly striking, but also possesses a fine tone, with a gorgeous chime and complex harmonics. I’ve not seen this wood used a great deal, outside of decorative touches, but it’s certainly loud and sweet, with a lovely long sustain.

High grade acacia can be absolutely stunning to look at, and that’s certainly the case with the Maestro UT-KO tenor ukulele. However, acacia can also sometimes be a little subdued for certain styles of play, almost a bit of a introvert tonewood. This uke though seems to get the best of both worlds, with strong trebles that punch through in the mix, while keeping that subtle trace of warmth you’ll hear with other all solid acacia models.

This solid spruce and Madagascan rosewood instrument is the Maestro UT-MR tenor ukulele. This is a very common pairing in the guitar world, and it works so well - with brightness from the German spruce top, backed up with a strong bass response from the solid rosewood. The result is a great balance made up of these two extremes - that lends itself to strong melodies and chiming chords in equal measure.

I’m sure to expand my range of Maestro ukuleles in the future, but from my initial batch, the final tenor is the UT-SR ukulele with cutaway. This contrasts from the UT-CO in having a slightly more gentle tone, balanced across the sound range, without any one aspect coming to the fore. This almost sounds like a negative, but that’s not the case - it is smooth and rich and really impressive.

My initial order did include a concert, the Maestro UC-MR ukulele. All of the tenors have a wider nut (37mm), but their concerts have a 35mm nut, an average width which I play myself, but perhaps bucking the trend a little these days, when people either do prefer, or at least think they’d prefer, a wider neck! This solid spruce and rosewood concert is a pocket rocket, with as much sustain as I can remember with a concert sized uke, and a lovely, powerful and melodic tone it is too.

I am really impressed with this range of Maestro ukes. I like the fact they are distinctly Asian in design. Some of the decorative features really fit with the region they’re from. But I like that. I like that these handmade instruments reflect the culture they are made in. And they are a great option for those who want something different and new, that not everyone else has, but that still represent excellent value at the elite level of instrument.

Phil Doleman Signature Series Soprano Ukulele, from Millar

I’ve been working with musician, teacher and all-round good guy Phil Doleman recently, to produce a signature series soprano ukulele. We’ve both been impressed with the work of small Tawainese company Millar Ukulele, and they’ve been working to Phil’s specification to make a new all solid mahogany soprano, which will be available exclusively through World of Ukes.

You can read the specification and see close up images of this model here.

Phil Doleman signature series soprano by Millar

As I write, the first prototypes are ready and on the way to the UK for Phil and I to try. We’ll hope to bring this new ukulele out early in 2021. The numbers available will be limited, so if you’d like to hear when they arrive in the UK, you can complete your details below. As news emerges, and demo videos are made, I’ll keep you updated. (If you complete your details, they’ll only be used for updates on the Phil Doleman signature ukulele)

A first look at the Phil Doleman Signature soprano ukulele from Millar - coming in early 2021, exclusively from World of Ukes.

Mike Haysom's 'How To Find The Key Of A Song On The Ukulele' Video

Talented musician Mike Haysom has been writing articles for recent editions of UKE Magazine, aimed at taking the mystery out of music theory for ukulele players. In Issue 23, he looked at working out what key a song is in. Mike has now produced a video to go alongside this article, in which he describes an excellent technique to work out a song’s key.

Subscriptions and back issues of UKE Magazine, the UK’s printed magazine for ukulele players, can be ordered in the Magazine Store.

You can watch the video below - have your uke to hand and be prepared to shout ‘YEEEES!’ when you get the key right for the example tunes!

How to find the key of a song on Ukulele in four simple steps

Everything you need to know about Baton Rouge ukuleles

Baton Rouge Guitars make ukuleles (and guitars, as the name probably suggests!). They have developed a reputation for good value, concentrating on serious beginner and intermediate level instruments.

About the brand

Baton Rouge is a German brand name, give to their instruments which are made in China. In the UK, they're distributed by Stones Music - which is where my stock comes from. That adds an extra level of quality control as Mark at Stones checks each instrument - often adjusting and setting ukes up before they get to me. I've often joked that they arrive with me with a bit of nut dust at the end of fingerboard - telltale signs that Mark has adjusted the action at the nut. It's a key factor actually, as you'll often find that you can get Baton Rouge from German companies slightly cheaper than you can in the UK. They'll come without this inspection and adjustment, so genuinely always worth getting them in the UK!

Baton Rouge Soprano Ukuleles

Some highlights from the range of soprano ukes that Baton Rouge produce... One that catches the eye straight away is the entry level Baton Rouge UR-11S soprano (now sadly discontinued). I first came across this when acquiring a large number of ukes to use in workshops at the Costa Del Folk events in Portugal. They've got a nice sound at a reasonable price and helped lots of beginners at those workshops get going. Apart from that nice mellow tone and good playability, a key bonus when getting 30+ ready each day was the speed they took to settle in - so we could get busy learning and spend less timing tuning!

I am also a fan of the V2 series, with the soprano offering two different variants. The Baton Rouge V2-S soprano ukulele is a serious beginner instrument, which offers a bit of an upgrade in terms of specification from the UR-11S, with nicer frets and tuners. There's a flourish of decoration around the soundhole, with a laser etched sun motif, and the back is slightly arched which seems to add a little more mellow nature to the sound. Something Baton Rouge are good at is making models that are outside the norm, demonstrating a knowledge of the ukulele market and what players are looking for. As a result, they came up with the V2-SW wide neck soprano ukulele, which has a wider, 38mm nut width to give those with larger hands a viable, comfortable option in soprano size.

Some of the Baton Rouge range of soprano ukuleles

Baton Rouge Concert Ukuleles

There's a concert version from the V2 series which goes down very well, the Baton Rouge V2-C concert ukulele. This is one of the ukes that I would suggest to people who are starting out - as it has everything you need - it's playable, with a nice tone and is well put together. It isn't the most extravagant in terms of looks - and you can get all sorts of fancy looking instruments at the same price... but with the V2-C everything has gone into how it sounds and plays, rather than trying to get a sale because it looks flash!

Having said that, there are also some colourful options at concert size, which is a sensible choice at an end of the market where people can choose with their eyes. The Baton Rouge VX2/C-DBU for example, uses a pleasant blue stain, through which the wood grain is still visible, to add a bit of flair to a solid instrument (when I say solid, I mean well made, not solid wood - just to be clear!). This series also includes models with a pickup, at an affordable price, like the Baton Rouge VX2/CE-SW concert ukulele, in white. (Note, these models have been discontinued apart from the V2-C)

Concert ukuleles from Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge Tenor Ukuleles

Another option for the serious beginner is the Baton Rouge V2-T tenor ukulele, which is a good choice for those with larger fingers, with a more spacious 37mm nut width. When starting out, hitting frets cleanly can be an issue so this 'plain-but-good' tenor is ideal. While that one is inexpensive, stepping up the range to the Baton Rouge UR71T tenor uke gives you a solid redwood top and a more mature tone, while keeping that spaciousness and the mellow edge that has become a signature of the brand. Again, there are models that add a bit more of a fun, and visual flair too, like the Baton Rouge VX2/TE-RB electro tenor (discontinued), which combines a passive pickup and a red sunburst, at an affordable price.

Tenor ukes from the BR range

Baton Rouge Baritone Ukuleles

Unless you play baritone all of the time, there's a logic in buying a baritone ukulele that isn't that expensive. With a good quality brand like this, it is an ideal instrument to add to your collection for when you need a different tone, or fancy something a little different. In the Baton Rouge V2-B baritone ukulele, you can do this without spending a fortune, and enjoy a deep, rolling tone without breaking the bank.

Baton Rouge Multi-Stringed Ukuleles

OK, technically regular ukuleles are multi stringed, but here I am referring to 5, 6 and 8 string models, which is something the brand really excels in. Their V2-T8 8-string tenor ukulele sells extremely well - again hitting that price point where experimenting doesn't cost the earth, but you get a playable instrument. There are also 5 and 6 string versions in this range.

A newer addition to their range is the Baton Rouge V2-B8 8-string baritone ukulele, which has a high and low D, high and low G, and pairs of B's and E's, making for a really rich sounding instrument with a folky, jangly sound. The fact that Baton Rouge make such an instrument, which is never going to be a mass market product, suggests that they're interested in filling niches and demonstrates their commitment to the ukulele. This, in contrast with some of the bigger brands, guitar makers especially, who can sometimes make ukuleles almost as a novelty.

Baton rouge multi-stringed ukes and baritones

Conclusion

The Baton Rouge range always delivers good value. If you've got a budget up to £200, they have lots of ukes that sit really well against the equivalent competition, and should be a real consideration if you want great quality at competitive prices.

UKE Magazine Issue 23 - George Bartle, Habanera MP3 downloads

In issue 23, George Bartle provided his arrangement of Habanera. This has two parts, so you can play either, or play both (with a friend). If you’re playing solo, you can listen to the mp3 of the second part (or first part, depending on what you’d like to play!), and duet with George. There’s also an audio file of both parts below, so that you can hear what it should sound like together.

UKE Magazine Issue 23 Play-through - Swansong

A play through of Swansong from Issue 23 of UKE Magazine.

UKE Magazine Awards 2020/21 - Your Nominations Needed

Your Nominations Needed!

The UKE Magazine Awards are back, and we need your input to decide on the favourite artists, brands and events in the ukulele world - as selected entirely by readers. The first stage is to draw up a shortlist for each category, to be voted on in the future. Note - Only UKE Magazine readers can nominate or vote to limit any influencing by social media. For this reason, the nomination form asks for your name and e-mail to ensure that only nominations from readers are counted. This information will only be used to verify that only readers can nominate and later, vote.

The categories in the awards area as follows:

If you would like to select someone or something in any of these categories, use the form below. You don’t have to suggest an answer in all categories, by any means! And you can suggest more than one in each category if you wish. These submissions will be counted and the most popular put forward to the final shortlists, which will be published in UKE Magazine Issue 24. Nominations need to be in by 1 November 2020.

You can nominate in any number of categories, just one, or any number in between. IF you want to add a short paragraph about why you made your choice, feel free - we’ll print a selection of those alongside the shortlist in the next issue (24), but that’s not a requirement!

UKE Magazine Issue 23 Competition - Win a Kala Gold Sparkle Ukulele

UKE Magazine Issue 23 Competition

One reader will win a Kala ukulele from the sparkle series! To enter, complete the form below. There are four headstocks to identify - from Kala, Uluru, aNueNue and Millar. All you have to do is look at the picture of the headstocks (with logos obscured) and choose the right brand for each headstock. Entries need to be in by 1 November 2020. One lucky winner will be chosen from those who have answered correctly.

These are the four headstocks to identify. You have to select the correct brand for each image, A, B, C and D.

UKE Magazine Issue 23 - Online Content

UKE Magazine Issue 23 has been dispatched to subscribers. Work is continuing on the online content from this magazine. Video lessons and competition forms should be in place by Monday 7 September.

Check back here then - it’s nearly there!

Eden Origin Concert and Tenor Ukuleles - Register Interest

Eden Ukuleles, a World of Ukes brand, have been a popular choice for customers in recent years - with a lot of specification for your money. They feature solid cedar tops, a gloss finish, fluorocarbon strings and a hard case, at a price of £189 (tenor) and £169 (cedar).

I am considering re-ordering a new run of these ukuleles, but… as I have to order in large quantities in order to make those prices viable, I would like to get a list of anyone interested in acquiring one, so I can gauge interest and inform people (with no obligation) when they are completed.

Please note these models have been and gone and are discontinued.

Got a Ukulele independent review of the Eden Origin.

aNueNue Moon Bird Ukulele Availability

Complete your details below for an update on the aNueNue Moon Bird Ukuleles - they’re in high demand, so do this if you’d like to be informed when they are back in stock. It will just be an e-mail, so no obligation!

Uma Fan Fret Ukuleles Arrive in the UK

The Uma fan-fret ukulele range

UMA FAN FRET UKULELES

These unusual looking instruments from Uma are new to the UK for July 2020. They feature fanned frets, which look unusual, yes, but have a practical purpose too. They allow the low G (fitted as standard) to have a higher tension, making it ring out with greater resonance and sustain. In the same way that a soprano uke suits a low G less than a tenor does, because of the tension, these instruments give you a nice zip to the low G without overwhelming the crisp trebles.

In terms of playability, they are remarkably easy for a regular uke player to adjust to. In fact, if anything, the angled frets make barre chords cleaner and easier. What looks like a mind-boggling set up is in fact, perfectly playable. Seriously, you just pick it up and play and it feels perfectly natural. I understand that people will have doubts about that - I certainly did - but I need not have worried as they’re really easy to get on with.

The Uma range, with fanned frets includes four different models, two all solid acacia ukes in concert and tenor, and another concert and tenor with solid spruce top and solid walnut back and sides.

The concert acacia model, the KC, you can read more about here

The tenor acacia model, designated the KT, is here.

The spruce and walnut concert, the SC, can be found here.

Finally, the tenor in spruce and walnut, the ST, is here

UKE Magazine Issue 22 Competition

In June 2020’s UKE Magazine, you’ll find details of our competition to win a Laka VUT-90 solid top tenor ukulele, fitted with the Graphtech Ratio Tune-a-lele tuners - the world’s lightest machine heads.

The competition prize

To win, entries need to be in by 1 August 2020, with the correct answer to the following question…

UKE Magazine Issue 22 - Technique Zone

Here you can watch a video of the lesson explained in Issue 22 of UKE Magazine, in the technique zone section - looking at picking patterns.