This is a guitalele, a 6-string instrument that is tuned A to A, allowing you to use guitar chord shapes in a compact format, or to add two extra bass strings to your GCEA ukulele. I am not sure I’ve explained the Baton Rouge V2-GT very well there so let’s try again.

The tuning across the 6 strings is A, D, G, C, E, A. This is effecively like playing a guitar with a capo at the 5th fret. You’ll also notice if you’re a ukulele player that the top four strings are GCEA, so that’s like a ukulele with a low G.

This is a new variant with a tenor ukulele scale, not to be confused with the V2-G, which was baritone uke size. This one has a tighter, more controlled sound, with its Savarez strings. I confess that I haven’t always been the biggest guitalele fan as I struggle to play them, but this one is really quite playable, even with my larger hands (and anyone with smaller hands I think would get on really well this this.

It’s a laminate mahogany instrument, with good geared tuners, a Nubone nut and saddle (nut width 43mm) and a slightly arched back, which seems to bring out the bass end of the spectrum nicely and remove any ‘boxy’ nature from the tone, as you can find in some laminates.

The Sun range from Baton Rouge has always been a good, inexpensive series that, while plain, offers really good value. If you’re thinking of a guitalele, and don’t know if you’ll use it all the time, this V2-GT is a good option as it’s not too expensive (but does sound good), so it’s not a massive investment even if it isn’t your everyday instrument, but one as part of a wider collection.

For common extras like a gig bag or strap buttons, scroll to the bottom of the page for ‘easy-to-add’ extras.