Got A Ukulele Reviews - Barnes and Mullins UBJ2 Banjo Ukulele - 4K
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- Got A Ukulele reviews returns to banjo territory with the UBJ2 from Barnes and Mullins - Review - www.gotaukulele.com/2021/06/b...
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Intro 0:00
Thank you's 0:17
Review Start 0:59
Pricing 4:59
Sound Sample 6:49
Summing up 9:05
#ukulele #gotaukulele #review
Banjoleles are like motorcycles. Pure joy when you are the operator, but a bagpipe-like irritation when someone else is making the sound. You are right; it does sound untuned.
Ain't that the truth..
You do have great humor!
I try to see the light hearted as much as the serious!
Enjoyed the review as always! Very entertaining, educating and interesting. As a banjolele player I think the sound is too thin and wooly, it doesn’t have a crisp sharp attack that I go to banjoleles for. I find most modern banjoleles sound loke banjos but lack any real volume or tone that they were originally designed for and this is no exception
I appreciate your expert view on these Matthew - thanks!
Another great review!!! Thank you Got A Ukulele! :-)♥
Thanks,
Looks cute, intonation can be fixed, but I wouldn't play this on a first date!
Ha ha!
Ukes, like guitars, need compensation. Try to place the bridge 2-2.5 mm beyond the theoretically perfect location (e.g. for a 360 mm scale, place the bridge at 362 mm). That should help remove the sharpness of fretted notes.
I know - I used to work as a guitar tech..The bridge was placed there to start with then I used a strobe to dial it in.
Great honest review as always. I hark back to your review of the Deering. Much dearer but different league soundwise and for build quality.
Oh absolutely - different class!
The best Banjo ukes are the old vintage ones. They don't make em like they used to! Brilliant video though!
Thanks for the great review, Baz! I have been in the market for a banjo uke for a while but haven't found one that has a reliable review as yet. The last one I tried was a Rally(?) and had intonation problems I couldn't seem to solve by adjusting the bridge as well as a horrendous broom handle neck - really uncomfortable to play and hold. Perhaps the Firefly is the way to go...depsite not having the vintage looks I prefer.
I finally bought you that beer I owed you for turning me on to the Ken Timms! Thanks again!
Thanks so much! Oh, and the Firefly's are great!
I am in the camp that likes the banjolele. I like the "old-timey" sound they can produce. Not really a fan of this particular one. I prefer a bigger pot. I have the Gold Tone Gem that's ok but love my old Dixie all metal banolele. Love and appreciate your honest reviews! Those can be hard to find but I know I can always trust yours.
Thanks Ian
@@GotAUkulele You're welcome
I actually like the sound but I wouldn't be able to get over the intonation problem.
The intonation is easily fixed at the nut - which I would do if this was a keeper..
Ukulele banjos can be a lot of fun depending on the songs you play on them . I own a Luna concert banjo ukulele and it’s a blast to play Hank Williams tune with .
Yep, can see that.
Yep, definitely sharp in first position. I know you’ve given the Firefly some love. Mine is really nice. But I don’t play it a lot either.
Yep - high nut - and easily fixed - which I would if it was a keeper.
I learnt on a Kmise. Then I bought the Flight. No comparison. Great review again
Flight are great!
"A" for effort in trying to be fair. I find it interesting visually... Not my cuppa but I'll listen to them when I come across a player that is into them.
Yeah, I like the aesthetics a lot - and more than other banjo ukes. The sound - less so
Wow it does sound sharp. Pulled down my Luna soprano banjolele (6” pot). Not the same instrument but very similar except for a back that is sorta closed and warmer sounding. Wonder if a back would help the sound.
Very possibly
Enjoyed the review. I love banjos and have a couple of 5-string ones. I would like a ukelele banjo in my uke collection but the string spacing and broom handle might make it uncomfortable for me.
Try to have a go on a Magic Fluke Firefly - so light and really comfortable to play.
@@GotAUkulele Yeah that might be it, I have a Flea that I really like and I really like the possiblity to have custom engravings and other option to make the instrument look like one of kind.
What are the chords that you try in almost every video in the sound sample part? Are there any tutorials that I can find? Or name of the songs, I’d love to learn them :)
Link in video description!
Yup, if I were in a position to buy one, this might be on my list. I say MIGHT, as I have a per-war, EVEN SMALLER pot one that does me well. But, unlike this one, it has a wooden pot and metal back. Definitely, though, it suits some songs and not others - not just 20s/30s and Formby stuff, but also things like "Rockin' all over the world" and "It must be Love" (Labi Siffre). As a uke-player, it suits me as a useful and portable addition to the pack, and can hold its own acoustically when busking. Maybe it would be interesting to hear you play something else on it?
Yes, these small pot ukes used to be very popular. Not sure this lived up to the old ones sadly.
Having had a tenor banjo in the past, I am actually interested in eventually getting a banjolele, but for that price I would expect a better setup. That is a deal breaker for me.
I'd agree - but bear in mind I bought this blind from a non specialist uke store. I know some specialists carry these from time to time and i would not expect (Southern Ukulele for example) to ship without setup check. Yes, B and M should be responsible, but a good store is the next safety net.
Consider reviewing the Aklot concert banjolele. Great value instrument!
Sorry - will never happen. I questioned them about their marketing practices and they flat out lied to me in an email exchange. From that point on I decided Aklot will never appear on Got A Ukulele. I refuse to give them air time.
@@GotAUkulele I'd also like to know more about this. Is it about review copies? Or is it about "competitor" brands like Kmise or Donner?--I could see them stacking like Russian dolls, granted that's the tinfoily assumption. Or maybe it's about how the AKLOT banjolele's neck looks extremely similar to the Gold Tone Little Gem's? Before that? Something different? I don't mean to question your judgement, but knowing always helps... A hint? Is it on your Patreon? Is there a safe deposit box?
You did well to find some plus points there, Baz. "Fun and bouncy!" Hmm. ;)
Yet I'm equally getting comments saying they like the sound - my point about divisiveness seems proved!
Ok, it looks adorable. I like playing a banjolele when I play bluegrass, and that's quite a lot lately. But I wouldn't trade mine for this, despite looking this cute. It's not even the setup, that can be fixed. The sound is not quite right for me.
Fair enough!
Slacking the tension on the head might help the brittleness of the sound. I love 5-string, open-back banjos. The littler guys not at all.
Would mess with it if I was keeping it. You may be right.
I learned from an old time 5 string banjo player; "Tighten the head till you think it's going to bust." lol
I've done it for 5 string and for banjolele, and can't say he was wrong.
It worked for a cheapo Kmise banjolele, but I had to get a shorter bridge. Sounds 10x better now.
Different strokes for different folks. If it brings joy to the player, I’m ok with that.
If you really don’t like the way it sounds, use it as a drum practice pad after taking the strings off, lol
I like the do not throw away sticker on the headstock
Fair enough!
Oh my. Very out of tune. Definitely needs a set up. It looks very appealing in some ways. I managed to get an open back Kala Soprano Banjolele, lowered the action and then it played beautifully. Recently thought I'd try a Kmise Banjolele from ebay... 51 pounds... amazing value. I took the back off, made some mahogany wood spacers to create a gap between the back and pot and wow what a noise... definitely need ear covers... Banjoleles are definitely worthwhile looking into.
I like the banjo uke, and I have a Lanakai concert banjolele with a resonator. This one you reviewed today was sharp-looking and looked like an overall quality build, subject to the issues you pointed out with the finish and fingerboard, and the headstock proportions. But oh, my goodness, I found the sound just awful and out of tune, seriously out of tune. Since you checked intonation at the 12th fret and the bridge, I can only assume it was the high nut slots sharpening first fret notes. I'm assuming the nut issue can be corrected, but with the sound so off, I think allowing the instrument to leave the factory like that is a QC issue.
Yep - very common for B and M to have quality control issues sadly
I bought a Kmise concert scale banjolele new for £55 and I swear they are made by the same people as the B&M ones. They are identical in every way (except the headstock shape is slightly different) for a quarter of the price. The Kmise did need setting up but it worked fine once I had adjusted it correctly. I later bought a Goodtime which is a much better instrument but a lot more expensive. My personal view is either buy cheap or expensive but avoid these mid priced £200 ones. They are made in China and often no better than the identical cheap sub £100 options.
Let's put it this way - there are a LOT more ukulele brands from China than there are uke building workshops...
Lots of shared production going on. OEM stuff.
I think it looks fantastic but it sounds a bit out of tune. I would have one after setting it up properly.
All about the setup - which is poor
I love me some banjolele, BUT if you’re gonna get one, get a good one, like an Ohana, Gold Tone, or Deering. The Amazon ones I’ve tried didn’t sound very good and their intonation was lacking, which kills the experience of course. But it’s FUN to play ragtime, blues, and some jazz on a good banjolele, as well as accompany a guitarist on country-type and old-time music, a banjo cheat if you will. 😂
Totally agree with you - cheaper banjo ukes never really cut it for me.
I think all instruments have their place, but the Banjolele is not for me. I would get a banjo if I wanted to play banjo. I like the ukulele as it is, and different ukuleles have enough uniqueness for me to enjoy. Thanks for the review. I enjoy seeing different types of instruments so for a review it works but that’s about it 😂..stay well… DOC
I can no longer Stand and hold a five string banjo. That’s why the banjo uke works for me.
@@MsNickie1001 I get that in a sense that is why I play the ukulele. I used to play guitars and they are to big and bulky to get around with. I use a mobility scooter when I have to walk more then a couple blocks and ukuleles are easier to carry around. Hip and back issues so Ukuleles work!😉
The sound is terrible. Maybe it depends on that I'm used to play with 8 inch pot?
We could see you tune it, so that is not the problem. Well, thanks a lot for a nice review anyway ❤️
Don't disagree - many small banjos are very hard to get right
Yeah, this one’s intonation is not good 😬
Yeah, can't say I'm impressed by this particular model, certainly not for that price, there are far better sounding and better quality banjoleles out there for a fraction of the price. And with regards to the banjolele as an instrument in general, personally I think they perform far better when they are NOT played like a ukulele, but more like a 5 string banjo. I find it far more enjoyable to play it clawhammer style, and in various alternative tunings, usually tuned down a step to give it deeper and warmer tone. I basically use mine a travel banjo for when I don't fancy lugging my full size banjo around.
I've got a UBJ1 that needs restringing; it has a nice case though.
I love a good banjo player but I struggle to like anything at all on a ukulele banjo. Same reason I sold off the resonator. It just hates my ears
I know what you mean. My friend Phil Doleman makes it look effortless and sounds great - ditto Aaron Keim - but 99.9% of others I hear sound appalling.
There are some some pickers out there but they're not me
I have the UBJ1 which is a beautifully made banjolele unlike that thing you played haha it sounded horrible and almost out of tune. I think I’ll avoid it thanks for review though
That's my main issue with Barnes and Mullins - very inconsistent quality control. I know others who own these with no issue. Also know some with the UBJ1 that needed a lot of work.
When I first saw a banjo uke I though it was just a toy banjo 😆
I just don't like banjos generally but (like bagpipes) appreciate the skill of those who play it well, even if does suggest to my ear, an innocent domestic pet getting tortured. Who am I to rain on their parade? Good, interesting review though, just not my poison. 👍
It really depends on the style of banjo music. Bluegrass (whilst I like some of it personally) has cemented an image of the banjo in many people's minds as nothing more than a twangy noise maker, or a means for people to show off how ridiculously fast they can play the thing. I much prefer the "old time" and "Appalachian" banjo styles, the tone and pace is much more mellow and pleasing to the ear in my opinion.
It's SOOOO cute!!!! (But it sounds like a toy to me.) :-(
Oh for sure - intonation aside, I think the pot is too small for it to have a more serious voice. Very thin and brittle.
Sounds OK.
What do you call 10000 banjos at the bottom of the ocean? A good start!
heh heh!
I think banjos themselves put people in two camps, (in reality, the same is true with ukuleles, which are still seen as "lesser" instruments by many). Not my cup of tea, but to each their own.
Yep, that's true.
Do not care for the sound of that at all! Not a banjo ukulele fan at all. To me, it would be like having a guitar harp. I don't get it, but to each their own! However, if I was a fan or this kind of ukulele, I would spend a bit more to get a better quality one! Thanks, Baz!
Never understood those harp ukes / harp guitars either. Cheers Chuck.
Listen to some George Formby music. You might like it.
Ooh! That does sound bad!
And I like banjo ukes, but that is not a good one.
No - not great
Definitely not for me. Great review!
Nor me if I'm honest!
Not alot of character to the tone on this one. Maybe a fun outdoor instrument.
I'd agree.
Such a tiny pot is always going to sound thin and tinny. You can adjust the co-ordinator rod but it's really there to support the pot and only very tiny adjustments to change neck angle should be made. Barnes and Mullins of course just order these in from the uke factory. I doubt they even check them over when they arrive in the crate in the UK. Looks like poor value. An 8 inch pot Goldtone BU1 doesn't cost much more and I've heard the cheap usual suspect Amazon brands sounding better.
The neck angle on this can't be changed as I said - it's double bolted to the pot.
@@GotAUkulele Lots of banjos have this arrangement with one co-ordinator rod and a second bolted connection. You can still adjust the neck angle but as mentioned as only very small changes should be made.
@@MrGrahawk I just loosened the second bolt - it's pretty snug in the whole - i can't see how upwards and downwards movement could really work. Could be wrong - won't be trying.
@@GotAUkulele You don't loosen the second bolt. In banjos with two co-ordinator rods you don't loosen the second rod. You just make tiny adjustments to the bottom one. Half turn, perhaps one turn, max on the bolts. As mentioned these are not for making major changes to neck angle but tiny adjustments can help especially up the neck of a banjo. Beyond tiny adjustments you can easily put the rim out of round. If the neck angle is a disaster then shims between pot and neck are the required option. Those with one co-ordinator rod shouldn't be touched.
@@MrGrahawk I know why I don't really like banjo's....
EEEK!!!!!!
ha!
Wow , I don’t have an opinion, not my thing either
No nor me - I know people like them. i have leave them be..
The intonation gave me a face as though I'd sucked a lemon. Not my bag.
Ha ha!
It sounds like a cheap instrument. Not terrible, but not very representative of a good quality or vintage banjolele.
Looks cute. But sounds awful to my ears at least. Prob just the intonation. Wouldn't bin it though.
Yep fair enough.
Oh... Oh no. I'm not a fan of that one at all really. Sounds like a ukulele but something's gone terribly wrong.
Ha haa!
It sounds weird. Seems to be out of tune...
If you watch the video (and indeed ANY video on this channel) - you will see I address that . It IS in tune at the nut, but the setup is poor and it's leading to intonation issues. It's why I tune every uke with a strobe tuner before review. If you hear out of tune, it's down to the setup of the uke.
No
Ha ha!