I know we like to pay as little as possible for things but, given the quality of the wood and build quality, you’d pay double that for a Hawaiian brand. The uke sounds nice too. Therefore, I think it’s good value. I too would have preferred a darker faceplate. Nice review.
A real stunner: dazzling wood with an amazing finish, and I like the tuners, too. From this side of the UA-cam screen it sounded plenty loud whichever style you played. The tone was a bit different in each style and I liked them all. Overpriced? I don't know, but fully-priced, yes. The concert is my natural size, but I practice the soprano most because I think a real ukulele player must acquit him or herself on the soprano to be called a uke player. It's worth watching you review a few clunkers now and then to see a gem like this. Excellent review.
Yep - the volume is ok - I probably made too much of that point. Still not loud like a Ken Timms or that DJ Morgan I reviewed, but certainly passable. Fully agree with you with that bit about sopranos too!
Mouth watering. A couple of my sopranos are so loud they're a bit hard to sing above. Give me a rich, sustained tone and perhaps not the loudest cannon in the arsenal like this one . . . as long as it's not a struggle to get a sound out of it.
It’s sad that they are not making more using the same wood. The Ukulele is very beautiful, and sound extremely nice when picked, or strummed. Thank you for sharing.
I love sopranos and this one looks absolutely beautiful. I usually go for more of a flat finish but I really like this one as you do! Slot style is the way to go with a soprano. I would like another dot at 12 but not a big deal. I like the head color but I see your point with a darker color. Price is high for sure. 😊sort of like the sound . I don’t know how to explain it but it has a back bark to the sound like a full box sound not boxy in fact the opposite. I really like this one. Thanks my friend…DOC
This is my favorite soprano ukulele so far, and I went back and looked at every video you made on soprano ukes. This is the most beautiful looking ukulele in my opinion. I'm sure the owner is going to be very pleased. 🤩
I do like the faceplate on the headstock. I think it gives it a more unique look. I bought a ukulele that originally had a lighter headstock, (which I liked) but popular opinion made the maker change it. I believe it was stained darker to match the rosewood bridge. I was happy I bought mine before they changed it (the change happened quickly). I saw pictures after and thought it looked too uniform (my opinion of course). I'm happy you use the word subjective because it's true. We all have our opinions, but the most popular will usually make a change.
Coming back to price - If you add 20% VAT to the similar Dave Morgan uke you did recently you get 594. I really think this exceptional uke is fairly priced. It takes just as much time and skill to make a soprano as a tenor. There is more material used in a tenor, for sure and it may be that some pieces of timber are unsuitable for a tenor so the price of hunting out the right timber raises tenor prices, but on any uke materials are going to be a fraction of labour
Great review, Baz. Wow, that is a beautiful ukulele! I love the way it looks! It's beautifully crafted. Honestly, it is a bit expensive, but I don't think it is excessively so and you have something most other players do not!
Great review Baz, kind of agree that the faceplate should be darker, or even the logo darker. The wood is lovely and I also had a perception that Sapele was cheaper, However, Millar are doing them self a bit of an injustice, if they said this was, as you describe, “Birds Eye Sapele” and it is stunning, then they would be justified. Was unsure on cost, but once you began playing, Wowsers, really up there and so complex for a Soprano. Millar can certainly build wicked Soprano’s and Matt has such a variety. Take care and enjoy your break.
Lovely tone - it has both bark and chime. Beautiful looking as well, though I’m with you on the headstock - I think I’d have preferred it matching the body without the plate. Still, it’s a minor niggle really. I’m a big fan of Millars - I have two and they’re both essential to me. As for the price - I suppose it’s comparable with solid mahogany Kiwaya sopranos, though more expensive than the Millars I own. Thanks for reviewing something really nice!
Absolutely beautiful! Right up my street as well. A bit too expensive for my pension but tbf, you get what you pay for. Sounds amazing to my ears, beautiful to my eyes and weepy to my wallet. Thanks for the review, as usual, Baz. Stay well mate! 👍
Stunning ukulele, looks and sound. Worth every penny in my opinion. Artisan made and unique. The Dave Morgan you did recently was, I think, under-priced.
Hiya Baz! I totally agree with you about the Faceplate and also about the price. I really didn't expect the price to be so high. Was thinking about £450 to be honest. I do think £600 is too much even if custom made. Thanks once again for another stella review!
Yes, the custom soprano ukulele is gorgeous & worth the money it costs. As a relative beginner of 14 months playing soprano ukulele and a retired senior on very limited funds, I wish to buy myself another "entry" price ukulele. I had decided to buy a Cordoba 15SM in November or December 2023 when I can afford it. But, Cordoba just RAISED their price to USD $90 with no accessories. Do you think Cordoba is worth it? I want something as good quality as possible to see me into better playing. Or should I look elsewhere perhaps to an Aklot? I already have: Flight pineapple Lanikai soprano mahogany Those are my two best & favorite ukuleles. I would like to add one good soprano to my tiny collection.
I think Cordoba are ok, but always have found their instruments quite bland to play. Well made enough, but no real spark. I will never endorse Aklot for their business practices.
Very beautiful instrument. Lovely wood. See what you mean with having those kind of tuners on this size of instrument, much nicer than 'ear' type. Nice rich sound. I like plucked and single notes. Yes, nice 'character' to it. Very nice honest review.
Gorgeous! Before I bought a ukulele, I always thought I'd like a glossy finish. That is, until I read or heard somewhere that a glossy finish can affect the sound. I don't know enough about ukuleles to know if that's true or not. I still love the look, though!
They do affect tone - but jury is out as to whether that is positive or negative - in fact it's totally subjective . I find it can make the sound a bit tighter and snappier. Also it depends ENTIRELY on the quality of the gloss. A super thin nitro gloss is quite different to a thick gloopy poly coat!
@@GotAUkulele - If I went into a music store, would they be able to tell me what kind of gloss it is, or can I determine myself somehow? Or do the specs on glossy instruments indicate if it's nitro or poly? I'll look up some online just to see if it's in the specs.
@@e.castlerock8454 Quite difficult and I can only partially tell through years of experience. Sadly the product specs are often lacking. Nitro can feel and look thinner and when fresh can have an almost sticky feel. Over time nitro also kind of soaks down into the wood and follows the grain pattern. Poly looks more like a glass coating. But these are not hard and fast - you can have thin poly and thick nitro!
As the gloss is heavy in places, I take it the finish is polyurethane and not nitrocellulose? The former causes hesitance with me, as the tendency is to go for a “deep” finish, and thick poly can easy smother volume. I wager that polishing the soundboard out with jeweler’s rouge and a lamb’s wool pad would move this into new worlds of volume. BTW, if the intention is to echo the name of the California city, that string brand would be pronounced, “FREE-mont.”
It's a lovely thing. Especially considering the sapele wood, which i normally associate with low grade instruments. And this clearly isn't low grade! Maybe I'm a wood snob, and i need to reevaluate my prejudices? 😂
@@GotAUkulele I love the looks, the sound is just ok to me. There have only been a couple of sopranos that wow me sound wise. I lean towards concert ukes with the odd tenor noodling.
I know we like to pay as little as possible for things but, given the quality of the wood and build quality, you’d pay double that for a Hawaiian brand. The uke sounds nice too. Therefore, I think it’s good value. I too would have preferred a darker faceplate. Nice review.
You are right actually - very fair point!
You said pretty much exactly what I would have said 😊
A real stunner: dazzling wood with an amazing finish, and I like the tuners, too. From this side of the UA-cam screen it sounded plenty loud whichever style you played. The tone was a bit different in each style and I liked them all. Overpriced? I don't know, but fully-priced, yes. The concert is my natural size, but I practice the soprano most because I think a real ukulele player must acquit him or herself on the soprano to be called a uke player. It's worth watching you review a few clunkers now and then to see a gem like this. Excellent review.
Yep - the volume is ok - I probably made too much of that point. Still not loud like a Ken Timms or that DJ Morgan I reviewed, but certainly passable.
Fully agree with you with that bit about sopranos too!
Mouth watering. A couple of my sopranos are so loud they're a bit hard to sing above. Give me a rich, sustained tone and perhaps not the loudest cannon in the arsenal like this one . . . as long as it's not a struggle to get a sound out of it.
Not a struggle - I made more of that point than I should have!!
It’s sad that they are not making more using the same wood. The Ukulele is very beautiful, and sound extremely nice when picked, or strummed. Thank you for sharing.
As I understand it - it was a limited stock of the birds eye wood - when it's gone it's gone!
Thank you. Keep up the wonderful review...@@GotAUkulele
I love sopranos and this one looks absolutely beautiful. I usually go for more of a flat finish but I really like this one as you do! Slot style is the way to go with a soprano. I would like another dot at 12 but not a big deal. I like the head color but I see your point with a darker color. Price is high for sure. 😊sort of like the sound . I don’t know how to explain it but it has a back bark to the sound like a full box sound not boxy in fact the opposite. I really like this one. Thanks my friend…DOC
Thanks Doc!
This is my favorite soprano ukulele so far, and I went back and looked at every video you made on soprano ukes. This is the most beautiful looking ukulele in my opinion. I'm sure the owner is going to be very pleased. 🤩
I do like the faceplate on the headstock. I think it gives it a more unique look. I bought a ukulele that originally had a lighter headstock, (which I liked) but popular opinion made the maker change it. I believe it was stained darker to match the rosewood bridge. I was happy I bought mine before they changed it (the change happened quickly). I saw pictures after and thought it looked too uniform (my opinion of course). I'm happy you use the word subjective because it's true. We all have our opinions, but the most popular will usually make a change.
Glad you like it!
Coming back to price - If you add 20% VAT to the similar Dave Morgan uke you did recently you get 594. I really think this exceptional uke is fairly priced. It takes just as much time and skill to make a soprano as a tenor. There is more material used in a tenor, for sure and it may be that some pieces of timber are unsuitable for a tenor so the price of hunting out the right timber raises tenor prices, but on any uke materials are going to be a fraction of labour
Yep, VAT does come into it.
Great review, Baz. Wow, that is a beautiful ukulele! I love the way it looks! It's beautifully crafted. Honestly, it is a bit expensive, but I don't think it is excessively so and you have something most other players do not!
Fair enough!
Great review Baz, kind of agree that the faceplate should be darker, or even the logo darker. The wood is lovely and I also had a perception that Sapele was cheaper, However, Millar are doing them self a bit of an injustice, if they said this was, as you describe, “Birds Eye Sapele” and it is stunning, then they would be justified. Was unsure on cost, but once you began playing, Wowsers, really up there and so complex for a Soprano. Millar can certainly build wicked Soprano’s and Matt has such a variety. Take care and enjoy your break.
Matt takes the credit for bringing this brand to the UK and to my attention!
Millar's homage to Kamaka. Nice review, as always.
Thanks for watching!
Lovely tone - it has both bark and chime. Beautiful looking as well, though I’m with you on the headstock - I think I’d have preferred it matching the body without the plate. Still, it’s a minor niggle really.
I’m a big fan of Millars - I have two and they’re both essential to me.
As for the price - I suppose it’s comparable with solid mahogany Kiwaya sopranos, though more expensive than the Millars I own.
Thanks for reviewing something really nice!
Many thanks!
Absolutely beautiful! Right up my street as well. A bit too expensive for my pension but tbf, you get what you pay for. Sounds amazing to my ears, beautiful to my eyes and weepy to my wallet.
Thanks for the review, as usual, Baz. Stay well mate! 👍
Thank you!
Thanks!
Thanks so much Stephen!
Barry,
You are so welcome. Appreciate all you do for the worldwide ukulele community.
Cheers,
Steve.
@@stephenalbrich2715 👍
It’s a beautiful instrument Baz
Indeed!
Stunning ukulele, looks and sound. Worth every penny in my opinion. Artisan made and unique. The Dave Morgan you did recently was, I think, under-priced.
Oh, for sure!
Dave is the best when it comes to pricing (and not only that).
I wish i knew when the next are ready, because you took the last one 😆
@@akipachoekie I didn't take it - not mine!
Wow, thanks
You are most welcome
Hiya Baz! I totally agree with you about the Faceplate and also about the price. I really didn't expect the price to be so high. Was thinking about £450 to be honest. I do think £600 is too much even if custom made. Thanks once again for another stella review!
Thanks Wendy!
Yes, the custom soprano ukulele
is gorgeous & worth the money
it costs.
As a relative beginner of 14 months playing soprano ukulele and a retired senior on very limited funds, I wish to buy myself another "entry" price ukulele. I had decided to buy a Cordoba 15SM in November or December 2023 when I can afford it.
But, Cordoba just RAISED their price to USD $90 with no accessories. Do you think
Cordoba is worth it? I want something as good quality as possible to see me into better playing. Or should I look elsewhere perhaps to an Aklot?
I already have:
Flight pineapple
Lanikai soprano mahogany
Those are my two best & favorite ukuleles. I would like to add one good soprano to my tiny collection.
I think Cordoba are ok, but always have found their instruments quite bland to play. Well made enough, but no real spark. I will never endorse Aklot for their business practices.
Really lovely instrument. I had a sepele tenor but didn't sound this nice. Have a great week Barry
Remarkable sound!
Very beautiful instrument. Lovely wood. See what you mean with having those kind of tuners on this size of instrument, much nicer than 'ear' type. Nice rich sound. I like plucked and single notes. Yes, nice 'character' to it. Very nice honest review.
Many thanks!
Millar do things right!
Considering the 'custom'-factor & the UPTs … the price is fair game.
They really do
Audible sharp intake of breath at the reveal!
I know right?
Gorgeous! Before I bought a ukulele, I always thought I'd like a glossy finish. That is, until I read or heard somewhere that a glossy finish can affect the sound. I don't know enough about ukuleles to know if that's true or not. I still love the look, though!
They do affect tone - but jury is out as to whether that is positive or negative - in fact it's totally subjective . I find it can make the sound a bit tighter and snappier. Also it depends ENTIRELY on the quality of the gloss. A super thin nitro gloss is quite different to a thick gloopy poly coat!
@@GotAUkulele - If I went into a music store, would they be able to tell me what kind of gloss it is, or can I determine myself somehow? Or do the specs on glossy instruments indicate if it's nitro or poly? I'll look up some online just to see if it's in the specs.
@@e.castlerock8454 Quite difficult and I can only partially tell through years of experience. Sadly the product specs are often lacking. Nitro can feel and look thinner and when fresh can have an almost sticky feel. Over time nitro also kind of soaks down into the wood and follows the grain pattern. Poly looks more like a glass coating. But these are not hard and fast - you can have thin poly and thick nitro!
Ukele soprano flight nus 200 this good for sound, and for beginner?
If they are stock strings, it's indeed more likely to be worth browns. Not sure there are outlets selling Fremont strings in Asia.
No, but there are ukes out there that come with them as stock - just not many
A pretty good ukulele. By that I mean it's very pretty and very good.
It is!
As the gloss is heavy in places, I take it the finish is polyurethane and not nitrocellulose? The former causes hesitance with me, as the tendency is to go for a “deep” finish, and thick poly can easy smother volume. I wager that polishing the soundboard out with jeweler’s rouge and a lamb’s wool pad would move this into new worlds of volume.
BTW, if the intention is to echo the name of the California city, that string brand would be pronounced, “FREE-mont.”
Yep - Poly
It's a lovely thing. Especially considering the sapele wood, which i normally associate with low grade instruments. And this clearly isn't low grade! Maybe I'm a wood snob, and i need to reevaluate my prejudices? 😂
Me too!
I agree, its lovely but as a 'one-off' bird's eye at 599 quid ($727) it belongs in an art gallery with the head stock covered.
Ha ha!
It's not my cuppa, but it looks beautiful!!
Looks or sound?
@@GotAUkulele I love the looks, the sound is just ok to me. There have only been a couple of sopranos that wow me sound wise. I lean towards concert ukes with the odd tenor noodling.
@@markattardo Fair enough - I found it really rich and interesting. Subjective of course
It looks like a concert.
Def a soprano scale - in fact a very small bodied soprano at that!
I really got the impression that you just didn't like this uke😊 your so right prices going up on everything
Ha ha!
Nice looking but I don’t care for the tone.
Why not?
Amazing sustain, amazing sound. I thought it would cost between 500 and 700. Well then!
Enjoy the week off, Baz! 💛
I think I need to reset my 'value for money meter' !!