Martin & Co S-O Uke

Martin ukulele, made in Mexico
Purchased in the USA (at Sam Ash in LA)
Very nice finish, the device seems sturdy and here to stay!

UTILIZATION

Very enjoyable to play, then it's a ukulele so be applied to make sound good, especially when you leave the top of the handle

SOUNDS

it has a beautiful sound, very typical of the ukulele, the sound is fine treble but they are not aggressive or garish, it's even a fairly warm sound
as stated below, all models do not sound the same way, in particular, mine does not have a very high contrast to other models I've tried (but it suits me) volume

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 4 years, before that I had an entry level and the difference is obvious ukulele, to finish level grip and especially in sound
Ca € 400 may seem high for a ukulele, but it's really a good tool, very well done, nice, that sounds great. Even if you pay a little MARTIN brand, ets good value for money!

Soprano ukulele while mahogany.
Manufacturing irrprochable (must be said that there is not much produce!)

UTILIZATION

Ben ... it's a ukulele. The handle, Access in acute ergonomics? It's a ukulele! If you do not know, try!

SOUNDS

It sounds ... as a soprano ukulele (tuning in most frquent C6: sol-do-mi-la).
Personally I m'clate above.
One thing to say: beautiful sound projection for such a small instrument. It sounds good drlement the small!

OVERALL OPINION

The ukulele is fun, not bulky, festive, and exchange large electrical equipment that we hack all the time for "good sound" (like, it lacks the serious, is it I must dig further medium, I have this RULES flanger ...).
Lowlight: 350 euros! It's a Martin! But is it really justified?
At least now I can say I have a Martin! (It is good as can be)

Uke "Made in Mexico"
Solid wood, all mahogany.
Soprano Size
12 Frets: not much, but given the size of the last fret, this seems justified ...
Excellent finish
I really like the minimalist aesthetic "all mahogany of this instrument.

UTILIZATION

Difficult for a guitarist to talk about the ergonomics of a Uke: it is small, it takes some getting used to but it comes out of music! I'm more comfortable handles for thicker (Brüko brand for example).
Easy instrument to play, good projection.
But be careful: I've played more (same model), there was a significant disparity between the instruments that came into my hands.

SOUNDS

I chose this instrument with my ears ... After trying many Uke cheaper and more expensive, it's really the one that occurred to me to have the best value for their money.
Nothing to do with an instrument for beginners. It is very powerful, what can be found on entry-level instruments, but the sound has more "grain", heat and a lot more finesse.
Its typical uke all mahogany. Since I have installed ropes Worth Brown, he has more than sustain, even at the expense of the typical sound he had with his strings of origin (the "crystal" brand Martin I guess) that produced a drier sound.
I accompanied me on the songs of Thomas Fersen, I play in picking a few pieces, everything sounds. Mounted Worth Brown is a very versatile instrument.

OVERALL OPINION

For over a year since I instrument. I bought it to add another color to my performances sung, it gives me satisfaction in this context. I also had the opportunity to use in picking solo for a benefit concert, without a microphone in a 600-seat theater, the whole room took over, whistling the tune of "Tea for Two": it works!
As I wrote above, I tried many instruments, lots of brands in 4 or 5 stores in Paris. There the best: intruments luthier (Knight, for example), the former Martin made in U.S. ... But at prices of at least double it.
In the category of "less than 400 Euros (price paid: 350 Euro), I found no better at the time and the price seems fully justified by the quality of sound, flawless finish and the fact that it is an instrument "while massive, built to improve over time.
For a budget around 150 Euros, I did buy a uke Brüko two of my friends, is very good in this price category, while solid, built like a Panzer, but the delicacy of the sound is not the same. Otherwise, with a budget of 700-800 Euros, I would choose a Knight. But there is no longer in the same budget installment!
In short, I would do without hesitation if the choice had to start again. Caution, however, be able to try the instrument you choose, all do not sound the same way!

Model purchased in 2007 that I kept only 6-7 months and have recently tried the current model (similar), I do not regret at all having sold!
Made in Mexico, soprano ukulele standard (12 frets)
Top, Back, Sides: Solid sapele (a lot like mahogany but it is a distant cousin African wood denser and cheap that does not heat the mahogany) neck is a light wood that I could never identify, the key is "morado" according to the data sheet. Mechanical friction, ordinary soprano on this format.
The assembly is correct, it's done properly and the frets are well trimmed. The action is too high, but the instrument is accurate.
Note that the cover supplied with the instrument was too big, too broad a clear bag for mandolin!

UTILIZATION

The handle is nice, it is the only highlight of the ukulele. Like any solid wood soprano is light as a feather, so it is difficult to talk about usability ...
Access to acute is irrelevant on this type of instrument: past the seventh fret it becomes very difficult to play correctly unless you have fingers seamstress
The sound is not worthy of the brand Martin!

SOUNDS

With the strings of origin (of GHS if I remember correctly), the sound was slender. Once fitted with Aquila strings Nylgut was already better, but still showing good response sound very shrill on rhythm ... Brief nothing to do with the legendary Martin ukuleles the 50's ... it is not but from sapele mahogany and it feels great on an instrument so small!

OVERALL OPINION

I used it about 4-5 months and then I ended up selling it.
Unfortunately I had tried any other model before buying this uke, too trusting to mark Martin: I was wrong!
The +: the shape of the handle very nice (for my left hand at least)
The -: almost everything else
The price / quality ratio I think is the worst that is now (I bought a few months later to 100 € Brüko soprano that sounded better).
With experience, I would do so not at all what choice ... for 300 € it is very good at Ohana soprano ukulele or Kala.
This Martin S-0 without being inherently "evil" is far too expensive for what it is: an instrument designed to begin after all the ukulele, neither more nor less.