Ozark Banjo Uke - update

Since last post, fitting the arm rest - I am happy - this is now super comfortable to play.

Slight issue arose though - the arm rest moved my stupid playing style back to something more normal, which meant I struggled to mute the head with my palm as before, so I am back to that boomy sound that wasnt too nice.

Easily fixed with old banjo trick - some banjo players tone down that sound with a rolled up towel lodged loosely, but securely inside banjo between tension rod and the underside of the head.

This uke is much smaller, so a quick fold up of a guitar polishing cloth tucked in there and hey presto - the sound is cleaned up - in fact better than it was before.

An easy fix - but worth me mentioning, as if you bought one and didnt think you could remove back plate as I have, you might not have thought this possible.  Take the back off and experiment!!

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Ozark banjo uke - modification

Further to last post, the sore arm continued.

I have a rather odd playing style, and tend to let my inner forearm rest on the top edge of my ukes while strumming.  That works fine on standard ukes, but when I bought this banjolele, I was finding the tension rods were cutting into my arm.

This wouldnt be a problem with a conventional strum, so I am not having a dig at the Ozark!  Did need sorting though.

Thanks to Andybanjo at the Banjo Workshop, I sourced a used arm rest from an 8" head banjo.

Arrived today, but sadly the holes dont quite line up with my tension rods - I therefore have it clamped somewhat unconventionally as you will see.  When I say unconventional, I mean the tensioners are now angled inwards slightly, not perpendicular to the head.  Maybe that isnt unconventional - i dont know!


No matter - the banjolele is now comfortable!!

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Ozark banjo uke - sound sample

Few people have asked for sound sample of the new banjo uke - here we go - ignore the nonsense at the end - should give you an idea though! I like it!

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Ouch! Got a really sore arm

Really liking my ozark banjo uke. So much fun to play. I have a gripe though...

Perhaps it is my playing style, but as my arm rests on the edge of the pot and the tensioners, after a single song I've got red sore marks on my arm where edge is digging in to my skin.

As I say, it's down to my strum style, so am now on the hunt for a banjo arm rest that fits an 8" head

Ouch!

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STOP PRESS - BIG THANKS! to Andy Banjo (Andy Perkins) who seems to be sorting me out - looks like a great bloke if you are in to banjos. Visit him here! http://www.andybanjo.com/

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Ozark banjo uke - initial review

Having now had time to have a play and a fiddle (and given the new aquilas time to settle in), I am able to give my initial impressions of my new instrument.  As I said, got this from Highly Strung in Wantage  via mail order - great store i've not shopped with for a while, but did buy some guitar bits a while ago - brilliant customer service on the phone, did a deal to get quicker shipping, nice communications (all good!)

On the whole - I think its great - I just love the way it looks - kind of unusual colour for a banjo, and I think that makes it look different enough,

Build quality is pretty high across the board - frets are finished nicely, and the hardware all seems solid. I think the wood used is probably not the best quality and it is obviously painted, as opposed to stained and polished - that looks a bit cheap. Headstock shows this off the worst, and the Ozark logo looks particularly cheap.

Fingerboard was a touch dry on arrival, so it has been given a treatment with some bore oil and now looks beautiful and dark (i think the fingerboard is the best finished "wood" element of this uke)

Few of the tensioners on the pot needed a tighten, but otherwise all looks good. The hole for that top A string hasn't snapped another string yet, so maybe its ok

Its fairly heavy to hold (compared to a wood uke anyway), but it is nicely balanced, and my playing style allows me to cradle it comfortably.

Sound is clearly banjo like, and just the sound I was looking for. It isn't a rich sound though. I took the resonator off the back as I prefer to be able to adjust muting with the position of the uke against my body.

Strumming the uke in similar spot to a wooden uke (ie across the bottom of the fingerboard) tends to make the sound "boom" and resonate a little too much. I therefore get a better sound playing this by lightly placing my palm on the head just at the top to provide a bit of muting - doesn't affect volume, but cleans up the sound completely. Its a flaw with the uke, but one that is easy to overcome. I think you can get banjo mutes that fit behind the bridge, so may look into that also.

It also feels very very good to play - action is superbly low without a single buzz, and having now "tuned" the bridge position with an accurate tuner, the intonation is spot on all over the neck - not something that you can ever guarantee on an instrument of this price.

So all in all - initially - I think this is a great instrument - sure it has some flaws and signs of its lower price, but they are not significant. Its playable, different and fun. Highly recommended!


SCORES

Looks - 7
Fit and finish - 8.5
Sound - 7.5
Value for money - 9

OVERALL - 8

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New Toy arrived - Ozark 2035 banjolele!

Very pleased with new toy which arrived today from the good people at Highly Strung. Its an entry level, but nice looking banjolele.

Its finished in a stained brown, with very nice looking aged brass effect parts. Geared open back tuners with cream knobs. Remo weatherking head, bound neck, 18 frets, and removeable simple resonator back.

I love it, and the sound is just what I was hoping for - that twangy sound that makes my uke versions of irish and folk songs sound that bit better.

It arrived with some terrible nylon strings, which I immediately swapped for aquilas. Problem I think with the slot at bridge end for the 1st (A) string - being made of metal, I think it is nicking the strings under tension - and they snapped twice, at that spot on tuning. I think I need to take a file to it, or wrap some electrical tape around that end of the string. Not a big issue.

Aquilas have made a big big difference - sound is thicker and definitely louder.

I'll post some more thoughts on this baby as time goes on - but very pleased with it. Oh, and it came with a very nice zippered padded Ozark gig bag too!

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Change of Plan

following my trials and tribulations in trying to track down a Fluke Uke, I have decided to put that purchase off for another day, and changed tack.

Have ordered myself one of these Banjo Ukes from the great guys at Eagle Music!

Its an Ozark, entry level uke banjo - model 2035 i believe. Banjo ukes get very very expensive, and i just wanted an entry model and this seems to be among the best reputation wise.

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ARRRRGGHH STOP PRESS!!!

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Another change of plan - Eagle out of stock too.... found another source though, so one is "PROMISED" with me on Friday!

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