Martin Guitars Concert Uke FSC

Sonic Evaluation

Wildwoodians, we have some fabulous instruments with "Martin" written on the headstock, and this Concert Uke FSC might be one of the best, pound-for-pound. It has the same capacity for inspiring musical creativity as a great D-18, just with a different voice! Make no mistake, this uke is not a toy. It's a professional-quality instrument made of solid mahogany with an applied dovetail neck to maximize resonance and durability, and fancy ratio tuners so you can tune it precisely with ease.

Sonically speaking, it's a monster. Having spent several years selling ukuleles mainly (it's a long story), I've encountered lots of high-end models, and this one has one of my favorite. All ukuleles sound sunny (it's in their DNA), and this one does have a lively, vibrant brilliance to it, but the mahogany construction also gives it a level of warmth, depth, and punchiness you don't commonly see in a concert-sized ukulele. It sounds so round and robust that some lesser tenor ukes might turn tail and run rather than face this serial in a street fight!

It also has magnificent woody clarity, and I found it a joy to play crunchy, jazzy chord voicings because each note rings through so beautifully, blending as the chord resonates. The attack is also round and consistent--it doesn't really "splat out" even if you strum vigorously--a testament to its impressive headroom. Speaking of which, this little guy punches well above its weight class in volume--it really cuts through nicely!

And, it's made entirely out of woods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means that 100% of the wood Martin used to make it came from well-managed forest using sustainable harvests. So, it sounds great, and it's great for the planet!

If you're looking for a sweet, warm-sounding concert-sized ukulele, you'll love this pint-sized pugnacious Martin just as much as I do!