Barring all travel and synthetic material ukuleles, which maker has the sturdiest solid wood ukuleles? Are there any particular models you find especially hefty and durable?
Definitely looking for something on the overbuilt hefty side. No middle ground for me. I want a tank.Its usual for Luthiers / Builders here to say that the lightest built instruments sound the best and overbuilt built instruments aren’t a good idea, maybe you’d be best served by looking for something in the middle-ground? If someone can just avoid the obviously lightly built (fragile) and treat an instrument with some care them it’s surprising what Ukes will cope with. I’ve had a Bruko No 6 and have an Ohana 35 series concert, both seem perfectly reasonable players to me and both appear to be durable - without being overbuilt - rather than fragile.
If the ukulele you are describing is intended to be an acoustic instrument, it would sound awful. Best get yourself a Risa Stick and a tiny practice amp.Definitely looking for something on the overbuilt hefty side. No middle ground for me. I want a tank.
Barring all travel and synthetic material ukuleles, which maker has the sturdiest solid wood ukuleles? Are there any particular models you find especially hefty and durable?
If you want a "tank" buy a Mitchell*. They do sound a bit subdued (too much so for my liking) but they are solid, durable, reliable, and pretty. The neck feels like a baseball bat but in a good way. You can play one at any GC.Definitely looking for something on the overbuilt hefty side. No middle ground for me. I want a tank.
No issues needing no solutions! Just curious about ukulele makers who make them on the heavier side.What problem are you trying to solve for which “Sturdy Build” is the solution?
We can tell you which instruments seem to be built like tanks, but if you tell us what you believe the issue to be, we might have some other ideas you may not have thought of.
That is what I was thinking. Having a thin laminate (like Kiwaya and some others) would certainly sound better than a heavier solid instrument.With respect, I can’t understand why you would specify solid wood without wanting the benefits of solid wood. Get a quality laminate, it will be more durable and still sound good.
I realize you are specifying a wood uke, but I highly recommend considering an Outdoor Ukulele (made in Bend, OR). These ukes are constructed of a polycarbonate with glass fibers (not ABS). Extremely durable and sound fantastic. I own a green soprano and a black tenor. I play them more than my wooden uke. This would fall into the tank category without compromising sound.Barring all travel and synthetic material ukuleles, which maker has the sturdiest solid wood ukuleles? Are there any particular models you find especially hefty and durable?
I'm going to think somewhat fairly stable too and able to take some humidity changes in a reasonable range. But thats a guess. I wouldn't go extreme with any solid uke but I think the cocobolo might be just a bit forgiving. They are definitely solid and seem durable.It just hit me, the Cocobolos are very solid. That hard cocobolo wood is somewhat unique in its density. These ukes are extremely sturdy, imo.