Got A Ukulele Reviews - Eastman EU1-C Concert Ukulele

[@wylancslass]

Hiya Baz! I think it's lovely for that price. I actually guessed at £189 so I wasn't far wrong. The grain in the wood is beautiful especially on the sides! The bridge irritated me too a little. Infact it was the first thing I noticed. Wished they'd have oiled it a little bit or something. Looks dry to me. I actually love the colour of the padded bag! It's a girly thing I think. I love the sound of it too. Has some typical mahogany warmth. I love a solid mahogany Uke! I always get excited for your reviews on a Sunday! Thanks again Baz!

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks Wendy!

[@e.castlerock8454]

That is one gorgeous ukulele! Sounded softer than I expected (but listening on a small phone). Still, it would suit me just fine. I even love the color of that gig bag.

[@nkogbksb]

Looks and sounds like a good one. Martin style is nice. I prefer satin to gloss, myself!

[@GotAUkulele]

Yep - a very good one!

[@joephillips4082]

Very impressive, indeed. And apparently, excellent value. I have no experience with Eastman ukuleles but I have three (3) Eastman guitars (yeah, I know) all archtop jazz boxes, and I can speak for their extraordinary build quality, and as with the ukes, value proposition. I can tell you their introduction to the New York market in the early 2000s (?) rocked the local jazz guitar community. I'm going back to check out your earlier reviews on Eastman ukuleles.

[@GotAUkulele]

Great builders!

[@petergeen2198]

That turtle shell binding looks very sexy. A set of Aquila Red strings would look and sound cool on this ukulele.

[@StephGee888]

I just found this after buying my very first Eastman Concert Uke- it was this very one and I’m glad that I got it. I was scared to buy an expensive one right off and wanted to get something that was not low quality. Thanks to your review, I feel this was a great first introductory purchase! Wish me luck!!

[@GotAUkulele]

A SUPERB first purchase!

[@StephGee888]

@@GotAUkulele thank you!

[@MikeBracewell]

Wow! 199! It's a bargain. Utterly gorgeous (I like satin) & sounds great. And it's 199! Did I say it was 199?

[@GotAUkulele]

Total bargain

[@rockermonkey9366]

I got out of ukes and got into guitars and now I got two Eastman guitars. Such a good product. And that last tune you were playing. “Breakup song, they don’t write em like that anymore ? “.

[@GotAUkulele]

Last tune is the melody to 'Here Comes The Rain Again' by Eurhythmics!

[@TheIronDuke9]

Nice review! I knew I recognized that name when I saw the thumbnail - makes me glad I bought my EU3-T after seeing you review it - it's this but... better lol

[@chuckvt5196]

Wow, what a great price on a lovely little ukulele! This is surely a winner! Thanks, Baz!

[@GotAUkulele]

Indeed!

[@marieandersson6655]

I love my Eastman ukulele ❤ I believe they DO HAVE stopped continued production, but when they get an order, they make one! At least is that what a dealer in southern Sweden told me, when I ordered my first Eastman.

[@GotAUkulele]

Yeah, somebody else told me something similar

[@Mandobird1]

Hey Baz, just got the gloss version, however the recent batch aren't nearly as pretty as the earlier ones. Still a very classy instrument though, and fun to play. They must have run out of that beautifully figured mahogany they originally sourced for this series, over 10 years ago. 😢

[@GotAUkulele]

Shame!

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Like the vintage look and finish. It does seem Martin inspired. Nice wood, simple, nice in matt and gloss. Altogether a great concert ukulele. Agree the soft case should be black or dark. Good review.

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks!

[@lsclair]

Beautiful instrument. Love the solid mahogany. Would love to see the spruce.

[@GotAUkulele]

Me too!

[@richbow42cdo]

Great review. Really like the look of that one and actually love the finish. Looks a bit worn in and authentic, like the martin streetmaster but a third of the price and actually a bit better tbh! Nice one. 👍

[@GotAUkulele]

And with the wear in more realistic places!!

[@GenghisDaniel]

Really nice review as always Baz. I think this is a really clever move from Eastman, for that price it is unbeatable, and the mid price tier is quite overworked now, so trying to reach for a really good entry level instrument at that price makes sense. I do not mind the absence of the hardcase, after all, I already own an hardcase for all the uke size and another one is not necessarily an added bonus. And the satin finish I like too also, it is a mix between a Kiwaya and the sunburst mahogany from Singer. Interesting to note that the concert and the tenor seem to be a one piece tops and not bookmatched, maybe it is a way for them to bring the cost down ?

[@GotAUkulele]

Agreed - very clever

[@FreeTheInternets]

Nice review! I recently bought this uke (and just uploaded a video with it 😊). The shop I bought it from had a Martin C1K also. It sounded vastly different but it had transparant strings instead of white. It was different wood also. I found the Eastman more warm and woody sounding, that’s why I went for the Eastman. I think the action is also great in this pricerange. The action on my other uke (Bruko) is a lot higher. The tuners look identical to the Grover sta-tites that Thomann sells. As far as I can see even the measurements are the same. I wonder if it would be a significant upgrade. Kind regards 😊

[@GotAUkulele]

Personally think the Eastman is the better deal - think you did the right thing

[@WysteriaGuitar]

FYI, the Eastman website says the concert and tenor are solid mahogany back and sides not ovankgol. Another nice review BTW. Would love to see you review the tenor model.

[@GotAUkulele]

Don’t think so - looking at site now - EU1 is all solid hog, EU2 is solid spruce top and solid ovangkol back and sides. This one is all mahogany

[@WysteriaGuitar]

@@GotAUkulele Right, all hog. Maybe I misheard what you said about ovangkol, I thought you said it was the model you were reviewing. Sorry about that.

[@paul_mitchener_ukulele]

Oh, that’s excellent for the price - it looks and sounds lovely. More like a soprano than a typical concert in sound, but that’s not a bad thing at all. Very tempting.

[@GotAUkulele]

Yeah, that’s the trad sound I was trying to get it. Concert for soprano fans!

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

Big Eastman fan, here. Played one a few years ago at a shop in Fullerton, CA. Stupidly, I did not nab it . ..

[@GotAUkulele]

I bought the ones I reviewed and sold them on. Wish I’d kept the tenor

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

@@GotAUkulele Bummer . . .

[@MirjamFrank]

@@GotAUkulele I think this is a hint for me to keep my EU3 tenor! Thanks Baz... I was a bit annoyed because the slotted bridge of mine was very untidy (took it to a luthier). I'd kept it because it was the very last one I could find. Now I'm curious about the spruce tops. They don't seem to be in stock yet. Exciting...

[@GotAUkulele]

@@MirjamFrank The EU3-T I reviewed was one i bought with blog funds, and because I don't keep those had to sell on to put it back into the site. One of the ones I regret not putting my own money into to keep it for myself. Still don't know why I didn't. Loved it.

[@richardsnow7299]

Hope you had a good week off Barry. I like this instrument.

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks Richard !

[@drpkmurphy]

I really like the looks of this one and almost looks like an Ohana. The price is quite good for a solid mahogany Ukulele. I also love the vintage style ukuleles. I like the pop in the sound as well. Great little ukulele! … thanks as usual…. DOC

[@GotAUkulele]

Knocks spots off the equivalent Ohanas in my view too!

[@tommorrisey3999]

Agree that it appears very Martinesque. Given what I’ve heard about current Martin QC, I would probably choose this over the item being copied. And the gig bag might be easier to find at the end of a jam. Not that I’m in the market for a mahogany concert; barring unforeseen mishaps with my Mainland, i doubt I ever will be.

[@GotAUkulele]

Yeah - easily comparable to Martin if not a bit better for half the money...

[@edwardpetersen4309]

That's an incredible deal. Question: Does Aquila make those Nyltech strings for D'Addario?

[@GotAUkulele]

I seem to remember there was a connection

[@lyndamcardle4123]

I like satin or natural finishes but, as you opine, it's a subjective opinion. I'm surprised how bright the tone was considering it's a solid soundboard and solid body mahogany ukulele, normally a more softer tone......that effect may be due to the smaller body ....?

[@GotAUkulele]

I think so - smaller bodies are more direct and snappy in sound I find.

[@mikek4708]

Thanks for the review. Wondered what happened to Eastman Ukes. Definitely a nice sound and a great price, glad to see them back, do like the previous gloss model. You have a great week.

[@GotAUkulele]

Thank you

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

Baz, why don’t more ukulele companies put on radiused fretboards? This puzzles me very much. I like the color of the bag….

[@GotAUkulele]

More work and cost I guess. Not sure I'd really notice it on scales below a tenor though

[@MariUSukulele]

Baz, already said it: it’s an additional step in the making process hence causes additional costs. Then there’s the question: which radius? And that’s a delicate decision. What do players want most? Then there are folks who claim it’s not beneficial or they don’t like at all!

[@GotAUkulele]

True that

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

@@MariUSukulele I CAN feel it on my concert scale uke, and it’s a short scale like this one. The average measure for a radius is 12”. For example, all Cocobolo ukuleles are built with a radius fretboard, and they sell them as fast as their little shop can build them. I’ll never own another ukulele with a flat fretboard.

[@GotAUkulele]

@@nickiemcnichols5397 I don't mind them, but do know many people who would actively avoid them

[@MariUSukulele]

sweet 🤎

[@stoneyrunva]

It appears to be a nice quality ukulele. I'll never understand the appeal of fake vintage looks. Be it on a ukulele or household furniture. Fake vintage is tacky even if done perfectly. Thanks for another great review.

[@GotAUkulele]

Don't think it's trying to look 'aged' vintage - it's just a trad design - simple mahogany. I despise road worn stuff - this isn't that.

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

@@GotAUkulele I agree. My fiddle teacher has a new “aged” violin, that cost thousands and it looks tacky.

[@GotAUkulele]

@@nickiemcnichols5397 Did you see the Martin Streetmaster?? laughable - wear marks in all the wrong places!!

[@MariUSukulele]

isn’t it 'less than half the price'?

[@GotAUkulele]

I always get confused! Half 500 is 250 so 199 is more than half?

[@MariUSukulele]

@@GotAUkulele 199 is less than 250, less than (the) half - right?

[@GotAUkulele]

That's where I get it wrong - but 500 less 199 is 301. So 199 is MORE of a saving than half. Half a saving would be 250.

[@MariUSukulele]

@@GotAUkulele now you messin’ me up … 🤣😂

[@jensenhealey08]

Sounds great. Looks great. Nitro is very labour intensive to get a good finish. I don't think gloss nitro is realistic at this excellent price. Thank you Baz.

[@GotAUkulele]

No, definitely not. Still miss it though!

[@saulchapnick1566]

If it looks like a Martin, feels like a Martin, and smells like a Martin, shouldn’t one just get the real thing?

[@GotAUkulele]

You missed out 'costs like a Martin'.. or, rather, that it's nothing like the cost of a Martin!