Got A Ukulele Reviews - Vorson FLPUK-2 / Clearwater UCWLVS Les Paul Electric Tenor

Got A Ukulele reviews and buyers guides looks at the Les Paul Electric Tenor from Vorson and Clearwater. Read the full review at www.gotaukulel... Help support Got A Ukulele! www.patreon.co...
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[@edwardrapley]

Thanks for the review, it convinced me to pick one up and I'm loving it. Noticed one issue where the A string was very quiet, so I opened up the pickups and found the bar magnets didn't reach to the pole piece for the A string. So I replaced the bar magnets with two 6mm diameter 2mm thick neodymium magnets. Worked like a charm. Better tone on every string and equal volume across all the strings

[@GotAUkulele]

Good tip!

[@chasebutler2665]

Edward Rapley is that fairly easy to do? I’ve never worked on an instrument but just got one of these for sale on amazon ($65) and I’m looking to improve on some of the common problems with it if mine also has them.

[@stanleysokolow]

My 2 pence: I'm in the USA. I bought 2 Vorson solid-body ukes like this one, but the LP shape I chose in black with a blond fretboard - very elegant contrast, and the fretboard has a satin finish, not gloss. The other is in the shape of a mini-Telecaster, color the same as yours in this video, but with a white pick guard like a Telecaster and blond satin fretboard. There are several online retailers for them. You have a choice of 3 colors and 3 shapes. All of them have the identical electronic components. I bought mine through Walmart online. The first one worked for about 4 weeks and then something went wrong with either the switch or pickup so that one pickup was silent. Walmart refunded my full price and paid for return postage too. I used the credit to buy another in a different color since the first was sold out. They have worked fine since then. The reason I bought a 2nd one was that I wanted to try something different with it. I replaced the strings with 4 middle strings from an electric guitar set to lower the pitch to allow baritone tuning, the same pitches as the high 4 strings of a guitar. So now it's a baritone but the size of a tenor. The string set is D'Addario ECG23 in their Chromes Extra Light Gauge series, using strings 2, 3, 4, 5 which have gauges 14, 20w, 28w, 38w. These are "flat wound" so the wound strings don't squeak when I slide my fingers along them. I also replaced the g-string of the other ukulele to be a low-G. I like both of these. I plan to try using the baritone for Mississippi Delta blues style. So now I have 2 electric solid-body ukes for less than the cost of 1 Risa. Sure the Risa is better, but the Vorsons are good enough for me. They both came with an unpadded gig bag that has an outside pocket in which you'll find 2 hex wrenches (one for the truss rod, the other for bridge adjustments). If you want to go baritone as I did, you'll need to adjust the bridge for proper intonation and action of the new strings, and widen the nut slots, which I did with cheap wire-files from China on eBay for just a few US$. I didn't need to adjust the truss rod. Also in the pocket is a cable to connect with an amplifier. One gripe: there doesn't seem to be much of a tonal difference between the bridge pickup alone and the neck pickup alone, perhaps because the distance between the pickups is smaller than on a guitar. Nevertheless, I can still get that twang for "chicken pickin'" which I haven't mastered yet, but here's a lesson: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWHQfZtja76DsK8 . Brian Burnett made some lovely videos playing his Vorson but in some of them he changed the pickups to something better. Here's his playlist: kzbin.info/aero/UUAuYlCD2-OwKvfVDqdeSGVQ . Be aware that he's added reverb. For something else quite different, watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKS1dpRrmsSdgc0 where Stephen Norwood plays his Vorson through an effects box that listens to the notes from the ukulele signal and simulates an organ playing the same notes as chords to backup his ukulele sounds. Effects pedals open a world of possibilities. Thanks for the review, Baz!

[@GotAUkulele]

You sound like a fan! This one pleasantly surprised me!

[@courtmanteau3484]

good comment

[@hopefulhyena3400]

Top tier comment

[@brucec7877]

What a superb review of every feature of this unusual instrument! Thanks for your exceptionally clear and well organized and detailed comments.

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks Bruce - check out the hundreds of other reviews on the channel - they follow the same pattern!

[@Srcsqwrn]

I want one of these so bad. It's so strange, cool, and would be fine to get beat up a bit. I can't find one in Canada, but if I ever do find one I'm going to get it!

[@ukulelesuky5698]

always one step ahead of me 💚 I just saw that ukulele on AliExpress and it cost about 150 dollars, I hope to buy it as soon as I can, cheers 💚💚💚

[@pauljenkins2501]

I have the surf green Tele version of the Clearwater, and have played it a lot over the last 2 years. Thankfully, mine came with an unpolished fingerboard. I changed the strings to a low G set. The top 4 strings from a cheap set of 12s, and they work just fine. I play through a Behringer graphic eq pedal into either a Roland Microcube or a Fender Mustang for louder shows with a band of predominantly unplugged hosts. The eq pedal is handy for either boosting the treble, or suppressing the bass tones, or setting up a raised volume for instrumental breaks, then turning the pedal off for the rest of the song. I really, really like my Clearwater and have had no problems at all with it. It was well set up straight from the box, but I did have to slightly tweak the intonation when I changed to the thicker string set. Thanks for your continued good work in reviewing the entire ukulele population of the western world!

[@GotAUkulele]

Nice! And thanks!

[@f1948s]

When you changed to get the Low G on top did you change all four strings? Were these just plain guitar steel strings? Was not sure and was wondering what each string gauge was if you had that written down. Thanks for any info.

[@dontaskjustdont5237]

hi i just wondered what the name of the amp that you used is, i know it is yamaha but which one?

[@GotAUkulele]

Yamaha THR10C

[@marieandersson5730]

A very cool piece of instrument 😎 Thanks for a good review ❤

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks for watching!

[@ignatiuscoloma8244]

Wow! I also use this ukulele in all of my songs so far :-) based on my exprerience, It gets out of tune quite often. Good thing I use it with effects pedals :-) Thank you for your great reviews!

[@GotAUkulele]

Rock on!

[@skywipe1949]

Where do you get strings for electric ukuleles?

[@GotAUkulele]

They are just electric guitar strings - these are from a set of 10s for electric guitar - gauges 13, 17, 26, 36

[@skywipe1949]

@@GotAUkulele Thanks.

[@MrTroy808]

can you use electric guitar strings for this ? What would you suggest ?

[@GotAUkulele]

Yes - those are what are on it. Vorson don't publicise which gauges, but Risa do - they use the middle four strings from a set of 10's

[@MrTroy808]

@@GotAUkulele thanks mate. i will probably go for the FLight Centurian goldtop with dual double humbuckers and try those strings you suggested on it as replacement strings or the risa strings. I was going to get the Vorson. But after seeing and hearing the Flight Centurian i decided to go with that. It looks minus the F holes like my Ibanez LP style electric guitar

[@MrTroy808]

​@@GotAUkulele I went to order the Centurian from Amazon and i had to go on a wait list as they are selling like hotcakes. So I finaly gave in and I ordered a Vorson. The only ones they got left was the all black LP style version. Out of the box, other than the colour, mine came out much the same as the one that you reviewed. It was not unattractive just very boringly plain overall. I too do not like the glossy fretboard. I do not mind the oversised knobs and switcher but yes I agree it is cheap parts. I do not like that it is not bound I agree with you that it is Les Paul in shape and name only. No buzzing that is particularly noticeable by my ears. I love that the sustain goes on and on as ukulele is natorious for its lack of sustain. i am not fond of the skinny fretboard but its still kinda workable with my big hands. I tested mine on a mini Fender tonemaster. It had a good crunch thru it. Like you i was very surprised. I got the extra insurance from Amazon just in case as I was kinda expecting crap. When I finally do get the Centurian, the Vorson will be the backup to that one although as gorgeous as the Centurian is i may not want to take it out busking as i do not want to beat someone up with my MMA skills who may try to steal it from me. It has a slightly shorter neck than my acoustic and acoustic-electric ukulele. I got the David Gilmour Signatures to replace the strings. I got the Vorson for $119 American on Amazon. I did get a gig bag but it is cheap and thin. Anyway thanks for your tips, mate. Cheers.

[@MrTroy808]

@@GotAUkulele I decided to keep both. With the Vorson I replaced the cheap stock strings with D'Addario NYXL 10-46's. Replaced the cheap pickups with DiMarzio True Velvet single coil pickups. Had to do a little woodworking to do so but not a problem. Did some little additional setup work per your video and suggestions. It sounded much better after the upgrades. With pedals and a good amp the sound is further improved.

[@hoodedbugler]

Great. Thanks for doing this one. I bit the bullet and bought an EleUke Baritone. Bari is my favourite uke scale so there were not many choices anyway. Overall I am satisfied. It will turn out to be quite good once i mod it (get rid of it's preamp, install a nice dimarzio pickup) :)

[@GotAUkulele]

The eleukes are VERY different things though. They have nylon strings and piezo pickups under the saddle. This is metal strung and used mag pickups.

[@hoodedbugler]

@@GotAUkulele not those. Google Eleuke BCPT and LSPT. Steel strings, solid electrics, one strat rails pup. (And a lame Bluetooth thingy lol)

[@GotAUkulele]

@@hoodedbugler Ah right, sorry - didn't know Eleuke had moved into that. A long time since I looked at anything Eleuke.

[@andydunn5673]

Mmmm interesting If money was no object I get the Risa As always Great review Thanks

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks Andy!

[@chuckvt5196]

Excellent review, and a fun instrument!

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks Chuck!

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

The knobs can be changed. I hate the gloss fretboard! If I were a rocker, I think t his is what I'd play. Excellent review. Love the Green Day imitation. Play Some Carlos Santana Baz!

[@GotAUkulele]

The selector switch is my bigger gripe!

[@suziofftheplanet977]

GotAUkulele can all those be changed do you think?

[@GotAUkulele]

@@suziofftheplanet977 Yes - almost certainly

[@jonasnilsson6532]

Ukuleles are awesome 😁. Great review.

[@GotAUkulele]

Thanks! 😀

[@suziofftheplanet977]

I tried a Clearwater. 🥺 from the moment i opened the box and saw the wonky headstock logo i knew I'd be disappointed. Initial look over was ok after that, until i tried to adjust the intonation. everything was so stiff i could barely adjust anything. pick ups in particular would not move! The 'C' string was much louder than all the others it was irritating. so, i obviously got one of the bad ones. next through the door is a Risa, coming tomorrow. I'm sure, after watching your video on the Risa, i won't be disappointed again.

[@mikonimo]

can it be tuned like baritone (DGBE)? Thanks

[@GotAUkulele]

With the right string gauges, yes.

[@mikonimo]

@@GotAUkulele ok thanks

[@f1948s]

@@mikonimo Did you try tuning to the dgbe tuning of a baritone? If so what gauges of strings did you use? Thanks for any info.

[@f1948s]

@@mikonimo Did you change the strings over to the DGBE tuning of a baritone? If so what gauge strings did you use? Thanks for any info.

[@churchgir1]

I’m thinking about getting one! I love how it sounds like an electric guitar and I always wanted to play it, but I only play uke so I want an electric uke (full body) like this one. Can you recommend a uke that sounds the most electric and if I have to use an amp?

[@GotAUkulele]

Not sure of your question - this sounds very electric on account of the steel strings and coil pickups. The Risa LP is a better quality alternative. Both will need an amplifier - neither make much sound without one.

[@suziofftheplanet977]

wow! rock on Baz 😁 i like this one! might have to get this to cure my UAS until the Oreo baritone turns up 😊

[@GotAUkulele]

Ha ha!!

[@suziofftheplanet977]

GotAUkulele .... and i did! just wondering if i can use normal electric guitar strings to change them when it arrives?

[@GotAUkulele]

@@suziofftheplanet977 The strings on it will be guitar strings. Just not sure of the gauges

[@suziofftheplanet977]

@@GotAUkulele ok thanks Baz. 😊

[@chasebutler2665]

Have you ever played an Eastwood guitars electric tenor guitar? I was considering getting one (the airline map) and tuning it like a uke.

[@GotAUkulele]

Afraid not - played one of their soprano ukes (VERY good), not a guitar.

[@chasebutler2665]

GotAUkulele thanks for the info. If I do get one I’ll let you know how it turns out. Hope you and your family are doing well with everything going on in the world.

[@GotAUkulele]

@@chasebutler2665 Thanks for kind words - and to you too.

[@joeh773]

I really enjoyed this review. However, I would like to see/hear a bit more what it sounds like when played unplugged. I am looking into decent inexpensive electric solid body uke to practice quietly, since I seem to only be able do so at night when my little daughter sleeps in another room. I just can't make acoustic one sound quiet enough and i suspect electric/acoustic would same as acou. So, how quiet is this uke unplugged?

[@GotAUkulele]

Extremely quiet! No more sound than tapping fingers on a table

[@joeh773]

@@GotAUkulele Thank you for your reply.

[@wildtea3912]

Hi there! Do you know if this uke can be restrung for a lefty? I can't seem to find a cool little electric uke like this in a left handed version.

[@GotAUkulele]

Yes - it could be - but you will need to adjust the saddle pieces to re-set the intonation, possibly will need to adjust nut slots. Of course the controls will be on the 'wrong' side, but certainly doable. In fact, this sort of saddle at the bridge makes it easier to swap than regular ukes because they are designed to be individually moveable

[@wildtea3912]

@@GotAUkulele Thank you so much for the response, it gave me hope! It's a harsh world for us lefties 😂

[@avaturnow4095]

Does it come with gCEA tuning or low G (GCEA) tuning? I’m looking to buy one of these

[@GotAUkulele]

Arrived to me with high G. would be adaptable to low G with no issue. Tuning preference is not uke specific.

[@avaturnow4095]

@@GotAUkulele so I could just tune the G down an octave or should I replace the string?

[@GotAUkulele]

@@avaturnow4095 Yoiu'd need to change the strings

[@avaturnow4095]

@@GotAUkulele thank you!

[@jaimegarcia7745]

What gauge of strings do you use?

[@GotAUkulele]

Think they were the top four from a set of 10's - not my uke any longer

[@garywillacey9979]

I don't know if it's tuned correctly or intonation issues. Sadly I would have liked one, I don't think it sounds good amped up.

[@GotAUkulele]

Slight intonation issue. All review ukes are tuned with strobe tuner at the nut. Not a biggie as it has adjustable saddles. Just didn't have time to give it a full and proper setup

[@tree6458]

This is prob what i'll spend my summerjob's money on. Cheers mate :)

[@GotAUkulele]

My pleasure!

[@thurgogopro5338]

Have you tried doing a review just using your eyebrows

[@GotAUkulele]

Tempting

[@markattardo]

For the money I think it's pretty cool!

[@GotAUkulele]

Yeah, I agree. Really surprised me

[@hanlinhanlin1811]

Good.

[@dungbeetlemovies]

I'm not trying to be a smart-arse here, I promise, but why make a ukulele that looks and sounds like an electric guitar? I've never really seen the point. Good review as usual though, Barry. Thanks. :)

[@GotAUkulele]

I'm actually of the same view as you.. But people seem to like them. Wouldn't buy one myself, but that's just me.

[@keithm3116]

It's just another way to express yourself, without having to use a different scale than that which you are used to - just some fun. :)

[@stanleysokolow]

See my comment above, which shows some things you can do with this sort of electric ukulele.

[@GotAUkulele]

Yeah I get that - certainly not against them. But then I own a couple of electric guitars so maybe that's why I don't have a need for one like this. Doesn't affect my scores though.

[@edrozenrozen9600]

The bridges on these are HUGE. I think they used a bass guitar bridge. It works just fine, but looks a bit funny, like a kid wearing his parents clothes. 😆

[@GotAUkulele]

EdRozen Rozen quite agree. And guitar parts bin knobs too

[@edrozenrozen9600]

@@GotAUkulele In the grand scheme of things, I would think that guitar parts are cheaper. If I can save 50 bucks instead of having smaller parts, I can live with that.

[@billjarv]

Less Paul.......his name was Lester!

[@GotAUkulele]

Eh?

[@lowercentenary]

So this is not really a beginners uke? Almost every other review complains about a myriad things that need setting up to the point i wonder if its the people who are perfectionists or if the instrument will even play out of the box....I know the one reviewed here is good but the quality control on these seems to be non existent or is everyone over exaggerating everything as seems to be the case today 🤔? I can't afford a risa but all the negativity around these is rather off putting.....thoughts?... lol....

[@GotAUkulele]

Ultimately I can only review the instrument in front of me, and this one was just fine. However I suppose the risk here is that these don't tend to be sold by specialist stores who will check them over before sale - so there IS a chance of getting one needing work. Thing is though - that can happen with any ukulele no matter the price. I once had a Koaloha for nearly $1000 on mail order that arrived in a bad way - just slipped through the net I guess. Needing a setup or not isn't really a determining factor in whether it's a beginners uke though. In fact - what IS a beginners uke?

[@lowercentenary]

Many thanks for the reply and your thoughts, its much appreciated and I apologize for the delay in thanking you!