Review of the RISA ukulele stick (soprano model)

[@hel1copter]

I’ve had my soprano Risa Solid for about three years now. Once it had settled down, and that happened pretty quickly, it has stayed in tune with no need to touch the tuners. I also changed the G to a low G string, to give it a bit more ooomph, and that has worked well for me.

[@PeteyHoudini]

Thanks for the tip about the low G.

[@1viva]

Excellent detailed review Peter! Thank you! :-)

[@jimknox8682]

It is always a good day when I discover you have uploaded a new video, Peter! This one is a great review, as always!

[@PeteyHoudini]

Thanks Jim for your nice words. I will try to get more vids done sooner! Working on a review of the "3 Martin Tenors" right now. It's hard work. Though, I will do a few original songs as well soon. Thanks for the encouragement. 8-)

[@stephenblair4911]

I've had a lot of fun with my Tenor stick! I've played it on a seat in coach without bothering either person next to me. The headphone amp works rather well in it, and I can use that for some overdrive effects into a boombox. It's really quite handy. I've also modified it somewhat... Adding grooved roller bearings around the aluminum rod to make tuning easier. I was always snapping A-strings before. You can also rest it against a table or door for some passive amplification, or screw a plastic bottle onto the end of it. And because it's tiny and nearly indestructible, it goes with me all over the place! No need to humidify it, so it gets a lot of play time in the winter while my other ukes are snuggling in their cases.

[@PeteyHoudini]

Stephen Blair : You've got it all figured out! I think the tenor is probably the best size for the Risa stick. The soprano is a bit small.

[@FOXMAN09]

What Headphone Amp are you using?

[@millenniumtree]

Stewart L It's a Vox AC30. Very basic. I also now have a Behringer V-tone Acoustic ADI 21 acoustic modeler, which dramatically improves the sound output to a guitar amp. If you can't afford a good acoustic amp, it's a nice option.

[@floydsuke]

Hey Petey, thanks for the great review !! I wish I could find one to try out before I purchase one. I am glad you mentioned about the tuners Hitting your body and going out of tune. I am abundantly blessed around my waist and keeping it in tune could be a problem could be a problem - LOL !!! Great review my friend , I will be back for sure to check out more of your videos !! - FLOYD

[@PeteyHoudini]

You're welcome, Floyd. I think one needs to think about whether to buy a soprano, concert or tenor size. The soprano is very small. Trying out the three different sizes would be great but alas, they don't exactly abound in music stores. I will tell you that when I put my soprano stick in my travel bag, it always gets flagged by airport security! It looks weird on the scanner x-ray.

[@floydsuke]

Peter Forrest Back in the 70s my twin and I did a tour in Europe and the Middle East. The organization that booked us had bought seats on the plane for my upright Bass and my twins guitar. 6 weeks later when we flew back to New York the folks at the airport were sure because we were musicians that we were trying to smuggle drugs. They tried to put my Bass thru one of their scanners, to their surprise it would not fit (I tried to tell them). They finally bought a dog in to check it out. If I were to buy one it would be a tenor. Have a great weekend my friend!! - FLOYD

[@marcusoroberts]

You are not pumping out enough vids! Eagerly anticipating more from you dude...

[@PeteyHoudini]

You're right! Though, I just did the new Chord Solo one on Monday! Check that one out dude! Been trying to get more vids done but got a throat infection and lost my singing voice for three weeks, not enough time to practice with work, and need to prepare. Tonight, I'd rather sip on some wine! hehe

[@marcusoroberts]

Okeydokey matey will check. Plenty of cheers to you.

[@marcusoroberts]

Peter Forrest Get well soon then

[@greenie4444]

I have a tenor RISA and really like it, although it plays quite differently than my other ukes. I got it for Xmas this year, and when I opened the box, one of my daughters shouted out "Where is the rest of the uke?"

[@PeteyHoudini]

LOL! That uke provokes unpredictable reactions in people. hehe You're right to say these ukes play differently. I forgot to mention that it takes some time to adapt. I've had mine for over a year so I forgot that fact.

[@stormyclements7374]

Awesome review. Thanks so much!

[@PeteyHoudini]

Thanks.. I still love my Risa soprano uke. I would never give it up.

[@wylde39]

Really surprised me when you turned the amp on. What an interesting looking uke.

[@PeteyHoudini]

It's a bit of a pain to tune, but very handy to travel with. Though, airport security is always confused by it.

[@marcusoroberts]

Got one recently and I love headless instruments, owning a Steinberger headless bass, was expecting a low action; this has a LOW action. Not looking forward to restringing! Great review dude.

[@PeteyHoudini]

Thanks Marcus. Yep, action is pretty low on this micro beast. Restringing? As Shakespeare said..."where angels fear to tread." I must say I use this for silent practicing all the time at night. Such a quiet uke has helped advanced my technique so much. Enjoy!

[@marcusoroberts]

Peter Forrest You can reach tricky chords that no other beer can reach. I love the portability of this thing. You can play silently if you wish, or you can freak out through a vox amp. Yes if you play close to your chest it'll go out of tune./ it's a bitch to tune. Keep up the good work mate.

[@PeteyHoudini]

Marcus Roberts: Thanks, Marcus. The Carmen operatic stretches on the uke are of my own invention. That's because I know how to create chord melody arrangements and I will do a simple tutorial soon to show uke players how to learn my technique of creating chord melodies. The ideas stem from my classical piano lessons and Les Paul. hehe Still, that RISA uke has its faults but it has proved time and time again to be a lifesaver for late night practice.

[@Astronomater]

excellent review. just discovered your channel. great work

[@PeteyHoudini]

Thanks!

[@liamnolan7217]

Hi Petey, I enjoyed the review. If convenient, could you point me towards the PDF for the Carmen excerpt? Kind regards.

[@PeteyHoudini]

Hi Liam. The link for the PDF is in the video's description.

[@HaleXF11]

Sounds great, though I'm not a fan of the tuner peg placement. I'm surprised there aren't any copycat ukes out there like this one.

[@PeteyHoudini]

+SolarEXtract : The tuning pegs are tricky. I kid you not. Haven't seen any copycats on this one

[@FinnBjerke]

There is a prototype of a steelstringed version of this sticky issue..... cool too probably, Mr RISA himself is demoing the little monster. heavy metal for Ukes?

[@PeteyHoudini]

Yes. He is playing that Rocket 88 song. It all depends on the sound you want and the complexity of what you what to play.

[@mmactc]

Nice review Peter, good to see you back on youtube again. Are these ukes available in the US?

[@PeteyHoudini]

Thanks. I missed doing videos. You can get the uke in the US here: Ukulele Pua Pua in Hawaii or at ukuleleworld.com. I would just order from ukulele.de. Totally reliable and shipped pretty fast by DHL then to the post office in Canada.

[@mmactc]

Peter Forrest Thanks Peter. Looking forward to some more great videos from you soon.

[@drgeatman]

good review . too bad you did not plug into an AER and get a decent sound

[@PeteyHoudini]

I also have a Fender amp but my goal was mainly to show how you could walk around busking with it with one of those mini amps attached to your belt. I guess I didn't show that part. hehe That was really my purpose and to show the different between those two amps.

[@FinnBjerke]

wonderfull review mate, have you tried the concerto big brother.... tis a bit longer ....

[@PeteyHoudini]

Haven't tried the concert size but I have tried the tenor size before a friend of mine bought one. Much easier to play.

[@FinnBjerke]

stick is out of stock in Denmark so I ordered it directly from Germany, have you tried Iphone or android phone guitar amp for travelling light .... ? Sounds like a good idea to me... you play well... thanks for posting ..

[@PeteyHoudini]

I have an iPhone 5s but have never tried that app. I'm a fan of travelling light! (no joke!). hehe Glad you enjoyed the review.

[@wolfme4030]

Thanks for the review. My preferred size in 'normal' ukulele is concert. Would this translate over to the Risa or would it be better to go for either of the other sizes?

[@PeteyHoudini]

Alastair Leeuwangh : The Risa soprano is very small so I would recommend a concert or tenor. I went with someone to a music store in Hawaii to buy a Risa tenor and he loves it. I tried it as as well.

[@wolfme4030]

+Peter Forrest Sorry it took so long to say thanks for your much quicker reply. Still trying to decide, but I have time :)

[@debussy2002]

I AM tempted - Is the neck "chunky" ?

[@PeteyHoudini]

Yes, and it gets chunkier as you move up the fretboard. Still, I use it at night to play quietly in bed.

[@fzelders]

Peter, may I ask HOW you connected the RISA to your Amp? With or without a DI box?

[@PeteyHoudini]

The amp has a 1/4" plug. No DI box required. It has enough juice with a 9-volt battery.

[@fzelders]

@@PeteyHoudini Thank you Peter. One more question if you don't mind: Any idea how many minutes/hours on one 9V battery?

[@PeteyHoudini]

Not sure, since I never tested it for days on end.

[@fzelders]

@@PeteyHoudini OK. Thanks! 👋🏻

[@josephmilro6102]

What's the name of that tango song you play in the beggining?

[@PeteyHoudini]

+Joseph David Milro : It's "la habanera" from the opera Carmen.

[@josephmilro6102]

+Peter Forrest thank you so much!! I'm jealous of your ukelele playing for this song... I'll learn it and one day play it like you. Thank you for uploading sensible and very useful videos on ukelele tips and tricks.

[@PeteyHoudini]

+Joseph David Milro : Jo! You're in luck. I usually do scores/TABs of my arrangements because they are so hard to remember. Go to the description of this vid and you will find a link to my PDF arrangement. Now I will be jealous the day you play it way better than me. Please do! I like inspiring others to surpass me. Also... I will try to keep the useful tips and tricks coming.

[@josephmilro6102]

+Peter Forrest thanks so much.

[@PeteyHoudini]

+Joseph David Milro : Thank you actually. I had forgotten I had scored that. I often move on to other things so quickly but you made me remember about it. Now, other uke players can give it a go as well. All the best!

[@andycook4102]

Cricket bat or club. . . . maybe. I think I would use it to slice hard boiled eggs ! Interesting video Peter. Thanks for uploading.

[@PeteyHoudini]

Thanks. Drats, I missed the egg slicer joke! hehe Thanks for that one. 8-)

[@marcusoroberts]

my first play resulted in disaster after playing bass for so many years Mad World ~ Ukulele

[@PeteyHoudini]

Not bad for out of the box. You clearly understand fingerpicking and that puts you light-years ahead on the uke. I was never much of a fingerpicker on the guitar... a total idiot on that front actually, but I had to adapt when I took up the uke. Love fingerpicking now as a real art!

[@marcusoroberts]

Peter Forrest too modest. You play fab!