Ukulele Review: Enya Nova AcousticPlus Concert Ukulele

[@MariUSukulele]

nice to find such a thorough review! THANK YOU!

[@UkeStuff]

You are very welcome!

[@ventures1]

Hello again. I left a comment on your acoustic Enya Nova, in discussion about battery replacement and we both reached out to Enya and got a similar reply. Enya customer service is outstanding. I ordered the acoustic version on amazon and canceled within minutes to upgrade to the TransAcoustic, and so glad I did. I loved all aspects of the Transa., it is my go to. The Transa. reinvigorated my love for kicking back and generally jamming. My first Enya was the pineapple EUP X1 which is a high pressure laminate and ideal for my full summer camping in the somewhat humid Washington’s Olympic peninsula region. I must say, no regrets on both Enya purchases and will look forward to eventually getting a guitar(w. effects) from Enya. Enya- a great company and looking forwards to there future offerings.

[@UkeStuff]

Have you seen the wood Enya Nova that is coming? The only negatives for me is that it has a flowery fretboard (not my thing) and might cost near $600. I'm impressed by the company and the products. I had my EUR-X1 (camp ukulele) at school the other day, and it was great...just so quiet. It's nice that the Nova doesn't have that issue.

[@ventures1]

UkeStuff this morning ‘Bernadette teaches music’ posted a photo of the wooden Nova. Looks like a beaut., and agree, the flowers on the fretboard isn’t my style either. My initial intent in completing my modest collection was to purchase the Tenor Aklot Bamboo for a fuller sounding Uke, but the awesome Nova will keep me content for a long while. Btw, kudos on your reviews they are thorough on all aspects as far as reviews go. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@odontomatix]

I've given up on using a low-G on my Nova U-TA (Acoustic Plus). The low G note causes a buzz inside the body of the uke, which I had thought I had solved by turning the charging panel around 180 degrees to move the internal wires to where they wouldn't buzz against anything if they resonate with a note. That buzz used to happen on my particular uke with the C string, but after turning the panel, that went away. Now it resonates with the low G. It's a subtle buzz, but I can clearly hear it with the low G note, and it's annoying. Moreover, the low G note was 25 cents out of tune at the 12th fret due to the compensation bevel built into the saddle. I could have tried fixing that faulty intonation, but the buzz makes it futile. So, now I have all 4 strings with Aquila Super Nylgut, concert length, and I like them very much. They are slightly thicker and stiffer than the Enya strings, which eliminates the slapping of the strings against the fretboard when strummed loudly, as the original strings would do. The downside is that the tighter Super Nylgut strings are a little harder to press down, so it takes a while for your fingertips to adapt, but mine already were sturdy fingertips from playing other ukuleles.

[@UkeStuff]

I saw your post on Facebook today. As I mentioned there, I was always concerned about intonation with Low G (especially with all fluorocarbon, as I prefer) with that compensated saddle. I think it's just a reentrant instrument, and that's okay. As you mentioned on Facebook, if anyone is interested in using Low G, you might want to have a custom saddle made (or make it yourself) for the ukulele, as the saddle IS removable. I know they are...I had the chance to destroy one of these!

[@odontomatix]

I've heard that high pitched whistle sometimes, too. I think it's due to internal feedback at high volume of the effects. Turning down the volume shuts off the whistle, just as you've demonstrated in this video. Acoustic guitars with pickups can suffer from feedback when played through an external amplifier at high volume. That was one of the main reasons that Les Paul invented the solid-body guitar with electronic pickup. I'm actually the guy who did the 180-degree turnaround fix for the internal buzzing problem. Before I installed a low-G string, the internal buzz used to happen on the open C string note. Turning the charging panel around cured that problem. However, with the low G, I now hear the internal buzz on the low G note when I hold the uke in a tilted back position (like playing it while being reclined a little in an easy-chair). Holding it vertically in the normal playing position, I don't hear any internal buzz. As you demonstrated, the internal wires are not secured very well so they do move around. I think that one of the wires resonates and vibrates against some internal part of the body with those low notes. Enya, if you are reading this, please make an engineering change to the way that the wires are secured inside the body of the uke so they don't move around and don't buzz against the body when they resonate.

[@UkeStuff]

That whistle was a surprise...first time I've had it...and I've used it A LOT. But, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen when you're writing a review, right? One day I had a low "Growl" from the speaker when I tipped the ukulele. It was weird! So I charged it and it hasn't come back. Maybe the speaker just couldn't vibrate correctly with low power? The other thing I wanted to add was that I cannot use my wirelss guitar system with the Enya...there's interference! I forgot to mention that in the review.

[@mannygee005]

hey thanks for the great review, much kudos to you. This is exactly the information I was looking for. I think I can decide on my purchase today... I'll just let myself mull it over a bit more. Oh the soprano version is $10 less it looks like and it has the shoulder strap on the case and improved handle it seems - um you guys probably are already aware of this since I can see a few videos about it.

[@UkeStuff]

A review of the soprano is coming soon. The concert size has a new handle, strap, and even has a slightly different formulation of plastic and carbon fiber to address some of the rare cases of fret wear that were reported (it usually involved using strings with metal in them, like Aquila Reds).

[@odontomatix]

Funny that you mentioned that you broke the handle of the case. Just this evening, while I was bringing the uke in from the car, I bumped the case, not very hard, against the door jamb of my garage and the handle broke where the end of it slides under the guide attached to the case. The shaft of the handle broke off from the rest of the strap at one end of the shaft. The handle material feels comfortable, but the rubbery material is too weak to be durable for that thin shaft. Enya needs to use tougher handle strap material or re-think the design. This is just a minor nuisance, though. I tried to repair the handle by applying a little low-temperature hot-melt glue. It usually works on most materials, but unfortunately the glue doesn't adhere to the rubbery handle material. I'm going to try silicone adhesive next.

[@UkeStuff]

Let me know how that repair works out. I've just decided that they need to make a nice case that fits like their other cases, and offer it as an accessory. I'd buy one in a minute.

[@MrAlectrico]

Hello Thanks for the thorough and insightful review. I know you mentioned that the way the neck is designed it works for folks with big hands. I have smaller hands and have been mainly using a newbie soprano lanikai for a while now and looking to take a step up. So what are your thoughts on smaller hands due to the design? Would it still work?

[@UkeStuff]

It will be just fine for a player used to a smaller scale; the miracle is in the smaller nut (than usual) but radius fretboard that make it perfectly playable. I just watched a video today by Alex Beds from the Southern Ukulele Store, and in that comparison, the Nova held its own with sound. Pretty amazing.

[@arthurcrocker8244]

Great review. You did not comment on what you thought of how it sounded with chorus and or reverb? Is it good enough with out an amp?

[@UkeStuff]

Thanks for the comment. I don’t have a lot to say about the effects; they work, they can be heard, but they are not really pronounced enough to be heard over singing. You would need to plug it in if that is the case. For most practical uses, I would plan on amplifying. If you are ever going to amplify the ukulele, the effects are worth the purchase. If you are not, the standard model without effects is brilliant. I reviewed the Flight Diana Soundwave Concert last week and a wood body does a better job of amplifying acoustically than plastic. Maybe that’s logical-but it was very good to find out. I did/do miss “delay” on the Enya-I would rather have that than chorus. But that’s just me.

[@rajkalyani5724]

@@UkeStuff What amplifier do you suggest for this uke?

[@UkeStuff]

I am not the person to be suggesting amplifiers...that's out of my experience and knowledge area, and I'm not going to pretend like I know what I am talking about. If you're looking for a good small amp, I don't think you would go wrong with a Roland Cube.

[@markattardo]

Good info!

[@UkeStuff]

Thanks!

[@Dakota.Covers]

I may get this one! Do you know when and if they have sales on these?

[@UkeStuff]

Watch for Black Friday, as everyone wants a bit of the e-commerce action. However, I'd recommend one of these mainly if you plan to plug it in. The on board effects are pretty quiet--something that has only been reinforced as I play my Flight Diana Soundwave and Lava U (All have similar systems). The Diana is the only one that MIGHT be heard in a group.

[@Dakota.Covers]

@@UkeStuff thank you. I would plug it into our sound system in our music room. Does it sound good plugged in?

[@UkeStuff]

@DakotaCovers It does...but one warning...it doesn't like a wireless receiver system. I love them, especially on my bass...but it causes a hum that just isn't good. Plugged in with a wire, it's a winner.

[@wrgibson9763]

Hello, good accurate review. I'm one of the fret wear victims! When referring to the wear you talk of this being a "first version". Do you have any information that there will be an improved version or is this speculation from you?

[@UkeStuff]

All I know is that Enya knows about it...and we're still waiting to see if anyone else chimes in on fret wear. There's an Enya Nova group on Facebook with about 200 owners of these (probably the biggest English-speaking group of owners anywhere) and one person mentioned fret wear, although Barry (Maz) and I have also mentioned it. On the Frankenenya, it was sent to me as a rejected model (no case, no accessories) because the tuners had a spacer in them to align them with their gears. That's crazy QC (most vendors would have just sold it). So I just don't see the company being devious and saying they'll fix something and not do it. I can reach out to Enya (they're all on holiday right now) and ask if they have an ETA for a revised batch--there has also been mention from Enya that they will be releasing a soprano version and tenor version this year. I'm pretty happy with the concert, but could be talked into a soprano...

[@wrgibson9763]

@@UkeStuff Thanks for the reply. I ask because I'll probably have to replace mine at some point, and would like the same model with all the issues resolved.

[@Dakota.Covers]

I am thinking about trying a low G string set on one of our Nova U Ukes. Which string set would you recommend for low G on this? Thank you.

[@UkeStuff]

It has to be unwound! And it will be thick. I’d probably send you to Uke Republic, where Mike can recommend a string and might have them in stock, like a Worth Clear Low G or a Living Water. He may have other ideas. There may be slight intonation issues as the compensated bridge is really intended for High G. If you do it...make sure Mike knows it is for a plastic ukulele. It’s so important that I’ll say it again...no wound strings!

[@Dakota.Covers]

@@UkeStuff thank you!

[@UkeStuff]

Anytime!

[@Dakota.Covers]

@@UkeStuff Hi. Enya recommends the Aquila unwound reds. I am not able to find and unwound set of these strings. Must I order the string set that has the wound G and then order a single unwound G string separately?

[@UkeStuff]

So sorry...I lost your comment in the thread. New comments show up, comments to comments disappear! I would NOT use reds with the Enya Nova. They'll tear it up. For a low G, I'd either get a C from a tenor set (e.g. Martin M620), or I'd order some from Living Waters (from Uke Republic or direct from Ken Middleton in the UK).

[@shuranwanglotus]

Hi, I am looking for the price of this AcousticPlus version and so far I had no luck, can you let me know, please?

[@UkeStuff]

$179.99, but may be out of stock. If you are in the US, check out www.enya-music.com To anyone else reading this reply, that price is as of October 2020 for the concert version.

[@shuranwanglotus]

UkeStuff Thank you! I really appreciate it

[@Djoko257]

How does this compare to the outdoor ukelele, Which do you prefer?

[@UkeStuff]

Here’s a video I made to answer that question. Spoiler: it depends on how you want to use it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2jWmoZ8rJySqJI