Short -- Very impressed with this product, great mid-range gift idea (for someone not too young), good introduction to other string instruments or music-making in general. Keep in mind that this model does come with a rather nice little gig bag to store/carry the uke in, but does not come with an accessories kit like other, similar models from Ranch Ukulele. Great customer service here, as well.
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I have had zero physical contact with a ukulele prior to ordering this one, but a long-distance friend of mine turned me on to the concept of trying it out, since I have played instruments off and on for a hobby over the years.
I did a little research on ukulele quality, as I sort of knew the less expensive ones can be... a baby step into the musical world. I didn't want to pay out an excessive amount for a new instrument, either, not knowing how much I'd enjoy it. Regardless, I'm rather impressed by what I found here.
I assume I hit a sweet spot on quality and price. It's rather beautiful for such a basic design - simple, clean, and... I guess I'm a bit biased on the color! But I can't find any faults with the craftsmanship here, for the price point. I have heard of issues on lower-priced ukuleles with the tuners keeping the strings in tune, sometimes not even through songs. The strings that came with this seem to be quite a popular brand, however, and the tuners don't seem to slip.
I did have a few issues with tuning for the first several days, but I assumed this might be normal with nylon strings. After a day or two, it sounded just fine until I'd pick it up hours later, and after a full week I barely had to tune it up to pitch after sitting.
And the sound! I'm sure there is a distinct difference compared to more pricey models, but... I was really surprised after I found the right spot to strum on the tenor. I suppose I've been around far too many $5-10 "guitars" and "ukes" from the toy section... Regardless, while I'm not great at playing it just yet, I do feel like I can make -music- instead of just noise with it!
I do play some guitar, so I have a -little- experience with string instruments, but nothing to write home about. I was able to play some simple stuff from the first day, but considering the size, number of strings, and basic chords, I believe anyone could enjoy their first time with a ukulele and want to learn and play more. It would be a great gift for someone who hasn't played an instrument before.
If your prospective giftee is a bit on the younger side, and you're afraid they might be rough with it, I would suggest a cheaper model for now, just in case. If you feel they're old enough to respect any instrument as more than a toy, though, I feel this would be a great place to start!
Ranch Ukulele does offer "Free Online 12 Lessons" with this purchase, which is offered on a printed sheet coming with the instrument. The backside of this sheet shows 30 basic chords to get you started, but the rest of this offer is fulfilled on their website. Just something to keep in mind for anyone who might still have limited access these days.
The lessons and courses are quite fine, 12 lessons indeed, and as of this review, 7 song lessons on top of that. You'll soon find yourself looking elsewhere for more tips and songs/chords/ideas to keep you going, but it's definitely a place you can start learning.
All-in-all, I consider this a great purchase, and I'll be recommending Ranch Guitar to anyone looking for their first ukulele!