Baton Rouge V2-T8 sun

Na tento nástroj hrám už dlhší čas prakticky denne. Som ním nadšený, aj keď vlastním a hrám na viacero omnoho drahších nástrojov. Pre svoje potreby som ho však upravil na 4 - strunný, lebo mi vyhovuje široký krk nástroja, hra je tak veľmi pohodlná a príjemná aj pre hráčov s hrubšími prstami. Vďaka širšiemu hmatníku tak zahráte všetky akordy bez problémov. Napriek nízkej cene, je nástroj vyhotovený pomerne kvalitne. Ale hlavne - zvuk je vynikajúci, veľmi príjemný, dostatočne hlasný, s pekným sustainom. Zatiaľ nemám žiadne negatíva, nástroj môžem len a len vrelo doporučiť.

I use this as a travel instrument or instrument when I need to check some tones fast, also to perform in concerts and cafes.
High quality wood, smooth and pleasing to touch. Strings are soft and easy to play. I don't even feel the double strings. I fell in love immediately. Beautiful and full sound. The picking comes easy and strumming sounds soft but accurate. This instrument could easily replace standart 6-string accoustic guitar because of it's full sound.
I've been playing this for a year now and I still haven't got a feeling that I should change the strings. Except the one low non-nylon G string looks little rusted but sounds perfectly fine.

Also I have installed a pickup. It cost me 15 EUR. I was worried that it will do some damage to the instrument but it took it really well. This helps to perform live much easier. At some stages the signal is little poor and it should be turn on the highest level where it could nearly peek but again in other stages the signal is totally fine. When plugged in ukulele seems to have more highs but it can be turn off very easily.
In all it's totally worth paying! There haven't been a day where I regret it.

Beautiful Ukulele in looks and in sound. Because of the double strings the sound is very big but still very delicate. Only downside for me is when i pick up a four string Ukulele now it sounds like something is missing, but that is not really a downside. Personally i do not feel the double strings makes it harder to play. I was lucky enough to try one of these in a local shop first but went straight to Thomann to buy because of the price. Great buy, beautiful instrument, happy girlfriend with new Ukulele and happy me as i get to play it.

Summary:
I would have love to keep this Uke because of the 8-string which is special and sounds nice, but the quality and finish is so bad compared to my much lower priced Lanikai Soprano I had to send this Baton Rouge back to Thomann.

Full review:
Since I own a Lanikai U21 Soprano I wanted to size up a bit and go for a tenor. After doing a lot of research online I fell in love with this 8 (!) string tenor which would defiantly been a size up in many ways. A YouTube review got me even more exited and I finally ordered one. I was a bit afraid that 8-strings would be a problem with finger picking, but it's actually no problem at all.

But man, I can't understand why everyone is so exited about this Baton Rouge, maybe that's why I'm so disappointed, I had high expectations.

The sound is nice, although the 8 strings are not so great for every song because of the high C, I do love the low G a lot and would have love to keep this uke because of it. But what really disappoints me is the poor finish and the bad look of the body. I know the price range is considered as "low end". Compared to my soprano however - which was way lower in price - this Baton Rouge is just plain bad. The body has lots of white stripes in the wood and the neck is rugged which is very irritating the index finger while sliding and even holding the uke. The overal look and feel is cheap. Especially compared to my much cheaper Lanikai Soprano. So I've send it back and probably go for a Lanikai or Kala 4 strings tenor. Maybe spend a little more money on it as well and I would recommend other to do as well, although everyone else seems to love this Baton Rouge...

Pro:
- Nice warm sound
- Love the low G, makes it sound special
- 8-strings

Cons:
- Cheap look and feel
- Body finish is bad
- Rugged ages on the neck, which is annoying while playing
- 8-strings doesn't sound nice for every song due to the high C I guess

I would rate this uke 2,5 star