Bought cheaply during the search for a solid wood-topped Concert sized instrument to offer some more volume playing in a group. Post #19 considered its smaller cousin, which was a competent instrument with a bit of fettling. The UC60 seems to be available badged as Stagg, East Coast and perhaps others.
Solid-topped instruments play in and improve over time. Older instruments are often free of glossy laqcuer which I think dulls the vibration of the soundboard. The thinner the better, as shown in the music grade laminates used in the cheaper Chinese-made Kiwayas, which are superb instruments.
These seem to be pretty well set up with benefits to be had from reducing the saddle height.
So, the Concert Stagg drew me to assess what was available new. The Harley Benton from Thomann is, remarkably, a solid-topped soprano for under 40 quid. Annoyingly, it has trendy transfers on its top. What other acoustic bargains are still out there amidst the shiny things?
These were both rehomed to improvers and are fantastic instruments, lacking the glitz of the modern over glossed things which dampen the acoustic response. Quite small-bodied too, so a good low cost alternative to a long neck soprano. I played the darkened one for a good while in club use, but decided it could be replaced with a slightly mis-shapen Aria 250 Concert – a solid mahogany which was also adopted by Southern Ukulele Store as one of their chosen branded instruments.
Ukulele 