Bonanza Maverick Concert Ukulele - REVIEW

This one comes quite soon after my last review of this ukulele brand, but considering he released his new ones as a pair, I couldn't resist looking at the other one! This is the new Maverick Concert Ukulele from Bonanza.

That last one I looked at was the Renegade ukulele in baritone scale, and instrument that came about utilising the new 'through neck' technique Pete Mai had developed, but wanting to offer it at a lower price point. It was essentially a through neck version of his hugely popular Homestead ukulele and I loved both of them. That new technique came about first on his Millenium Series instruments, and this is to the Millennium what the Renegade is to the Homestead I suppose.

SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW

If you don't know, Bonanza are the business of Pete and Shelley Mai in Minnesota, USA with instruments made from cabinet maker Pete that always use highly unconventional  (but highly effective) build techniques. In fact I can't think of anyone building anything quite like Pete does. Most people know them by now so if you want some more back story look at some of the links I've included in the text above. I've not looked at a concert from Pete for a while, but that is what this is although the Maverick comes in other scales too. 

Like several other Bonanza ukes this uses a two piece clamshell technique in which fuller blocks of wood are then routed out, leaving integral braces to create a kind of 'ashtray' shape which are then brought together to create a thin sound chamber. When I first saw it I was not at all convinced it would work, but trust me, it does! Also like the Millennium, rather than using a single type of wood block for the routing, Pete has fused different pieces to create a kind of 'racing stripe' effect in the wood. Whilst the Millennium I looked at was largely pale with darker stripes this goes in reverse and I prefer it for that fact. The darker wood here is Mahogany and the paler stripes are Aspen, though you have other options if you speak to Pete. I think this works just wonderfully and whilst I long thought the Oreo was my favourite looking Bonanza, I think this has tipped it. And here's the thing.. this sort of look on instruments are not usually my thing but I adore this one. Once again - Bonanza messing with my head... Otherwise this is a standard looking double bout instrument with a sloped cutaway on the upper shoulder.

Here Pete employs his now usual black Walnut through bridge with star motifs for the string holes and again holds his usual stone effect Corian straight topped saddle. Spacing here is 43mm.  It's quite the thing when your bridge design becomes your own and when I put up my usual pre-review sneak pictures, this was the one element I couldn't help but give it away with!!

Like his other instruments this is finished in a hand applied open pore semi gloss / semi satin finish that is very nicely done. There is nothing else on this one as the stripes are doing the work, but if you know Pete he can do laser engravings for you to personalise it if you want. For me this just looks great as is.

Inside is  the usual oddity from Bonanza as we are not talking a usual uke build here - take a look at my review of the Millennium to see what the integral braces look like! As the braces are integral and not applied and there is no kerfing there is naturally less reason for glue mess.

That through neck design employed on the Millennium and Renegade is in play here too and that means that the block of fused woods that he uses to make the top of the instrument is actually part of a much longer block that also forms the neck through to the headstock. That means the same stripes that you get on the body seamlessly flow up the neck too and the back part of the clamshell finishes them off. It's very clever and gives a great effect that is more striking here than the Renegade. I always have found Bonanza necks comfortable, and despite this being a concert it's still a generous 38mm nut width with 30mm from G to A. Add to that the impact of the through neck giving you a very shallow heel and it's a very accessible instrument at either end.

This is topped with more walnut for the fingerboard which has a very funky grain to it I am liking a lot.  It's fitted with 18 frets and a more modern concert 14 fret join. They are dressed impeccably well and because Pete seats them in slots that don't reach the edges you will never see the ends or feel anything sharp. The position markers on this go back to a design I saw him use on a 5 string ukulele I looked at in 2020 in the form of pale wood shooting star inlays, offset to the side which also act as side markers. They are placed at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th and look great.

Beyond the Corian nut is the usual simple square topped Bonanza headstock which sports more of the wood stripe from the body and neck. Something clever is going on again as I can just about see a joint in which the stripe is unaffected. On the top face is the usual Bonanza logo laser etched in place.

The tuners on this are an optional upgrade in the form of Der Jung Planetary tuners. I've talked about these before and have them on some of my own instruments. They are a superb and better value alternative to Gotoh UPT tuners which work just as well.  Love them.

Finishing it off are a couple of strap buttons and a fluorocarbon strings set which I think is the same fishing line I personally use. And the RRP for this is going to be $479, but like some others Pete has these on offer for a while at $379. You can also save another $30 if you go for regular geared tuners, but why would you? Either way I think that is great value again from Bonanza. Sure, it's a touch more than the Renegade, but there is more going on here with the stripe and inlays.

I'm not sure i've played a Bonanza I disliked, but Pete did well to send me a Concert as it's a scale I've really fallen for in the last few years. That smaller body here just feels so great in the hands, almost like it's not there, and i've gushed about the looks enough. This is my favourite looking Bonanza so far. And as for that feel, my word this is light. It's only 420g and balances wonderfully. 

First time readers of a Bonanza ukulele may be looking at this and expecting the review to go downhill at this point. Heck when I first started reviewing them I felt the SAME.. but.. well, lets get on with it.

Small body, unconventional build, thinline, integral braces, thick sides... tone killers?  First.. the volume.. Absolutely terrific. A punchy bark that  I want in a concert as I do a soprano. I'd possibly like a touch more sustain, but being a concert this isn't a deal breaker for me, and it's not actually that bad on this front. Another Bonanza that works wonderfully on these basics.

Tone wise I found the Millennium was a touch to bright for my own tastes, but that was because it was a tenor and the main wood was Aspen which I think was contributing to it. More simply, I prefer my tenor instruments to sound darker. Here we have a concert with the main wood being mahogany so i'd expect the wood to tone that down, but if not I won't be too displeased as I like my concerts to sound more like sopranos with a brighter jangly rhythmical sound. 

It certainly has some brightness to the tone, but I suspect body size may have as much to do with that than woods. But this is not spruce bright and actually there is quite a bit of range to the sound which is more rounded than I expected. Strummed it certainly is peppy, jangly and rhythmical so it's ticking my boxes for what I want in a concert. It's a fun sound and very bouncy.

Fingerpicking is where you notice there is more breadth to the tonal range and it shows off a very pretty sound to my ears played this way. Not overly bright, not overly warm, but just kind of 'right' It's also a delight to play this way on account of that comfortable neck. I could play melodies on this one all day.

Once again, Pete makes something that shouldn't work, but does so wonderfully. That look is wonderful, the light build is great and the very pretty tone has sold me.  My favourite Bonanza yet.

Very highly recommended.

https://www.bonanzaukuleles.com/

UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP

Model: Bonanza Maverick

Scale: Concert

Body: Solid Mahogany and Aspen with integral neck

Bridge: Walnut, through bridge

Saddle: Corian, straight topped

Spacing at saddle: 43mm

Finish: Semi gloss hand finished

Neck: Integral to body

Fingerboard: Walnut

Frets: 18, 14th body join

Nut: Corian

Nut width: 38mm, 30mm G to A

Tuners: Der Jung Planetary (cost extra)

Extras: Strap buttons

Strings: Clear fluorocarbon
Weight: 420g

Country of origin: USA
Price: $479 (introductory $379)

UKULELE PROS

Killer looks

Great build and finish

Remarkable volume

Extremely light

Peppy concert tone

Great tuners

Decent price

UKULELE CONS

Nothing I can think of - maybe a touch more sustain.

UKULELE SCORES

Looks - 10 out of 10

Fit and finish - 9.5 out of 10

Sound - 9 out of 10

Value for money - 9.5 out of 10

OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.5 out of 10

UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW

© Barry Maz

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