A first time for this ukulele brand on Got A Ukulele and one of their entry level models. This is the My Leho 146 series Concert Ukulele.
The brand here is actually called Leho and they are a brand with quite a range of ukuleles i've known about for some time, though rarely see around that much. It's also a brand that I know are played by a couple of players I respect highly, including an excellent instrumental arranger, but albeit playing models from Leho at the much higher end. This one is part of a couple of entry level series ukes that comprises this 146 series and the less brightly coloured 156 series. It looks like each are available in both soprano and concert. Do bear in mind that wider range and more serious offerings as this is not a ukulele from a faceless Amazon only brand putting out 'yet another brightly coloured uke'. Let's dive in!
SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW
As I say the 146 series are the more brightly coloured offerings in the 'My Leho' ranges and comes in a range of bright colours including this one called 'My Blue Sea'. More specifically this is model MLUC-146MBS. Aside from the colouring the base construction is the same on each. The back and sides of the body here are a one piece plastic shell in what they call 'poly sonic' which is marketing speak for some form of plastic. On top of that is dropped a laminate basswood top to complete the sound box. I'm not going to scoff at that concept as instruments from the Makala Dolphin, through the Flight Travel series up to the Magic Fluke all employ that idea and each to good effect. The back and sides here feel great with no sharp edges and a pleasing curve to the back. The blue colouring is attractive enough with the grain showing through on the top. Bear in mind though that top is essentially cheap plywood so the grain is a bit 'agricultural'.
The bridge is specced as rosewood and is a tie bar. It's smoothly finished, but is crying out for oil or something to stop it looking quite so much like raw bare wood which looks cheap. That holds an ABS plastic straight topped saddle and the spacing clocks in at 39mm.
There is no other decoration to the body and that blue colouring is finished in a sort of satin coating which seems to be applied well all over. The only other thing is the inclusion of a plastic strap button in the base. Considering the plastic body construction that is a wise addition as drilling buttons into plastic is not the same as into wood.
The construction type means there is not a great deal to see inside, but I can tell you that the wooden top is braced in a rudimentary way, and the sides are ribbed in the plastic moulding for strength. There is also a thin tail block presumably to hold the strap button. Other than that it is largely tidy (bar a bit of glue) but the top is clearly very thick laminate.
The neck material is not specified but sprouts out of the body with a very chunky heel. The stain hides any possibility of confirming a joint in the heel but I can see another joint further up the neck at around the second fret position. It tapers down fairly flattened but still round profile at the nut and an overall width of 35mm with 28mm from G to A. That's all quite generic but the longer taper into the headstock means it's reasonably comfortable at this end.
The fingerboard is made of rosewood and like the bridge looks bare and unfinished. It's also a bit ragged in places and looks cheap. It's set with 18 frets and 14 to the body joint. The sides are edge bound or painted in black, but unfortunately there are hints of sharpness on the ends. They are far from the worst I have felt on this score, but it is still noticeable. Pearly position dots face out at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th and they are repeated in white on the side.
Beyond the plastic nut is a headstock shape that is 'kind of crown, but not' and not unattractive. That's stained blue as well and has the 'My Leho' logo screen printed on the top face.
The tuners are very generic open gears with black plastic buttons and front collars. They are a bit grindy to turn but work and are probably akin to what you will see on something like a Makala Dolphin.
And finishing things off are a set of strings that look like Aquila but the uke has no Aquila swing tag which usually tends to mean they are not. And the price... well that varies widely on the limited stores I see these in so it makes it hard for me to be certain. I saw one shop selling this at nearer £50 but would you believe I found one selling it for about £15. This actual one cost me £25 so that is what I am reviewing it at. Whichever way you look at it though this is very cheap indeed.
So, not quite the car crash so far that people may have been expecting. It's largely pretty tidy bar the rough bare rosewood and cheap tuners, but otherwise it feels very well put together and solidly made. The out of the box setup on this one is also good with no adjustments I would make to either the nut or the saddle. Talking of how it feels a big gripe comes in the weight as this feels extremely uncomfortable for a ukulele at 710g. To make matters worse it is massively body heavy and that coupled with the slippy shiny back makes it constantly slide down when you are holding it. I can see a second reason why they fitted the strap button!
Basics first and the volume and sustain are both good, particularly the volume. Neither are earth shattering, but compared to some of the 'plinky' boxes on Amazon for similar money it's very good on these fronts. A good start.
Tone wise though things go a little off. It plays accurately and as I say, the projection and sustain are good but unlike some classier plastic backed instruments like the Flea you can hear the plastic here. That is to say there is an echoey edge to the tone which stands out to my ear regardless of how you play it. Strumming can be jangly and bouncy enough but with that un-natural echo in the background. I actually still prefer it played this way to when picked as single notes sound a bit tubby and strangled. "Lunchboxy' is how I will describe it.
But look, it's a £25 instrument and I have heard a LOT worse for more money. It works as a uke and was never going to sound like a solid koa instrument with these specs or price. I'd even go so far as to say I could grow to like it and may make a good beater to leave in the car. It plays, it's inoffensive.
So whilst this isn't one that gets a firm recommendation from Got A Ukulele it is far away from the worst i've seen at prices even more than this. It's very cheap, solidly built and projects well. It plays as a uke should too, but things like the echoey tone and the weight / balance issue let it down for me. Still, if you are on the tightest of budgets you would not be making a fully stupid mistake to grab one of these as a knockabout.
UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP
Model: My Leho MLUC-146
Scale: Concert
Body: One piece plastic back and sides, laminate basswood top
Bridge: Rosewood tie bar
Saddle: ABS
Spacing at saddle: 39mm
Finish: Satin blue stain
Neck: Unspecified
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Frets: 18, 14 to body
Nut: ABS
Nut width: 35mm, 28mm G to A
Tuners: Unbranded open gears
Strings: Unknown
Extras: Strap button
Weight: 710g
Country of origin: China
Price: Varies - I paid £25
UKULELE PROS
Solid build with decent finish
Good volume
Good sustain
Tough
Very very cheap!
UKULELE CONS
Heavy
Off balance
Raw wood on bridge and board ugly
Sharp frets
Sharp frets
Lousy tuners
Echoey tone
Echoey tone
UKULELE SCORES
Looks - 7.5 out of 10
Fit and finish - 7.5 out of 10
Sound - 7 out of 10
Value for money - 9.5 out of 10
Value for money - 9.5 out of 10
OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 7.9 out of 10
UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW
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It is really interesting that this is the first review of a Leho in 15 years. The brand does not seem to have much presence in the UK. On the continent, in contrast, it is on par with the Kalas, Ohanas and the like, and it covers a similar spectrum from very cheap to very decent. I use their thin-body long-neck soprano for travelling and it is a fine instrument for the purpose.
ReplyDeleteThis particular model ("MyLeho") was used by several of my students when I taught ukulele in primary school. They come in very mixed quality. Some worked nicely out of the box, others needed considerable work on set-up, intonation and playability, some were beyond rescue. My advice would be to select a particular specimen in a brick-and-mortar store, rather than order one on-line.