Uma Pulse KT All Solid Acacia Fan Fret Tenor Ukulele in gigbag

The clever fan frets on this solid acacia tenor ukulele from the Uma Pulse range give the instrument a really interesting sound with precise intonation.

Probably the first question you want answered will be "why fan frets?" The answer is in two parts. Firstly, the lower C and G strings benefit from a higher tension, which helps to make the tension across all 4 strings feel more uniform, and increases the presence and sustain of the low G string. And secondly, the fan frets help to achieve slightly better intonation on these lower strings, which can have a tendency to veer sharp the higher up the fretboard one plays on a standard fretted ukulele.

So, not just a gimmick! You can certainly hear the precision in the intonation when you are playing in the first few positions. And, playing it in any position up the neck is remarkably comfy - you need not contort your hand at all, as you find that your finger shapes fall naturally into the right places without any need for major adjustment.

But seeing past the novelty of the fan frets, fundamentally this is a very good tenor ukulele. It has a full sound, with a warm tone - no doubt helped by the Nylon strings, and low G - which would not disappoint, if a full sound and a warm tone in an instrument with more precise intonation is what you are after.

You are stuck with this in low G as well. Changing to a high G string would not work at all, as the intonation would be extremely skewy! So bear this in mind before purchasing.

Pictures show actual instrument.

Specification:
Solid acacia top, back and sides
Gloss finish
Engineered wood fretboard and bridge
Bone nut and saddle
Binding to top and back
435mm scale A string, 453mm G string
35mm nut width
Slotted headstock
D'Addario high density nylon low G strings
Fan frets
Der Jung tuners, gold finish
Mahogany neck, satin finish
Padded Uma gigbag included