Review Details

Pono Mango Tenor (MGT 8384) Includes Hardshell Case

Product Rating:

Product Review (submitted on August 26, 2015):

Everyone is excited about getting a new uke, so I made myself wait to offer this review. I've had my Pono MGT for over 8 months and I am still drawn to this instrument. There is rarely a day when I don't play it.

I see this uke in the same light that I see really good vanilla ice cream. Bear with me. I love vanilla ice cream. I find an absolute joy in simplicity done very well. This uke has no real glitz or glam to it, but it is simply stunning to me in many ways. The mango is naturally a beautiful wood, the rosette is very minimal and tasteful, the rosewood cap on the back of the neck heel is a simple yet sparkling touch of contrast. On top of all of that, the solid construction and expert finishing work make for a complete package.

The sound of this instrument seems warm and welcoming. I've experimented with a couple of string sets. I originally had it set up with the Ko'olau Mahana string with wound 3rd and 4th string (low G). I thought it sounded very guitar like. It was nice, especially for some of the jazz standards I like to play. Of course, part of the fun of having a uke is trying different strings. I missed the re-entrant tuning, so I now use the Freemont Black Line strings. I like them as well. I won't get into my perceived nuances of string sounds, so try different sets and see what you like.

Who other than HMS is going to properly set up each uke that goes out the door? I'm no luthier, but I've experienced other companies that say they set up, and you can tell that obvious corners are cut. See, I don't have to know how to bake an apple pie to know when I'm eating a good one (with or without vanilla ice cream). The people at HMS have been great in their customer service in every aspect.

I thought this was going to be a simple and short review, but I got excited. If you're looking for stunning simplicity and an overall excellent value, I recommend the Pono MGT.