Applause UAE148 Ukulele

Same as before.

Two years later... I'm down grading to a 5 or 6 amplified. 7 if you play alone in a small room. I have had to turn my amp down to 2, set bass to 1, treble 4 and up the mids to 8 to get a nice clean tone worthy of using in a group. Higher volumes needed for large spaces with a group revealed a washed out harshness I can not stand anymore. (I hear it...others say it's not that bad...but I am not satisfied and it bugs me.) Mic your amp if you can. I use the on board preamp, the bass slider at 0%, half way on mid and a bit more on the treble. Cleans up an annoying background thunk thunk coming off the piezzo from the Low G and the C in certain situations AND I've had to use a much firmer finger picking attack style to produce good tones...its more work then fun anymore to play this uke. The dynamics of the bottom strap button made me relocate it so the round back doesn't "roll it up" while playing...that helps. I guess I'll never review an instrument again until I've played it a year or so. (The RISA, now that I've learned "electric guitar" techniques, does not do "uke" sounds but is comfortable to play and has a much better sonic fit in an acoustic and resonator playing blues group. Hard to explain.)

See locating the bottom button above....otherwise still well built, etc.
Thinking of sawing off part of the lower head to make Fm cords easier as the top "ear" bumps into my hand at times.

Just have a spare 9V battery on hand...very road worthy.

No need....

Price is OK but difficult to dial in. The fact it doesn't do well at high volume has tarnished it for me. Low volumes its just OK.... I will sell it when I find a better acoustic electric uke. Will gladly spend big bucks to do so.

Had it several months. It's got a laminated and REALLY glossed spruce top with the Ovation leaves around the side holes. Looks good, nice binding and thankfully it has strap buttons because it's heavy for a ukulele. Satin finished bridge, head and neck. Body by Ovation and the electrics are good enough. The lower bout is wider then most tenor ukes so it reminds me more of a super small guitar. The tuners are alright, seem to hold but if I find better ones that don't create cosmetic problems I'll replace them. For now no complaints. Solidly built, overall good work, better in person then from pictures. Some small glue blems on rosewood fretboard, no big-e. The nut seems ordinary and all adjustments will be made later. It's fine for now. The battery is in a really goofy place and I dread the day I have to replace it. The literature that came with mine is worse then a bad joke. Because of the "Ovation" design head the backside, behind the nut makes a few few cords hard to form (not impossible). Hard to explain but it makes me want to grind down these backside contours. Oh well, I'm getting used to it by now. Smaller hands would help. I take two points off a ten for the laminated top and the maybe too thick high gloss finish.

Plugged into my Acoutrasonic Jr. it's very good. WITHOUT an amp it is a very bad choice if it's your first "acoustic" ukulele. No projection and volume to get excited about and I fault the ply and the heavy gloss as partial reason. I'm comparing it to my Kamaka Tenor so it's not a fair fight, but you need to know what your getting. The high G strings it comes with...I think I fish with that stuff don't I?...are junk. They were off in an hour. Aquila Nylgut low-G work much better and at least gave it some tone unplugged. No noise except finger tapping on the strings a player introduces. I have NO complaints about it plugged in and I play it more like a four string classical guitar. It is heavy and is not a "hold like a normal uke" tenor. The back is "rounded" and slippery. The strap buttons a big help. Good intonation on the G E A strings, the C needs some adjust. Works great with my Fender, I'm still messing around with various settings. If your familiar with Ovations then this is just a little one and I am pleased with it apmplified. 6 for unplugged sound and 9 for plugged.

Action is about right for me, the frets were a little sharp edged but since it's been humidified in a case the dry fingerboard is recovering and that seems to be solving the problem. A few small glue smears, the frets are good, well made, goofy battery holder placement inside the body, and overall I'm happy with it. The electronics are good, the slidders are small but feel OK and I have the three selection buttons set where they are going to stay so I think they won't be a problem wearing these out. The nut was not trimmed flush on one side and I will replace that with something better and get a better set-up at the same time. The backside head design is the only major negative I have towards this uke. I'm trying to be honest about it's little flaws, but even knowing all these, I'd still order this uke again. It's not fair, but I compare it to my high dollar ukes and I know it needs some tweeking. I really like the feel of the satin finished neck. The action is good. The neck looks adjustable from the inside but I can't say for sure.

I think you could use it in a good bar brawl as a club and still play on afterwards. I would think it's just as reliable as any Applause/Ovation product and I bought this uke over other lower end electric acoustic ukes just because I trust the brand name and think it was pretty solid. I'm not worried so I'll give it a ten. Of course, your Karma may vary.

No reason so far to find out, but the Applause website doesn't have an online manual or anything else explaining how to change it's battery.

A few years on uke, 32 years on Gibson guitars. I'd replace it with a high dollar electric/acoustic ukulele if lost or stolen from home. If used in gigs I'd wouldn't hesitate to get another. It's perfect for that. Here's where I must give this uke the TEN. Because of what it is, what I want it for and how it is pretty much negatives free I think this uke is a fantastic value for as a plugged in gig uke. ALSO, a BARITONE Protec case works great! I love it. The Apl.148 is too wide for a tenor case...beware...and the "Applause" uke/mandolin case didn't appeal at all to my taste.

Korean made, laminated spruce top, nice electronic package, rosewood fret board, white top binding and IMHO those IMHO, ugly Ovation sound hole leaves. Strap buttons a nice plus. You can look up all the other specs.

Acoustically and with the so-so High G strings it comes with it's pretty week. OK, I'm spoiled by my super nice tenor Kamaka. I'm not disappointed however because I wanted it for it's electric possibilities. With my Fender Acoustasonic Jr. DPS I get a quality sound from it and if your familiar with Ovation/Applause instruments at all you pretty much know what your getting from that company. Using diffent low G Aquila strings might help it acoustically but still I advise against getting this if you don't intend to plug it in. I suggest you play it first if you DON'T intend to amp it. You can do much better for the money getting something more traditional. Once plugged in, it prety much has a nice nylon string guitar sound. Kapo a clasical guitar at the fifth fret and that's basically the sound you get with this 148. Play it first if you can and make sure that's the sound you want. I get zero feedback and it sounds better then I expected. Because it's not really a very good acoustic uke I gave it's sound 5 and electrically 9+.

Set was fine, and I didn't need any adjustments. Nice neck, straight, comfortable for me...meaty compared to the Kamaka. Bookmatched, cheap nut that wasn't trimmed too good and needs some attention someday, nice saddle set up, fret are fines but there are two "glue spots" on the fret board and one near the leaves. Very fine natural crack on the edge of the board and the finger board shows some sanding lines, otherwise it looks great. Much better in person then online. I would avoid bumping the covers on the tuners since they look like they might peel back if you know what I mean. I am very happy with it's intonation and once it stays in tune it plays clean all the way up and down the neck. Overall, it's "flaws" are very minor and not really worth mentioning. Haven't played any other electric uke so rating it isn't that easy.

The reason I got this uke IS BECAUSE I wanted a ruged player to gig with friends.As long as I have a spare baterry I'm guessing its almost bullit proof. The strap buttons helps one hold it because its got a slippery round back. Five year warranty and I bet it never needs it.

N/A

I've played guitars for 33 years and just got into ukes last year. Man, I love those tiny boxes. This one is perfect for my needs and leads and sounds/looks good enough for me. How could one not want to freshen up their gig with a few ukulele songs. OR, as a mandolin substitute instrument. I'd get another one or maybe try the smaller solid top electric if it ever got lost. If I had $800 more I get a nicer custom electrified uke, but for what I paid I'm very happy. I don't worry about letting my son use it as he follows all the rules about care of instruments. I wish it was louder acoustically, came with better strings and didn't have those small glue flaws. Overall, I'm pleased and so rated it OVERALL better then the sum of it's parts. BTW....These UAE148 fit very nice in most baritone ukes cases. Don't get the "cheep" made for Applause uke/mandolin hard case. Pro Tec "harshell seems the way to go for myself.

The pickup and eq system are very versitile. No feedback problems and a great work horse for the money. I don't like the pointed shape of the neck and have been tempted to shave down the point but have been afraid to do so. ( Would this be safe to do?) I wish I could find out what kind of strings the instrument came with. I loved them and have not been able to duplicate them. If you unscrew the back plate it helps you hear yourself better, this is not an extremly loud uke. I have enjoyed it greatly but am recently playing a kamaka more for recording because I like the wood sound. The applause is great for gigs - the Kamaka feeds back with a large 4th string on it.
The neck is wider than it seems and the strings are set wider apart than most - even my Tamura classical guitar. I like that about it.

I play a lot of styles because I was a classical guitar major in college, play jazz, rock, blues. I play in some Hawaiian groups around Santa Cruz, CA. and teach music to 500 4th and 5th grade students - ukulele is one of the things they learn. This instrument has a very good sound with most amps. I usually go into a sound system or use a small peavy studio plus amp with a volume pedal. At practices I keep the volume off until I solo. sometimes I use a little volume to do some chickin' pickin' rhythm sounds behind the rest of the players. I works great for that. It is more like a jazz nylon guitar sound when played though a guitar amp - very bluesy and fun for jazz. I heard one played through a twin reverb with distortion and didn't like it. A little edge can be nice for soloing.

The action was pretty good. Once I figured out how to get under the bridge saddle and took out a shim, the action got great. This is a nice system, I would like to know how to purchase the small shims. I lost mine. It set up really nice. No flaws.
My only suggestion is to add a dot or two on the top of the binding so you know where you are. I added one on the 5th fret and it really helps.

This ukulele will withstand anything - I love that about it. I dropped it on my way to class and it just bounced. I use a small banjo soft case so that when I go to Hawaii it will fit water, ipod, magazines and snacks - makes a great carry on. So far no hassle that the neck is too long.
The strap buttons work very good. I took a piece of leather and made a strap about an inch thick at the shoulder and tapered down. It is also contoured to have a little curve in it and it works great. This works great for live playing and traveling.
Took it to the Azores islands of the coast of Portugal and played Cape Verde music with several African Portuguese. It was great fun - I sometimes forget that I am a guitar player.
This is my main gig ukulele unless I want a more woody / traditional sound, but it has a nice accoustical sound also.

Don't know.

I've been playing guitar for 46 years. I've been playing ukulele for about 5 years.
Yes I would buy another one. It's a great workhorse - very dependable and versitile.
I love it's durability and sound. It's fun. I wish it was lighter.
I wanted something to travel with that sounded good that I didin't have to be dainty with.
I wish it had a more rounded neck instead of so pointed. Is hard to put your thumb in the middle of the neck to play certain types of jazz or classical. It's like the old Fender Telecasters with the pointy neck.

New, made in Korea within last couple of years I believe. The Ovation style bowl back. Its so cute its hard not to fall in love with it.

Specs taken from gear1music.com: Epaulet soundhole (multiple soundholes), Electric-Acoustic Roundback Ukulele, with solid mahogony top
? Tenor Uke Acoustic Electric
? Ukulele Cutaway Body Type
? Spruce Top (I got the mahogony version, I think it looks fantastic.)
? 16 7/8" Scale Length
? 1 3/8" nut width
? 18 Frets
? OP-24+ preamp

I haven't made extensive use of the pre-amp since I usually play it unplugged. The knobs on the pre-amp seem pretty weak and cheesy. There is a volume lever, lever for each bass, mid, and treble, and three push buttons (forget what those are for). The levers do not feel solid at all, but cheap and "plasticky." This appears to be the most clear evidence that its not a $500 instrument. The pre-amp does work fine and I have no complaints about the sound it produces. Just a bit peeved about the lack of quality of the knobs/levers.

It has the pre-amp and a 9volt battery inside the body, which is very small compared to a guitar. Accessing the battery is a bit of a chore for large hands; and its tricky putting the battery housing back after changing the battery. I have no idea how long the battery will last.

I play guitar and bass, and this is my first ukulele. I love the sound! I mostly play it unplugged; I do not have an acoustic amp. I have a Behringer GX212 which I use with a Vamp2 for my guitar, but the amp (and the Vamp) have some decent clean settings which sound not too bad with the uke.

Its an ukulele, so it can't make non-ukulele sounds. But I did not purchase it to sound like anything other than it is. For an ukulele it produces plenty of sound. I think the bowl back really helps it with projection and dispertion. It can play along with an acoustic guitar without getting completely lost.

Nothing I do not like about it yet.

Uke was set up nicely when it arrived. Not obvious flaws. Nice action, no buzzing. Tuners seem solid and keep it in tune.

I think the uke will do fine with live playing. The input jack seems to be strong and well attached to the uke. The pre-amp is my only real worry at this point. I haven't had the ukulele long enough at this point to give this an honest rating, so I'll leave it alone.

Applause does not even have a website, which I do not like. I purchased from Cutting-edgemusic.com, and they were pretty good with e-mail correspondence prior to purchase; we'll see if they continue now that the sale has been made.

The "manual" that came with the ukulele seems to be a general Applause guitar manual, and it says something about Applause being "the guitar for the 80s." Guys, its 2002, might be time to update that manual.

I can't really give this category an honest opinion.

Just started playing ukulele. Playing guitar for a few years, bass for a couple more than that. Experienced ukulele players should take that into account and read this with a grain of coral sand. If you can, go to the store and play it and compare it to others (not an option for me - no real music stores out here). Check the harmony-central reviews of the mandolin - I believe the ukulele shares the same body and electronics with the Applause mandolin. With my limited experience in ukuleles I give this a 9 because I am truly pleased with it at this point.