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Pros:
- Sturdy and durable
- Get a better quality for lesser price
- No need for extra tuning
Cons:
- High action
- A bit most expensive compared to other beginner ukes
Alvarez is famed for their acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars but their foray into the world of ukuleles has not been one without success. The RU22T is part of the Alvarez Regent Series designed to bring players quality ukes at reasonable prices. Although an amazing entry-level instrument, this tenor ukulele would be a good addition in the collection of an intermediate/professional player. Let’s talk about why the RU22T deserved to be in our “best tenor ukuleles” as well as general best ukuleles, overall.
Build
Finding a ukulele under a $100 mark is not a hard thing. After all, the market is flooded with ukuleles under a lot lower price. BUT if you are looking for an almost professional level quality instrument with well-thought-out details and amazing craftsmanship, you might want to linger your eyes over the Regent Series. The RU22T is an all-mahogany body with fan bracing for ultimate durability and sound. The classical dovetail neck joint between the body and the neck of the ukulele allows for the sturdy construction and great playability. Overall, this is a simple and elegant looking with no bs design ukulele that you get for functionality and sound.
Hardware
Alvarez equipped their RU22T with rosewood bridge that is easy to use for changing the strings and rosewood fingerboard. The fingerboard features a beautiful and functional closed back chrome tuners. The nut and saddle are real bone which is a nice surprise for a uke under $100. Instruments well over $100 sometimes do not feature real bone which is still one of the most beloved (and kind of expensive) materials for the nut. The problem is that the action might be a little bit too high. While an intermediate player will probably have no issue with that, it might create discomfort for beginners. Nevertheless, the issue is easily fixable.
Alvarez RU22T Sound
The RU22T might not have a flashy design or extravagant (mostly useless) accessories but it has what is actually necessary – great quality tonewood and functional hardware. All of that together produces the sound that would not be possible without the attention to details and great craftsmanship that Alvarez puts into its Regent Series. The overall construction, including the fan bracing and tenor size, create amazing projection and rich sound. This tenor uke has the big sound, response, and tone that could easily stand alongside a lot of pro-level instruments.
Conclusion
While ukuleles might not be Alvarez’s main product, they sure as hell put a lot of time and effort into their uke series. That is why the RU22T is one of the best tenor ukuleles on the market and should not be overlooked by beginner and intermediate players. Yes, it might not be as affordable as a lot of beginner ukes on the market, but if you are looking for a “long-haul” instrument, this is definitely one of them.
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