This handmade German ukulele from Bruko is a real joy. It is smart, made from top quality materials and sounds really very fine. Although a tenor ukulele, the dimensions are slightly smaller than many tenor ukuleles. The Bruko No 9 all solid mahogany tenor ukulele is 24.8 inches in length, with a 16.5 inch scale length, an 8.1 inch bottom bout width and a depth of 2.5 inches. So, while they call it a tenor ukulele you might describe it as a small body tenor or a super-concert size. Just to give a direct comparison, an average tenor scale might be 17 inches and the body length just over 26 inches. In size terms you therefore get a similar scale length with a smaller body.

You might think that a smaller body than a regular tenor ukulele would mean less volume right? Wrong. The tone is strong, volume is above average and the all solid mahogany body delivers a well balanced tone with warm edges. That said, the high notes are not lost at all. The strings are Pyramid carbon which some people like and some people don't. We think the give a nice vintage 'throaty' warmth to the bass notes and yet allow the top notes to come through too, certainly on this lovely German made tenor uke.

While the visual side of the Bruko No 9 ukulele mostly relies on the natural, unfussy solid mahogany body for impact, there is a lovely touch with a three piece neck, with solid mahogany either side of maple. This continues through to the headstock to give just a little hit of the exotic.

The Bruko No 9 tenor has good quality friction pegs, which not only work well but together with the beautifully thin cut solid mahogany body make this a tenor ukulele which is light and feels really well balanced when played. Intonation is great and the action is very playable too.

All in all this is a really lovely sounding tenor ukulele, something a bit different, something with a bit of intrigue, and a tenor ukulele of the highest German handmade build quality.