Baton Rouge V2-S Sun
Baton Rouge ukuleles are made in China to German standards. This combines characteristically precise German design with an affordable product. Baton Rouge's philosophy is to produce ukuleles with excellent value for money, and to make even its entry-level instruments good enough for beginners to buy with confidence.
A few years ago I already tried a Baton Rouge, namely the V1-S Royal. In the video where I arranged the music from the film All the Way, Boys!, I am playing this instrument, and I also made a test video about it.
As its name suggests, the V2-S Sun has a sunburst-style decoration around the sound hole. It is a simple, distinctive pattern and not at all showy. To be honest, I do not like ukuleles that are painted all over the place, whether at the factory or later with a homemade DIY solution – although that is obviously a matter of taste. This Baton Rouge model reminds me of the Lanikai LU-11, which for years I regarded as one of the best entry-level soprano ukuleles available, back when it was still on the market.
The V2-S Sun comes fitted with Aquila strings from the factory, which earns it another point. In my opinion the instrument is very neatly assembled; I cannot see any area that has not been properly finished. Despite its soprano size it is very loud and has a bright, ringing tone, and it simply feels good to play.
First impressions matter to me: what do I feel when I pick up a ukulele for the first time? I do not like instruments that make me tell myself, “I'll get used to it eventually” or “somehow I'll grow to like it”. A good sign for me is when my first thoughts are something like “what a great little uke” or “it feels as though I have known this ukulele forever”. I know this is very slightly prejudiced, but I cannot help it . The Baton Rouge V2-S Sun belongs to the latter category, so my first reaction to it was entirely positive.
The tuning machines on the V2-S Sun are nicely firm. You have to turn them a little harder than I am used to – at least compared with the tuners on my own ukuleles – but that is not a negative at all. If you put the instrument down on a table or bed in such a way that the headstock accidentally rests on the tuning pegs, you can be certain they will not turn by themselves. Here is the video in which I briefly describe my impressions of the V2-S Sun:
Do not forget to practise your chord changes with ChordTime!
