RISA Ukulele
RatingsRISA are a German ukulele company with all their ukuleles being made in Europe. Although they make acoustic ukuleles as well, RISA are best known for their unusual and distinctive electric ukuleles: their "Uke Solid" (that looks like a stick), the Uke'Ellie and the "Electric Ukulele" (which looks like a melted Fender Stratocaster). These distinctive ukuleles have made them very popular in Europe. They do, however, seem to be very thin on the ground in the US.
On Video
Musicguymic chats with the man behind RISA, Rigk Sauer.
On eBay UK
 Risa LP style Electric Soprano Ukulele Black free bag  £450.00
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 Risa LP style Electric Soprano Ukulele Cherry free bag £450.00
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 Risa Electric Solid Soprano Ukulele inc gig bag £159.99
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On eBay Germany
 RISA 6 Saiten E Ukulele mit Gurt und Tasche neuwertig EUR 25,00 |
 Ukulele Makala Sopran inkl Risa Cliptuner EUR 5,00 |
 Risa Ukulele Solid Soprano 363 EUR 189,00 |
RISA Uke Solid Review
I have a tenor RISA Uke Solid and it is unlike any other ukulele. It takes some getting used to playing. The shape of it is the first thing you have to get used to. I find it harder to keep hold of than a standard ukulele so I always use a strap. The next thing that caught me out was the neck. I found it hard to judge which fret was which and the lack of a headstock did mean I fell of the end of the uke when I was doing an unusual bit of fretting. The next thing that tripped me up was tuning it; you have to work out which string is which and which way is tuning up and down.
My first few days with it were mostly spent fumbling around. But after getting used to it I've grown to love it.
It's a real pleasure to play. It's weighted perfectly, smooth, low action. It's a nice object to have in your hands - it's the uke I use for walking around the flat playing. The intonation on it is spot on. And visually it's interesting.
The sound of it, obviously, depends a great deal on the amp and processing you put it through. Acoustically, it's very quite (making it good for practising without unduly annoying family members) although not quite as quiet as my Bugsgear Eleuke.
Overall, it's a great uke to have. But I do have a couple of grumbles with it. The biggest grumble is the tuning pegs. I don't much like friction tuners at the best of times and these are even more annoying. They are too close together - I find it hard to turn one without the others getting in the way. And there's the usual friction tuner problem with fine tuning (which is exaggerated as mine came with the strings wrapped around the tuners too many times - and I haven't changed the strings yet). My other grumble is aesthetic. I love the shape of the uke, but it is spoiled by having a big RISA logo slapped on it.
But you shouldn't pay too much attention to my grumbles. It's definitely the best pure-electric ukulele I've ever played.
6 Comments
I have a RISA solid (a soprano) and it is inseparable from me. Everything the first poster said about getting use to it is true, but when that happens, it becomes the instrument of choice. I take it everywhere in my carryall, and play it all the time (waiting around, sitting by river/beach). I find it near indestructible, never goes out of tune. Small enough for people not to notice. I got one of the recitalbox acoustic reverbs which I hook to it for the “playing in a cathedral” sound if I am in a noisy place.
I recently got a small (pocketsize) Korg multitrack which has been fun – using the builtin pickup making my own ukulele orchestra by using octave shifting to make the bass etc.
I cannot speak to highly of it. I love it
Diarmuid: Thanks for sharing your experience. After some intial grumbles, I’m enjoying playing it as well. And I bought an effects unit which makes it a whole lot more fun.
Good news folks, it appears Risa has noticed the grumbles people have been having about the Friction tuners (myself included).
They will be fitting GEARED TUNERS on their Uke-solids some time in 2010. Keep your eyes open, or send Risa an email
I bought a RISA UkeSolid Soprano, as I wanted the most compact travel uke possible, that could be stuffed into my carry-on suitcase without worrying about it breaking. I had been debating between an Eleuke soprano (I love the built in headphone jack) and the RISA, but when I tried the Eleukes out in my local uke shop, the intonation was off just enough to bug me, especially with the headphones plugged in.
The RISA was definitely the right choice! The intonation is great, and it’s a super-sturdy and fun to play uke. The lack of the Eleuke’s headphone jack led me to purchase a VOX amPlug Acoustic, which allows me to hear it through headphones, though this added piece of equipment makes the RISA less easy to play and hear in louder places while traveling.
My one criticism of the construction is the quality of the line out jack–the one on mine arrived looking like it was already tarnished and old, and it feels loose, meaning that the cable can come out if it’s not run under the strap. Normally this wouldn’t bother me much, but I was trying to run the VOX amPlug directly out of the jack on the uke (which does not work–the amPlug falls out), so I had to get a cable extension for the amPlug. Not a big deal, but not the most ideal travel uke solution.
If you buy direct from the RISA website, you save the VAT charges (19%), so it ends up being cheaper than what the website lists.
Unplugged, the RISA has the perfect volume for practicing (like playing an electric guitar unamplified). If this uke came with a direct headphone out like the Eleukes, it would be perfect. As it is, it’s a great value and travel companion.
I’ve just got a Risa ‘stick’ concert sized uke.This is my fourth uke and I am really thrilled with it.Yes I am sure an audience would wonder what I am playing as it is unorthodox looking kit but more importantly it is really well made,cleverly designed,has a decent quality pick-up and it sounds good. I believe it is supplied with Worth strings which I have been plesantly suprised by -I thought Aguilas where the only option until now! I find it has a exceptionally smooth action which makes it really easy to play.Got mine online for a great price from Reidy’s Music in UK. Comes with a nice bag but no cable so if you buy one you might want to consider this.I am doing my first public performance next week and I am looking forward to playing my Risa.I just hope the crowd sing over my vocals!LOL
The Risa sticks definitely look the part and I have an old zoom effects box from my electric guitar days which is a bit dusty and this could be good…but…
Dou you guys have to be brain su7rgeons to restring them..?
Chris
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