Barnes & Mullins BMUKB1 Mahogany Bass Ukulele

Barnes & Mullins BMUK1 ukuleles feature Mahogany tops matched with Mahogany back and sides. A medium / dense wood, Mahogany delivers a soft and warm, focused tone with plenty of emphasis on the mid-range.

Combined with their natural mid-brown colour and refined grain pattern, BMUK1 Mahogany ukuleles offer an excellent choice both aurally and visually for players throughout every stage of their uke playing journey.

BMUK1 ukuleles are complete with an all-over satin finish and accentuated with a lightly coloured wood binding. They feature a heel strap button for attaching a hook ukulele strap.

This electro model features an onboard preamp with tuner, volume, bass and treble controls, making it a fantastic choice if you’re someone who plays ukulele in an amplified ensemble or band setup.

Who is this ukulele for?

The bass ukulele is a relatively new type of ukulele on the scene. Although the bass ukulele scale length is only marginally longer than that of a baritone uke, the bass ukulele uses specially designed strings which are thicker in order for lower bass frequency notes to be achieved.

The bass ukulele is tuned the same way as a bass guitar – E, A, D, G – and is therefore a great instrument for bassists to pick up and immediately transfer their skills to. It is played in the same style as bass guitar, with strings that are plucked rather than strummed. Its low and warm tone offers an excellent option for ukulele ensembles to support the low-end of their overall sound.

Common bass ukulele tunings

E, A, D, G – Same as the four strings of a bass guitar

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Size: Bass
• Top, Back & Sides: Mahogany
• Neck: Okoume
• Fingerboard: Composite Wood
• Bridge: Composite Wood
• Binding: Composite Wood
• Saddle: NuBone
• Preamp:KLT-21 Preamp with tuner, volume, bass & treble controls
• Nut Width: 45mm
• Scale Length: 512mm
• Machine Heads: Closed Gear Black
• Finish: Natural Satin
• Strings: Aquila Nylgut

Barnes & Mullins Origins

In 1894, Mr Albert Mullins and Mr S. Bowley Barnes started “The Jo”, their famous musical instrument journal.

Specialising in all things banjo, they soon began manufacturing their own banjos as well as importing many other instruments. The original Barnes and Mullins banjos are still sought after today, with collectors seeking them out all over the world.

Sadly in 1914 at the age of 40, Albert Mullins drowned when the ‘Empress of Ireland’ sank on the St Lawrence River. He was on the home leg of a 2 year sales trip.

Bowley Barnes continued the business thereafter, and what he had started with his partner years earlier in Bournemouth now moved to Rathbone Place, London.

In 1976, Mark Barnes – son of Bowley Barnes – moved the business to Grays Inn Road, Bloomsbury. Sadly in 1986, Mark Barnes died. He was greatly admired and respected by employees and customers alike who were quick to tell of his fair and generous nature.

In 1999, Bruce Perrin – a Director since 1986 – became Managing Director and moved the business from London to the current location – Grays Inn House – a modern 46000sqft warehouse and office facility in Oswestry, Shropshire.

Bruce Perrin says “We are excited about the future and are constantly looking at ways to innovate and evolve, yet Barnes and Mullins has always endeavoured to put the customer at the top of its priority list”.