This new model from Gretsch stays true to the incredible value their mahogany series is. This is a laminate uke but has a wonderful tone, very classic and super fun to play. Why a long neck soprano (concert scale on a soprano body)? Biggest reason is the clarity and sustain it gives, added finger space and the added tension gives an easier job maintaining the intonation up the neck. It work perfectly on this new offering Gretsch and this time they have light weight geared tuners for easier tuning. Here's a sound sample The Gretsch ukes from the 40's and 50's are well known for having excellent tone and quality construction. 60 years later they present a carbon copy. Down to the color of the wood stain and their open pore finish, these are like vintage ukes kept in a time vault! For this price, the tone is superb! But still, they need our setup work to be their best. Any music store that says these don't need to be setup simply doesn't want to do the work, or doesn't know how to properly get the best feel and tone from each ukulele. This is our specialty and our chance to share aloha.