c.1970 Giannini Baritone Ukulele

Giannini (made in Brazil) baritone ukes are well-regarded and for good reason: they sound great and (after a good setup) play well, too. They're loosely based on the Martin baritone uke body shape and bracing though most of the ones I've come across (like this one) are laminate. Supposedly there are a few solid-wood ones out there, though. Either way, I like the rugged build of the Gianninis despite their light and resonant bracing. It's kept many of them in rotation where other baris would have been worn out by the years.

Work on this fella included installing a new saddle, a fret level/dressing, cleaning, and setup. It's strung with a regular Martin flurocarbon bari set. It's sweet, warm, mellow, and particularly well-suited to fingerpicking or light strumming.

The body is all made from laminate mahogany with light ladder bracing. Both the bridge and the fretboard are rosewood and the dots in the board are plastic.

Original nut and decent friction pegs, which don't seem to be original.

Brass frets. The action is low and quick -- 1/16" at the 12th on the treble and a hair below 3/32" on the bass. Spot on.

The simple rosette is pleasing.

Nice rosewood bridge.

This uke definitely shows playwear throughout but it's in pretty darn good shape. No punctures or cracks but there's finish chipping along the edges which is to be expected.

The neck is one-piece mahogany and has a fast, comfortable C profile.

Good heel join.

Cute label in the soundhole.