Introduction
Fender has become synonymous with iconic electric guitars, but the brand has also made significant inroads into the ukulele world. Fender first introduced ukuleles back in 2009 with its California Coast series, aiming to bring the company’s signature build quality and style to the world of ukes.
The California Coast line focuses on classic ukulele body shapes and tonewoods, while adding some unique design twists. This includes Fender’s no-tie bridge which makes changing strings faster and easier. The series has expanded over the years to include concert, tenor and baritone models, but the diminutive Venice Soprano remains one of Fender’s most popular ukuleles. Its combination of playability, unique sound and stylish visuals has made it a modern classic.
Venice Soprano Overview
The Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele stands out as one of the flagship models in Fender’s California Coast series. Known for making iconic electric guitars, Fender entered the ukulele market in the 2000s, bringing their expertise to the small yet mighty uke. The Venice Soprano punches above its weight with impressive features and playability perfect for new and casual players alike.
This soprano ukulele is designed with beginners and hobbyists in mind. Its comfortable size and accessible price make it an ideal entry-level instrument. The Venice Soprano provides warm, bright tone without breaking the bank, appealing to those looking to casually strum out tunes at home or on the go. Travel-friendly and easy to pick up, it’s built to withstand frequent use and keep you coming back for more, even as your skills progress. For ukulele enthusiasts wanting that unmistakable Fender flair in a compact soprano package, the Venice delivers.
Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele Features
The Fender Venice Soprano ukulele stands out for several notable features that make it comfortable, easy to play, and great sounding.
One key feature is the C-shaped neck profile. This contoured neck design allows for smooth and effortless fretting up and down the maple neck. The curves fit nicely in the hand for maximum playing comfort. Many beginners find the C profile ideal as they learn proper fretting technique.
The Venice Soprano also incorporates a no-tie bridge. This bridge system uses a quick release design so you can change strings without any knot tying. Just thread the string through the hole and tighten. This makes string changes and tuning adjustments much simpler.
When it comes to tonewoods, the Venice Soprano utilizes a basswood top, back, and sides. Basswood is a soft wood that produces a warm, balanced tone. It offers a nice richness across the tonal spectrum. The walnut fingerboard and bridge add definition and clarity. Walnut’s dense properties help project the ukulele’s sound.
In terms of size, the Venice Soprano has a soprano body with a 13 inch scale length. The soprano is the smallest of the common ukulele sizes. Its compact size makes it very portable and travel friendly. The short scale also means less string tension, which aids playability.
Available Colors for the Venice Soprano Uke
The Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele comes in several eye-catching color options that allow you to showcase your personal style. Some of the most popular colors include:
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Black – The classic black finish gives the Venice Soprano a sleek, sophisticated look. The dark color helps highlight the ukulele’s smooth contours.
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Natural – This light brown, natural wood finish allows the ukulele’s beautiful grain patterns to shine through. It has an organic, earthy appeal.
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Cherry Red – For players who want a bright, vibrant instrument, the cherry red option packs a punch. This bold crimson finish is perfect for guitarists transitioning to uke.
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Daphne Blue – Named after guitarist Eric Clapton’s favorite Fender guitar color, daphne blue evokes laidback surf rock vibes. This soft blue is both calming and stylish.
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Shell Pink – The shell pink finish gives the Venice Soprano a delicate, feminine esthetic. The muted pink tone is classy yet fun.
The most popular colors tend to be the classic black and natural wood finishes. However, the colorful options allow ukulele players to express themselves through their instrument’s appearance.
Sound and Playability
The Fender Venice soprano ukulele has a bright, crisp tone perfect for playing chords and melody lines. The mahogany body and walnut fingerboard produce balanced tones across the neck, with clear and articulate highs.
Despite its small soprano size, the Venice has impressive volume and projection capabilities. It’s easily heard over other instruments thanks to its expert bracing and construction. Single notes ring out with sustain, while strummed chords have a satisfying percussive chop.
The playability of the Venice is one of its best assets. It has a comfortable C-shaped neck profile that fits nicely in the hand. The action is set low and smooth right out of the box, making it easy on the fingers. Chords transition fluidly up and down the neck thanks to the smooth walnut fingerboard.
The Venice feels great to play whether sitting or standing. Its lightweight build makes it comfortable to hold for extended practice sessions. The intonation is excellent all the way up the fretboard as well. It stays in tune through long performances or travel. For a soprano ukulele, the Venice offers top-notch playability and stage-worthy projection.
Specifications
The Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele measures 21 inches long, 7.5 inches wide, and 2.5 inches deep. It is lightweight at just 1.5 pounds. This makes the Venice easy to hold and comfortable to play, especially for younger players or those with smaller hands.
Included with the ukulele is a padded gig bag for safe storage and transport. The gig bag has a shoulder strap for easy carrying. There are also strap buttons installed on the Venice, allowing you to add a ukulele strap for playing standing up.
Some key specifications of note:
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12 brass tuning machines with pearloid buttons help keep the Venice in tune.
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The nut width is 1.375 inches, typical for a soprano uke. This gives ample room for chording and strumming.
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The fretboard radius measures 12 inches. The slight curvature makes playing chords up the neck comfortable.
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The Venice has a total of 15 frets, with 12 frets clear of the body. This allows access to higher notes on the fingerboard.
Let me know if you would like me to expand on any of the specs or details!
Is the Fender Venice Good for Beginners?
The Fender Venice soprano ukulele punches above its weight class when it comes to being a quality beginner instrument. Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the Venice uke offers great value and is easy to learn on.
The Venice is very affordable for a soprano ukulele, usually retailing between $100-150. While not the absolute cheapest starter uke on the market, Fender’s excellent build quality and recognizable brand name make the small bump in price worthwhile. The all-laminate construction keeps costs down without sacrificing durability – perfect for new players.
This soprano uke is one of the easiest to play right out of the box thanks to its comfortable neck profile and low action. Beginners won’t have to struggle with thick necks or painfully high strings. The C-shaped neck and 12" radius fretboard feel smooth and inviting. Intonation stays true up and down the frets too.
Fender has a reputation for excellent craftsmanship and the Venice soprano is no exception. Its all-laminate body withstands drops while quality tuning machines stay in tune through constant beginner strumming. The Venice feels solid all around, not like a toy. This uke can last from the first lessons all the way to more advanced playing.
The Venice isn’t just for complete newbies either. Its classic styling and quality components make it appealing to any player looking for an affordable soprano uke for travel or casual playing. However, its combination of playability, price, and durability do make the Venice an ideal choice as a first ukulele.
Fender Venice vs Other Soprano Ukuleles
The Fender Venice stands up well when compared to other popular soprano ukulele models in its price range. Here’s a look at how it stacks up against some top competitors:
Kala KA-S – The Kala KA-S is another great entry-level soprano uke option. It has a mahogany body and walnut fingerboard like the Venice. The KA-S produces a bright, warm tone and has a comfortable feel. The Venice has a bit more projection and volume. The Kala comes in more color choices, while the Venice has the iconic Fender headstock logo.
Cordoba 15SM – Cordoba’s mahogany 15SM model has a slightly wider nut width than the Venice for more finger space. It produces a balanced, rich sound. The Venice has a bit more high-end sparkle. The 15SM comes ready to play out of the box, while the Venice benefits from a professional setup. The Fender name gives the Venice more brand cachet.
Luna Tattoo – The Luna Tattoo soprano punches above its weight with a loud voice and articulate tones. The laser-etched tattoo designs make it one of the most distinctive-looking ukes. The Venice has a more traditional appearance in comparison. The Luna comes with an extra set of strings. The Fender has more premium tuners and hardware.
Kala MK-S Makala – The Makala MK-S is one of the most affordable soprano options. Despite its budget-friendly price, it has excellent intonation. The Venice offers better build quality with more attention to detail. The Makala’s sound doesn’t have quite as much projection and richness. The Venice is worth the extra investment for a lifelong uke.
So while the Venice costs a bit more than some competitors, its classic styling, playability, and tone make it a worthy investment. The Fender name also brings added value that entry-level ukes from less famous brands can’t match.
Video Review
To get a better sense of how the Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele sounds and plays in action, check out this video demo from Ukulele Underground. They provide a nice overview of the uke’s tone, playability, and overall quality. You’ll hear it strummed both gently and aggressively to showcase its dynamic range. The video also gives you a closeup look at the Venice’s finish and hardware. Overall, it’s a helpful visual companion to this review that lets you see and hear the ukulele for yourself before deciding if it’s the right fit for you. After watching, you should have an even better idea of whether the Venice Soprano lives up to its reputation as one of the best beginner ukuleles available today.
Conclusion
The Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate players looking for a quality instrument at an affordable price. This review has covered the key features, specifications, sound quality, playability, and aesthetics of the Venice model in detail.
Overall, the Venice stands out for its comfortable playability thanks to the C-shaped neck, quality tonewood construction of basswood and walnut, bright and balanced soprano voice, and smooth no-tie bridge for easy re-stringing. While the build quality is not quite as high-end as a solid wood ukulele, it still delivers an impressive musical experience far beyond other ukes in this price range.
For beginners, the Venice Soprano’s small size, accessible price point, and enjoyable tone make it a perfect entry-level instrument. The smooth neck and slim fretboard promote easy, comfortable playing for those with smaller hands and fingers. More advanced players will also appreciate the Venice as a great practice and travel ukulele option.
In summary, Fender’s Venice Soprano Ukulele punches above its weight class, offering beginners and experts alike a fun and inspiring musical companion. Its well-balanced tone, smooth playability, and eye-catching looks check all the right boxes for an ukulele worth adding to your collection.