This is the Snail UKT-598EQ, an electro tenor ukulele. It’s the ‘Mark 2’ version, with gloss finish and wider neck.

There’s plenty of variation in the grain of the ebony body to keep the eye interested with this Snail tenor. It also has very intricate binding and a soundhole rosette which are quite busy, looked at in isolation, but as a contrast to the dark wood of the top it is an effective contrast. It features Snail’s typical ‘batman logo bridge’ (not it’s real name) and the company’s logo as a maple inlay on the headstock.

In part due to the construction, and in part down to the strings, the UKT-598 isn’t the loudest of ukes. Not that it’s quiet, it just has a warmer, more relaxed and mellow tone. While it’s perfectly usable as a uke for a fingerpicker, its strengths probably come to the fore when strumming, when that warmth comes to the fore. Plugged in and it is effective as well, although it can be a little boomy on the C string, unless you take some bass off using the onboard controls.

This is a laminate instrument, with a veneer of ebony on top of a plywood body, although it’s an example of a good laminate uke. Yes, there are solid wood ukuleles which will beat it for complexity and richness of tone, but as a payoff, it looks very pretty, sounds perfectly good and you get a package that’s really very affordable. Snail’s own rectified nylon strings are fitted, and the UKT-598 has durable, closed geared tuners. It isn’t shipped from the factory with a gig bag, but one is included here at World of Ukes.

This is a uke that’s been available for some years, although this ‘Mark II’ version has boarded the wider nut width train. There’s a 38mm nut width which is handy for those with larger fingertips. It’s good to have choice and there’s not a huge amount on the market in the circa £200 category that features a broader neck. It’s not my own preference, but there are plenty for whom that extra space would be appreciated. It’s a change from the original too with the finish, which is now gloss.

The UKT-598 looks more expensive than it is. It sounds… well… about right for the price that it is. And it packs a lot in, with the pickup, built-in tuner and (in many cases), a padded gig bag. Having the option to plug in, without breaking the bank, is a definite positive.

At the bottom of the page are some optional extras you might be interested in, including strap button and low G fitting. It has a gig bag included, so you can ignore that option!