Is the Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele as good as its guitar counterpart? Let’s determine if this uke lives up to the brand’s reputation in this review.
Written by John Allnutt / Published October 25, 2024
Last updated: October 23, 2024
If you are a fan of Fender guitars, you may already be in love just by the looks of Fender ukuleles. I myself, at one point, owned four Fender ukuleles; two Jazzmaster ukuleles, the Fender Venice soprano, and the Grace Vanderwaal Signature ukulele.
However, looks aside, Fender has had a reputation for production inconsistency in the ukulele market. Let’s find out if the Fender Venice soprano ukulele is worth its weight and your dollars in today’s ukulele review.
Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele – A Stylish Throwback
The Fender Venice soprano ukulele is immediately recognizable by its telecaster headstock and one-in-line guitar-like tuners. Its color is very appropriate for a beach setting. The neck is a very slim C shape and the bridge is an easy-to-change slotted “no-tie” bridge.
Its painted body is made of laminated basswood and overall feels very light and balanced. Its small size might at first seem toy-like, but its playability proves otherwise.
Comfort and Playability
There is an immediate appeal here by the Venice’s looks and easy playability, especially if you love the Fender look. Its thin neck really allows the player to navigate the fretboard quickly. However, since it is a soprano ukulele, the frets may seem a little narrow, especially traveling up the ukulele neck. But if you will be staying mostly by the nut of the instrument or playing one note at a time further up the neck, it may not be an issue.
The thin neck on this instrument is different from many of the other Fender ukulele necks, especially compared to the Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, and Telecaster ukuleles—all of which sport thick C-shaped necks.
Sound
Compared to other laminate Fender ukuleles, the Venice has a decent sound quality but short sustain. A common gripe with Fender ukuleles is that they have a somewhat muted acoustic sound because they are generally “overbuilt,”— meaning that they have too much lacquer, paint, or thick layers of laminate wood that dampen their acoustic sound.
Personally, I usually perform live with my acoustic/electric Fender ukuleles and do not need a loud sound from my instruments unplugged. However, as this instrument does not have the capability to be plugged in, you’ll have to accept that its sound will be on the softer side.
There is one other issue that is common with many of the Fender ukuleles. Many of their instruments, thankfully, not including this one, have a buzzing sound while strummed. I tried isolating the sound of a buzz on my Fender Jazzmaster ukulele but found it difficult to find the exact spot where it occurred. This could be a deal-breaker for some individuals but it is something that I do not always notice.
If I had one wish regarding Fender ukuleles, I would request a more premium, solid wood option for customers that would greatly increase the acoustic sound quality of their instruments. This would raise the cost of production and consumer maintenance but would fix many of the problems ukulele enthusiasts have with their Fender ukuleles. Having both options would allow those still seeking a beginner, more cost- friendly, laminate ukulele (like this Venice ukulele) to own a Fender product as well.
Sound Performance of Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele
Small Size, Big Voice
Soprano ukuleles are known to be the smallest in size and carry the soprano voice in the ukulele family. Their characteristic sound is bright and crisp, and the Fender Venice ukulele definitely delivers in this category. The ukulele has good projection and can be strummed loudly without distorting.
Suitability for Different Genres
The Fender Venice ukulele can be used for almost any music setting but sounds best on anything but heavy rock. You will want to keep a re-iterant g string on the ukulele due to its size (gCEA vs GCEA).
The Venice, in my opinion, lends itself best to pop, Hawaiian, or folk music.
Fender Venice Soprano Ukulele Compared to Others
Compared to other ukuleles in its class, I find the Fender Venice a bit overpriced for what you will receive. If you consider the Venice an average ukulele, the Kala-15s can produce more sound for $65 and would resell at a higher value than the Fender since Kala is generally regarded as one of the top ukulele brands in its class.
Another great option for the money is the Donner DUS-1. The DUS-1 has a similar sound quality and price point to the Kala listed above but comes with a complete beginner package of an instrument case, ukulele strap, tuner, picks, cleaning cloth, extra strings, and beginner ukulele course on Donner’s website.
If you are not an absolute purist for having a wood ukulele, I find the Enya Nova soprano ukulele an excellent value for the money. Firstly, they come in a larger variety of colors than the Fender Venice ukulele, and secondly, the Enya includes a case, strap, capo, and extra strings. Not only that, but the Nova is nearly indestructible and water/humidity resistant. The sound from the Nova is very bright, its body thinner, and is overall more portable than any of the ukuleles listed above.
However, if you still dream of owning a Fender Venice soprano ukulele, I do have a few considerations that make this ukulele unique. My very first ukulele was a Fender Venice soprano ukulele and this was mainly because I was a Fender guitar fan before I bought a ukulele. At the time, I knew very little what constituted a “good” ukulele but I was in love with the look of Fender ukuleles.
After picking up the Venice, I noticed that I could bend notes super easily, even at the third fret. Not only that but the neck played very quickly in my fretting hand. That is one thing to note that sets this ukulele apart from others in its class.
My second ukulele was a Fender Grace Vanderwaal Signature ukulele. I could now plug in my ukulele with that same great headstock! Little did I know that the Vanderwaal ukulele would be the quietest acoustic ukulele I would own and would later sell it for a solid wood ukulele in the near future. After coming to that realization, I began to see a pattern with the Fender ukuleles I tried.
Conclusion
Overall, I feel that the Fender Venice soprano ukulele is a bit of a tossup. If you love the Fender aesthetic and do not mind putting down a bit of extra money to get it, I would say TRY IT. Then, if you like it, BUY IT.
However, I would definitely try other ukulele brands and make your own comparisons before making your final decision. Consider the following list in this order when making comparisons:
- Sound Quality
- Value
- Looks
- Build and Finish
Please also share your thoughts or experiences of this model in the My First Ukulele community. This will help to foster a discussion on the appeal of Fender ukuleles.
John Allnutt
Writer & Ukulele TeacherJohn has been teaching music since 2008 and resides in Richmond, Kentucky with his wife Laura and dog Sam. In his spare time he enjoys growing and cooking food, roasting coffee, playing board games, and spreading joy through playing and teaching music.
