By C-String at electricuke.com
Oops! Not the intonation!
Hi Strummers and Late Niters ! I'm having a stupendous night and it occurs to me. Write this warning for those reading this and who are about to buy a pretty blue or red nylon-stringed electric ukulele. I know how jazzed you are at this magic moment. I really know.
But remember that, unlike with magnetic-steel electric ukes, your bridge will be fixed to a permanent place on the top so that it's string length cannot be adjusted. And the string height can only be lowered with a file. It can only be raised by replacing the bridge! And the same is true for the nut. So if the intonation is off or you don't like the string height, pass up the instrument.
When you are shopping for your new companion you can quickly rule out any ukuleles with obviously bad intonation. Sound the harmonic at the center of each string and it should be the same in pitch as the strings are when they are fretted at the 12th fret. Also, each string should sound exactly one octave higher when fretted at the 12th fret than when plucked open and unfretted.
If your obsession with electric ukulele construction is incomplete, "fixer uppers" won't add up for you. Carefully check the intonation and playing action before you pay money.