Electric guitar "Ural": photos and reviews

The electric guitar "Ural" is the most popular model among similar Soviet products. It is made in Sverdlovsk, it is an instrument of the initial category, which loses in many respects to professional foreign analogues. The main goal is to provide a lump accompaniment. It should be noted that the guitar is strong, but it has a rather complicated and inconvenient system for switching registers. Let us consider its characteristics and features.

Housing part

The electric guitar "Ural" is equipped with a beech frame with a width of up to 120 millimeters in the center of the deck. Variations were produced both with the glued element and in a holistic design. On the sides there are details of coniferous species. The upper and lower parts of the deck are covered with multilayer plywood, the upper ledge is much larger than the lower one (the general shape resembles the Strat brand). The space under the plastic panel with electronic equipment is filled by not more than half.

In fact, the instrument in question is more like a semi-acoustic version. This is due to the fact that the material of the case also plays an important role in the formation of sound, giving it a certain tonality and loudness. The electric guitar "Ural" in connection with the design features produces a slight sound, differing in saturation of high medium shades and low sustain. The presence of voids contributes to the fact that the neck outweighs the deck, which is not very comfortable for the musician.

About the fingerboard

This detail is made of beech, although maple is most often used. The trim has a border of white plastic stripes along the edges. As evidenced by the owners' reviews, the vulture with time often deformed under the stretch of strings. Anchor in fixing this problem helps a little. In the end, it takes a lot of effort to play music in the range of over the first nine frets.

The grill of the Soviet electric guitar "Ural" is rather narrow and thick. Strings are placed close together, which complicates the game with solo parts. The head of the element has a low angle of inclination, the tension of the strings is provided by means of a retainer (steel plate on a special screw). On the case the part is fixed with four screws, there is a zero fret. Above the base element rises by almost a centimeter, which also creates some inconvenience (often as a support for the left hand you have to apply bridge).

Tremolo, bridge, frets

The electric guitar "Ural" is equipped with all kinds of screws, screws and locks. Unlike many foreign analogues, the design is driven by the energy of not stretching, but compression of one powerful spring. This feature often leads to a malfunction of the guitar's mood and is not designed for speed play.

Since the design is excessively overloaded with parts, the interaction of the strings and the deck remains insignificant, and this additionally worsens the sustain. There are variants of the change in the form of a stopper of the machine, but it should be taken into account that the sound of this instrument is created together with the speaker and amplifier, which receives a signal from the electronic mechanism.

The bridge includes the bottom sill and tremolo. On some models, the first element is made in roller design, although in practice this does not bring particular benefits. Often when playing music, rattling sounds are heard, which is due to the loose fit of the base of the paddle or strings.

The electric guitar "Ural", photo of which is above, is equipped with standard frets. They are made of brass alloy, have no special notice. It is worth noting that with the drying of the wooden lining, their ends can be raised, because of which the strings begin to ring.

Pegs and electronics

The instrument in question is equipped with single closed pins that are attached to the neck using special lids. Elements are made of zinc alloy, have good casting properties. The drawbacks of this material include fragility and the impossibility of soldering. With active operation, the spikes wear out fairly quickly, which is reflected in the tuning of strings by almost one tone.

The device of the electric guitar "Ural" includes electronics, consisting of the following elements:

• Three singles.
• Tembrblok.
• Standard pickups (a part with a steel base with a magnet).

In the upper part there is a core with six screws. The whole mechanism is covered with a decorative cover made of plastic. The output of "sounds" is about 70 mV. A reasonable question arises: "How to screen a pickup on an electric guitar" Ural "?" Experts solve this problem by installing updated electronics of Korean or Chinese production. However, the relevance of such manipulation is now very doubtful, since in the market without problems one can find elaborate and affordable analogues.

Modifications

Several models of the instrument were released:

1. «Art-422». Legendary electric guitar, about which a lot of myths and legends are composed. It embodies all the features inherent in the first Soviet products of this category. Only Sverdlovsk combine produced over one hundred thousand copies. In addition, they were issued in Rostov, Ordzhonikidze and Borisov. For comparison - the famous firm Fender released about the same number of stratographers.
2. "Art-422 R". This model takes an average step in relation to others. The tool is the ancestor of the entire series in question, is considered a benchmark in its category.
3. Electric guitar "Ural 650 Art-422". The release of this modification is dated 1977 and timed to the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution. The tool is made in strictly regulated external design, the body is made of red-ebony, over the pickups there is an image of the legendary cruiser Aurora.
4. 650 A. This guitar refers to rare specimens, produced in parallel with other versions. The instrument is distinguished by a more convenient neck and another tremolo system. At the same time, the electrical circuit remained unchanged.

Benefits

Despite the existing set of shortcomings, the guitar "Ural" has certain advantages. First, it cost much cheaper than scarce foreign counterparts. The price of one copy was about 200 rubles, while the cost of "Lidstar" and "Fender" on the black market was estimated at 1-3 thousand Soviet rubles. Secondly, all owners note the incredible survivability of the instrument. There are cases when the guitar was hit hard on the floor with all its might, and it was not even scratched. The popularity of the "Urals" is largely due to the deficit at that time of more worthy analogs.

Electric guitar "Ural": reviews

Owners do not give praise praises to this instrument. They note that the guitar is too oversaturated with all kinds of knobs and switches. There is an opinion that in order to understand the thief of all "gadgets", you need to have supernatural talent and patience.

Also, users emphasize that the tool is quite heavy, because it is made of wood under repeated pressing. This provides its legendary strength. Whatever it was, during the Soviet Union "Ural" was popular among the many beginner rock bands and VIA.

In conclusion

Now the electric guitar "Ural" will fit only for beginning musicians, who do not have the opportunity to purchase an alternative. As experts advise, even on an inexpensive Korean analogue, the difference in sound becomes noticeable immediately. As an option, the tool can replenish your collection. The crooks can try to reshape it in their own way. And over time, this rarity, perhaps, will bring a good income if you sell it from an auction.

In the history of the USSR, many things were done with an eye to the consumer and not to the consumer, but on some other principles. The guitar "Ural" is one of the representatives of this formation. Nevertheless, many musicians started with this instrument, they were able to develop their talent and demonstrate it to the general public.