Electric guitar "Ural" is the most popular model among similar Soviet products. It was made in Sverdlovsk, it is an instrument of the initial category, which loses in many respects to professional foreign analogues. The main guideline is providing chord accompaniment. It is worth noting that the guitar is durable, but it has a rather complicated and inconvenient system of switching registers. Consider its characteristics and features.
Body part
The Ural electric guitar is equipped with a beech beam housing up to 120 millimeters wide in the center of the deck. Variations were produced both with a glued element, and in a holistic design. Coniferous parts are present on the sides. The upper and lower parts of the deck are covered with multilayer plywood, the upper ledge is much larger than the lower (the general shape resembles the Strat brand). The space under the plastic panel with electronic equipment is no more than half full.
In fact, the instrument in question is more like a semi-acoustic version. This is due to the fact that the body material also plays a significant role in the formation of sound, giving it a certain tonality and volume. The Ural electric guitar, due to the design features, produces a rather weak sound, characterized by saturation of high medium shades and low sustain. The presence of voids contributes to the fact that the neck outweighs the deck, and this is not very comfortable for the musician.
About the neck
This item is made of beech, although maple is most commonly used. The trim has a fringing of white plastic stripes at the edges. According to the reviews of the owners, the neck over time often deforms under the stretch of strings. Anchor helps to fix this problem a little. As a result, considerable effort is required to play music in the range over the first nine frets.
The neck of the Soviet electric guitar "Ural" is rather narrow and thick. The strings are placed close to each other, which complicates the game in 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 (a steel plate on a special screw). On the case, the part is fixed with four screws, there is a zero fret. Above the base, the element rises almost a centimeter, which also creates some inconvenience (often as a support for the left hand you have to use a bridge).
Tremolo, bridge, frets
The electric guitar “Ural” is equipped with all kinds of screws, screws and clamps. Unlike many foreign analogues, the design is not driven by energy by stretching, but by compression of one powerful spring. This feature often leads to a failure in the mood of the guitar and is not designed for high-speed play.
Since the structure is overloaded with details, the interaction of strings and decks remains negligible, and this further degrades sustain. There are variations in the form of a stopper of the machine, however, it is worth considering that the sound of this instrument is created in conjunction with a speaker and amplifier, which receives a signal from an electronic mechanism.
The bridge includes the lower sill and tremolo. On some models, the first element is made in a roller design, although in practice this does not bring much benefit. Often when playing music rattling sounds are heard, which is associated with a loose fit of the base of the nut or strings.
The Ural electric guitar, the photo of which is available above, is equipped with standard frets. They are made of brass alloy, they do not have special remarkableness. It is worth noting that when the wooden linings dry out, their ends can rise, which is why the strings begin to ring.
Speakers and Electronics
The instrument in question is equipped with single, closed pegs that are attached to the bar using special covers. Elements are made of zinc alloy, have good casting properties. The disadvantages of this material include fragility and the inability to solder. With active use, the pegs wear out quickly enough, which is reflected when tuning the strings by dumping almost by one tone.
The Ural electric guitar device includes electronics consisting of the following elements:
- Three singles.
- Timbre Block
- Standard pickups (part with steel base with magnet).
At the top there is a core with six screws. The whole mechanism is covered with a decorative cover made of plastic. The output of the “sounds” is about 70 mV. A reasonable question arises: "How to screen a pickup on an Ural electric guitar?" Specialists solve this problem by installing updated Korean or Chinese-made electronics. However, the relevance of such a manipulation is now very doubtful, since on the market without problems you can find well-developed and affordable analogues.
Modifications
Several models of this tool have been released:
- "Art-422." The legendary electric guitar, which is full of myths and legends. She personifies all the features inherent in the first Soviet products of this category. Only at the Sverdlovsk plant more than one hundred thousand copies were produced. In addition, they were produced in Rostov, Ordzhonikidze and Borisov. For comparison, the famous company Fender released about the same number of stratocaster.
- "Art-422 R". This model takes an average step in relation to others. The tool is the ancestor of the entire series under consideration, it is considered the standard in its category.
- Electric guitar "Ural 650 Art-422". The release of this modification is dated 1977 and is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution. The instrument is made in strictly regulated external design, the body is made of red and black wood, above the pickups there is an image of the legendary cruiser Aurora.
- 650 A. This guitar is a rare instance, produced in parallel with other versions. The instrument features a more comfortable neck and another tremolo system. In this case, the electrical circuit remained unchanged.
Benefits
Despite the existing set of shortcomings, the Ural guitar has certain advantages. Firstly, it cost an order of magnitude 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 beaten to the floor with all its strength, but it was not even scratched. The popularity of Ural is largely due to the shortage of more worthy analogues at that time.
Electric guitar "Ural": reviews
Owners do not issue laudatory praises in relation to this instrument. They note that the guitar is too oversaturated with all kinds of controls and switches. It is believed that in order to understand the thief of all the “lotions”, you need to have supernatural talent and patience.
Also, users emphasize that the tool is quite heavy, as it is made of wood under repeated pressing. This ensures its legendary strength. Be that as it may, in the days of the USSR “Ural” was popular among numerous beginner rock bands and VIA.
In conclusion
Now the Ural electric guitar will fit only for beginner musicians who have no opportunity to purchase an alternative. As experts advise, even on an inexpensive Korean counterpart, the difference in sound becomes noticeable immediately. Alternatively, the tool can replenish your collection. Craftsmen can try to redraw it in their own way. And over time, this rarity, perhaps, will bring good income if you sell it at auction.
In the history of the USSR, many things were done with an eye not on the consumer, but on some other principles. The Ural guitar is one of the representatives of this formation. Nevertheless, many musicians began with this instrument, were able to develop their talent and demonstrate it to the general public.