Koloa 650 baritone
- Thread starter Ken608
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Jon Moody
Well-known member
I have the Koloa 550 baritone. I had the chance to try it out at Elderly Instruments, along with many other baritones, when I was looking at one. It won out due to the playability and overall tone of the instrument. I didn't notice a huge difference between that and the 650, but since the 600 series is a gloss finish (and that translates to the neck), the 550 won out.
I bought one for my Son as a birthday gift. Looks and sounds like it costs much, much more, especially with Southcoast strings. How good a value it is depends on the purchase price. Kind of iffy about paying "full price" since they often go for substantial discounts.
These assessments from UU members as well as these videos indicate that there are some "eh" ukes of every brand, including Koloa, but the positive reviews seem to outnumber the bad. I can only speak to the Koloa that Savagehenry is playing in this list of YouTube demos. I believe he's first on the list. These Bari's seem a little " picky" about strings and different types and brands seem to produce drastically different results. For $300, I'd buy the Kala, for half that or less than half, if I knew it was a good one, I'd take the Koloa.
(here's a good example
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...650-baritone-ukulele&highlight=Koloa+baritone). The gloss finish on a neck can be reduced to a satin finish quite easily.
Here's another example: http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...plus-extra-items-175&highlight=Koloa+baritone
Another: http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...id-Mahogany-Baritone&highlight=Koloa+baritone
More: http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...650-Baritone-Ukulele&highlight=Koloa+baritone
Some demos from folks that managed to get them to play well: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=koloa+ku+650+baritone+ukulele
These assessments from UU members as well as these videos indicate that there are some "eh" ukes of every brand, including Koloa, but the positive reviews seem to outnumber the bad. I can only speak to the Koloa that Savagehenry is playing in this list of YouTube demos. I believe he's first on the list. These Bari's seem a little " picky" about strings and different types and brands seem to produce drastically different results. For $300, I'd buy the Kala, for half that or less than half, if I knew it was a good one, I'd take the Koloa.
(here's a good example
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...650-baritone-ukulele&highlight=Koloa+baritone). The gloss finish on a neck can be reduced to a satin finish quite easily.
Here's another example: http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...plus-extra-items-175&highlight=Koloa+baritone
Another: http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...id-Mahogany-Baritone&highlight=Koloa+baritone
More: http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...650-Baritone-Ukulele&highlight=Koloa+baritone
Some demos from folks that managed to get them to play well: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=koloa+ku+650+baritone+ukulele
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chuck in ny
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just sold my 650 in the marketplace. very solid construction and good tone. elderly has them for a good price and i got a factory second from a repair guy for under $200. on ebay. mine survived a northeast winter with no case or humidification and no cracks.
it is physically large and will not fit into some baritone cases. the large body gives it a deep mahogany uke tone.
it is physically large and will not fit into some baritone cases. the large body gives it a deep mahogany uke tone.
stevejfc
Well-known member
Ken, I have a virtually new 650 that I played for around an hour for a project I was working on. It is in as new condition and has a Gearlux UC40B hard tweed case. I have been thinking of selling, so if you are interested PM me for details.
I had one and the best I can say about it is that it was "blah". It's one of those items that hits a price point and looks good on paper but is missing at actually being good at what is is supposed to do.
IMHO the Kala Acacia Cedar Baritone (http://www.theukulelesite.com/shop-...bp-ctg-solid-cedar-top-baritone-slothead.html) is wonderful, a great value. It has laminated back and sides and only a solid top but don't let that fool you. It's better than the Koloa by a mile. A local shop has a couple of them and I like to play them when I go in - actually - he's had several but he keeps two in stock at a time. I think it compares very well to my more expensive Pono. There is also a solid body Ohana in the $200 range that is much better than the Koloa. If I were going to buy another baritone I'd go for the Kala; its a sweet deal.
IMHO the Kala Acacia Cedar Baritone (http://www.theukulelesite.com/shop-...bp-ctg-solid-cedar-top-baritone-slothead.html) is wonderful, a great value. It has laminated back and sides and only a solid top but don't let that fool you. It's better than the Koloa by a mile. A local shop has a couple of them and I like to play them when I go in - actually - he's had several but he keeps two in stock at a time. I think it compares very well to my more expensive Pono. There is also a solid body Ohana in the $200 range that is much better than the Koloa. If I were going to buy another baritone I'd go for the Kala; its a sweet deal.
drmosser
Well-known member
I had a Koloa 650 baritone, but sold it about two months ago to a local friend who just wanted a solid body baritone to play out that wouldn't break the bank. I would have to agree with Katysax in as far as she suggests that the 650 falls in the fair to average class of baritones. I had a Mainland Cedar/Rosewood Baritone that sound much better than the Koloa 650. I sometimes regret selling the Mainland baritone. I do still have a LoPrinzi baritone and a Kamaka White label baritone. It's really difficult not to benchmark any new baritones that I try against the quality of those two.
Recently I tried a Bonanza Jumbo Baritone ukulele that is made from kitchen countertop laminate material. The sound was much better than I would have expected from a non-wood material. It's not a Blackbird or a Clara, but it is a non-traditional material that sounds pretty darned good. I have since ordered one of these Jumbo Baritone ukuleles to be made with a MiSi pickup installed as it sounded impressive through a Roland Microcube amp. I even got to select my preferred laminate pattern.
Recently I tried a Bonanza Jumbo Baritone ukulele that is made from kitchen countertop laminate material. The sound was much better than I would have expected from a non-wood material. It's not a Blackbird or a Clara, but it is a non-traditional material that sounds pretty darned good. I have since ordered one of these Jumbo Baritone ukuleles to be made with a MiSi pickup installed as it sounded impressive through a Roland Microcube amp. I even got to select my preferred laminate pattern.
