Kamaka or koaloha
- Thread starter jcrooks
- Start date
The Big Kahuna
Well-known member
Kanile'a
I'll get my coat
I'll get my coat
Kanilea for me too!..............unless of course the price was so low on one of the other two that I couldn't possibly pass it up. I'm an equal opportunity uke buyer as long as the price is right.
guitharsis
Well-known member
Good choice!
Uke182
Well-known member
If you are buying from HMS, then you have already won.
Personally, when I went to Ukulele Source in San Jose, I played every Kamaka and every KoAloha in the shop, and for me they were pretty much the same - neither brand was spectacular, nor horrid.
Except for one thing: I didn't like any of the friction tuners, regardless of brand. Generally, I'm not a friction tuner fan, but all of them were brand new and so stiff I had a hard time using any of them. (Granted this was not long after surgery on my left arm, and I had a hard time with anything around then.)
But when I picked up the KoAloha Sceptre - which I was avoiding, because it just looked gimicky - I was instantly attached. Sealed gear tuners, great sound plucked quietly or strummed, and the resonance of the instrument was spectacular. I thought about it overnight (it was way beyond my budget), called Smiley the next day, and returned two days later to purchase it.
I still haven't played a Kamaka that screamed "Take me home! Now!", but there are some nice ones out there. Trust Andrew and his staff, and you will get a superb instrument.
Personally, when I went to Ukulele Source in San Jose, I played every Kamaka and every KoAloha in the shop, and for me they were pretty much the same - neither brand was spectacular, nor horrid.
Except for one thing: I didn't like any of the friction tuners, regardless of brand. Generally, I'm not a friction tuner fan, but all of them were brand new and so stiff I had a hard time using any of them. (Granted this was not long after surgery on my left arm, and I had a hard time with anything around then.)
But when I picked up the KoAloha Sceptre - which I was avoiding, because it just looked gimicky - I was instantly attached. Sealed gear tuners, great sound plucked quietly or strummed, and the resonance of the instrument was spectacular. I thought about it overnight (it was way beyond my budget), called Smiley the next day, and returned two days later to purchase it.
I still haven't played a Kamaka that screamed "Take me home! Now!", but there are some nice ones out there. Trust Andrew and his staff, and you will get a superb instrument.
-Kurt
strumsilly
Well-known member
I've had all 3, Koaloha, Kamaka, Kanilea. I still have the Koaloha. I think the build quality is #3, the sound [for me] is #1.
Uke182
Well-known member
Tenor Kamaka's and tenor KoAloha's only come with sealed geared tuners. You're the first owner I know with a Scepter.
How cool!
