Ukulele recommendations!?

TheKlmslim

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I am currently the owner of a Kala KA-TG Tenor and I think it is a great instrument for the price, but I am thinking of buying another. I am looking for a good quality concert ukulele, in the 200-350 dollar price range. I am open to a solid wood ukulele although the care I would need to put into it scares me to death(and a decent one in my price range probably doesn't exist) and i would need to put in extra money for a humidifier and a hard case, but I am leaning towards a laminate. Now brands don't really matter to me, but I want the best sounding one i can get in my price range, and ones that will blow me away visually. I have a couple I'm looking at right now namely the Kala kcge-c and Luna High tide concert koa. Pre-amp is a bonus but not necessary. I am open to anything at this point. please let me know your opinions! You guys rock!:D
Main things I am looking for:
-Good intonation
-Sweet sound, not dull or quiet
-beautiful wood,(i don't like them painted)
-Glossy is OK but i prefer satin finish
-Maximum of 350 dollars(including humidifier and case)

Here are the ones I am looking at:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Kala/Koa-Concert-Cutaway-Gloss-Acoustic-Electric-Ukulele.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Luna-Guitars/High-Tide-Koa-Concert-Acoustic-Electric-Ukulele.gc

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Lanikai/CKCGC-Concert-Ukulele.gc
 
I would highly recommend you visit Theukulelesite.com and listen to those in your price range. Buying from them vs guitar center will pay big dividends in playability as the uke will be properly set up which at most shops is around $80. If you can bump to $400, you'll get free shipping. You'll also likely not have any sales tax which you would have to pay if buying from a national retailer.
 
Okay. I own 3 ukuleles. 2 of them are solid wood and one is a laminate. 2 are within your price range, and the other is just outside what you are willing to spend. My most important point is GET SOLID WOOD! It makes such a difference to the sound.

Of the ukes that you mentioned, stay clear of Luna ukes. I own a Luna laminate, and while it isn't terrible, you can do so much better. Mine sounds dull, has quite a high action, and the intonation isn't great. I've heard Lanikai ukes are good, but I have no personal experience, and Kala is pretty fail safe.

Now, what I'd recommend is one of the brands that I own - Koa Pili Koko - Mine is quite heavy, but sounds great. It has a very deep and rich quality. (Apparently you email Jason at Aersi Guitars to get one in the states. There is a thread about it on the forum.)
 
Consider a solid topped uke if you are worried about caring for an all solid wood.

I have a Kala cedar topped baritone that has good tone, & a cheaper Lani spruce topped which also has a good tone.
My solid mahogany long neck ukes are Ohana, & I have a solid spruce concert made by Baton Rouge, these all sound good to me.
None of the above ukes were particularly expensive. :)
 
A really good laminate choice would be the Famous (Kiwaya) FC-5 (or another FC model), but they are a bit more than your price range. It will sound better than a lot of solid wood instruments. If you spend less, though, I would avoid fully laminated instruments, though in my opinion laminated sides and back are just fine and may even help the sound (and will mostly remove the need for humidification unless your humidity conditions are extreme). But I'd not get a cheaper Uke without a solid top.

I agree with Eddie. If you value intonation, buy from a place that performs proper setups. In the US there are HMS/theukulelesite.com, Mim's Ukes, etc, in Europe you have SUS, World of Ukes, etc.
 
I would recommend a Mainland as a solid wood ukulele in your price range. I am very please with my tenor. http://shop.mainlandukuleles.com/category.sc?categoryId=3

or, anything from MIM, Uke Republic, the Ukulele site as they set up the ukulele You may want to look at Ohana, Pono, Kala etc. for solid ukuleles, and Koalana (by KoAloha) in a well made laminate concert.

(My Luna solid top concert was purchased from The Ukulele Site (HMS)and it came set up. It does not have the issues previously mentioned and is a great solid top. They might have some in their shop, but not on their website. It was a good $139 investment.)
 
I would highly second the Mainland recommendation. They have a great concert and tenor, cedar topped, and extremely well set up and they play wonderfully. The price is right.
 
Mainland for sure. They even have cosmetic seconds (flaws are typically minor, and hard to find even when looking) ... that'll save a few bucks too!
 
Okay, I understand all of your points and here is my updated list. Im willing to wiggle a little on the price so my max will really be around 400 dollars maybe 425
Kala SMHCE-C
http://www.theukulelesite.com/shop-by/ka-smhce-c-solid-wood-concert-cutaway-electric.html

(there's also a non electric non-cutaway version for cheaper, but i really do like the cutaway look)
http://www.theukulelesite.com/kala-ka-smhc-solid-mahogany-concert.html

Mainland Solid Mahogany
http://cargo.ukerepublic.com/product/mainland-ukes-classic-mahogany-gloss-concert

Mainland red cedar top
http://cargo.ukerepublic.com/product/mainland-red-cedar-concert

Any other suggestions in the 400-425 price range and which are the best of these 4?
 
Besides Mainland, Ohana CK-35's in your price range....have seen some great deals on some. Check with MIMS. If you are patient, you can get a nice Pono MC or MCD within your price range. I have the MCD-E and it's my main go-to uke. Here's one you may likely get for $350 or probably less.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pono-MC-MAH...387831?hash=item4661322877:g:qugAAOSwls5Y6oNn

NEw acacia one from MIMS, bright and punchy, hard to beat this price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/MIM-Pono-Co...004229?hash=item2a7e532385:g:XYwAAOSwSlBY29Xu

A mahogany model for the same price, mellower and sweeter than the acacia model. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MIM-Pono-Co...001365?hash=item282b96e5d5:g:6QkAAOSwtfhYodYE
 
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you should also take a quick look at the Fluke/Flea line-up. Even if you upgrade the tuners and fretboard you'll be well within your price range. Plus, if you decide to move to an even higher level uke, the fluke/flea is a great uke for the times when you need something durable (camping, etc.). Other than that, they have a decidedly decent tone and projection, and are built right here in the US. They also come set up to play very well.

I'd also recommend visiting http://www.gotaukulele.com/ reading the reviews there
 
I got my Pono MT for about $350... so you I think you can find a decent professional quality solid wood model at the top of your price range.

Note, managing your humidity is only a problem if you live in certain geographic areas. Where do you live and what is the normal range of humidity in your house?

-- gary
 
I got my Ohana CK-250G all solid Spruce / Acacia Uke. It is a great uke, a limited edition, mahogany binding with slotted headstock design and a beautiful gloss finish for $319.00. Mim did an outstanding setup!!!


 
You can buy a plastic storage box for a few bucks. Take a small plastic container about the size of a sponge and put a bunch of holes in the top with something like heated up phillips head screwdriver. I use a container sliced turkey came in. Putting a wet but not dripping sponge inside add a humidity guage and keep your uke in it when not being played and you're all set.

This will also give you more water holding than a smaller humidifier
and so require less maintenance and also mean distilled water is not necessary.

More humidity? Put more holes or add another. Less? Put a piece of tape over some holes.

There is nothing better than this. Only more $ and more work.
 
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