Need help picking out a new uke. $400-$500 to spend.

nayysit

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Hey, so I have been playing uke for a few months now and love it but am wanting something smaller than my Cordoba 20TM-CE for travel. I have heard so many opinions on the best kinds of woods to get in different price ranges and the best companies for soprano ukes; with that being said I am confused as hell. So, I need recommendation on what would be good. I have $400-$500 to spend on a soprano specifically (no electronics). Here were a few I was looking at.

http://www.theukulelesite.com/shop-by/brand/pono/pono-mgsd-mango-soprano-deluxe.html

http://www.theukulelesite.com/kala-ka-fmsg-spruce-maple-soprano-gloss.html

Thanks!
 
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I have that mango Pono - except mine is not the deluxe model. It is a very nice uke. The Kala spruce top is going to be louder than the mango - if that makes a difference to you. That is precisely why I returned the spruce uke and got the Pono.
 
I'm a big fan of Mele ukes. When I went shopping with a similar budget I tried out a mango Pono and didn't like the sound nearly as much as the Mele, although the Pono has better construction and probably looks a bit prettier. Anyway, I ended up getting the Mele. They're worth checking out.

http://meleukulele.com/product/mele-mango-soprano/
 
Sound volume doesn't really matter very much to me. Sound quality is really what I am after. Thanks for your response also
 
Hello! How does the mango Pono compare to the Koaloho? Like what are the differences in terms of sound and volume? Thanks for your response.
 
I assume you are talking about the Koaloha Opio? I tried the old sapele model, and I liked it better than the Pono mango in terms of sound and volume. The Pono seemed a little bit muffled in comparison. I haven't tried the new acacia models, which certainly look pretty, and have good reviews. Having said that, I know there are a lot of Pono fans out there, and I'm by no means saying they are a bad buy. It's just that I personally prefer some of the other options.
 
Interesting. What would you consider a better buy? I don't think that I could stand the split in color in color on the Mele's fretboard.
 
If you can't play the instruments in person, it is time to watch the videos on The Ukulele Site and to do other research on the web.

I have an Opio Sapele Tenor and a Pono Pro Tenor (Cedar). The Pono has all the bells and whistles and is clearly the better crafted instrument. The Opio is my favorite. However...I am a classically trained tenor and I appreciate the volume of the Opio as compared to the less loud but clear Pono.

But there are a ton of decent ukuleles in your price range...and don't rule out waiting for a used soprano at a great price in these forums!
 
Interesting. What would you consider a better buy? I don't think that I could stand the split in color in color on the Mele's fretboard.

I know what you mean. My Mele has a uniform-coloured fretboard... I was lucky enough to have the option to go to their store and pick out one that appealed to me. I suspect that if you wanted a Mele, but didn't want a multicoloured fretboard, you could email them and they would find one that met your requirements. They have other woods for their bodies as well. I just linked you to the mango one because you had mentioned liking the mango Pono and because I also have a mango one. Here are some links to me playing it (note: I'm not an amazing player) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GKyn10brw8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKdtODqUoK4

The way I ranked the ones I saw when I went shopping in HI was 1. Mele, 2. Koaloha Opio, 3. Pono, 4. Kala/other. There were probably other options that I didn't look at. For example, I think Cocobolo ukuleles look amazing and I've heard good things, but I've never played one. I played a couple of Pohaku ukes once, and they were absolutely incredible, but they are outside of both our price ranges. Also, your choice will depend largely upon what you are looking for. For example, I was mainly looking at playability and tone when I went shopping, and professional build quality was not something that I valued highly. For that reason, the Mele uke that I ended up with does not have a totally even finish. If that is what you are looking for, the Pono might be the way to go. The Pono build quality is legendary.
 
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I have never heard of anybody being disappointed after purchasing a Koaloha, including me. They have a very full, vibrant, dynamic sound, they are well made and have the best warranty in the business. There is huge love and respect for Koaloha in the ukulele world.
 
You were asking for recommendations for a travel companion. To my mind that suggests something robust, which usually means laminate or solid top.

Also if it's small that you want, have a look at a sopranino, something like the Ohana solid mahogany SK21, seems to have quite a loud & pleasing tone from something so small.
 
I tried the sapele Opio when I was shopping and it is a very nice uke. I wanted to buy it. However, it was too loud for me. I have some hearing loss and have developed a sensitivity to louder sounds.

Also remember that the sound of a uke can differ based on the strings you put on it.
 
The Pono Soprano in the OP is an awesome deal, especially with the UPT tuners. I own several Pono ukes, and they are all impeccably built. Their gloss finish is absolutely amazing.

I'm also a huge fan of the sound you get from KoAloha Opio. Might be louder and a little closer to a traditional Hawaiian sound (or the KoAloha signature Sound so many people love). If it was me, I'd spent some extra money to have the frictions tuners exchanged with Gotoh Planetary tuners, a Service HMS will provide for you.

If portability is important to you, you might also want to look at the Romero Creations XS Soprano. Their all solid models are right within your budget:

http://www.theukulelesite.com/shop-by/romero-creations-xs-soprano-mahogany.html
http://www.theukulelesite.com/romero-creations-xs-soprano-spruce-koa.html
 
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