Kala, Pono, KPK Acacia or another?

I am thinking that my next uke may be a concert or tenor acacia. Why? I like the sound and look of acacias without the . I am not planning on buying for a while but as anyone afflicted with UAS fully understands, I have already begun my research. The three that have come up regularly in my searches are Kala ASACs, Pono AC/AT,and the KPKs. Searching for reviews, here is some of what I have found.

1. KPK- they seem to have had some cracking issues around 2008 but that seems to have been resolved. People seem quite happy with them but that happiness always seems to be in comparison to the relatively inexpensive cost. I don't think I have read a straight up comparison with either the Kala or Pono models.

2. Kala- generally people seem happy with these models. There have been some statements about the perception that Kala is more of a entry level uke manufacturer but that is not of great concern for me.

3. Pono- People seem to range all over the place with Ponos from somewhat uneven in quality (or at least compared to costs) to being quiet/muffled to absolutely loving them. I am wondering about the satin/gloss finish differences with the Ponos (e.g., AC vs. ACD). Is a satin finish inferior to a gloss finish or is it more of a question of preference? The difference in price is quite significant.

So I am wondering if anyone can compare two or even all three of these companies acacias?

Thanks,

Ethan

I own a KPK concert and a member of Steel City Ukuleles brought in her new Pono acacia baritone. The Pono had a great tone and the build was excellent.Tone seemed a bit mellower than my PKP but it was a baritone and tuned DGBE so it's hard to make a direct comparison. As far as overall sound and quality I personally would rate them: 1) Pono; 2) KPK ; 3) Kala.

Pono

New Pono's are great. Quality controls issues appear to have been solved some time ago. I have a new Pono and a Kamaka. The Pono plays so much easier than the Kamaka that I'm taking it to a specialist for examination and improved setup. The Pono is a mahogany baritone and the Kamaka a tenor (koa of course) so the tonal qualities are different, but intonation is great on both. The sustain on the Pono is hard to believe...the wood actually continues to vibrate after the string has stopped.

Yes, those issues with Pono are historic. My wife has a Pono MHC Pro Classic concert - wonderful uke!

I just bought a Kala ASAC-T used from Ray and I love it. Nice sound with good value. Plus I think it's pretty.