matchubouye
Active member
can anybody tell me the difference between solid wood and laminate?
...unless you spend more than about $300, you will most likely get a laminate ukulele.
True and having personally seen these solid top Ohanas in each of the four colors, I'm amazed that they come in at a $89 list price. (the pics don't do them justice. Its a transparent finish... I'm a sucker for transparent)Often true until you hit a company like Ohana or Mainland Ukuleles....unless you spend more than about $300, you will most likely get a laminate ukulele.
i know this has probably been said above, but i'll put it sweet and simple
laminate is cheap, solid is more expensive. and with ukes you get what you pay for, my advice is to go solid wood anyday
I disagree. While solids do generally sound louder acoustically, the reason why they cost more is because solid wood costs more tha laminates and more work goes in.
But this doesn't mean that laminates are inferior to Solid woods, and you should just go with a solid anyday without considering laminates.
My first good uke was an all-solid mahogany tenor. Sold it because I hated having to refill the humidifier and always think about how to keep it from cracking.
I eventually ended up preferring laminate ukes. And the good laminates do sound pretty darn good. I think most ears can't differentiate between solid and a good laminate anyway.
I actually don't even consider solid wood or solid-top ukes when purchasing.
I love the freedom of not having to give a second thought about humidity and maintenance with laminates. It truly lets me carry them around and focus on the music.
Actually some laminates are very expensive. But that doesn't change the physics that affect their sound reproduction.i know this has probably been said above, but i'll put it sweet and simple
laminate is cheap, solid is more expensive. and with ukes you get what you pay for, my advice is to go solid wood anyday
I leave my solid-wood ukes out in the open, subject to whatever humidity is or isn't in the room, clean them only infrquently, oil the fretboard maybe twice a year. Maybe once. And they still play fine, haven't seen any significant change in action.I mean, as it is it seems that the only reason you've come to prefer laminates has less to do with the quality of the instruments themselves than your own unwillingness to take care of basic maintenance routines.
I mean, as it is it seems that the only reason you've come to prefer laminates has less to do with the quality of the instruments themselves than your own unwillingness to take care of basic maintenance routines. It works for you. That's cool, but I do have to say that it seems less like you're making a good case for laminate ukes than excuses for a certain amount of laziness on your own part. But if you're satisfied with laminates, then I'm not going to really argue that point. Your mileage varies from the average and everyone is an individual. Play on.
I'd estimate though that for the average person, the amount of reasonable care to maintain a decent solid wood instrument is not unworkable. Soak a humidifier for five minutes once a month. Keep a hygrometer handy and glance at it every once a while.
Umm wow.. You prefer solid wood ukes. I get the point.
But I hardly think there was a need to call me lazy for preferring an instrument I can leave outside its case and just pick up at will. As opposed to one that I have to keep in its case, worrying about having left the heater/aircon on in my room, or that the weather is particularly hot/cold and watering the humidifier every few weeks and keeping an eye on the hygrometer like I'm keeping a delicate animal alive. I guess I'm rather statistically abnormal and lazy for not having the same habits as you. For liking the feature of an instrument that I can casually pick up in my room without turning my room into a cliimate-controlled greenhouse, or travelling with me in a car in summer where the temperature gets too warm for comfort for a solid uke. And there's no denying that we do hear of solid-wood ukes warping due to the environment more often than laminates, sometimes even if it was looked after.
Drama on UU.. dun dun dun!
I disagree. While solids do generally sound louder acoustically, the reason why they cost more is because solid wood costs more tha laminates and more work goes in.
But this doesn't mean that laminates are inferior to Solid woods, and that they shouldn't be considered at all.
My first good uke was an all-solid mahogany tenor. Sold it because I hated having to refill the humidifier and always think about how to keep it from cracking.
I eventually ended up preferring laminate ukes. And the good laminates do sound pretty darn good. I think most ears can't differentiate between solid and a good laminate anyway.
I actually don't even consider solid wood or solid-top ukes when purchasing.
I love the freedom of not having to give a second thought about humidity and maintenance with laminates. It truly lets me carry them around and focus on the music.