Photojosh
Well-known member
Apologies for touching on the old solid-vs-laminate debate. But we've got to talk about something around here, right?
I have a Koaloha concert that I love. It is, and has been for a while, my primary wood bodied ukulele. But I've been thinking of getting something else in a concert size at some point that would compliment it with a different voice. And maybe something with a less traditional look as well. Spruce or cedar with a little 'showy' style perhaps. This isn't a super serious quest, but it's something I've been bouncing around in my head. I've seen a couple really pretty concerts out there. For example, the solid cedar top Kala KA-ACP-CTG has a neat look. And a local store has a pretty (and nice sounding) spruce top Ohana CK 50WG that I think they would like to give me a deal on.
But for whatever reason, I find myself shying away from those ukes because of their laminate back and sides. I find myself looking for one of those pretty all solid spruce/lacewood Kala KA-ASLAC or thinking that I should back off on the 'showy' and find something all-solid and traditional looking. I really don't like ukuleles that have overly choked or quiet voices and the back of my head I keep thinking of all the quiet laminates I have heard in the past (to be fair, mostly cheaper models).
Now, is this because I've got a really nice solid wood uke as my benchmark, or am I needlessly limiting myself out of some nice ukes because of some mistaken belief?
Another example, I'm looking to try a Baritone out. I'm unsure if I'll actually like the size/sound so I don't want to spend a ton. But instead of just picking up one of the reasonably priced solid top laminate back/sides baritones from Kala or Ohana, I start talking myself into spending $100-200 more for a solid uke....
I have a Koaloha concert that I love. It is, and has been for a while, my primary wood bodied ukulele. But I've been thinking of getting something else in a concert size at some point that would compliment it with a different voice. And maybe something with a less traditional look as well. Spruce or cedar with a little 'showy' style perhaps. This isn't a super serious quest, but it's something I've been bouncing around in my head. I've seen a couple really pretty concerts out there. For example, the solid cedar top Kala KA-ACP-CTG has a neat look. And a local store has a pretty (and nice sounding) spruce top Ohana CK 50WG that I think they would like to give me a deal on.
But for whatever reason, I find myself shying away from those ukes because of their laminate back and sides. I find myself looking for one of those pretty all solid spruce/lacewood Kala KA-ASLAC or thinking that I should back off on the 'showy' and find something all-solid and traditional looking. I really don't like ukuleles that have overly choked or quiet voices and the back of my head I keep thinking of all the quiet laminates I have heard in the past (to be fair, mostly cheaper models).
Now, is this because I've got a really nice solid wood uke as my benchmark, or am I needlessly limiting myself out of some nice ukes because of some mistaken belief?
Another example, I'm looking to try a Baritone out. I'm unsure if I'll actually like the size/sound so I don't want to spend a ton. But instead of just picking up one of the reasonably priced solid top laminate back/sides baritones from Kala or Ohana, I start talking myself into spending $100-200 more for a solid uke....