mikelz777
Well-known member
I'm contemplating getting a tenor and through my research so far, I'm pretty certain that I'd like a solid, all-mahogany uke. I keep coming back to three, the Cordoba 30T, the Pono MT and a Mainland. I've all but ruled out the Mainland based mostly on it's looks. I own an Ohana with rope binding around the body, sound hole and head stock and the headstock detailing is the same. It's no fault of the uke itself, it's just that the Mainland looks too much like my Ohana and I kind of want something different.
To put some perspective on my remaining two choices, I'd plan on buying them from Hawaii Music Supply (HMS) so they would be looked at and set up properly.
Looks-wise, I love everything about the Cordoba 30T. The abalone rosette, the darker mahogany, the rosewood binding, the black buttons on the tuners and the black nut and saddle. From sound samples I've found, it has a very nice sound. I haven't experienced it before but it's supposed to have a slightly wider neck (1-1/2" at the nut) and I like the idea of having a little more room. Reason for pause? Perhaps it's brand-name snobbery on my part. Cordoba isn't really known for their ukes. From what I've read on the internet, the quality and opinions on their ukes is spotty at best. What I'd have to weigh is that the negative opinions on their ukes seems to be based on the reputation of their older models. The 30 series is a newer line with a new/different build and is their top of the line uke. Does Cordoba's spotty reputation extend into the 30 series for quality or is their 30 series a departure and an improvement in quality? Would I have to be less concerned about this assuming HMS would weed out any problem Cordobas? The Cordoba would be cheaper overall because a canvas hard foam case is included in the price but I'm not at all a fan of zippered cases so I'd probably want to replace it with a hard case that had loop snaps (I don't know what they are officially called) on it. That would put the Cordoba back on the same price level overall as the Pono.
The Pono MT is a nice looking uke but a bit plain without binding or other bling, not nearly as nice looking as the Cordoba. The sound samples are wonderful, it might have a slight edge on the Cordoba but I really like both sound-wise. Pono has a great reputation so I'd have little to worry about there.
So what are your thoughts and opinions? I'm torn between the two. I think I'm looking for a hybrid between the two, a Corono or a Ponoba. Is one a clear winner over the other? Would either of the choices be a good one?
To put some perspective on my remaining two choices, I'd plan on buying them from Hawaii Music Supply (HMS) so they would be looked at and set up properly.
Looks-wise, I love everything about the Cordoba 30T. The abalone rosette, the darker mahogany, the rosewood binding, the black buttons on the tuners and the black nut and saddle. From sound samples I've found, it has a very nice sound. I haven't experienced it before but it's supposed to have a slightly wider neck (1-1/2" at the nut) and I like the idea of having a little more room. Reason for pause? Perhaps it's brand-name snobbery on my part. Cordoba isn't really known for their ukes. From what I've read on the internet, the quality and opinions on their ukes is spotty at best. What I'd have to weigh is that the negative opinions on their ukes seems to be based on the reputation of their older models. The 30 series is a newer line with a new/different build and is their top of the line uke. Does Cordoba's spotty reputation extend into the 30 series for quality or is their 30 series a departure and an improvement in quality? Would I have to be less concerned about this assuming HMS would weed out any problem Cordobas? The Cordoba would be cheaper overall because a canvas hard foam case is included in the price but I'm not at all a fan of zippered cases so I'd probably want to replace it with a hard case that had loop snaps (I don't know what they are officially called) on it. That would put the Cordoba back on the same price level overall as the Pono.
The Pono MT is a nice looking uke but a bit plain without binding or other bling, not nearly as nice looking as the Cordoba. The sound samples are wonderful, it might have a slight edge on the Cordoba but I really like both sound-wise. Pono has a great reputation so I'd have little to worry about there.
So what are your thoughts and opinions? I'm torn between the two. I think I'm looking for a hybrid between the two, a Corono or a Ponoba. Is one a clear winner over the other? Would either of the choices be a good one?
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