Hi,
Like many beginers, I have hade a looks at the Kala and Malaka sub $100 ukuleles. Information was note so easy to get different places give differents answers to the same question. So after I have some answer from vendors and from Kala, I think some people here might be glad to have the information I believe to be right.
I will speak about "Kala" ukulele, but technically MK-S is from Makala brand (other brand, same people).
Those three kala ukulele are basically the same : Same design, same parts with same shapes (appart for the added binding on KA-S). They all are laminated wood (which means that cheaper wood is used inside, just the visible layer of the wood is a nice wood), which mean that they all will sound very close (which has been confirmed by two vendors)
Now the differences :
- MK-S is the cheapest ($50 including shipping is easy to find on the internet)
- The veneer (visible layer of wood) is agathis, which is a wood that looks like magahony (Edit : I will not call this wood "mahogany" since it's no longer late at night ^^!) and is used as a replacement on cheaper instrument (mahogany is the traditionnal wood, hence people want it, stock are a bit low and price rise, but some luthier say you barely hear a difference between solid wood agathis and solid wood mahogany, so when it's only the veneer which change, I don't think I can hear a difference, specially on $50 ukulele)
- The fret are made of brass
- KA-15S is middle priced at $60 with shipping
- The veneer is mahogany, everything else is like MK-S
- KA-S is "higher" priced at $70 with shipping
- It's mahogany veneer, like KA-15S
- The fret on this one are nickel (supposed to last longer, but will you really play the other one 2 hours a day during three years to need longer lasting frets ? I guess that if I play two hours a day during 2 years, I'll buy a better uke before those one are to much used)
- It also have a white binding, which make it look different than the two other.
- It does not have the rosette which is on the two others.
So, for a quick synthesis :
-There is no real technical reason (sound, quality) to choose on or another
-The three are very good ukes for the price, even the $70 is really not over-priced, so if you think it look better, take it.
-If you want to save money, the $50 certainly won't sound less good than the others.
I could find no information about how the cheaper "dolphin" makala are constructed or sounds. Maybe they are good option four those who just want to buy a "first step" ukulele, and buy a solid top or all solid one as soon as they know which one they need/want.
Feel free to comment.
John.
-
Like many beginers, I have hade a looks at the Kala and Malaka sub $100 ukuleles. Information was note so easy to get different places give differents answers to the same question. So after I have some answer from vendors and from Kala, I think some people here might be glad to have the information I believe to be right.
I will speak about "Kala" ukulele, but technically MK-S is from Makala brand (other brand, same people).
Those three kala ukulele are basically the same : Same design, same parts with same shapes (appart for the added binding on KA-S). They all are laminated wood (which means that cheaper wood is used inside, just the visible layer of the wood is a nice wood), which mean that they all will sound very close (which has been confirmed by two vendors)
Now the differences :
- MK-S is the cheapest ($50 including shipping is easy to find on the internet)
- The veneer (visible layer of wood) is agathis, which is a wood that looks like magahony (Edit : I will not call this wood "mahogany" since it's no longer late at night ^^!) and is used as a replacement on cheaper instrument (mahogany is the traditionnal wood, hence people want it, stock are a bit low and price rise, but some luthier say you barely hear a difference between solid wood agathis and solid wood mahogany, so when it's only the veneer which change, I don't think I can hear a difference, specially on $50 ukulele)
- The fret are made of brass
- KA-15S is middle priced at $60 with shipping
- The veneer is mahogany, everything else is like MK-S
- KA-S is "higher" priced at $70 with shipping
- It's mahogany veneer, like KA-15S
- The fret on this one are nickel (supposed to last longer, but will you really play the other one 2 hours a day during three years to need longer lasting frets ? I guess that if I play two hours a day during 2 years, I'll buy a better uke before those one are to much used)
- It also have a white binding, which make it look different than the two other.
- It does not have the rosette which is on the two others.
So, for a quick synthesis :
-There is no real technical reason (sound, quality) to choose on or another
-The three are very good ukes for the price, even the $70 is really not over-priced, so if you think it look better, take it.
-If you want to save money, the $50 certainly won't sound less good than the others.
I could find no information about how the cheaper "dolphin" makala are constructed or sounds. Maybe they are good option four those who just want to buy a "first step" ukulele, and buy a solid top or all solid one as soon as they know which one they need/want.
Feel free to comment.
John.
-
Last edited: