Any opinions on the concert Acacia Pono vs the concert Koa Martin? Specifically I'm talking about the Pono AC and the Martin C1K. Taking the price difference out of the equation, which one would you prefer and why?
I've had a C1K & T1K. I have a Pono Acacia tenor ATD. Martins are gone. Pono's still here. Draw your own conclusion.
I have had both, Pono and Martin and still have many Martins.
I see you have the Martin Iz. I have #393. It always surprises me how light it is for a tenor.
I don't have a horse in this race, I'd just say that the necks are substantially different, and if that matters to you, it's a factor at least as important as sound.
I think sound is important here as well. The Hawaii made K ukuleles have a unique sound as compared to Martin, and I think Pono sounds like the K Hawaiian brands, at least to my ears. While I like that sound, my favorite ukulele tone has always came from Martin ukuleles. Just my personal preference. I have had both, Pono and Martin and still have many Martins. The C1K, in my opinion, is one of the best values on the market today in a solid wood instrument. Also, they are built flawlessly.
Good luck in your search and ultimate purchase.