best tenor uke for $250

H

headonz

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
I'm a newbie uke owner/player but dont want a "beginners" uke.

I think I like ,from what I have heard on utube , the more mellow sound that emphasizes the lower end and sounds good when picked.

Will any ply laminate sound reasonable that has a solid top ??

MGMs mango and maple ukes look great but how well do they play.??

cheers from down under :D


headonz
 
A solid top is a huge sonic upgrade from a laminate.

Solid sides & back are a more subtle upgrade from laminates.

A solid top with laminate back and sides = "bang for the buck" option.
 
The Kala KA-FMT Spalted Maple with solid Sitka Spruce Top looks, sounds and plays like a much more expensive model. I've played this with a low G tuning, as it comes with high G Aquillas (changed only the G string). MGM has it for $250, here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/KALA-SPALTED-MA...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:2|294:30

I like this model over the Mango, I feel it projects better, and personally think the Mango looks to busy. If you want a softer smoother sound, invest the additional $30 and get the solid Koa.
 
danged said:
If you want a softer smoother sound, invest the additional $30 and get the solid Koa.
Click to expand...

thats an idea ,

and should I also consider the Ohana TENOR solid Mahogany TK-35G Gloss ukulele w cs ??

the Ohana has the geuine bone nut and bridge and doest mahogany produce the fuller sound ??
 
I'm not familiar with the Ohana uke's, but in general Mahogany has a softer mellower sound than the Koa, but you can always get a different sound depending on the strings you choose. The TK35G does look like a nice uke, if you can, try to find a dealer and play both of them. I would personally get Koa over Mahogany, as Koa is a more exotic wood, and will hold it's value better.
 
I just got a mahogany mainland uke, and its an absolute delight to play...
http://shop.mainlandukuleles.com/product.sc?categoryId=3&productId=10

solid mahogany all around AMAZING sound they sing better than any uke in the price range, i get comments about my mainlands (also have a concert) a very warm rich tone with fantastic volume here are two videos of me playing it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-52il-YZziE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ipBHxsiCs&feature=channel_page

As a bonus they are sold by a UU member (Hoosierhiver), fantastic customer service...i really don't know what else to say but its a fantastic value and i couldn't be happier with mine
 
headonz said:
thats an idea ,

and should I also consider the Ohana TENOR solid Mahogany TK-35G Gloss ukulele w cs ??

the Ohana has the geuine bone nut and bridge and doest mahogany produce the fuller sound ??
Click to expand...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3SxA1D6Odk
If you have any questions about Ohana ukuleles you could just send Ken Middleton a PM on Youtube. He always answers mine.
And I'm sure he can help you out since he works for Ohana now...
 
danged said:
The Kala KA-FMT Spalted Maple with solid Sitka Spruce Top looks, sounds and plays like a much more expensive model. I've played this with a low G tuning, as it comes with high G Aquillas (changed only the G string). MGM has it for $250, here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/KALA-SPALTED-MA...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:2|294:30

I like this model over the Mango, I feel it projects better, and personally think the Mango looks to busy. If you want a softer smoother sound, invest the additional $30 and get the solid Koa.
Click to expand...

nice ukulele for $250.
 
danged said:
The Kala KA-FMT Spalted Maple with solid Sitka Spruce Top looks, sounds and plays like a much more expensive model. I've played this with a low G tuning, as it comes with high G Aquillas (changed only the G string). MGM has it for $250, here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/KALA-SPALTED-MA...34.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301:1|293:2|294:30

I like this model over the Mango, I feel it projects better, and personally think the Mango looks to busy. If you want a softer smoother sound, invest the additional $30 and get the solid Koa.
Click to expand...

I have this model in Concert size. I do feel it plays very well, and is great for finger picking. Seeing as it is the only laminate I have (other than flea) and it does have quite a bit of clear coat on it, it is the quietest uke I have. It has Aquila strings on it. Very nice looking uke though, and the tuners work very well.
Cheers,
Skottoman
 
Skottoman said:
... Seeing as it is the only laminate I have (other than flea) and it does have quite a bit of clear coat on it, it is the quietest uke I have....
Click to expand...

It has a Solid Sitka Spruce top.

I have the Tenor model and I like it. It is pretty nice for the $$$ and I think the volume is right where it should be. Mine has Aquillas right now and has a very bright sound. I will replace this with a nicer uke one day, it is my Tenor uke for the time being. I had a Kala Mango Tenor and it was nice but was all laminate so the sound was not the best but still very good for what it was.

I prefer Concert so it does not get as much play as my concert ukes.
 
I have the Spruce/Maple Tenor and for the bucks you cant go wrong.

But the Spruce makes it brighter sounding than the ASMT (all solid Mahogany Tenor) from Kala which is also a very nice sounding/playing Uke in that price range, the Kala site lists them at 270.00 but where I shop sells them at 259.00.

I liked the sound/looks of the Maple/Spruce over the Mahogany/Spruce it had a brighter/fuller sound, when I was shoppin I was lookin for brighter.
I really liked the looks of the Mango but didn't like the sound with Aquilla's it sounded "tinny".

Comparing the ASMT to the KA-T both with Aquilla's the ASMT better, warmer/fuller.
 
dnewton2 said:
It has a Solid Sitka Spruce top.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess I meant the body. Sides and back. It does have the big spruce slab on the front. :) I think the amount of clearcoat though does dampen the sound quite a bit.
Cheers,
Skottoman
 
The best tenor uke for $250 is when you find a mispriced Kamaka tenor for $250.

Realistically, I'd go for the Mainland or Ohana mahogany if I were you. The solid-spruce Kala is nice too.
 
Here is a link for marketplace on UU. A UU member is selling this 2 month old all solid mahogany KALA tenor with cutaway and electronics for $199 which is like 80 or 100 less than new...

http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14450

I really want to buy it but I don't really want to buy it... if you know what I mean.

Somebody else should buy it so I don't have too...
 
thanks to everyone for the great feed back !

after being dazzled by the beautiful exotics like mango ,zebra wood and koa at first I realize its the ol' garden variety solid mahogany sound is what i want and on account I have not won lotto today it wont be a Kiwaya KTS-4 tenor :rofl: ,

so its a fight out between the Ohana TK-35G Tenor and the Kala KA-ASMT Tenor ,

has anyone made a direct comparison of the sound of these two ? I see MGM is now selling a light build version of the Kala KA-ASMT , love to know how this plays/sounds,

the kala cut away 4 sale on UU looks a great deal , just dont like having the electronics on board if u know what I mean .

local shops only have cheep entry level stuff so cant do my own reviews so you all have been a great help !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Best Strings & Low G string for Carmel Tenor CT103???? Don't like Worth Browns on THIS uke
Replies
10
Views
728
Thommy_B
Thommy_B
Leongdad
Best sounding cedar tenor uke?
2 3
Replies
47
Views
3K
hands_on_lanzon
hands_on_lanzon
R
What is the best tuner for adding a 5th string to a tenor uke?
Replies
13
Views
683
Michael Smith
Michael Smith
E
Best sounding for the buck laminate tenor uke?
Replies
14
Views
842
eternal tinkerer
E
T
Best strings to use on DGBE tuned Tenor Guitar for a long time baritone uke player.
Replies
13
Views
11K
kissing
kissing
Top Bottom