Kala Cedar Experience?

seeso

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Hey guys.

I'm pretty sure I'm getting one of those new Cedar Kalas. Anyone have any experience with them?

I'm going for a tenor cut-away with active pickup.

I like a more mellow sound, so I figure the cedar with Worth BTs will do the trick.

Here's some pics:

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Hey Seeso, how much does that uke cost?

It's got a "buy it now" price of $299 on eBay.

I'm getting either the cedar or the Kala KA-KTE. I'm just scared that the koa will be too bright for me, I like a mellow, warmer sound.

I really wish I could play these things before I buy them. I can't find anywhere in Chicago that sells them. :mad:
 
Theres a couple of people here who have the KA-KTE. Maybe one of them can make a video of what it sounds like.
 
hey seeso. youve heard my "koa" kala already. the video doesnt quite do it justice though. and sorry i have no idea how cedar is going to be in comparison to the koa.

i can, however compare it to the sitka spruce topped lanikai i have. its a solid sitka top, with ovankol sides and back. this is by far the brightest toned uke i have. and being a six string, its just makes it sound brighter. so im sure this is not what you are looking for. however, from what i just read about it, spruce and cedar have comparable sound velocities. but cedar usually gives a little warmer sound, but not as warm as solid koa.

i wasnt sure before, but now i am. the kala koa series are NOT solid koa. they are laminate. i figured it out when i compared the grain on the inside of the uke to the outside. but coparing 6 string to 6 string, the "koa" uke is much warmer.

hope this helped. but im pretty sure it just made it more difficult. maybe you can email the guy selling the uke on ebay to take a demo video for comparison. all kala: solid spruce, solid cedar, and "koa". are you looking to get it through musicguymic? he might do it. ive seen some demo vids from him on several ukes.
 
rayan said:
Theres a couple of people here who have the KA-KTE. Maybe one of them can make a video of what it sounds like.

That's a great idea. Thanks. Would anyone like to make a video demonstrating their Kala KA-KTE for me?

NukeDOC said:
hey seeso. youve heard my "koa" kala already.

Oh yeah, that's right. It sounds great, but it's not the sound I'm going for. I realize 6 strings are going to sound brighter than 4 anyway, but still... something tells me that a 4 string laminate koa is going to sound a little too bright for me.

NukeDOC said:
i can, however compare it to the sitka spruce topped lanikai i have. its a solid sitka top, with ovankol sides and back. this is by far the brightest toned uke i have. and being a six string, its just makes it sound brighter. so im sure this is not what you are looking for. however, from what i just read about it, spruce and cedar have comparable sound velocities. but cedar usually gives a little warmer sound, but not as warm as solid koa.

Thanks for that, man. I think if I'm going to get a koa ukulele, I really want to be able to play it first, and I also want it to be solid koa.

I think what I'll do right now is get the cedar as my intermediate ukulele, then upgrade to a solid koa in the future. That's what I'm leaning towards, anyway. I need to start an ukulele fund. Put $20 a week into a can and a year from now get the best koa ukulele I can afford.

NukeDOC said:
hope this helped. but im pretty sure it just made it more difficult. maybe you can email the guy selling the uke on ebay to take a demo video for comparison. all kala: solid spruce, solid cedar, and "koa". are you looking to get it through musicguymic? he might do it. ive seen some demo vids from him on several ukes.

It helped a lot, dude. Thanks. I'd totally forgotten that I'd heard your koa Kala 6 string. It sounds like it's got a chorus on it. But alas, not what I'm going for.

Yeah, I'm getting the cedar through musicguymic. He's made a video for the spruce, but I haven't found one for the KA-KTE or the cedar.
 
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ahh seeso, off topic, but i remember seeing some of your videos on youtube a couple months ago. you've got some pretty sick covers from what i saw.
 
ahh seeso, off topic, but i remember seeing some of your videos on youtube a couple months ago. you've got some pretty sick covers from what i saw.

Thanks, dude!
 

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Alright guys, I have purchased the cedar from musicguymic. I can't wait to get it! I'll be sure to post a video to demonstrate its tone for you all.
 
wow i cant wait to hear what she sounds like. if its not too much to ask, could you do a comparison between the new uke and your lu-21? sometimes mics dont pick up the actual tone of an acoustic instrument very well. and since i know what the lu-21 sounds like in person, hearing them in comparison will give a better idea of what the new cedar sounds like.
 
i ordered same ukulele yesterday too seeso, like urself im put off by laminated koa - and my guitar friends said ceedars a v.nice wood.

v.exciting :) i bought a low g string for my old lu-21TE today too!
 
wow i cant wait to hear what she sounds like. if its not too much to ask, could you do a comparison between the new uke and your lu-21? sometimes mics dont pick up the actual tone of an acoustic instrument very well. and since i know what the lu-21 sounds like in person, hearing them in comparison will give a better idea of what the new cedar sounds like.

For sure man. Consider it done. Well, as soon as I get it.

i ordered same ukulele yesterday too seeso, like urself im put off by laminated koa - and my guitar friends said ceedars a v.nice wood.

v.exciting :) i bought a low g string for my old lu-21TE today too!

Awesome, dude! What kind of strings did you buy?
 
if the speed that i got mine is any factor, you should have it on friday or monday.
 

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I ordered the kala with the spruce top recently..only it's still stuck at the Dutch Customs. Shall see if I can make a video when I receive it.

PS. Love your videos seeso:D
 

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I ordered the kala with the spruce top recently..only it's still stuck at the Dutch Customs. Shall see if I can make a video when I receive it.

PS. Love your videos seeso:D

I'd love to hear that spruce.

P.S. Thanks a lot, dude!
 
seeso i think worth strings would be best with it

aquila perhaps too bright
 
i ordered a set of aquila also to try both as im pretty new to strings too, but which ever i dont like i can always pop on old tenor.

im actually v.excited, ukes are just too fun
 

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I just put a set of Aquilas (no wound G) on my tenor. I don't like them! I'm gonna try some Worths on it.
 
I just put a set of Aquilas (no wound G) on my tenor. I don't like them! I'm gonna try some Worths on it.

ah no? what are they like?
 

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