Tried to like it, but I didn't. Oh, sure, it's fit and finish were outstanding. I've never held a better constructed uke, except perhaps for a couple offerings from Bill Collings (elderly has two of his, one koa one mahogany). I couldn't find a flaw in its finish, nothing to say, they could have done that better. But I strongly disliked its sound--the more I played it, the less I liked it. I bought it sight unseen based on its reputation and the fact that I like my $125 mahogany Ohana CK-25 second quite a bit (I still like it, even compared to my Ko'Aloha concert). But the sound the Kiwaya made was very, I don't know, plinky, I guess, didn't resonate, had no depth, and it didn't make me want to pick it up and play it. And once I realized I didn't want to play it, I put it in its case and listed it on Ebay. I hear other people talking about how loud and resonant their Kiwaya laminates are, and all I can say is, sweet, don't upgrade, you might not like the result. I didn't like its color, either, too much yellow and green in it, resulting in a kind of a understated brown, again, though, great finish, that brown had a definite glow to it, when the light hit it just right.
So it sold today, and if it wasn't for those pesky ebay/paypal fees, I would have almost broke even. Still, I learned something, just not sure what. I will have to listen more closely to those old Martin's, as well as that Collings mahogany, to see if I'm really in love with mahogany as much as I thought. I'm currently digging the Ko'Aloha koa punch of my new/used concert uke, but I wouldn't say it sounded better than my Ohana CK-25, and not entirely different, either, just punchier, with a little twang, or, spice, if you will. If only I had an extra $1700, I'd try the Collings for a while! Both of them.
So it sold today, and if it wasn't for those pesky ebay/paypal fees, I would have almost broke even. Still, I learned something, just not sure what. I will have to listen more closely to those old Martin's, as well as that Collings mahogany, to see if I'm really in love with mahogany as much as I thought. I'm currently digging the Ko'Aloha koa punch of my new/used concert uke, but I wouldn't say it sounded better than my Ohana CK-25, and not entirely different, either, just punchier, with a little twang, or, spice, if you will. If only I had an extra $1700, I'd try the Collings for a while! Both of them.
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