iDavid
Well-known member
What do guys think of Spruce-top Ukes? Seems most have Koa or Mahogany, but in the guitar world spruce is the king.
Spruce top guitars are usually matched with ebony or rosewood sides and backs. This is a classic perfect combination. The spruce top gives quick response and projection, while the hard sides and back add richness and sustain.
Koa is a more mid ranged wood, which is why it's good for the whole body. While koa isn't exceptional at producing any type of response or tone, there isn't anything it lacks, either. It's a very good middle of the road choice. You won't notice a dramatic difference in tone when you swap a koa for spruce top. There is a difference, but not to the degree that spruce and rosewood or ebony highlight each other.
Seems too that spruce tops seem to be an affordable way to have solid wood or a solid top.
but if you bring along something really cool like the KoAloha spruce/ebony Sceptre, then spruce on ukes becomes a lot sexier.
The sound is nice, but I don't like the look. Way too guitar-like for me.
How about a Spruce top with Mahogany back and sides?
I just played a Pono with this configeration and I enjoyed it. I put it down after a few minutes for my koaloha but I am thinking of getting this pono from ukerepublic. It is pretty and it sounds nice.
I had two meles (concert and 6 string tenor). I miss my all mahghany ukes. My next uke will either be a PS, that Pono spruce top mahaghany b/s, or another Mele solid mahghany (maybe 6 string).
I wish I had made a video of the 6 string and my old concert. They both were a few years old when I got them and their sound was as loud as my koalohas. The gentleman that bought my 6 string contacted me about my mango 8 string I had and i offered him a straight up trade. He refused I am hesitant with spruce b/c of the guitar factor. IMO the best sound uke is a mahghany uke. Koa is prettier and I prefer the koa over mahghany b/c the sound isn't so much better but a mahaghany sound is great.
When i bought that koa top mahghany back and side uke i was in a dilema. I KNEW that mahghany sounded great but I wanted a koa uke. The combo of koa and mahghany was great improvise.
My latest plan is an all Mahogany Mele Tenor and then a all Hog Honu concert...
You can't go wrong with either one to tell you the truth. THe honus are sweet. a little more pricey than the Meles I think but I have played two and I liked both. My only problem with the non hawaiian ukes is I always know that I can get a Mele and know that it will be good. I wish I was rich. Then my UAS would be satisfied.
The Mahogany Honu's are less than the Mele, by quite a bit.
The hand-built aspect of th Mele puts them on top to me