Narrowed down to 4 sopranos...please help!!!

Okay, guys. I'm new to UU and fairly new to the love of playing and am catching on quickly to the obsession!!

They're sooo fun!!!

So I have a Lanikai 21T that I love! I'm looking to compliment her with a soprano. I've been doing tons of research and have concluded that MGM is the way to go and Kala will make a nice quality cousin to my Lanikai. I've gone over and over about whether to get one with an active pickup installed or not. None of my 4 options do but if anybody should talk me into it, I can be swayed
So, please help me pick! I want one aesthetically different than my satin finish mahogany that has a pleasant brightness in sound. Budget is a consideration...
That said, these are my choices:

Kala flame mahogany with hard case $127.09 all together:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330389615112&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Kala Kiwi with gigbag $97.88:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330389973050&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Kala Travel Sprucetop with gigbag $129.95:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370311748786&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and for a bit more,
Kala Koa with hard case $199.95:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330390454201&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I appreciate your helpful suggestions, whatever they may be! I've spent a lot of time on these forums learning a lot and you guys are soo soo great!

Kristin

I've never been sorry I purchased Koa. Have fun choosing!

Narrowing

Womby28 said:

Kala Kiwi with gigbag $97.88:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330389973050&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Kala Travel Sprucetop with gigbag $129.95:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370311748786&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Click to expand...

Hey:

For pure fun value the Kiwi will rock. I have the watermelon (playing it now.) Bright, banjoey sound like an old Harmony (to my ears.) Others have spoken well of the Kala Travel, but I have no experience.

See ya round the neighborhood, neighbor!



Thom

1. I don't have a Koa Soprano, but it should sound different than the Mahogany Tenor you already have. And it looks different too.
2. The Kiwi one (I have that one!) is great fun, nicely made, good tone, and a gloss finish. Good travel uke. It is laminated mahogany, but since it is smaller than your other uke, it should sound different from what you have. Try Aquila or Worth strings on this one for enhanced brightness.
3. I don't have the Kala Thinline, but it should sound very different from your Lanikai because of the spruce top and smaller size. Satin finish on that, I believe. Spruce typically sounds brighter than Mahogany, with a more modest bass range.
4. Flame Mahogany one looks great. I haven't heard one in person, but I bet it's nice too.
Choose the one that you are craving for the most. And once you have 2, you might want to string up the tenor to Low G (I recommend Worth Clear unwound Low G).
–Lori

Thanks guys!

I actually called Mike up to ask him a few questions.

For aesthetic/sound quality/price/and hard case included purposes I went with the....

Kala flame mahogany. Mike says it's a great sounding ukulele and if I'm going to spend any more than that than bump up to the Ohana.
Since I'm also looking to buy an acoustic guitar, I went with the slightly cheaper but equally as beautiful and as good of quality as I could ask for.

I can't wait to get it!!!!

I'll let you all know

Congrats!

Great choice. Mike is the man. And I know you'll be happy and maybe I'll get a chance to hear it someday!

Those new flame mahoganies are sure beautiful! Enjoy - I know MGM won't steer you wrong!

I was about to say that I liked the Flame Mahogany the best too

Any update on this thread? Do you like the uke?