Help With Concert

pdxuke

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Friends:

After my experience playing a concert yesterday, I think I need to start thinking about adding one to the fleet. I emailed MGM with these questions, but would like to also present them to you:

Here's what I'm looking for in a Concert:

1. Easy Action
2. Mellow Tone
3. Good Intonation
4. Solid wood
5. Nicely built
6. Out the door with case for <$300


In other words, it doesn't have to be fancy, just sweet. I have my eye on these two:

OHANA-35GS

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ohana-CONCERT-s...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cecc3d816

or

KALA-KA smhc

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kala-ka-SMHC-SO...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a563e4a08


I'm assuming both are close in quality. Can you comment on what the extra money on the Ohana buys me, and any difference in tone?

I'm also adding this to the list of possbilities, although I'm not sure if I can stay below $300 with a case and shipping:

MAINLAND
http://shop.mainlandukuleles.com/product.sc?productId=9&categoryId=3

Since both MGM and Mainland offer equally good set up and service, try and concentrate on the actual instruments. (Isn't it nice that we don't need to worry about being taken care of? We are lucky duckies!)

Compare and contrast, please.

and...

Thank You! :bowdown:
 
I haven't played the first two, but I absolutely love my mainland mahogany concert. I highly recommend mainland, but for what it's worth, there's a thread floating around somewhere pointing out that the ohana you're looking at is in all likelyhood made in the same factory as the mainland. Take that for what its worth. Hope it helps
 
You might want to add the cedar/rosewood from Ohana/Mainland to the mix. It absolutely meets all of your requirements.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Solid-ROSEWOOD-...ltDomain_0?hash=item4cecd06b99#ht_2551wt_1165
http://shop.mainlandukuleles.com/product.sc?productId=12&categoryId=3

When I first got mine a couple years ago, I compared it to a Koa Pili Koko solid acacia. It wasn't even close. Recently I bought a Pono cedar/ebony and promptly returned it. For significantly more $, the Pono wasn't as loud, clear or sweet. Heck, the fit and finish wasn't even as good as on the Ohana. (I assume the recent factory change for Pono has something to do with instruments like the one I recently tried)

If you do go with the cedar/rosewood, I suggest fluorocarbon strings. I think they sound richer than Aquilas on it.
 
My guess is that the Mainland Mango might be more mellow than the Mainland Mahogany. I don't have a concert sized Mahogany, so I can't say for sure. There must be someone who has both though. But you might consider the Mango.

–Lori
 
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