Wood material that sounds different from koa

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Lasse Kausland

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• Aug 30, 2010

• #1

I am going to buy a new uke soon, and I want to have a ukulele that sounds totally different from my Honu Traditional. I do like koa, but I don't want two ukes that sound similar. I'm impressed with the concert size so I'll stick to that.

And by the way, Brüko are making custom made ukuleles, so I might get one of those.

I don't know much about the sound of many woods, because I have not tried so many ukuleles. So, if you could tell me what the sound would be like, that would be good.

 

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Brewerpaul

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• Aug 30, 2010

• #2

Personally, I think that differences in sound come more from the design of the instrument rather than solely the different woods. Check out some different makers to hear the differences. Different bracing, body design, thickness of wood etc can make a big difference.
It would be interesting if you had a chance to play a Honu Traditional in a different wood.

 

ukecantdothat

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• Aug 31, 2010

• #3

I would start by getting a different body size and go from there.

 

Paul December

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• Aug 31, 2010

• #4

Brighter = Spruce (louder too)
Warmer = Mahogany

Personally, I recommend trying out a mahogany uke.

 

ukeeku

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• Aug 31, 2010

• #5

Paul December said:

Brighter = Spruce (louder too)
Warmer = Mahogany

Personally, I recommend trying out a mahogany uke.

Click to expand...

YES!
I got a David Gill concert pineapple with a spruce top recently, and it sounds very different from my other ukes.
The other two things to do if you want a different sound would be strings (Aquilas are nice, but try worth browns)
or just buy a banjolele, no wood sound at all!

 

Pippin

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• Aug 31, 2010

• #6

Paul December said:

Brighter = Spruce (louder too)
Warmer = Mahogany

Personally, I recommend trying out a mahogany uke.

Click to expand...

A maple/spruce combination is loud and clear... Ohana CK-70 comes to mind.

 

Ahnko Honu

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• Aug 31, 2010

• #7

I have a Koa Kamaka pineapple, and a Mainland Rosewood/Red Cedar pineapple and they sound very different from each other yet they both sound beautiful.
Check out the Mainland Red Cedar top pineapple sopranos: http://shop.mainlandukuleles.com/pr...26FDB0.qscstrfrnt04?productId=34&categoryId=3

 

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wheelgunner

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• Aug 31, 2010

• #8

The way the instrument is built and the strings used will make a bigger difference than the kind of wood used.

 

strumsilly

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• Aug 31, 2010

• #9

forwhatitsworth, I have a kala solid acacia tenor and the cutaway koa lam w/ solid cedar top, both with aquila strings, the cedar is louder and brighter, the acacia is mellower, more like mahogany.