OK here is a nitty gritty discussion. Solid tops versus laminate tops?
This is my opinion and only my opinion, which has changed due to age. In 1975 I bought an old solid top, quality guitar that has been with me ever since. It has seen cold nights hot days and sometimes porch strumming laziness. I have gone through 3 wives and this guitar is still with me. I have seen subtle changes in the way it sounds……probably due more to me than it.
Solid tops, are very nice. However one of the finest instruments I have played is a Kala KA-T Ukulele that I have owned for awhile. It is a laminate top and I will be buggered to figure out how they got it so thin? It rings like a bell and sounds the same today as I bought it. They are making some very fine laminates.
I suppose if I was twenty again? I would want something to grow old with me, that mellowed with me and sounded the changes in my life. Today I am old, I want something that just rings like a bell that can reflect the nuisances of sound from one finger pulled…
Someone on these threads recently asked about the importance of scales? I think scales are most important when buying or considering a new Ukulele. Scales define what you are holding. Tunes and songs will not do that. When you buy a solid top you have to wonder about how will this scale sound with age? With a quality made laminate? You have 10 to 20 years that you do not. Solid tops will age gracefully, laminates will die suddenly after 10 to 20 years. But a laminate will sound the same till it dies, shockingly. A solid top will out live you.. Thus scales and age are important. I am old, my Kala KA-T, I am certain will please me every day I have left.
With all this said, if the ukulele bug bites you will wind up having a number of them around the house. But in my opinion you will be best served not getting caught up in the argument “Solid vs. Laminate”. Go for tone and sound.
After all life is to short.
This is my opinion and only my opinion, which has changed due to age. In 1975 I bought an old solid top, quality guitar that has been with me ever since. It has seen cold nights hot days and sometimes porch strumming laziness. I have gone through 3 wives and this guitar is still with me. I have seen subtle changes in the way it sounds……probably due more to me than it.
Solid tops, are very nice. However one of the finest instruments I have played is a Kala KA-T Ukulele that I have owned for awhile. It is a laminate top and I will be buggered to figure out how they got it so thin? It rings like a bell and sounds the same today as I bought it. They are making some very fine laminates.
I suppose if I was twenty again? I would want something to grow old with me, that mellowed with me and sounded the changes in my life. Today I am old, I want something that just rings like a bell that can reflect the nuisances of sound from one finger pulled…
Someone on these threads recently asked about the importance of scales? I think scales are most important when buying or considering a new Ukulele. Scales define what you are holding. Tunes and songs will not do that. When you buy a solid top you have to wonder about how will this scale sound with age? With a quality made laminate? You have 10 to 20 years that you do not. Solid tops will age gracefully, laminates will die suddenly after 10 to 20 years. But a laminate will sound the same till it dies, shockingly. A solid top will out live you.. Thus scales and age are important. I am old, my Kala KA-T, I am certain will please me every day I have left.
With all this said, if the ukulele bug bites you will wind up having a number of them around the house. But in my opinion you will be best served not getting caught up in the argument “Solid vs. Laminate”. Go for tone and sound.
After all life is to short.