Buying a Kamaka online

Aloha folks!

I am thinking of buying a Kamaka Pineapple (HP-1)
Currently, I live in Japan, and here Kamakas are very expensive! (They cost around 1250 dollars)

So I wanted to order one from Hawaii, but I wonder if it is better to order directly from Kamaka or get it from a famous store (Hawaii Music Supply, Pua Pua, etc).

What do you think? Could you tell me the pros and cons?
Also, if you have other store suggestions, that would be great too.

Thanks!

The downside to ordering any uke online is that you don't get to play it first and see if it sounds like you want it to. Having said that, I ordered a Kamaka pineapple from www.artisanguitars.com in Tennessee, USA, and I was very satisfied with the results. They offer detailed pictures of each individual uke, so you know what yours will look like. Another option would be to post an ad here on UU for a pineapple. There have been quite a few sold recently (including my own), and you'd have the advantage of knowing what it looks and sounds like (if the seller can provide a sound sample) plus you'd save a bit of money by buying used!

Good luck in your search. Kamaka pineapples are sublime.

Just hearsay, but word is that getting individual attention is difficult at times with Kamaka. Most of their big sales are with vendors/retailers. Hawaii Music Supply does most of their business with individuals, and they are very responsive to phone calls or direct contact. Just for info., I paid $1185.00 for my Kamaka tenor here in Northern California - so $1250 isn't such a bad deal when you consider that you will have the opportunity to play before you pay if you buy it locally.

I have had excellent personal service from Kamaka and have heard of many people having the same.

I don't think there is a huge difference between getting it from Kamaka or another retailer, I would just want to get pictures of the uke I was buying....I don't know if Kamaka does that. I might consider Bounty Music as well, I had an excellent experience with them.

By the way, enjoy your new Kamaka!! Post pictures when you get it!

I've bought two of my Kamakas online, sight unseen; another in person but without others to compare it to; and the most recent one (the pineapple) in person with a choice of two different ukes. And while I doubt that one can go wrong with a Kamaka in general, I will say that the difference between the two pineapples I compared was really dramatic. The one I bought had a much brighter, more bell-like tone than the one I passed on, which sounded more muted and mellow. Both sounded quite nice, but I was able to pick the one that had the sound I liked best. So, there's a "pro" for buying in person from a store and paying a bit more (which I opted to do, since sales tax alone added 10% to the cost!).

On the other hand - when you buy by mail, you don't have a basis for comparison. I'm pretty sure that with an instrument like a Kamaka, you will be happy with whatever you get.

As for which store to buy from - I might be mistaken, but when I was shopping around for a pineapple I think PuaPua marked the price up a bit from Kamaka, and shipping was higher. But as others have mentioned, you will probably be able to get photos of the uke, maybe have someone send a sound sample or play it over the phone for you, etc. I know with Kamaka, you place your order and a month or so later, "your" uke pops off the assembly line and it is what it is - you don't have others to choose from, and I'm pretty sure that you won't get pictures in advance. Even in person at the factory, you can't pick out a uke - you can only place an order.

I haven't bought from Hawaii Music Supply but a friend has, and she had a great experience with them - she didn't have any idea what uke she wanted (her first) and they helped make a great choice for her.

That being said, Kamaka's customer service has always been good to great in my experience. I recently ordered a pineapple case from them,, and even though it was only a $30 purchase the service was excellent.

Also, check out this list of Kamaka retailers, there are a few other dealers that I've heard good things about: Acoustic Vibes, Gryphon, and Artisan Guitars are a few that I recall hearing about.

I'm pretty sure that whichever way you decide to buy your pineapple, you will LOVE it. Mine quickly became my favorite uke. even though I was convinced that I didn't like playing sopranos nearly as much as concert ukes.

I'd buy from a reputable retailer which will do a set up and resolve any issues if you get any.. to me, only two come in mind now...direct from Kamaka, or Music Guy Mike...Good luck, MM Stan
MGM does the setups...better two check up's than one.. go with him...

Thanks everybody!
Your tips are great.

I think I will check some online retailers and see if they have photos of their pineapple in stock. It seems that the price is about the same ordering from the factory or from a retailer (Hawaii Music Supply for example).

I didn't know MGM was still selling ukes. I should try to contact him too.

Do all Kamakas come with a case from the factory? I guess this would influence on where to buy the uke from too (I mean if the price is the same but cases are different according to vendor)

redBee said:

Do all Kamakas come with a case from the factory? I guess this would influence on where to buy the uke from too (I mean if the price is the same but cases are different according to vendor)

Click to expand...

Definitely depends on the vendor. Some of the online retailers include cases. Kamaka factory charges $30 for the case.

Also, I have no idea how it is in Japan, but keep in mind that you may have to pay extra taxes/duty when you import an instrument from another country.

janeray1940 said:

Definitely depends on the vendor. Some of the online retailers include cases. Kamaka factory charges $30 for the case.

Click to expand...

How is the Kamaka case? Is it good?

itsme said:

Also, I have no idea how it is in Japan, but keep in mind that you may have to pay extra taxes/duty when you import an instrument from another country.

Click to expand...

Actually, musical instruments are duty free here (woohoo!). And also the exchange rates right now are very favorable to order from abroad.
Plus, I got a "go sign" from my wife, so it's just a matter to find where to order it from.

I just wish sellers here would readjust prices to be more fair.
The difference is pretty big.

redBee said:

How is the Kamaka case? Is it good?

Click to expand...

The one I got is just a basic black hardshell case. I don't have a photo of it but it's identical to this one that came with my figure-8 soprano:

janeray1940 said:

The one I got is just a basic black hardshell case. I don't have a photo of it but it's identical to this one that came with my figure-8 soprano:

Click to expand...

Thanks janeray1940. That looks good enough.
I've only had soft cases so far. Well, I don't take my ukes out so often, but it would be good to have a sturdy case to take the Kamaka on a plane/train/bus ride, I guess.

Kamaka lists the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of its HP-1 at $695 US. Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, California, is currently selling a Kamaka sporano pineapple for $695 US without a case and $759 US with a "hardshell case" of unspecified manufacturer. One nice thing about Gryphon is that it posts several photos of the actual ukulele it's selling and doesn't generally use stock photos.

redBee said:

How is the Kamaka case? Is it good?

Click to expand...

For what it's worth, Gryphon posts this blurb on the web pages for most its Kamaka ukuleles (although not the pineapples): "Our list prices are higher than the list prices on the Kamaka web site and that of other retailers. Why? Because we feel the cases supplies with Kamaka ukes are not worthy of the instruments inside. Over the years we have experienced problems only with the Kamaka cases. We have taken the policy of buying Kamaka ukes without cases and then pairing the ukes with a higher quality case, similar to one in the picture to the left. The 'list price' reflects the slightly higher cost of these superior cases." A salesperson I spoke with at Gryphon claimed that sometimes the Kamaka cases get a little smelly if they sit in the sun for a while due to the type of glue Kamaka uses, and that the stitching sometimes comes loose.

I bought a Kamaka tenor at Larry's Music in Kaua'i that came with a Kamaka case, and a Kamaka concert from Gryphon that came with a Ko'olau hard case. I think the Ko'olau case might be a little better made, but I haven't had any problems at all with the Kamaka case.

Here's a photo of my Kamaka tenor in its Kamaka case:



And here's a photo of my Kamaka concert in its Ko'olau case:

mds725 said:

A salesperson I spoke with at Gryphon claimed that sometimes the Kamaka cases get a little smelly if they sit in the sun for a while due to the type of glue Kamaka uses, and that the stitching sometimes comes loose.

Click to expand...

Interesting... this made me think of a couple other things. The lining in my older Kamaka case had to be re-glued (but keep in mind this is an 8-year-old case, and the black... pleather??... on the outside is coming unglued in a couple of spots. It's definitely not smelly though, even though it's been to the beach with me and in hot car trunks.

The new case, on the other hand - I had to let it sit opened in a closet for a week for the new glue smell to off-gas. It seems fine now but the glue smell really did bother me at first. I'll remember to keep this one out of the sun!

Thanks mds725

They both look nice.
I might also consider the Protec case that Kamaka suggest on their site : http://www.ptcases.com/items.aspx?P...rumentGroupID=4&CategoryID=2&subCategoryID=52

janeray1940 said:

The new case, on the other hand - I had to let it sit opened in a closet for a week for the new glue smell to off-gas.

Click to expand...

I had the same problem with both the Kamaka case and the Ko'olau case. If I have the same problem again, I'm going to try that baking soda stuff that's supposed to extract smells from refrigerators.

mds725 said:

I had the same problem with both the Kamaka case and the Ko'olau case. If I have the same problem again, I'm going to try that baking soda stuff that's supposed to extract smells from refrigerators.

Click to expand...

Activated carbon is also good to remove smells.

redBee said:

Thanks mds725

They both look nice.
I might also consider the Protec case that Kamaka suggest on their site : http://www.ptcases.com/items.aspx?P...rumentGroupID=4&CategoryID=2&subCategoryID=52

Click to expand...

I ordered my HF-3 directly from Kamaka earlier this year and felt like I got terrific customer service over the phone. I guess the downside of ordering from Kamaka is that you have to wait awhile to get your uke. I wasn't in a huge hurry so it was no problem and they actually shipped it earlier than they originally projected. I also got the Protec case and really like it. Has a nice pocket for books, tuner, etc...very sturdy, but light. I'd probably be able to take it anywhere except maybe into checked baggage on an airplane.

sonicbaker said:

I ordered my HF-3 directly from Kamaka earlier this year and felt like I got terrific customer service over the phone.

Click to expand...

How did you make the payment? Do they accept credit cards or paypal?

Thanks