Mark S
Member
Hello everyone.
I'm Mark from Ireland and I'm new to this forum and relatively new to ukuleles.
I am sorry to burden you all with what must be the 100th such thread but I need some purchasing advice and you guys seem like just the people to provide it!
I recently became infatuated with the ukulele and resolved to buy me a nice one. Having no money I bought a cheap €20 soprano and put some martin strings on it to tide me over for the time being.
It sounds fine as a practice uke that I could possibly bring when travelling. I really enjoy playing it so I've decided that the instrument is for me and I want to move up a few steps.
---
So I've narrowed it down to two provisional options, both Lanikai concerts.
(Living in Ireland means that Ukulele options are severely limited - the instrument isn't a natural option for us ; Lanikai is the best brand that any shop will stock and even then you can only get the LU-21 models. Likewise, those martin strings are the best any Dublin shop will stock. I've chosen to order from a German site, www.thomann.de, which is, again, one of the few options open to us and who also only seem to stock Lanikai - which is fine by me really - with more models.)
Anyway, they are:
1. The CK-C (koa laminate)
2. The LFM-C (Laminate maple with solid spruce top)
My initial instinct was to go for the koa model as I played a koa soprano in a shop in Munich and I remember loving the tone. It was about €120 ($170 I think...) so I don't know if it was laminate, but I did like it.
I've also read a review or two for the koa model that seem to be quite positive.
But in the last day or so I've been considering the Maple uke, as it's only €20 more expensive and I gather that a solid top is really something to go for.
The problem is I can't find a single review, video or noteable mention of the LFM-C; Not one!
So I figure that I could get a lot of useful input on this forum.
---
What I really need to know is
1. If there is anyone here familiar with either or both of those models and their experience of it.
2. What's to be gained from upgrading to the maple, and to be lost from not buying the koa / is it worth it? (should I just buy a bag with the money?)
3. If anyone strongly feels I should reconsider my options (perhaps a cheaper lanikai ).
4. Any other helpful tips
---
Sorry for the long post.
Any help would be seriously appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark
I'm Mark from Ireland and I'm new to this forum and relatively new to ukuleles.
I am sorry to burden you all with what must be the 100th such thread but I need some purchasing advice and you guys seem like just the people to provide it!
I recently became infatuated with the ukulele and resolved to buy me a nice one. Having no money I bought a cheap €20 soprano and put some martin strings on it to tide me over for the time being.
It sounds fine as a practice uke that I could possibly bring when travelling. I really enjoy playing it so I've decided that the instrument is for me and I want to move up a few steps.
---
So I've narrowed it down to two provisional options, both Lanikai concerts.
(Living in Ireland means that Ukulele options are severely limited - the instrument isn't a natural option for us ; Lanikai is the best brand that any shop will stock and even then you can only get the LU-21 models. Likewise, those martin strings are the best any Dublin shop will stock. I've chosen to order from a German site, www.thomann.de, which is, again, one of the few options open to us and who also only seem to stock Lanikai - which is fine by me really - with more models.)
Anyway, they are:
1. The CK-C (koa laminate)
2. The LFM-C (Laminate maple with solid spruce top)
My initial instinct was to go for the koa model as I played a koa soprano in a shop in Munich and I remember loving the tone. It was about €120 ($170 I think...) so I don't know if it was laminate, but I did like it.
I've also read a review or two for the koa model that seem to be quite positive.
But in the last day or so I've been considering the Maple uke, as it's only €20 more expensive and I gather that a solid top is really something to go for.
The problem is I can't find a single review, video or noteable mention of the LFM-C; Not one!
So I figure that I could get a lot of useful input on this forum.
---
What I really need to know is
1. If there is anyone here familiar with either or both of those models and their experience of it.
2. What's to be gained from upgrading to the maple, and to be lost from not buying the koa / is it worth it? (should I just buy a bag with the money?)
3. If anyone strongly feels I should reconsider my options (perhaps a cheaper lanikai ).
4. Any other helpful tips
---
Sorry for the long post.
Any help would be seriously appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark
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