3 solid Koa Tenor Ukes. 3 under $600. Best deal?

Ryan<3Ukes

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This doesn't really go into buying tips because I'm not considering buying but these are 3 solid koa ukes that are under $600. For Christmas, one of them is under $500. If you've played these ukes then go ahead and leave your opinion on the better deal. If you haven't played any of these ukes, still feel free to leave an opinion. Sorry theres only one Kelii. Also take note that there are 4 links because 2 of the ukes have an additional cutaway model.

Uluru Pukana La III Tenor w/ fishman? pickup $469/$525 ($469 for Christmas)

http://www.fleacircusmusic.com/shop/article_PLIII-TKe/Pukana-La-III-Tenor-w_PU.html?shop_param=cid%3D2%26aid%3DPLIII-TKe%26

Uluru III Pukana La Tenor w/ cutaway and fishman pickup. $565

http://www.fleacircusmusic.com/shop/article_PLIII%2520TKCE/Pukana-La-III-Tenor-Cutaway-w_PU.html?shop_param=cid%3D2%26aid%3DPLIII%2520TKCE%26


Kelli Koa Gold tone Series $559.95

http://www.ukerepublic.com

Big Island solid Koa traditional(cutaway and without) $580-600 (You have to scroll down a bit.

http://http://www.bigislandukulele.com/products/index.html
 
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This doesn't really go into buying tips because I'm not considering buying but these are 3 solid koa ukes that are under $600. For Christmas, one of them is under $500. If you've played these ukes then go ahead and leave your opinion on the better deal. If you haven't played any of these ukes, still feel free to leave an opinion. Sorry theres only one Kelii. Also take note that there are 4 links because 2 of the ukes have an additional cutaway model.

Uluru Pukana La III Tenor w/ fishman? pickup $469/$525 ($469 for Christmas)

http://www.fleacircusmusic.com/shop/article_PLIII-TKe/Pukana-La-III-Tenor-w_PU.html?shop_param=cid%3D2%26aid%3DPLIII-TKe%26

Uluru III Pukana La Tenor w/ cutaway and fishman pickup. $565

http://www.fleacircusmusic.com/shop/article_PLIII%2520TKCE/Pukana-La-III-Tenor-Cutaway-w_PU.html?shop_param=cid%3D2%26aid%3DPLIII%2520TKCE%26


Kelli Koa Gold tone Series $559.95

http://www.ukerepublic.com

Big Island solid Koa traditional(cutaway and without) $580-600 (You have to scroll down a bit.

http://http://www.bigislandukulele.com/products/index.html

let's see...Never heard of the urulua or however you spell it. Keli'i is great and so is the big island. I'd contact Mike at UkeRepublic. He sells keli'i and big island. Tell him John sent ya.
 
The Kelii is tempting at that price. Unfortunately, most of the sound/video clips I've heard of Kelii (or Mele & Big Island) Tenors just haven't done it for me. I know there are many variables in such clips: the performer, strings, recording, etc. But that's all I have to go by.

A KoAloha or Kanile'a costs ~$300 more, but I find those both acoustically and aesthetically more appealing and well worth the extra money. BTW, at the $400+ price points, I want to see photos of the actual ukuleleI'd be buying. Stock photos don't cut it because there is too much variability in wood grain & color.

A couple of notes about the Kelii:
• nut & saddle are rosewood
• body has a thinner profile; not as much depth

But for anyone with a max budget of $600, the Kelii looks like a great deal from a reputable dealer who will do a proper setup.

The Uluru brand is unknown to me. Also, the website's link to shipping & handling comes up blank. Is Flea CIRCUS (not Market) Music a reputable dealer? They only sell this one brand of ukulele. Not worth risking ~$500.
 
I have a Big Island Honu Traditional tenor. I bought it used from the UU Marketplace (and it was shipped from Afghanistan!) as an upgrade of my Kala solid acacia tenor. I really like it and still have it. Although it's quieter than the Kamaka tenor I bought more recently, and I have no experience comparing it to a Kele'i (or to a Mele), I would highly recommend it.
 
The Kelii is tempting at that price. Unfortunately, most of the sound/video clips I've heard of Kelii (or Mele & Big Island) Tenors just haven't done it for me. I know there are many variables in such clips: the performer, strings, recording, etc. But that's all I have to go by.

A KoAloha or Kanile'a costs ~$300 more, but I find those both acoustically and aesthetically more appealing and well worth the extra money. BTW, at the $400+ price points, I want to see photos of the actual ukuleleI'd be buying. Stock photos don't cut it because there is too much variability in wood grain & color.

A couple of notes about the Kelii:
• nut & saddle are rosewood
• body has a thinner profile; not as much depth

But for anyone with a max budget of $600, the Kelii looks like a great deal from a reputable dealer who will do a proper setup.

The Uluru brand is unknown to me. Also, the website's link to shipping & handling comes up blank. Is Flea CIRCUS (not Market) Music a reputable dealer? They only sell this one brand of ukulele. Not worth risking ~$500.

If you know who wade johnston, who is the son of whoever sees the uluru ukuleles he says he got from flea circus. Probably a promotion thing, considering he's his son. Wade was also famous on youtube for a time. If you can find the thread where I asked about uluru, there is a link to a review there. Im not sure about big island but I absolutely know keli'i can produce considering KPK is a great low cost, high end solid wood uke.
 
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