Baritone Revolution

RAZZLE

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I have been away awhile and since i have checked back in i notice there is a revolution of sorts.The Bari is the one to have at the moment.I love a revolution.So what would you Bari owners recommend in the $200-$400 price bracket?

Nathan
 
Well...this may be unfair since mine hasn't arrived yet...but let's just say I chose a Mainland mahogany - $370 with lightweight case and shipping...

(BTW, it'll be my fifth Mainland so even though it hasn't arrived yet I'm reasonably confident I'll like it when it does. :) )

John
 
Hi ya Nathan, i have no idea, those mainlands look really really nice, i got a kala KA-B only cos it was on ebay and the bloke lived in the next town so i managed to haggle on the price and got it for £50, as i wasnt sure if i was going to take to the bari, but i love it, i guess this revolution is the underground of the underground

Viva Le Baritone !!!!! :shaka::smileybounce:
 
My first taste of the revolution is---like ukuleledaveey---a Kala KA-B, which sounds and feels great. You can hear me pick a song on it here.

I'll admit I've been doing a little baritone-browsing online. The baris in that price range that've been catching my attention lately are (in no particular order) Pono, Mainland, Kala, and Ohana.
 
The Pono mahogany Baritone is a beautiful instrument. I've scarcely put mine down since I unwrapped it at Christmas. Beautiful tone, very playable, bargain price. Put some southcoast Linear strings on it and you'll never look back!
 
hi Nathan, I notice you are in Geelong. Buy one locally... I bought a Tanglewood model with a nice hardcase, nylon strings tuned DGBE and it sounds brilliant for a $100 instrument. From some guys just up the road from you

here's a link:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120864364404?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Here's a couple of links to some demos of it being played:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwvUZ87DFjw
and, after some cosmetic surgery...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttoEgrQkcGA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIuGYtk5AKQ&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kPHO5Ys7og&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tNB8DtsWj0&feature=relmfu

I'd highly recommend it anyway. At that price, and, for a first toe dip into the baritone waters, it's serving me well. Happy shopping mate!!!
 
I noticed that Kala makes a Baritone version of their solid Acacia with slotted headstock...
...very sharp!
 
My first baritone was an Ohana BK-35 solid mahogany that I bought used in the UU Marketplace. It's a great instrument that, it appears, currently retails for somewhere between $279 and $300. I've never played Kala's solid acacia baritone, but my first tenor was a Kala solid acacia tenor, and if the solid acacia baritone is as nice as the solid acacia tenor, then it would also be a great choice. It retails for somewhere around $350, I think.
 
I just got a Red cedar second from Mike at Mainland. The sound is great, deep and warm, with sustain for days. Mike's seconds generally go for about 20% off his list. This one shipped was well under 300. A mahogany would be even cheaper. But even brand new, un-seconded, with your choice of tuners, etc, shipped would still be well under four.

Viva la revolución!
 
Hmmmmm interesting this "revolution" going on, when Baris have had such a bashing over time of being just a small guitar. Just not true. As many of you are finding out, there is quite a range of sound that can come from the Bari depending on the wood and strings. As you can see from my signature, I love Baris, and have them in several woods and tunings. Each one actually has a different sound, again depending on the wood and string choice. If I had to choose just One ( kinda like having to choose between my wonderful wife and australian shepherd :) ) I would probably go with my Ohana solid mahogany (very mellow and lovely G tuning) then my solid spalted Maple spruce top in C tuning, followed by my Kala Solid Acacia slotted headstock in Bb. I probably play my Ohana G tuning the most followed by my Solid Acacia Bb. I respect and really love the tenor ukuleles, but just find that the Baris, for me, are the ultimate Ukulele. Just an old man's opinion coming to the uke world late in life :) Lozark I must add I am becoming intrigued by the Mainland following and might get interested if I could find a second (Mike?) as mattydee has done. Red Cedar sounds like a good choice!
 
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Not to mention the easier e-chord. ;-)
 
Well...this may be unfair since mine hasn't arrived yet...but let's just say I chose a Mainland mahogany - $370 with lightweight case and shipping...

(BTW, it'll be my fifth Mainland so even though it hasn't arrived yet I'm reasonably confident I'll like it when it does. :) )

John

I have a Mainland mahogany baritone strung with Southcoast linears, in the key of A, and have been very happy with it; lots of sustain, rich tone, intonation is good, and it has been fun to play around with a different key. Don't know how it compares to the cedar Mainland, or the Pono, but this is a good choice in any case.
 
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