Bill Mc
Well-known member
All the "k" series ukuleles at Musician's Friend are now advertised as "acacia." Or is this finally long-awaited truth in advertising ?
Cordoba ran out of "Portugese koa !"
- Thread starter Bill Mc
- Start date
Liam Ryan
Well-known member
So has the actual timber changed?
I've got pieces of acacia that sink in water and are as hard as stone and others as light as cedar........
I've got pieces of acacia that sink in water and are as hard as stone and others as light as cedar........
Kala? Have always been advertised as acacia. Don't understand
Raygf
Well-known member
Gwynedd
Well-known member
Perhaps it was always a case of "acacia identity"....
SweetWaterBlue
Well-known member
"Portugese Koa." I never saw that before and it's hilarious. I guess if I made a ukulele from Southern Yellow Pine (not advisable), I could call it Georgia Koa.
Bill Mc
Well-known member
My header said "Cordoba."
PoiDog
Well-known member
I'd like to think that somehow Cordoba caught enough crap off people for their shady descriptions to where they've decided to finally just be honest with their materials.
Of course, it helps that the honesty of other brands (i.e. Kala, KPK, etc) who use acacia and call it acacia has made it so acacia is no longer a four letter word.
I'm just a cynic, though.
Of course, it helps that the honesty of other brands (i.e. Kala, KPK, etc) who use acacia and call it acacia has made it so acacia is no longer a four letter word.
I'm just a cynic, though.
Acacia is a six letter word.
PoiDog
Well-known member
I see what you did there ...
Liam Ryan
Well-known member
So nobody thinks the term "Acacia" is misleading in itself? There are over 1000 species of acacia.
Bill Mc
Well-known member
Not misleading at all; incomplete, yes. But Portugese koa - that is outright misleading.
haolejohn
Well-known member
Bought time. I'll still not but one b/c I brought this issue up in an email and phone call back in 2006.
fernandogardinali
Well-known member
What is absolutely misleading is Koa Pili Koko (with a big KOA written on the headstock) being made of Acacia.
TheCraftedCow
Well-known member
Actually Acacia is a three letter word ....A C I and the first two are repeated. One of the first companies to use Acacia melanoxylon was Lehua. The line was designed by Bob Gleason of Pegasus fame. The similarities of the first Cordoba ukes was more than coincidental. The first I saw it called Portugese koa was a Bounty Music ad. When I called them to discuss the deception, they agreed that the material they were provided was untrue. They immediately changed their web site information. They also called me back and thanked me for bringing it to their attention. Now that's a standard of honesty to respect and accept as part of one's own mission statement. If they can so blatantly practice deceit and deception on what we can see, what are they doing where it is not visibly evident ? There are over 180 species of the Genus Acacia. To some from a natural sciences background(whether formally or informally does not matter) things like this matter. There are a couple other importer-makers who practice deception in describing their products. Caveat emptor Let the buyer beware.
Ahhhhh, you also said K series, sorry!
Bill Mc
Well-known member
True, I did. That is because Cordoba has a K series.
guitarsnrotts
Well-known member
The same is becoming increasing common concerning mahogany. Historically the mahogany was from Central America but many makers are using the term 'African Mahogany' as the traditional species is getting harder to come by.
haolejohn
Well-known member
When did you contact them? In my opinion it took them over 6 years to correct their advertisement fraud.
Paul December
Well-known member
Kala has a uke with a Cedar top that originally was listed as having Koa back and sides...
...now they say Acacia.
I wonder if they actually changed the wood or just changed the name. The two ukes look exactly the same (don't know if they have different model numbers).
BTW I own the one sold as "Acacia" & Cedar, and it sound absolutely Fantastic.
...now they say Acacia.
I wonder if they actually changed the wood or just changed the name. The two ukes look exactly the same (don't know if they have different model numbers).
BTW I own the one sold as "Acacia" & Cedar, and it sound absolutely Fantastic.
