bborzell
Well-known member
I took the Reno Uke Fest as an opportunity to compare what is out there to my MP Custom tenor. There were a few empty tables on Friday so I am not sure who showed up later on Friday or during the weekend.
But, I did pick up every tenor that was available and, of all the ukes I played, the clear winners in construction, playability and tone were the Kinnards. Had I been in a buying mode, I would have taken the Cedar/Rosewood model home. Ironically, it was the least expensive of the 5 or 6 Kinnard tenors I played. All the Kinnards sounded and played beautifully in their own right but the tone of the cedar top really fit my ear.
First thing I did when we got home was to pull out the MP and see how well my memory would allow me to compare its playability and sound to the Kinnard. I also had the benefit of having my wife listen to me play all the Kinnards and the MP when we came home.
The verdict for both of us was that a blind A/B test between the Cedar/Rosewood Kinnard and the Cedar/Mango MP would be a toss up. Both are warm, clear and beautifully balanced. Add to that the level of construction detail, finish, feel and playability and all scores on each uke would be 10s.
Had the Kinnard been at Reno last year when I bought my MP, I would probably have been going back and forth between the Kinnard and MP table all weekend and then flipped a coin.
But, I did pick up every tenor that was available and, of all the ukes I played, the clear winners in construction, playability and tone were the Kinnards. Had I been in a buying mode, I would have taken the Cedar/Rosewood model home. Ironically, it was the least expensive of the 5 or 6 Kinnard tenors I played. All the Kinnards sounded and played beautifully in their own right but the tone of the cedar top really fit my ear.
First thing I did when we got home was to pull out the MP and see how well my memory would allow me to compare its playability and sound to the Kinnard. I also had the benefit of having my wife listen to me play all the Kinnards and the MP when we came home.
The verdict for both of us was that a blind A/B test between the Cedar/Rosewood Kinnard and the Cedar/Mango MP would be a toss up. Both are warm, clear and beautifully balanced. Add to that the level of construction detail, finish, feel and playability and all scores on each uke would be 10s.
Had the Kinnard been at Reno last year when I bought my MP, I would probably have been going back and forth between the Kinnard and MP table all weekend and then flipped a coin.
