If any of you read in the KoAhola Opio thread about my Postal Service leaving me a door knocker I was successful in obtaining my new concert ukulele. It would not have been a good night knowing it was down the street and I could not get my hands on it.
I had been talking to Andrew at HMS about getting a tone monster canon concert ( my words to him) I asked about various Ponos initially and Andrew said wait for the Opio. That was about two weeks before they hit his store. I am sooo glad I listened to him. On to the review
Build quality is flawless, I've gone over and over and over it and it is great. I was really confident it would be this way. Best time to buy something is after they have had problems. You know everything will be double and triple and quadruple checked.
The sound is exactly what I was after, Lots of projection, sustain and quality volume. Playability is great with the A-1 set up HMS did. After a couple hours I went at it as hard and agressively as I could and there was no buzzing and the action is very low and easy to play. Played softly it rings true, played hard it does not fall apart, with in reason, it is a concert size. The strings are fabulous and I think I read they are KoAlohas own floro's. I will have to ask Andrew as I would like to obtain more of the same.
The only thing that does not tickle me pink is the dull mat finish. It gives a muddy, chalky looking appearance. I knew this going in from just looking at the pictures. The finish will give good protection and if you want glossy you can buy the koa model at over twice the price. Or you can do like me.............refinish it. I have rubbed it down with fine steel wool already ( as a test ) and it already makes the grain pop. In the next couple weeks I will sand the finish down to bare wood and do a Danish oil finish to it. I will take pictures and do a post.
For now I am exceptionaly happy with the way it plays and sounds and at the end of the day that is the most important thing.
Don't know how to get these photos turned upright, sorry.
I had been talking to Andrew at HMS about getting a tone monster canon concert ( my words to him) I asked about various Ponos initially and Andrew said wait for the Opio. That was about two weeks before they hit his store. I am sooo glad I listened to him. On to the review
Build quality is flawless, I've gone over and over and over it and it is great. I was really confident it would be this way. Best time to buy something is after they have had problems. You know everything will be double and triple and quadruple checked.
The sound is exactly what I was after, Lots of projection, sustain and quality volume. Playability is great with the A-1 set up HMS did. After a couple hours I went at it as hard and agressively as I could and there was no buzzing and the action is very low and easy to play. Played softly it rings true, played hard it does not fall apart, with in reason, it is a concert size. The strings are fabulous and I think I read they are KoAlohas own floro's. I will have to ask Andrew as I would like to obtain more of the same.
The only thing that does not tickle me pink is the dull mat finish. It gives a muddy, chalky looking appearance. I knew this going in from just looking at the pictures. The finish will give good protection and if you want glossy you can buy the koa model at over twice the price. Or you can do like me.............refinish it. I have rubbed it down with fine steel wool already ( as a test ) and it already makes the grain pop. In the next couple weeks I will sand the finish down to bare wood and do a Danish oil finish to it. I will take pictures and do a post.
For now I am exceptionaly happy with the way it plays and sounds and at the end of the day that is the most important thing.
Don't know how to get these photos turned upright, sorry.
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