apdsqueaky
Well-known member
Hi all! New here, but I've been playing a Kala KA-C for a few years now. Almost entirely self-taught, although I was classically trained in piano and have a very strong background in music theory, so that helped. I originally learned on my old roommate's Harmony baritone, and while I've grown to love the concert, I'm much more accustomed the baritone's lower, guitar-like sound (the re-entrant tuning of the concert put me off for a long time, and the KA-C's high action didn't help). It was also easier to play most of the songs we wanted to sing and not feel like something was entirely missing (i.e. the bass notes).
Long story short, I want to get a baritone that I can play and occasionally take with me to my old roommate's without worrying too much if I put a scratch or a little dink in it (I will knock it over at some point, a glossy finish will get scratched up, and I don't want to be so worried about that that I'm afraid to play it). I was looking in the $100-$150 range, considering the Kala KA-B (if the formula works, why change it?), Luna Vintage Mahogany Baritone (inexpensive and I like the simple laser-etched design - simple, yet different), and Oscar Schmidt OU52 (inexpensive). I haven't found as many reviews or comparisons of the latter two, so any comments on build quality or how they sound compared to other baritones would be appreciated. I know that a lot of ukes in this price range are still "budget" ukes for beginners that maybe won't be as satisfying in the long run. I don't really consider myself a beginner anymore, so I'm willing to go a little over that budget for something higher quality that will last me, as I don't really intend on getting another uke after this.
So any recommendations? Most stores near me are chains like Guitar Center and Music & Arts, and from what I've seen, a lot of them don't carry ukes (or don't have baritones), so it's harder for me to go out and try them.
TL;DR - Please give recommendations of budget-friendly baritones for an intermediate-ish player.
Long story short, I want to get a baritone that I can play and occasionally take with me to my old roommate's without worrying too much if I put a scratch or a little dink in it (I will knock it over at some point, a glossy finish will get scratched up, and I don't want to be so worried about that that I'm afraid to play it). I was looking in the $100-$150 range, considering the Kala KA-B (if the formula works, why change it?), Luna Vintage Mahogany Baritone (inexpensive and I like the simple laser-etched design - simple, yet different), and Oscar Schmidt OU52 (inexpensive). I haven't found as many reviews or comparisons of the latter two, so any comments on build quality or how they sound compared to other baritones would be appreciated. I know that a lot of ukes in this price range are still "budget" ukes for beginners that maybe won't be as satisfying in the long run. I don't really consider myself a beginner anymore, so I'm willing to go a little over that budget for something higher quality that will last me, as I don't really intend on getting another uke after this.
So any recommendations? Most stores near me are chains like Guitar Center and Music & Arts, and from what I've seen, a lot of them don't carry ukes (or don't have baritones), so it's harder for me to go out and try them.
TL;DR - Please give recommendations of budget-friendly baritones for an intermediate-ish player.