I really like Guitars. I just can't get myself to master those six strings. So I'm really glad to see that some makers come out with what could be thought of as a really big Baritone Ukulele or a Guitar with only four strings.
The two models that I have tried are the Pono BN-10D and the Kala KA-GTR. While Pono has created the name Baritone Nui (Hawaiian for "big"), Kala is referring to theirs as Tenor Guitar, like the ones that were popular in the 1920's. Both can be tuned to DGBE, but other than that, they are very different:
The two models that I have tried are the Pono BN-10D and the Kala KA-GTR. While Pono has created the name Baritone Nui (Hawaiian for "big"), Kala is referring to theirs as Tenor Guitar, like the ones that were popular in the 1920's. Both can be tuned to DGBE, but other than that, they are very different:
- Pono is designed for classical/nylon strings; Kala is using steel strings.
- Pono has the size of a fully grown Guitar with a 23" scale; Kala is right in between a Uke and a Guitar, with a 21" scale.
- Pono has a nut width of 1 1/3 (35mm), like most Ukes; Kala is much narrower with 1 1/8 (30mm), more like a traditional Tenor Guitar (which were originally tuned in Fifths, like Mandolins and Banjos, and therefore, have a slimmer neck).
- Pono has a bound radius fretboard; Kala's is flat and without binding.
- Pono is made of all solid woods and adorned with an Abalone Rosette; Kala has a solid Spruce top, but laminated Rosewood back and sides with plastic binding.
- Pono uses a perfectly mirror flat Gloss finish; Kala has a Satin finish with open pores.
- Pono comes with a very nice case included, Kala offers a case that is very nice as well, but costs some extra money.
- Both have a slotted headstock and very nice Grover tuners.
- The Pono Baritone Nui feels like a Guitar. Soundwise, it's arguably the warmest, richest, and deepest Baritone you'll find. It's a unique instrument, and just very high quality overall.
- The Kala, on the other hand, is closer to a Baritone in size, but gives you the powerful sound of steel strings that no other Ukulele will, with tremendous volume, sustain, and clarity. It's smaller than most other Tenor Guitars and hence appealing to Ukulele players; I only regret that Kala didn't make the nut wider to accommodate for tuning to DGBE. To me, the fretboard is too narrow for chords like 2220.