Solid Wood Soprano suggestions

raffrox

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Hi all,

I'm looking for a decent quality solid wood soprano (around $400 ex postage) and the Pono Gloss Acacia Soprano or the Koaloha Acacia Opio Sopranowere two that I was looking at.

Here's the links:
https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop-by/price/200-399/pono-asd-acaciagloss-soprano.html
https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop...loha-acacia-opio-soprano-ukulele-package.html


Do people have experiences with any of these or would have others to recommend? I have a solid mahogany so anything other than mahogany would be fine.

I'm also open to second hand and was looking to put something on the Marketplace here.

Thanks as always :)
 
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I saw that :)

I don't know that much about Tiwi customs. From what I have read (and I can't find much) they have quite a bit of character but are maybe a bit rough from a workmanship perspective? I've read one review that said that so I was a bit worried.

Do you know anything about them?
 
I like both Pono and KoAloha Opio very much. In the soprano size, I'd probably go for the Opio, but have the friction tuners changed for Gotoh UPT Planetary tuners that look the same, but are much easier to use. Pono's strength, in my opion, are their bigger sizes. The Opio will bring you very close to KoAloha's Hawaiian instruments, both in terms of sound as well as in craftsmanship and playability.

You will get he most professional quality control and set up from Hawaii Music Supply (The Ukulele Site). They will also change the tuners for a small upcharge. The only downside is their relatively long inspection period of about two weeks.
 
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Any Martin soprano , vintage is best .
 
I have the sapele Opio with Living Water Strings and the maple Brueko with Worth Brown strings. I have no problem with the friction tuners with either of them.

They are among my top three played sopranos. The other one would be the Martin OXK with Martin strings, which you might want to consider, too.

I would give the edge to the Opio for overall sound/playability/quality as it seems to be the Coca Cola of ukes. It goes well with any song genre, with strumming and fingerpicking, with playing at the nut and playing up the neck, and can be played softly or loudly (VERY loudly). I think it edges out the other two for sound tone/quality/timber, but that might be because of the three it has a bigger lower bout.
 
I like both Pono and KoAloha Opio very much. In the soprano size, I'd probably go for the Opio, but have the friction tuners changed for Gotoh UPT Planetary tuners that look the same, but are much easier to use. Pono's strength, in my opion, are their bigger sizes. The Opio will bring you very close to KoAloha's Hawaiian instruments, both in terms of sound as well as in craftsmanship and playability.

You will get he most professional quality control and set up from Hawaii Music Supply (The Ukulele Site). They will also change the tuners for a small upcharge. The only downside is their relatively long inspection period of about two weeks.

Thanks for your comments. I'd love to get a HMS uke. I'm a pretty impatient person though :) The Opio is one that appeals to me though.
 
I have the sapele Opio with Living Water Strings and the maple Brueko with Worth Brown strings. I have no problem with the friction tuners with either of them.

They are among my top three played sopranos. The other one would be the Martin OXK with Martin strings, which you might want to consider, too.

I would give the edge to the Opio for overall sound/playability/quality as it seems to be the Coca Cola of ukes. It goes well with any song genre, with strumming and fingerpicking, with playing at the nut and playing up the neck, and can be played softly or loudly (VERY loudly). I think it edges out the other two for sound tone/quality/timber, but that might be because of the three it has a bigger lower bout.

Another tick for the Opio. Great feedback. Cheers!
 
Another plug for Mele. I have a pineapple of theirs (koa top, mahogany back and sides - paid about $200 shipped for a used one) -

My first ukulele was a rather distressed Martin SO/S1 - the plain model - from about 1934. I paid about $200 for it and have done some refurbishing and it has become a great player rather than being a collector item.

Look for a used Kamaka also - I love mine, again beat up, but cost me about $200 and it is a joy to play.

You might try Mainland for great instruments and their stock has woods way beyond mahogany.

If you get a chance then play whatever you can find out there. Remember the strings make a difference!

Lots to look at
 
Yeah, another one that I've discovered online recently. I like the look of their solid mango models.

Would you believe I own a solid mango concert? It has a very bright sound compared to their mahogany and koa models. I really liked it because it looked and sounded quite different to the other ukes I owned. Oh, and don't be afraid to change the strings if you get one. I've decided I don't like the nylon strings that it came with, but it sounds great with Aquila Reds.
 
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Another plug for Mele. I have a pineapple of theirs (koa top, mahogany back and sides - paid about $200 shipped for a used one) -

My first ukulele was a rather distressed Martin SO/S1 - the plain model - from about 1934. I paid about $200 for it and have done some refurbishing and it has become a great player rather than being a collector item.

Look for a used Kamaka also - I love mine, again beat up, but cost me about $200 and it is a joy to play.

You might try Mainland for great instruments and their stock has woods way beyond mahogany.

If you get a chance then play whatever you can find out there. Remember the strings make a difference!

Lots to look at

I love the idea of getting a player Martin. Hard to come by in Australia but that sounds like a great idea. Cheers for the Mele feedback as well.

Would you believe I own a solid mango concert? It has a very bright sound compared to their mahogany and koa models. I really liked it because it looked and sounded quite different to the other ukes I owned. Oh, and don't be afraid to change the strings if you get one. I've decided I don't like the nylon strings that it came with, but it sounds great with Aquila Reds.

Cheers robinboyd. Your feedback were some of the reasons why a mango wood uke appealed. Another fan of Aqulia Reds here as well depending on the uke.

So I've narrowed it down to :
A 'player' Martin
Mele mango wood Soprano
KoAloha Opio Soprano
or may be a Bruko.

I've just got to explain it to the wife now :iwant:


Thanks for all the feedback people. Reaffirmed some of my thoughts and gave me more choices (headaches :) ).
 
Sounds like you've narrowed it down to a bunch of good choices. There is no wrong answer there.
 
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