All comments appreciated, as I might be looking to get one as my expensive/quality uke.
Is there anyone in your area or a store that carries the Opio line? Or even the KoAloha line? If you can, you should play one in person. I have a Sapele Opio Tenor; I think these had finish issues and as a result they moved to Acacia for the wood. Sapele is supposed to be a type of Mahogany; I believe that Koa is a specific type of Acacia.
There was some talk here on UU about some people being unhappy with the Acacia models...I offered to accept any of the Acacia models people didn’t want and my mailbox is still empty.
My ukulele collection is getting close to having 20 instruments...this wasn’t intentional. Most of them were inexpensive or free. I have a couple of high quality mid-priced instruments...a Pono and the Opio; and a number of excellent less expensive instruments such as my Bonanza Amoeba Tenor.
I can categorize these instruments. The “bells and whistles” instrument is my Pono (Cedar, Rosewood, Slotted Head). The easiest to play is my Bruce Wei concert (with f holes). The most comfortable to play is the Bonanza Ameoba. And so on.
The ukulele with the most sound, character, overtones...and the most played in public? The Opio.
I still have a number of ukuleles on my wish list...and a full KoAloha as well as that Spruce Opio are on my list.
As long as a loud ukulele doesn’t bother you, you will love the Opio.
However, I’m not sure that I would classify the Opio as expensive when the full KoAloha of your same desired configuration would be at least $1100.