Greetings Bazmaz
I want to add a bit to the conversation (not hijack the thread). I'm adding to this thread as the comments in your website and youtube have focused too much on the headstock.
I asked before about the different between this Fender Montecito (solid koa) and the previous model, Nohea (laminate koa), which I have. After watching/reading your review, I just couldn't pass some discount in Reverb and got myself a Montecito (without my wife knowing about it )
My Nohea was one of the first ukes I had (my first $100+ uke) and I've always been very happy with it. It sounds great (but also not loud), beautiful wood (laminate, don't know what's below the koa veneer), and although I wasn't too hot for the telecaster headstock, I learned to not dislike it.
Now my comparison in the points where they differ (They're so similar, that Basmaz' review is equally valid for both of them):
Sound (I guess the most important variable):
- I must say that I don't find much difference. I do hear/feel some extra resonance (chime?) in the Montecito. But really, if anybody has already the Nohea, I'd say that the improvement is not that great. I really wanted to hear some significant difference, but, with the hearing I have, it's a very subtle difference, and I wonder if it' more wishful thinking on my part. Maybe some more educated ear can hear more notable differences, but I can't.
- Still, I must say that I like a lot the sound of both of them with the Aquila strings they came with (I haven't changed the ones in Montecito, and I replaced the Nohea's strings for another Aquila).
- Nohea's original string was a high G Aquila set, Montecito low G.
Construction, looks and finish:
- They basically look the same. The wood looks different. My Montecito is lighter in color and less "showy" that my Nohea, but I guess that's the natural variation of wood materials you get. It could be that Fender is also using the cheapest koa it could find to produce these solid ukes at this price.
- The Montecito has heel cap and the Nohea doesn't.
- The bridges are the same, but the Nohea included a Nubone compensated saddle, which, I think, contributes to an excellent intonation (one of the reasons I bought it in the first place). The Montecito has an uncompensated bone saddle, and the intonation is not as good as the Nohea (I'm not saying it's due to the compensated/uncompesated saddle only, but it might be a factor).
- The linings inside (at least for the back; I can't see the top lining) are different. The Montecito linings are solid, while the Nohea's are kerfed.
Gig bag:
They both suck, but the Montecito's bag sucks even more. While the Nohea's bag had some level of cushioning, the Montecito's has none!
In conclusion, if you have a Nohea, don't sweat too much about the Montecito (unless you're stupidly obsessed as me with solid soundboards), they're basically the same and at the same, new, price (~$250).
I hope this helps somebody in the future to make up his/her mind.
Eugenio