UkeStuff
Well-known member
We have a series of stores in our area called “Music Go Round.” They are a combination of a music store and a music instrument pawn store. I’d never sell a ukulele to them as you’ll get 40% of what they will sell it for, but I have bought ukuleles there, including a near new Martin S1 for $250 (Which means they likely paid the seller $100–OUCH).
I think they also purchase some “seconds” and have a luthier fix them up—which I have no issues with as they usually sell their instruments at or below “used” pricing. I tend to not buy a ukulele used unless I can save at least 30% off “new.”
Well, they have an HF-3 Kamaka (Tenor), and I decided to go in today to play it, as there just aren’t many opportunities up here to play Kamakas. We have one dealer in the area, but even that inventory is fluid. The instrument was beautiful with some clear repair work to the binding on the bottom—and selling for $799.99. If I’m going to buy a Koa instrument, I want to do it in Hawaii, and my tendency is to move towards Concerts right now—so I wasn’t a buyer in any sense. It had black strings on it, and is a 2010 model. I felt about it much the same way as I did the Pono I used to own...I liked it, and you can tell the quality, but I am so used to the sound of my KoAloha Opios that the sound of the HF-3 didn’t make me feel any regret for not buying it. And think about this...if they’re selling it for $799, think of what they paid the seller (OUCH). I “get” that this is a $1300 instrument new.
On the wall, however, was a 2004 KoAloha concert mahogany. I was a but confused about this, as I thought that KoAlohas were Koa, and that the mahogany versions were KoAlana or Opio. It was selling for $399 with a number of dings in the sides, and what appeared to be Gotoh tuners.
So...for those of you who have been in the ukulele world longer than I, was there a Mahogany Concert KoAloha made in 2004 under the KoAloha name? I don’t think this would be a counterfeit—but I’m also not sure it is worth $399 used. The KoAloha just BOOMED sound, as I would expect...clearly more than my own Opio Acacia Concert model, which I bought for $350 here on UU.
I think they also purchase some “seconds” and have a luthier fix them up—which I have no issues with as they usually sell their instruments at or below “used” pricing. I tend to not buy a ukulele used unless I can save at least 30% off “new.”
Well, they have an HF-3 Kamaka (Tenor), and I decided to go in today to play it, as there just aren’t many opportunities up here to play Kamakas. We have one dealer in the area, but even that inventory is fluid. The instrument was beautiful with some clear repair work to the binding on the bottom—and selling for $799.99. If I’m going to buy a Koa instrument, I want to do it in Hawaii, and my tendency is to move towards Concerts right now—so I wasn’t a buyer in any sense. It had black strings on it, and is a 2010 model. I felt about it much the same way as I did the Pono I used to own...I liked it, and you can tell the quality, but I am so used to the sound of my KoAloha Opios that the sound of the HF-3 didn’t make me feel any regret for not buying it. And think about this...if they’re selling it for $799, think of what they paid the seller (OUCH). I “get” that this is a $1300 instrument new.
On the wall, however, was a 2004 KoAloha concert mahogany. I was a but confused about this, as I thought that KoAlohas were Koa, and that the mahogany versions were KoAlana or Opio. It was selling for $399 with a number of dings in the sides, and what appeared to be Gotoh tuners.
So...for those of you who have been in the ukulele world longer than I, was there a Mahogany Concert KoAloha made in 2004 under the KoAloha name? I don’t think this would be a counterfeit—but I’m also not sure it is worth $399 used. The KoAloha just BOOMED sound, as I would expect...clearly more than my own Opio Acacia Concert model, which I bought for $350 here on UU.