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When you think about obsolescence, take a look back through the initial 100 years of ukulele production, which many of us have lived through even though we may not have always been interested in ukuleles. Can you find one model or brand that offered exactly the same model uke for more than a few years. Old Martins and Kamakas are dated by looking at the changes to designs, decorations and branding on the instruments, for example.
At present there are many people on the planet who just do not understand that the world is changing all the time. They look at a screen every three minutes and it keeps implying that nothing will ever change. Supplies of wood run out and get replaced with different wood. Customer requests are consolidated and put into new designs. Branding images and names change.
Creative people like the designers at Koaloha do not sit still and be satisfied with yesterdays creation. They are getting new ideas all the time and are having new ideas almost every hour at some times. It is unlikely that you are going to get the same thing coming out of the factory for more than a few years. When the wood runs out and the new ideas are implemented, something new and different is going to emerge.
The new range looks good. The old range is good. The customer service is amazing.
If you are actually serious about buying one, ask the seller what the differences between old and new are, they will know if they are good sellers.
If you like talking about Koaloha, keep the discussion going and over time the thread will eke out the differences.
I wrote to Alvin "Pops" Okami last month about the many changes at KoAloha and UkeSA because I wanted to be able to respond when people ask about all the changes at KoAloha as opposed to minimal changes at other companies. This was Pop's reply:
"Regarding comments about why KoAloha and Pops "change things so much" I can only say
that if we stuck with the original 1995 shape and design, KoAloha would be out of business
long ago. The relentless quest for improving the elements of design (structurally,esthetically
and acoustically) is perhaps the most important factor that KoAloha and UkeSA adheres to
with utmost diligence and undying passion. To sum it up simply, KoAloha's and UkeSA's standard is the never ending pursuit of excellence."