Hoping for some expert advice on a purchase please!

Thanks so much for going to all that effort Bill! Where do you live? In the States?

I definitely got the impression ukes were a lot more expensive over here! I checked out MGM and there's no doubt the ukes are beautiful, but postage alone was around $180US. I haven't worked in a year and a half so I can't justify that kind of money!

What you have written has almost turned me back towards the KMISE/AKLOT - except he fact old mate at Got a Ukulele expressly recommended AGAINST the brand. Also a few people who have said they've looked to upgrade a month or two after getting one.

My mate got a KALA KA-T which looks nice, but a rather plain grain in the body. It was $200AUD from the local uke shop as a point of reference.

Unfortunately where I live it's a 4hr drive to Brisbane (the nearest place that would have multiple listing worth checking out).

I think the more I research, the further I get from making a decision!

I'm interested to know what turns you off the Bondi (specifically the Ripple Koa Tenor). I understand most of the stuff in the package isn't necessary, but it's that reflective of the quality of the uke? Or is it a matter of that stuff ringing alarm bells that make you question the legitimacy of what they claim the quality of the uke to be?

forgive me, I havent read all of the replies on this post but have you checked out Enya or Flight ukes, they have received some really good reviews and are reasonably priced, as I saw you mention earlier about Kala, you cant go wrong with Kala, based on your price range, hope you get a great uke, good luck

@Bill1 I'm guessing Mandurah then? I lost two years of my life in Bunbury I'd happily take back!

I tried to do a coat comparison between Mim's and the local shop. I picked the KALA KA-T and found it to be more expensive from Mim's than locally. I may be missing something in that not all KALA KA-Ts are the same:

https://www.mimsukes.com/listing/mi...ahogany-matte-setup-ukulele-uke-m718/27172305

http://ultramusic.com.au/ultra/index.php?route=product/product&path=103_126&product_id=377

Granted, the body looks a hell of a lot nicer on the Mim's listing.

I realise that looks aren't everything, but if ukes down the bottom end are pretty much the same, I'm more likely to pick one up I think looks sweet. I'm drawn to the koa, or even the zebrawrood. Anything with a nice grain in it.

I absolutely love the look of the KALA KA-EBY-T but I'm not sure whether the increased cost translates to a better build quality or you're just paying more for the looks. I've seen a lot of variance in the grain for the ebony model, I'd want one very similar to this (which I'm assuming would be difficult to guarantee with an online order):

http://www.dwmusic.com.au/kala-ka-eby-t-ebony-tenor-ukulele

I had a look on aliexpress and in all honesty my brain just exploded. More choices. I tried looking for what they had in Enya thanks to kaizersoza and a few other references I'd seen.

I like the *look* off this one, but the title says it's koa, then the description says the body is sapele, then states it's acacia plywood (plywood is a scary word - is that the same as laminate in this context?):
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32877...d=5920amp-VRHGYAAFGMSZorUtTeDzRg1567874736412

Another grain I really like, but no specifics about the instrument whatsoever:
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/40000...d=5920amp-VRHGYAAFGMSZorUtTeDzRg1567874736412

Then there's this Enya, which is probably a fine choice, but that cut of mahogany really turns me off it. Reminds me too much of a guitar:
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/33016...d=5920amp-VRHGYAAFGMSZorUtTeDzRg1567874736412

I'll definitely be having more of a chat with the folk at the club on Tuesday. I feel like I'm falling down the rabbit hole and massively over thinking this. I just want to get one and move on to learning it at this point!

It's funny, there appears to be a trend forming with my uke search. I get completely overwhelmed by choice and don't know what I'm gonna do. Then I find something I think is amazing and I'm locked in. Then I read something else and it starts all over again.

After reading the review on the Enya EUC-X1M in this forum I stumbled upon the blue EUT-MAD. It's beautiful!

All the reviews on Enya are really positive, with great customer service and really well setup ukes. The unboxings I've watched from Bernadette & Katie have been really great. So I'm thinking I might just jump in my "deep end" and skip the intermediate first jump.

The only thing I really need to figure out is the safe temperature range for a solid wood uke. It's going to be up around 35ish celcius where it will be stored over summer. I wouldn't expect any trouble if I'm keeping it out of direct sunlight inside a building, but I'm not 100% sure on that yet.

Sorry...I missed the request to comment on this topic. In a very quick reply, Aklot is the higher quality brand for Kmise and they are doing an exceptional job shipping very well made ukuleles at a very low cost...and doing so with my preferred setup from the factory.

Style is another thing...the solid mahogany tops are a bit orange and feature a dove; and the bamboo has some weird style choices. But they are rather incredible ukuleles for the price.

Aklot did have some funny business sending ukuleles for review and then asking people not to disclose that fact (I was one of them) after the reviews were published due to Amazon policies.

But I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend an Aklot, or an Enya (not the same company) to anyone.

As always, your experience may differ.