I really appreciate it Rakelele! I figured that intonation issue in that video to be coincidental, but wanted to make sure... and yes great news on getting my wife's permission to get what I really want.
But... now I'm stuck researching the $1000-1500 ukes and I cannot stop looking at/listening to the aNueNue's. They definitely don't represent "traditonal" like I said I was after in the previous post regarding my lack of interest in the KoAloha's, but they sound awesome. And apparently there's a Cedar top version out there, and I've read good things about cedar.
Here are the videos I keep going back to:
aNueNue: https://youtu.be/PdarEuIaLpc
Rebel Mango: https://vimeo.com/375376796
aNueNue Cedar Bird: https://vimeo.com/372134790
aNueNue Koa: https://vimeo.com/369594701
Kanile'a K-1 T DLX: https://vimeo.com/363912931
To be honest, I really like the looks of the Gotoh UPT tuners... actually kind of had my heart set on them before anything else. I also feel like all of those sound better (to my ears) than the entry level K brand ukes I've listened to. Those aNueNue almost don't sound like ukuleles, they sound more like very clear Spanish classical guitars or something. They sound amazing. And that Rebel is super buttery and smooth. Ugh. But the Kanile'a obviously has the traditional sound that you can't deny.
Would it be blasphemy to get to this point and get a brand that didn't start with a K, lol!?
I'm starting to see how UAS develops. I'm doomed. Don't tell my wife.
C
Congrats on getting free reign! It's almost harder to have that and use it wisely, eh?! As I said before, you sound like me. When I first started my uke journey, I discovered the Kanilea Islands series that has the hawaiian islands sand inlay on the body and sand inlays up the fretboard and the logo on the head. I was (and still am) enamoured by it! I thought it looked so pretty and so unique. It was my ultimate "one day when I'm good enough to deserve it" uke! That was several years ago now. Now this year as i've really started learing to play finally, I've still oogled the Kanileas and really been digging the Anuenue birds. I'm just not a fan of spruce tops. But when I first heard Corey play that Koa Anuenue soprano in that first video you linked..I was like woah! So that may be my ultimate upgrade now! We shall see! But! Having touched, played, and felt the different brands finally in person...I loved the Koaloha much more than the Kanilea. So while aethetics certainly matter..especially at that price point...even just the feel in your hands can really make a big difference. Like others have suggested, try finding clubs to check out variety..or make a short road trip to a place with more options if possible. It was 100% worth it to do so!
(Side note, the head on the Rebel is only slightly less exaggerated than the head on Koaloha...but I like both...so...!)