Buying my first ukulele

Lots of good advice here. My advice is for the Kala Solid Cedar Top with Acacia lam back and sides. I have this model in the baritone size and have played the Concert Size (which seems to be the size you're looking at in the other models). The Padauk binding gives it stunning appearance, and the sound is deep and nearly mellow when combined with Worth Clears ( which I swapped to ). The price at the Kala site is nice. But the HMS site has them for about $30 less. You'll spend about that on shipping, but won't pay sales tax (as you would with Kala). Plus, if your patient, you can get the full Ukulele Site setup up for free.... It's the same setup they do on the really really pricey ones!
Check out both links...

https://kalabrand.com/collections/solid-cedar-top-acacia-ukulele/products/ka-acp-ctg

https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop...-acp-ct-solid-cedar-top-concert-slothead.html
 
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HONOMO said:
Thank you every one for each of your responses. I read every one and they were very helpful.

Which one of these would you choose and why?

Kala KA-FMC - Solid Spruce Top with Maple back/sides (I assume laminate). $150 here locally. I believe it retails for around $260. Comes with a hard case.

Cordoba 15CM - All Mahogany. $79 here locally. I believe it retails for around $135. Does not come with a case.

Enya MAD - All Mahogany. Purchase new for $130.

These are all concert size.
Click to expand...


Here is a review of the Cordoba:
https://www.gotaukulele.com/2019/08/cordoba-15cm-concert-ukulele-review.html

When comparing to a spruce top, you should really listen to some samples on youtube and decide if you like spruce or mahogany better. They are quite different.

From those three, I would gamble on the Enya. I like the look of mahogany. It is solid wood. But I never tried one.
 
HONOMO said:
Thank you every one for each of your responses. I read every one and they were very helpful.

Which one of these would you choose and why?

Kala KA-FMC - Solid Spruce Top with Maple back/sides (I assume laminate). $150 here locally. I believe it retails for around $260. Comes with a hard case.

Cordoba 15CM - All Mahogany. $79 here locally. I believe it retails for around $135. Does not come with a case.

Enya MAD - All Mahogany. Purchase new for $130.

These are all concert size.
Click to expand...

I had a Cordoba 20CM which has a solid mahogany top. It was quite nice. I'd say that's a more fair comparison to the other two. Don't know about the other two specific models, but I'd be tempted to check out the Enya. They're nicely finished and a well liked brand. I had a different Enya model and was impressed with the quality for the price. The Enya website is quite emphatic about it being solid, so I'm inclined to think it is.
 
HONOMO said:
Thanks for the tip with Enya. I'm very intrigued by these ones. After researching a bit, it seems like an all solid Mahogany for $129.99 seems too good to be true. Especially when comparing with prices for solid wood ukes from Ohana, Kala, Luna, etc. What's the catch?
Click to expand...

I think the reason is that they cut out the middle man. When you buy from the enya-music.com site in the USA or their Amazon listings (I prefer the ones that are fulfilled by Amazon, the ones from China direct have a shipping fee) you're getting more of a factory direct approach. It's either pretty much straight from the factory or straight from the factory to the Enya office in Tx. With the others there is at least one other link in the chain that has to make money before it gets to the end user. That's my best guess...seems logical. You might even consider the Enya Nova U for well under your budget, which isn't wood but really sounds good and plays well too. That could be a nice introduction to ukes. Lets face it, if you get hooked you're likely going to get more than just one anyway.

I've had my hands on two Cordoba 15CM instruments. The first I thought was an exceptional deal for the price. It played well, sounded fine, good build, etc. The 2nd one was not nearly as impressive. It had a bit of bridge lift and the wood veneer wasn't as nice looking. So maybe they're a bit hit and miss. That's probably true for most any budget instrument though, and even some more expensive ones. Just make sure you have a good return policy with whoever you do buy from.
MIM, HMS, and Uke Republic are the most reputable, based on feedback here over the years. You're less likely to get a dud from them if you go the route of Kala, Ohana, etc.
 
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UkingViking said:
Just to clarify: you mention Kala, Ohana and Luna in the same sentence. Luna does not have as good a reputation as Kala and Ohana. I once had a Luna uke, and I was not happy with it. Heard enough similar stories in this forum that I would probably get an Enya before I got a Luna.
Click to expand...

I have also heard negative comments about Luna - even from a uke dealer.
 
Web_Parrot said:
Lots of good advice here. My advice is for the Kala Solid Cedar Top with Acacia lam back and sides. I have this model in the baritone size and have played the Concert Size (which seems to be the size you're looking at in the other models). The Padauk binding gives it stunning appearance, and the sound is deep and nearly mellow when combined with Worth Clears ( which I swapped to ). The price at the Kala site is nice. But the HMS site has them for about $30 less. You'll spend about that on shipping, but won't pay sales tax (as you would with Kala). Plus, if your patient, you can get the full Ukulele Site setup up for free.... It's the same setup they do on the really really pricey ones!
Check out both links...

https://kalabrand.com/collections/solid-cedar-top-acacia-ukulele/products/ka-acp-ctg

https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop...-acp-ct-solid-cedar-top-concert-slothead.html
Click to expand...

I'll second this recommendation. I bought the tenor model of this ukulele for my guitar playing nephew for Christmas. He loves it. Several people in my ukulele groups have this model and all of them like it a lot. Looks good, sounds good, and since I bought my nephew's uke from HMS, it was perfectly set up.
 
Web_Parrot said:
Lots of good advice here. My advice is for the Kala Solid Cedar Top with Acacia lam back and sides. I have this model in the baritone size and have played the Concert Size (which seems to be the size you're looking at in the other models). The Padauk binding gives it stunning appearance, and the sound is deep and nearly mellow when combined with Worth Clears ( which I swapped to ). The price at the Kala site is nice. But the HMS site has them for about $30 less. You'll spend about that on shipping, but won't pay sales tax (as you would with Kala). Plus, if your patient, you can get the full Ukulele Site setup up for free.... It's the same setup they do on the really really pricey ones!
Check out both links...

https://kalabrand.com/collections/solid-cedar-top-acacia-ukulele/products/ka-acp-ctg

https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop...-acp-ct-solid-cedar-top-concert-slothead.html
Click to expand...

I agree. That Kala cedar is beautiful, and it sounds beautiful. I had that and a similar Pono, and I decided to sell one of them. I preferred the sound of the Kala, so I sold the Pono. I have 4, 6, and 8-string versions of that Kala. They're one of the best buys in the ukulele marketplace.
 
Jerryc41 said:
I have also heard negative comments about Luna - even from a uke dealer.
Click to expand...

I have a Luna resonator, which I think sounds quite pleasing. My daughter has a Luna Lotus, and the bridge popped off after 4 months. Luckily they replaced with a new one.
 
I have custom made ukuleles from some famous makers. There are some pretty high prices on several of them. Koa, maple,mahogany,Oregon myrtle, ebony, bamboo, and others. They are all phenomenal. I won't "show off" wiith the names of makers. Recently I have discovered a very inexpensive line of very pretty wood, and good tone and different sizes from soprano to baritone. The company also pays the shipping to you. The name is Glarry. They have nice tuners ( not as nice as the PEGHEDS for which I am a distributor) and Aquila strings. www.Glarry.com
 
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RafterGirl said:
Here's another nice Kala in your price range for a concert. All solid wood. Cedar top and Pau Ferro back and sides. Sounds nice on the HMS sound sample.
https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop...-solid-cedar-pau-ferro-concert-ka-ascp-c.html
Click to expand...

That is one great sounding and nice looking ukulele. I think the satin finish improves the tone. In that price range, it would be tough to beat.

Which does bring me to what I have found over the years... buy the best you can afford. Spending $100 seems cheaper now, but it may end up just costing you more as you look to upgrade. The time between your first and second ukulele sometimes happens a lot sooner than you would imagine.

John
 
jer said:
I think the reason is that they cut out the middle man. When you buy from the enya-music.com site in the USA or their Amazon listings (I prefer the ones that are fulfilled by Amazon, the ones from China direct have a shipping fee) you're getting more of a factory direct approach. It's either pretty much straight from the factory or straight from the factory to the Enya office in Tx. With the others there is at least one other link in the chain that has to make money before it gets to the end user. That's my best guess...seems logical. You might even consider the Enya Nova U for well under your budget, which isn't wood but really sounds good and plays well too. That could be a nice introduction to ukes. Lets face it, if you get hooked you're likely going to get more than just one anyway.

I've had my hands on two Cordoba 15CM instruments. The first I thought was an exceptional deal for the price. It played well, sounded fine, good build, etc. The 2nd one was not nearly as impressive. It had a bit of bridge lift and the wood veneer wasn't as nice looking. So maybe they're a bit hit and miss. That's probably true for most any budget instrument though, and even some more expensive ones. Just make sure you have a good return policy with whoever you do buy from.
MIM, HMS, and Uke Republic are the most reputable, based on feedback here over the years. You're less likely to get a dud from them if you go the route of Kala, Ohana, etc.
Click to expand...

https://forum.ukuleleunderground.co...64-Enya-Nova-U-Carbon-Travel-Ukulele-REVIEWED
 
jer said:
(I prefer the ones that are fulfilled by Amazon, the ones from China direct have a shipping fee)
Click to expand...

It's funny how shipping fees from China vary. Many items come with no fee and low prices. I ordered an Aklot Bamboo concert through Amazon from China. There's no shipping fee for the uke, gig bag, strap, picks, and tuner ($63), but it will take a few weeks to get here. I'm in no rush.
 
RafterGirl said:
Here's another nice Kala in your price range for a concert. All solid wood. Cedar top and Pau Ferro back and sides. Sounds nice on the HMS sound sample.
https://www.theukulelesite.com/shop...-solid-cedar-pau-ferro-concert-ka-ascp-c.html
Click to expand...

Free case right now too I see. That's a beautiful instrument. I hadn't seen it before. It has a lot of nice cosmetic touches I'm really into like the rosette and the binding.
The only thing is I'd caution any listener they should realize every ukulele sounds good on the HMS videos. ha. Those guys are all great players.
 
Jerryc41 said:
It's funny how shipping fees from China vary. Many items come with no fee and low prices. I ordered an Aklot Bamboo concert through Amazon from China. There's no shipping fee for the uke, gig bag, strap, picks, and tuner ($63), but it will take a few weeks to get here. I'm in no rush.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I guess it just depends on the company...or even the day or hour a lot of times. It seems prices can change pretty wildly on Amazon.
 
jer said:
Yeah, I guess it just depends on the company...or even the day or hour a lot of times. It seems prices can change pretty wildly on Amazon.
Click to expand...

Yes. I've had my eye on something, and then price goes up, so I let it go. I use camel camel camel to notify me when prices in my Wish List go down.
 
To the OP ... I merged the replies from your duplicate post in the "Buying Tips" section to "Uke Talk" where the majority of replies were. There's no reason to replicate a thread in another forum. Thanks much!
 
Kanaka916 said:
To the OP ... I merged the replies from your duplicate post in the "Buying Tips" section to "Uke Talk" where the majority of replies were. There's no reason to replicate a thread in another forum. Thanks much!
Click to expand...

Thanks sorry about that
 
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