Good quality solid wood tenor?

Hi,
I'm guitarist looking to buy my first ukulele soon. I know I want a tenor, and I would like a solid wood not a laminate. I don't have a huge budget, so I was wondering what you would recommend? Thanks

Firstly, what is your budget, and secondly, get a Mainland.

I agree, mainland or Ohana.

I like the Kala Solid Mahogany and the Kanilea Islander solid mahogany tenor - they look like twins except for headstock. Here's one to beat, Pono MTD E

http://www.theukulelesite.com/ukulelemarket/pono-mt-tenor-mahogany

If you want new, I would try for either the Mainland Solid Mahogany or the Ohana TK-20CE from UkeReuplic here. Both just a bit over $200.

http://cargo.ukerepublic.com/category/tenor-size-ukes

SweetWaterBlue said:

If you want new, I would try for either the Mainland Solid Mahogany or the Ohana TK-20CE from UkeReuplic here. Both just a bit over $200.

http://cargo.ukerepublic.com/category/tenor-size-ukes

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I think the TK-20ce is laminate back and sides

cb56 said:

I think the TK-20ce is laminate back and sides

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Ooops. Yeah he did say he wanted all solid, so the TK-20ce doesn't meet his criteria. Guess that leaves the Mainland.

Never heard anybody say they were sorry they got a Mainland.......Ever!

Solid Wood Tenor

In my searching I found that for under about 500$ will probably not get you a very good new solid wood instrument. That said, you can get several brands of decent instruments for under 500$ for solid wood but be aware you are going to get factory assembly line built instruments that will lack the fit and finish of "hand made" instruments. You will also get a range of quality of tone that runs from not bad at all to yikes. At the very least I would try to get one locally so you have a chance to play before you buy if that is possible. What you save on shipping and hassle will usually make up for the savings of shopping online.
I was headed the same rout as you and after trying a few instruments decided it was worth saving up for longer to get a proper hand made instrument. I did start with a very cheap plastic makala and then the extra 10$ for good strings to get a feel for it before shelling out for a nice one.

Hope that info helps?

If I wanted a solid tenor I might want a Kala Solid Acacia Tenor.

Shadowgolem said:

In my searching I found that for under about 500$ will probably not get you a very good new solid wood instrument. That said, you can get several brands of decent instruments for under 500$ for solid wood but be aware you are going to get factory assembly line built instruments that will lack the fit and finish of "hand made" instruments. You will also get a range of quality of tone that runs from not bad at all to yikes. At the very least I would try to get one locally so you have a chance to play before you buy if that is possible. What you save on shipping and hassle will usually make up for the savings of shopping online.
I was headed the same rout as you and after trying a few instruments decided it was worth saving up for longer to get a proper hand made instrument. I did start with a very cheap plastic makala and then the extra 10$ for good strings to get a feel for it before shelling out for a nice one.

Hope that info helps?

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It's true that up to a point you get what you pay for - but I think characterizing everything under $500 as spotty is probably a little strong. I own ~$700 KoAlohas (1 concert, 1 longneck soprano) and ~$300 Mainlands (2 tenors and 1 concert). Are the KoAlohas better - yes, but not by a huge margin. Two of the three Mainlands were set up better than either of the KoAlohas and the third, which was set up about identical to the KoAlohas, was one I purchased used and am at least the third owner of so I can't really say what action it might have been delivered with or what the original customer might have asked for.

I will probably never bother to purchase a "better" tenor than my Mainland mango unless I trip over a deal that just can't be passed up. If Mainland made a soprano with a concert scale neck, especially in mango, I would never have purchased the KoAloha longneck soprano that I purchased recently because, while the KoAloha is certainly better, it's not enough better to command twice the price.

Also, for well under $500 you can get a pretty good all-solid Kala or Ohana and have it set up professionally. My experience with high end Kalas is that, once properly set up, they're pretty close to Mainlands in quality and consistency. Don't have personal experience with Ohanas.

So, while holding out for a Hawaiian made or luthier built is never really a mistake, I wouldn't go so far as to discourage someone from getting one of the better specimens of "lesser" instruments unless I know for a fact their pockets are deep enough to make the difference in cost trivial to them.

John

Did you check out Tudorp's tenors posted here on UU?
They look cool and so far all feedback is positive.

Huna said:

If I wanted a solid tenor I might want a Kala Solid Acacia Tenor.

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I love this uke, but they seem to be a bit difficult to find right now. Kala was supposed to have sent out new shipments of them months ago, but a few uke dealers have reported that Kala has delayed them.

It's a great uke, though-finally actually picked one up a week or so ago and am loving it so far.

But I also have a Mainland Mahogany and it's a total steal. Great uke for the price. You get a solid instrument without a huge investment.