1014
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Aloha kakou!
I know this is a tired subject here, but I am back in the market for an `ukulele and would appreciate any kokua and suggestions. I sent a similar email earlier to MGM.
I'm still a relative beginner and am looking for a moderately low price concert `ukulele in the $200-300 range. I have a cheap Hawaiian `Ukulele Company Student Soprano and a `Ohana Vita right now. The Soprano which I basically learned my chords on has spent most of it's life (about 10 years) in and out of the garage. It's serviceable, but loses it's tune in roughly an hour of solid strumming. It was also extremely soft, but I swapped out the ten year old strings with Aquilas and the difference was night and day. at least when they were in tune.
Recently, I bought the Vita on a whim. My wife and I simply loved its sound when strumming -- sweet and loud, but while I'm learning to pick, I find that I wanted more sound. I figure it's a great `ukulele to have lay down the melody work, but I want something that I can solo on as well.
I'm primarily looking to play more Hawaiian music, so though I want loud I also want warm. I've travelled a bit recently, so I've played around with some different `ukulele and brands. I went to Gryphon Strings and played with the Kamakas and Kiwaya. I went to Ukulele Source and played the Ohana, Kanile`a, KoAloha. I went to Island Bizaar and met Shirley who sold me the Vita! (Great place!). and also hit up Larry Larson(?) in Glendale and played with an Kala Koa and Mango Tenor. Each has it's pluses and negatives. some is as simple as price (I'm getting a Kanile`a December time no doubt!) but others are as nerve racking as aesthetics (a mango was real nice looking but i certainly hated the wound c-string).
I'm pretty settled on the Concert size. I'm pretty used to the smaller soprano scale, but at this point I'd like to give my fingers some room, but not too wide as the tenor. I've tried all three over and over at the places here and there and each time I'm starting to find myself falling back comfortably at the concert size.
I'd like solid wood preferably something with a loud but warm sound. I do like the Kalas (the mango just looks so beautiful) tho. is there really that big of a difference?
I'd also like geared tuners,though I really liked the `Ohana ck 35 and 50. my soprano is so cheap and out of tuned so oftened that i've become scared of friction tuners, so maybe the upper scale friction tuners on the `Ohana will do a much much better job.
My thoughts on the few I've tried:
Ohana CK35 and 50. I really liked, but truthfully like I said the friction tuners really scared me.
Kala Koa Concert, I liked the sound. alot! but something about it doesn't grab me. I honestly think, because selfishly I think it's a plain looking.
unlike the Kala Mango Tenor, which I thought was very beautiful, but the wound C-String was a turn off in sound. maybe the nylgut aquilas would be better?
Lanikai was nice, but the staff at the place i tried it at in SJ didn't talk to me so i was pretty salty and intent not to like anything.
My goal is to kanikapila with my sister and my dad and his friends who are actually musicians. I'm basically strumming with them now, which is a big step, but I'd like something loud to sing/solo with when they say it's my turn.
again, this is nerve racking, but it's one step at a time.
I know this is a tired subject here, but I am back in the market for an `ukulele and would appreciate any kokua and suggestions. I sent a similar email earlier to MGM.
I'm still a relative beginner and am looking for a moderately low price concert `ukulele in the $200-300 range. I have a cheap Hawaiian `Ukulele Company Student Soprano and a `Ohana Vita right now. The Soprano which I basically learned my chords on has spent most of it's life (about 10 years) in and out of the garage. It's serviceable, but loses it's tune in roughly an hour of solid strumming. It was also extremely soft, but I swapped out the ten year old strings with Aquilas and the difference was night and day. at least when they were in tune.
Recently, I bought the Vita on a whim. My wife and I simply loved its sound when strumming -- sweet and loud, but while I'm learning to pick, I find that I wanted more sound. I figure it's a great `ukulele to have lay down the melody work, but I want something that I can solo on as well.
I'm primarily looking to play more Hawaiian music, so though I want loud I also want warm. I've travelled a bit recently, so I've played around with some different `ukulele and brands. I went to Gryphon Strings and played with the Kamakas and Kiwaya. I went to Ukulele Source and played the Ohana, Kanile`a, KoAloha. I went to Island Bizaar and met Shirley who sold me the Vita! (Great place!). and also hit up Larry Larson(?) in Glendale and played with an Kala Koa and Mango Tenor. Each has it's pluses and negatives. some is as simple as price (I'm getting a Kanile`a December time no doubt!) but others are as nerve racking as aesthetics (a mango was real nice looking but i certainly hated the wound c-string).
I'm pretty settled on the Concert size. I'm pretty used to the smaller soprano scale, but at this point I'd like to give my fingers some room, but not too wide as the tenor. I've tried all three over and over at the places here and there and each time I'm starting to find myself falling back comfortably at the concert size.
I'd like solid wood preferably something with a loud but warm sound. I do like the Kalas (the mango just looks so beautiful) tho. is there really that big of a difference?
I'd also like geared tuners,though I really liked the `Ohana ck 35 and 50. my soprano is so cheap and out of tuned so oftened that i've become scared of friction tuners, so maybe the upper scale friction tuners on the `Ohana will do a much much better job.
My thoughts on the few I've tried:
Ohana CK35 and 50. I really liked, but truthfully like I said the friction tuners really scared me.
Kala Koa Concert, I liked the sound. alot! but something about it doesn't grab me. I honestly think, because selfishly I think it's a plain looking.
unlike the Kala Mango Tenor, which I thought was very beautiful, but the wound C-String was a turn off in sound. maybe the nylgut aquilas would be better?
Lanikai was nice, but the staff at the place i tried it at in SJ didn't talk to me so i was pretty salty and intent not to like anything.
My goal is to kanikapila with my sister and my dad and his friends who are actually musicians. I'm basically strumming with them now, which is a big step, but I'd like something loud to sing/solo with when they say it's my turn.
again, this is nerve racking, but it's one step at a time.