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Cyberglen
Aloha
USA
31 Posts |
 Posted - 02/13/2008 : 08:18:42 AM
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Aloha everyone. Here's your chance to express yourself! I have a very cheap concert uke that I am outgrowing, and want to move to a nice Low G Tenor. My concert uke goes out of tune as I "go up the frets". I don't want my new uke to do that.
I have considered a Kanilea tenor (Joe Souza, Oahu), and a Moore Bettah uke by Chuck Moore on the Big Island (because they are so gorgeous). The Moore Bettah's are beyond my budget, I think.
Would really like a uke that sounds good and looks purdy, too. Under $1,000...okay, make it $1,200. Any ideas?
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Slow down! It's Molokai. |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 12:48:38 PM
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| I have two KoAloha Tenors and love them both! |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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808bk
Akahai
82 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 1:43:11 PM
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Second the vote for the KoAloha tenor. Have one and love it.
Haven't heard a bad Pono yet either...
You may want to also check out the Koolau T-1 model. My main uke is a Koolau and my understanding is that the T-1 is their no frills model. |
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Dogface
Aloha
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 4:34:53 PM
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| 3rd the vote on the Koaloha Tenor. Best value for the $. Go to Dan's Guitars in Honolulu for the best price. |
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da_joka
Lokahi
361 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 7:28:48 PM
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| second da vote on da ponos ... i get one cedar top mahogany one, sounds awesome! i bet da koa ones sound pretty sweet too! |
If can, can. If no can, no can. |
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GUke
Lokahi
188 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2008 : 7:52:41 PM
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In my corral of ukuleles are two super concerts -- concert body with tenor neck -- from Koaloha. The super Koaloha concert is usually strung with low G. My Sunday pineapple has high G. So if you want to stay with a concert body but with a tenor neck consider a superconcert model from Koaloha or Kanileʻa. Most of my ukuleles are concerts including a Kanileʻa. Kanileʻa is a bit wider and a bit deeper and therefore a little fuller sound on the bottom end. Just received my 6 string Kanileʻa which is a tenor body. Really enjoy playing it.
Also heard played well by local ukulele players G String tenors.(Again I have G string concert too with 14 frets to body)
So if you can find a music store that has all the brands you can compare them and listen to each particular voice. Also feel is another consideration e.g. with respect to my concerts Kanileʻa has a radius neck. The tenor necks of my Koalohaʻs are not as full as the neck on my Kanileʻa 6 string tenor. At the price range your considering you canʻt go wrong with a koa ukulele from Kanileʻa , Koaloha, G String or Kamaka. I am assuming you are after a koa wood ukulele (my preference). But a luthier did tell me that some musicians have a preference to other wood soundboards. And finally donʻt forget the strings. I use both Worth and Aquilla.
Have fun in your hunt and hope you donʻt suffer from "Ukulele Acquisition Silly Syndrome" -- UASS. |
Genaro
Should I? Itʻs only $, and where Iʻm going itʻll burn or melt. |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 11:23:11 AM
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If you live on Oahu, your best bet is to visit the KoAloha factory @ 744 Kohou Street
Honolulu. It is near the COSTCO and Home Depot but is hard to find as the shop is in the back part of the industrial building and the sign out front is small. Google maps really helps. I second the Super Concert -- a tenor scale length on a concert body -- really sweet. Go in, ask for Pops or Trish and tell her CAPT Mike sent ya. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 3:36:01 PM
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I can only think of a few things more funner than shopping for a new instrument. Try 'em all, with your eyes closed, so your ears and hands can make the decision.Only use your eyes to eliminate the ones beyond your wallet, and when your ears and hands are a hung jury.
Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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Pops
Lokahi
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 4:49:29 PM
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| Some good suggestions here. I love my Kamaka, it's a great player and they're in your price range. Good luck, |
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Cyberglen
Aloha
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2008 : 6:50:17 PM
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| Mahalo for the wonderful and thoughtful responses from the Taropatch ukulele ohana. Lots to think about here, and yes, the looking is the fun part, and I feel blessed to be able to do that. I appreciate all the tips very much, especially the advice that I try them with ears and hands and only open my eyes if it is a hung jury! So often we go for looks, don't we? Instead, I really do want one that sounds good and fits my fingers. Thanks again, chime in if you haven't, and I will let you know the results of my search. |
Slow down! It's Molokai. |
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2008 : 6:31:58 PM
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| Tony Graziano in Santa Cruz makes the best ukes in the world. |
Stay Tuned... |
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Keoki Kahumoku
Akahai
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2008 : 09:32:09 AM
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I like the old martin tenorʻs too pd $800 for a 14 fret to the body, tortus shell binding. I found a 1970ʻs kamaka tenor at a garage sale for $350.00 with a case- gave that one to my cousin lopaka...there are instruments out there waiting to be discovered. To me the older instruments that have stood up to the test of time would be better. I got a few purdy oneʻs too. My favorite ukeʻs have been solid topʻs, back and sides, wood depends on your taste in sound, but most importantly how easy is it to play- string action? fret board intonation- when you play chords are they coming out right or does it sound off??? right there i would pay $1000.00 for an instrument that did just that! lastly should be how pretty it is??? of course, iʻve been told that a lot of times itʻs the player, not the instrument. ( damn wise guyʻs!) happy hunting! |
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Earl
`Olu`olu
USA
523 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2008 : 12:32:20 PM
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My vote goes to Tangi, located on Sand Island near HNL airport. I now have a koa tenor and mango tenor, and am now thinking about getting an 8-string. The quality is quite good, although sometimes the fit and finish is a little less refined than the hihg-end makers. The prices are under $450 with case. When we visited Bob's Ukulele in Waikiki, the Tangi sounded better to us than the Kamaka or KoAloha, before we looked and saw that it was half the price.
- Earl |
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da_joka
Lokahi
361 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2008 : 5:42:46 PM
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| ho, wow. my step dad get one factory nea dea ... gotta check dem out nex time our ohana goes back! |
If can, can. If no can, no can. |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2008 : 8:32:35 PM
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I have to mention here that Dennis Lake (www.pomahina.com) makes a fine tenor. The one I have is actually the one I pick up the most, and take with me wherever I go. But at the same time I have to say that Tony Graziano makes a fine one as well. But Dennis' is under $1,000. But maybe that is because we're friends... 
Julie
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2008 : 2:44:09 PM
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I'd put in another vote for Dennis Lake's Po Mahina Instruments.
He had a pair of `ukulele at Feb Camp that were outstanding in every way and within your price limit. Dennis' instruments are in tune all the way up... mine goes to 24 frets-- and just get better and better the more you play them.
Sorry, Hiram, but I'm gonna have to challenge you to defend your claim.
Tony makes great instruments; but I say my Island Jazz `ukulele is the best in the world... and Byron Yasui backs me up on that. He refers to it as "our" 'ukulele. Heck, Keola liked it so much he ordered one just like it. Now everyone thinks I have the "Keola Beamer" model. Sheesh.
So what's it to be? Spam musubi at 20 paces??? I know you can play better 'n me, so we won't do "Duelling `Ukuleles."
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Edited by - Mark on 02/24/2008 2:46:45 PM |
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