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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
 Posted - 02/24/2008 : 5:49:06 PM
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So did Keola order a two-puka model? 
Julie |
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Cyberglen
Aloha
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 1:26:03 PM
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I would love to have one by Dennis Lake in Kau or Chuck Moore in Puna, both on the Big Island, but neither offers a tenor for less than $1,000.
Still looking, but I will keep everyone posted! Mahalo nui loa for the great suggestions. It's the search that's fun! |
Slow down! It's Molokai. |
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Cyberglen
Aloha
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2008 : 08:20:34 AM
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Aloha Kakou,
Thanks for the many suggestions. I wanted to report on my new uke, which is a Pono Mahogony PTO.
I was leaning toward getting a Kanile'a Tenor, or getting a tenor from either David Lake or Chuck Moore (Mo Bettah Ukuleles). But I decided I just wasn't good enough yet for a ukulele on that scale. In the meantime, I followed one of the suggestions above, and went into several stores and played many ukes, eyes closed. That is how I discovered the Pono. I bought one used for about $300.00, with a hard shell case. It is in mint condition. I decided I was not ready for the big league ukes yet.
The Pono is a beautiful instrument and very true as you go up the frets, which my old uke --and Oscar Schmidt-- was not. The sound is very rich and guitar like, with fair sustain. The sound is not bright like I am used to, but it is warmer and excellent for trying out the songs in Ohta and Ho's Discovering the Ukulele and Exploring the Ukulele books. The difference between my old instrument and the new one is night and day.
My only complaint about the Pono is that I find it hard to do barre chords. Hopefull, I will get better at this. It takes a lot of pressure to do a Bb, for example.
This is not a Kanile'a. But the sound is excellent for the price. I am very pleased with this instrument and I am grateful to all who guided me in my search.
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Slow down! It's Molokai. |
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1579 Posts |
Posted - 04/01/2008 : 05:43:49 AM
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If you find the B flat chord difficult, but the same shape at the fourth fret much easier, you might fish around for a recommendation for an excellent instrument technician and have the nut lowered on your uke. Not something most of us should do ourselves, but an adjustment that can make a world of difference in playability.
Fran |
E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key Guitar in California - www.kaleponi.com
Slack Key on YouTube
Homebrewed Music Blog |
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Cyberglen
Aloha
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2008 : 4:57:41 PM
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| Thanks, Fran! What a great idea! |
Slow down! It's Molokai. |
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sm80808
Lokahi
347 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2008 : 09:57:54 AM
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Ken Potts ( kpukuleles.com )... if his prices havent goen up
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catheglass
Lokahi
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2008 : 8:22:03 PM
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Aloha kakou:
May I second Julie's endorsement of Dennis Lake's 'ukuleles. although I usually play baritone, right now I am playing a Po Mahina (dennis' stsudio name) maple tenor and it is lovely sounding. Very nahenahe with Kala strings! Couldn't ask for better. |
cathe |
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Julie H
Ha`aha`a
USA
1206 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2008 : 8:43:34 PM
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I am reminded of a wonderful friend of mine who was a top-notch and well-known painter of marine wildlife, JD Mayhew. Many years ago, at an art workshop in Mendocino, he asked me why I used cheap watercolor paper for my paintings. I retorted that I wouldn't waste good paper on bad paintings. To that he replied: "But Julie, when you do come up with a good painting, it will be on cheap paper!"
And I have to say, it is so enjoyable to paint on good paper, the responsiveness, the way the paper behaves, the colors are much more vibrant. And the medium is so much more forgiving.
That brings to mind playing on cheap instruments. The quality, the sound, the relationship just isn't the same as when you play on a great instrument. Sure, cost is an issue, but why play with instruments that give you cheap sounds and little satisfaction? I once bought a cheap ukulele that had the bridge fly off when I was playing and it hit me in the face, strings and all. I threw that thing away!
Hey, I'm mostly Dutch and part Chinese, both races famous for pinching pennies! But I've spent years changing my thinking! Go for the quality, it is so much more enjoyable...
Julie |
Edited by - Julie H on 04/05/2008 8:49:56 PM |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2008 : 2:45:24 PM
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just catching up on this thread. the pono is a good uke. did you solve the problem with the Bb?
aloha,
keith
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Edited by - marzullo on 08/14/2008 2:55:10 PM |
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Doug Fitch
Akahai
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 08:37:34 AM
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I really like my Tenor Pono made in Java under the strict supervision of the Kitakis 'ohana (Ko'olau 'Ukulele). My Pono is solid mahagony , spruce top and has pretty rope binding. It has a slightly arched back, a nice depth (more than most), straight neck, low action, very good intonation, great tuners. I couldn't ask for more from a uke in this range. It even came with a hard case. I have a transducer pickup with controls in the sound hole and the pickup, installed by Noah Kitakis, sounds terrific. I use it for gigging all the time. The instrument is even balanced well so is easy to cradle. I've nearly fallen asleep playing it before.
Hope that's useful info. Aloha Doug |
Doug Fitch
fitchdoug @ yahoo.com
www.dougfitchmusic.com
http://youtube.com/user/dougfitchmusic |
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