#1
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Which Ukuleles are best
I need advise. When purchasing my baritone I could find almost nothing in Thailand. Now I want to pruchase a tenor.
Here in Thailand there is a shop on line place, like amazon, that sells and delivers within Thailand and they have a lot of different brands of tenor ukuleles. Which are best? I only know about Kala because that is what my baritone is. Please give me as much advice as you can on these companies listed. Gretsch, Luna, Enya, Kalana, Kohala, Leho, Kala, Lanikai, Carabao, Kmise, Aquila. Thank you, johnnysmash
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Yamaha F310 Almanza 401 Mate Classical Ventura 12 string V17, now a 6 string Lap Guitar. Kala Baritone Ukulele Melokia, Solid Acacia Tenor Ukulele Yamaha Guitalele GL1 Yamaha CS40 Classical |
#2
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ukes
The BEST (not boutique) are the 3 K's - Kamaka, Kanilea, Koaloha. (I have two Koaloha's and have owned 4 Kanilea's)
Those brands you mentioned are decent, however, the tone will be lacking and the tuners are cheap (leading to the ukes going out of tone rather quickly) IMHO |
#3
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Quote:
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#4
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Ask over at Ukulele Underground Forum:
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/forum.php There's a huge uke following there. |
#5
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My uke playing friend has a Tenor Kala Elite and the tone and playability is wonderful
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Martin OODB JT Gibson J45 Yamaha LLTA Yamaha SLG200S Yamaha NTX1200R Taylor GSMiniE Rosewood Joe Brown Uke AER Compact 60 Marshall AS50D Now 100% Acoustic and loving it ! No more GAS |
#6
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I am a big fan of Pono instruments. For not a lot of money you can get a solid mahogany, mango or acacia uke for around $400. You can spend a lot more too, but the basic plain uke sounds really good and is very well made.
See if Hawaii Music Supply ships to Thailand. I played a bunch of $1000 entry ukes from the three Ks that I didn't like better, though they were Koa.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa |
#7
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Kanilea has a less expensive line too, called the "Islander". They offer some solid wood models. I'm awaiting delivery on an Islander solid mahogany tenor now. It checked a lot of boxes for me, at least on paper, most importantly: all solid wood (which I think is very important on ukes than it is on guitars) and a nice wide nut. At 1.5", there should plenty of room for my stubby fingers to get in there. And it was reasonable - second hand with a tweed hard shell case and free shipping: $250
I'll chime in again once it's arrived, but the Youtube samples I've seen of it have sounded pretty darn good indeed.
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Martin 000-17SM Supro 2030 Hampton Taylor 562ce 12 X 12 Taylor GS Mini-e Spruce/Rosewood Waterloo WL-S Wechter TO-8418 Cordoba 24T tenor ukulele Kanile'a Islander MST-4 tenor ukulele Kiwaya KTC-1 concert ukulele Kolohe concert ukulele Mainland Mahogany soprano ukulele Ohana SK-28 soprano ukulele Brüko No. 6 soprano ukulele |
#8
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Bought my wife an Ohana TK-70 (spruce/maple) last year - loud, clear tone (this one really cuts through the other instruments in our community uke group), plays well, stays in tune with the factory Aquila Nylgut strings, and under $400US; might be worth a look...
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"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool" - Sicilian proverb (paraphrased) |
#9
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Next to impossible to determine 'best' - as it's just too subjective.
FWIW though there is no way on earth I would put Kmise and Luna in any 'best' list. Aquila is a string brand |
#10
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This weekend at Baan Ukulele in Bangkok I purchased a Tenor Ukulele, Melokia, solid Acacia wood, gCAE. They have many nice Rebel and Opio's on display too. Sadly too expensive for me today. Maybe later after I learn to play a a much higher level.
Thank you to all of you for your suggestions.
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Yamaha F310 Almanza 401 Mate Classical Ventura 12 string V17, now a 6 string Lap Guitar. Kala Baritone Ukulele Melokia, Solid Acacia Tenor Ukulele Yamaha Guitalele GL1 Yamaha CS40 Classical |
#11
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I can't say which is the "best" but I can caution you about Luna. They changed ownership in the past few years and quality control has gone out the window. However some people really like their styles. (I personally have a concert size Luna Peace uke I've had for about 6 or 7 years and it's fine for what it is.) I know one woman who returned four Luna ukes in two years before she got one with a neck that stayed true. So, the good news there is that they honor their warranty. A friend just didn't want to hassle with returning her six-month old warped-neck uke to Luna so she now has some nice wall art.
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#12
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Well certainly not the best, but I dig my Ohana Tenor. Solid spruce/mahogany
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