The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Other Musical Instruments

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 05-06-2018, 10:37 AM
JohnnySmash JohnnySmash is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 225
Default 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
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-06-2018, 10:41 AM
Kupuna50's Avatar
Kupuna50 Kupuna50 is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,231
Default 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
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-07-2018, 09:44 AM
merlin666 merlin666 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Canada Prairies
Posts: 2,957
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kupuna50 View Post
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
I tried a Kala Elite series along some Kanileas and Koalohas in the same store and though that it played in the same league. But it also had a similar price. I think that Kala is now the most ubiquitous brand that is common in many music stores, so should be possible to find in Thailand as well.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-07-2018, 07:15 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 8,794
Default

Ask over at Ukulele Underground Forum:

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/forum.php

There's a huge uke following there.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-08-2018, 11:21 AM
51 Relic 51 Relic is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Whippingham Isle of Wight England
Posts: 1,313
Default

My uke playing friend has a Tenor Kala Elite and the tone and playability is wonderful
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-09-2018, 03:57 PM
Br1ck Br1ck is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: San Jose, Ca
Posts: 6,943
Default

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.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-18-2018, 09:04 AM
Swamp Yankee Swamp Yankee is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SE Connecticut
Posts: 1,263
Default

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.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-18-2018, 07:35 PM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Staten Island, NY - for now
Posts: 14,983
Default

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...
__________________
"Mistaking silence for weakness and contempt for fear is the final, fatal error of a fool"
- Sicilian proverb (paraphrased)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-19-2018, 05:17 AM
Bazmaz Bazmaz is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 62
Default

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
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-20-2018, 10:28 AM
JohnnySmash JohnnySmash is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 225
Default

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.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-31-2018, 03:17 PM
jgmaute's Avatar
jgmaute jgmaute is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,585
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-31-2018, 04:48 PM
jricc jricc is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 4,982
Default

Well certainly not the best, but I dig my Ohana Tenor. Solid spruce/mahogany
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Other Musical Instruments

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=