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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2 3   |
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| Kamaka Ukulele | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Tue Oct 4th, 2005 11:36 am |
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1st Post |
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shindig Approved
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I was searching around the net for a ukulele to buy and came across this website website, http://www.maui.net/~ukulele/kamaka.html. Most of these are 1000 + dollars and I was wondering why they are so expensive? Anyone know any information on these and have first hand experience playing them? And if so are they worth buying it? Also, what are the advantages / disadvantages of have more than 4 strings, because i noticed that many 6 and 8 string ukuleles are sold there also. Any help would be great.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 4th, 2005 12:56 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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Hi Shindig, I don't have one but the Kamaka ukes are fine instruments from everything I've read. They're one of the oldest (maybe the oldest) uke company in Hawaii and their instruments are made well. The prices are pretty much in line with other high quality ukuleles. 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Tue Oct 4th, 2005 04:41 pm |
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3rd Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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Shindig- It appears from the tunings of the 6 & 8 stringers that they would be used essentially like the 12 sring guitar is used- or like a mandolin - they are mainly unison-tunings. It would be interesting to hear one (and even more fun to hear one tuned in octaves)!  Keep on pickin'Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Tue Oct 4th, 2005 10:34 pm |
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4th Post |
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shindig Approved
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I see, would these top notch ones be good for the first ukulele I buy?, or do any of you suggest something else? (Tenor preferably). 
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| Posted: Wed Oct 5th, 2005 03:24 am |
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5th Post |
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Charlie Approved 
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Ijust bought a Jenny Tenor and put Worth strings on it tuned it with a low G and it is a keeper, Has good volumn and sounds more like a guitar than a ukulele, Ihad been looking for that tone a long time and it did not cost a fourtune. So that would be something you might consider. Charlie 
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Wed Oct 5th, 2005 06:44 am |
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6th Post |
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UkeForever Approved 
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I feel like for $1000, you're paying for that Kamaka sticker. They do make really nice sounding tenors, but I even find myself asking... Are they worth it? I don't think they stand above others, especially not in the style department. If I had $1000, I might get a KoAloha tenor for $850 and take my wife out to dinner on the rest. Or I might invest the whole thing and grab a Compass Rose or Graziano tenor. Compass Rose doesn't have quite the volume as a Graziano, but if you love a rustic look and a fretboard that doesn't come into contact with the soundboard, they're a VERY cool ukuele. Graziano makes absolutely beautiful ukes and you can find them every now and then for around $1000-$1200. Keep those eyes peeled. How about contacting Mike DaSilva at http://www.ukemaker.com. I'll bet he could do a ton with that kind of cash. I don't want to let the word out too much, but imagine a west-coast version of Glyph. After seeing Dominator's tenor next to the DaSilva, I have to say that DaSilva is very very close... Check out Craig B's Uke As for the 6 and 8 strings, if a 12-string guitar annoys you, then these will too. (I am annoyed by 12 string guitars). If you love that sound, you will eat up the sound of these ukes. The problem for me is that there is an octave, I think, on the re-entrant string. It's a matter of voicing that I don't like and/or appreciate. I love the simple 4-part voicing of regular uke and I don't crave the in-your-face strings. I guess you'd really call an 8-string a taropatch. Last edited on Wed Oct 5th, 2005 06:54 am by UkeForever |
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| Posted: Thu Oct 6th, 2005 01:15 am |
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7th Post |
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JohnB Approved 
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 "I feel like for $1000, you're paying for that Kamaka sticker."You're paying for that Kamaka sticker, and I think it's worth it. In fact, I'd recommend going up the ladder to the higher end Kamaka, that would be money well spent. How about a Tenor like Jake's?I agree Koaloha is nice, I have one and it can get downright magical. However, in comparing Koaloha to Kamaka the big difference I see is the koa fretboard on the Koaloha. To me, kamaka is the definitive Hawiain Ukulele sound/tone. Kamaka is to the Hawiain Ukulele tone what Martin is to the Tin Pan Alley Ukulele tone. The 6 string tenor is a beautiful sounding instrument. Have you heard Harrison's "The Devil In The Deep Blue Sea"? He plays a Vintage Kamaka 6 string Tenor on that recording. I've got one of these magical Ukuleles, eyes and ears open anytime I bring it out. People who know nothing about playing music have picked it up and strummed the open strings and are amazed at the harp like sounds they can make. No, I would not play it on every song, but there are times when I cannot put it down. I would not compare the 6 String Tenor sound to a 12 string guitar. The high G is not doubled on a 6 string Tenor. The C has a high C doubled with it, and the A has a Lower A doubled with it. This makes for the opposite effect that re-entrant tuning gives you on the high G of a normal uke to happen on the A string (get it?), except giving it a bass effect, and along with the normal re-entrant effect of the high G. This is a beautiful unique sound only heard on the 6 String Tenor. -JohnB Last edited on Thu Oct 6th, 2005 02:44 am by JohnB |
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| Posted: Thu Oct 6th, 2005 03:10 am |
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8th Post |
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UkeForever Approved
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OK, John, maybe I could get used to the 6-string voicing. As for the prices, I went onto Elderly, and they have significantly better deals than I found with the vendors down here at the Cerritos uke fest. You can get a Kamaka for what I think is a reasonable price, considering their back-orderedness and rampant popularity. The truth is, for $1000 you can get a damn fine uke almost any way you look at it. Last edited on Thu Oct 6th, 2005 06:23 pm by UkeForever |
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| Posted: Thu Oct 6th, 2005 11:29 pm |
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9th Post |
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shindig Approved
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Hey John, do you have a picture or info on Jake's tenor ukulele.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 7th, 2005 12:38 am |
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10th Post |
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JohnB Approved
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I am certainly no expert on Jake's uke. I saw him play recently in St. Louis, Mo. It is a Deluxe Kamaka Tenor 4 string, slotted headstock, probably custom made, with his initials? inlaid on the fretboard. It has a pickup and I thought it sounded as good plugged in as unplugged. The show was at The Sheldon Theatre, in regards to acoustics The Sheldon is one of the top 5 places to perform in the USA if not the world. Both performers that night, Stephen Bennett & Jake Shimabukuro, repeatedly complimented on the acoustics of the Sheldon. You can get a look at the JS Kamaka Tenor on midnight ukulele disco. Bounty Music has a Deluxe Soprano for $1,048. I would think the Deluxe Tenor is a similar product, if available would be no more than $2000, maybe much less. However, I don't recall ever seeing a deluxe Tenor being available in a retail store, you may just have to ask for it. I might do that someday. -JohnB
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| Posted: Thu May 25th, 2006 08:43 am |
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11th Post |
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Robert1319 Approved
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I was searching on google and stumbled across your blog site. Regarding your question on ukuleles. For a thousand dollars you can get a great ukulele. That price is the usual nowadays for an ukulele of great quality. The Kamaka brand ukulele's have the most consistent finish and resale value. I find, however that there is a lot of variation in SOUND quality with the Kamaka. You should try them before purchasing if possible. If not, ask the salesman for assistance. I have seen beautiful Kamaka's with mediocre sound and beautiful Kamaka's with unsurpassed tone and sound. The Ko'aloha brand ukuleles have a different method of construction of the bracing internally, and have a great sound. They cost about the same as the Kamaka. The Ko'aloha has a more consistent SOUND from instrument to instrument. I rarely find one that I don't like. The finish is another matter. The finish is not as nice as the Kamaka ukuleles. If only the Ko'aloha craftsment would learn how to apply the finishes like the Kamaka. . .sigh. WIth the Kamaka and the Ko'aloha, you will always get good quality. The Kamaka has a more consistent finish and the Ko'aloha has a more consistent sound. I have both ukulele brands and love the ones that I purchased. If I were to purchase one online, however, and couldn't actually play it before purchasing it I would get a Ko'aloha. Try BountyMusic in Maui. They have a website, and when they have a great selection of both Kamaka and Ko'aloha from time to time. (sells fast) The salesmen there will play the available ones for you on the phone if necessary and help you pick out one of great sound. The Kamaka and the Ko'aloha are priced nearly the same at this store also. I've been in a number of times looking for just the right sounding ukulele. I bought my tenor Ko'aloha there and it is fantastic. I purchased my concert Kamaka ukulele at McCabe's in Venice Beach, CA and the sound is spectacular. Don't rush the purchase. Robert Last edited on Thu May 25th, 2006 08:57 am by Robert1319 |
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| Posted: Thu May 25th, 2006 09:01 am |
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12th Post |
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Robert1319 Approved
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TO Shindig: I just checked out the site that you had checked and it is for Bounty Music in Maui. Robert.
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| Posted: Thu May 25th, 2006 04:10 pm |
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13th Post |
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mikelewis Approved 
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I second the notion about Bounty Music in Maui. I called them and they are top notch, they were really helpful both on e-mail and over the phone. They had a Kamaka on reserve for me but I found one at Tropic Isle Music in Lihue, HI and they had a Concert in stock so I snagged that one. As of last week they (Tropic Isle) had a Kamaka Tenor on sale for $769.99. http://www.tropicislemusic.com/hula/ukulele2.htm When I ordered from Tropic Isle (who are also really helpful and nice) I had to reverse my reservation with Bounty and they cheerfully did so. I would have no problem buying from them in the future. And they do offer to play their ukes over the phone so you can hear the tone!
____________________ Michael David Lewis - ezFolk.com site Michael David Lewis - Official Website Michael David Lewis on MySpace |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 6th, 2006 01:56 pm |
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14th Post |
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Carmine Approved
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What is your opinion on a Soprano verse a Concert Koaloha. Can a large person enjoy and bond with a Soprano. Or is the body to small. I have a Bushman concert and I want to get the Koaloha Soprano but Pat at Koaloha said I would not be happy after a year. What is your opinion? CinemaDP@aol.com
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| Posted: Tue Jun 6th, 2006 03:29 pm |
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15th Post |
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mikelewis Approved
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Didn't Iz play a soprano? I was told the same thing that you were told when I bought my Kamaka Concert. The folks at TropicIsle told me that many people opt for the concerts instead of the sopranos because of the size issue. But I still wanted a soprano. So, I have a Soprano on order that's due today (I own two concerts currently). I've played a few sopranos and I didn't notice too much of a difference but I won't know for sure until I put it through the paces. I'm sure Uke Forever can give us a detailed answer on this question. Last edited on Tue Jun 6th, 2006 03:50 pm by mikelewis ____________________ Michael David Lewis - ezFolk.com site Michael David Lewis - Official Website Michael David Lewis on MySpace |
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| Posted: Tue Jun 6th, 2006 08:33 pm |
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16th Post |
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Robert1319 Approved
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Carmine, Often a person will get several sizes of ukuleles. If you only plan to get one, however, I would definitely opt for the CONCERT size because it has nearly the sound of the soprano, but is definitely easier to play for large hands. The body being smaller is not so much the issue as the fretboard being smaller, in my opinion. I have all three sizes and like the concert and the tenor, but if I only had resources to get one of them, I would take the concert size. I like its unique sound. The soprano is great if one will play only near the headstock. If you want to utilize the entire fretboard, however, the frets close to the sound hole are harder to play for a person with large fingers. Robert
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| Posted: Wed Jun 7th, 2006 01:20 am |
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17th Post |
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Will Approved 
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I believe that the late Bruddah Iz played a tenor ukulele. Jake Shimabukuro plays a tenor. From what I've read, among Hawaiians, tenors are the most popular size of ukulele.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Wed Jun 7th, 2006 05:26 pm |
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18th Post |
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HowlinHobbit Approved 
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Will wrote: I believe that the late Bruddah Iz played a tenor ukulele. Jake Shimabukuro plays a tenor. From what I've read, among Hawaiians, tenors are the most popular size of ukulele. There certainly is a current craze for tenors amongst the Hawaiians, however you can find picture after picture of Iz with a soprano. I have very broad hands and fingers... so broad in fact, that my palm is almost exactly square. I play sopranos and I'm up at the 7th and 8th frets quite frequently, with an occasional higher reach. Yes, it takes some practice. But that's not something to be afraid of. I freely admit that I consider the soprano (or standard) to be the uke and the rest are cousins but in the long run you should get the ukulele that sounds best to you. This is one place where size does not matter. Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke?
____________________ Howlin' Hobbit Got Uke? MySpace ezFolk UkeLand |
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| Posted: Tue Apr 3rd, 2007 02:12 pm |
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19th Post |
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artcrocker Approved
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Just noticed your note on Kamaka of a while ago. I have been currently trying to talk myself into getting a Kamaka Concert and I think your comment may have convinced me. I almost bought one last week but became a little confused when I also tryed a Lanikai Koa super-concert that seemed to sound as good, along with a nicer finish and geared turners. From your comment I realize I would probably not be satisfied if I do not have at least one Kamaka. Unfortunately Elderly Music does not have Koaloha in stock to try out, maybe a good thing since it could cause more confusion.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 3rd, 2007 02:33 pm |
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20th Post |
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artcrocker Approved
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Noticed your comment on Kamaka sound quality of a while ago. I am planing on getting a Kamaka Concert soon from Elderly music in my area. From what you have said it sounds like I should ask the sales assistant to let me try out several of their Kamaka's since I may find some difference in sound quality? That sounds like good advice. I am assuming that you have found some difference in sound volume? Might there also be a difference in tone? Last edited on Tue Apr 3rd, 2007 02:35 pm by artcrocker |
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