Kanile’a - Kamaka - KoAloha Tenors which sounds best (with factory strings)
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- note; all Ukuleles feature factory strings which means KoAloha are Low G and the Kanile'a and Kamaka are high G. Try not to let it ruins your day, this is just meant to be a bit of fun.
I spent nearly an hour trying to compare these ukes this morning but it just felt wrong - they are all so good, I’d feel guilty influencing people that one was better than the other. Another day I will go through them in the larger context of talking about their pros and cons but for now - I hope these audio samples provide some insight on what to expect from these Hawaiian Koa Tenors and helps guide you towards the one most suited to you.
#kanilea #kamaka #koaloha
They all sound horrible!
The second song really made the difference for me. The KoAloha is bright, punchy and loud. Definitely stands out between the three volume/impact wise. Feels new/modern, yet still can maintain the traditional feel if you want. The Kamaka is the old soul, the grandfather and it keeps that velvet rich tone that warms you up on the inside. Also has the most traditional Hawaiian twang about it. The Kanile'a had the tightest tone among the three with a more modern sound to it. All three are great and I feel like I'd take all three to play different things. The Kamaka would be my pick because I love that velvety sound that cuts through like a hot knife on butter, mellow yet has an old soul singing (more my style of play). Thanks for the comparison.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Well put!
Thank you guys for the excellent demo. My order of preference is: 1. Ko-Aloha...ooh that tone! 2. Kanile’a 3. Kamaka
Love them all. Impossible to choose !! Thanks for the comparison Beautiful playing
Each beautiful, each different but in the end I preferred the Kanile’s. Absolutely amazing! Thanks again for posting. Wes
Great to see three of the K brand tenors payed side by side. I am fortunate to have a Kanilea KT-1 gloss and a KBSP satin. I also have a Kamaka HF-3L (19 inch scale) and an HF-36 (Liliu). In the video the Kanilea has Aqulia strings, the Kamaka has its own brand and the Koaloha has Worth Clears I suspect. With fluorocarbon the Kanileas do even better. The Kamaka strings are very hard compound. The Kanileas weigh 480grams so are very light. They love low G and do take a bit of playing to wake up. The Kanileas, in particular seemed very tight. After eight years my older K1-T really rumbles. These are ukes that need to be played to make a choice and strings can make a huge difference.
KoAloha's deep and warm sound love it! and Kanilea's clear and soft sound also good
I like the KoAloha ~ like WOW!!! the warmth that resonates with a boldness... OMG - my new dream uke...
That's partly the low G. Not really a fair comparison.
I own all three and can tell you that for me, the Kamaka and Kanile’a are my #1. I love them both and go back and forth between the two of them. My Ko’aloha is a very close #2. My Kamaka has the Kamaka strings, my Kanile’a has Worth clears and my Ko’aloha has PHD strings, all three have low G
EDIT 9/6/2020 : I picked up a KoAloha Pikake Tenor and can honestly say it’s my favorite to play. The action is quick and it has a beautiful bright natural sound! Now my Kanilea and Kamaka are my #2 and #3.
I've had the pleasure of doing exactly this and the Kanile'a came out on top for me. Sounds beautiful and really well made. The interior is impeccable, no splinters or glue to be found.
I just want to add that the service from your store is second to none!! If you're in the market for one of the just go to Southern Ukulele Store!! I made a day trip from Glasgow and it was well worth it 👍👍
Happy to hear the instrument
This is amazing
Great 👍👍👍👍👏👏👏
Another excellent video, Alex. Thank you. I started having this discussion with myself last year and ended up collecting one of each (but concert size for me). Like people, they each have their own personality. When I started I told myself I’d sell the ones I didn’t pick as winner. I still own all three and don’t say that anymore. I may have blown my ukulele budget for the next 5 years, but I’d say you can’t go wrong with any/all of them.
doodica that made me chuckle - I did it the long way round. Over about 36 months I owned a KoAloha Concert, Kanile’a Tenor, Kamaka Concert, KoAloha Tenor selling one to find the other before I realised there wasn’t one that was best long term.
The Low G on the Ko-aloha makes it impossible to judge. As you can see by the comments. People gravitate to the richer bass. But tone wise Kanilea is the most balanced and focused.
This was so beautiful listening to all of the instruments. I couldn't make up my mind which one I would choose... the one moment it was definitely the Kanilea, then it changed to Koaloha and in the end I thought it should be the Kamaka. I think in the end I would choose it for it looks....
I like the character of the kanile’a best. Thanks
All are great, but Kanile`a Squad ALL THE WAY!
KANILEA!!!!! I've the K-2T, with low G (guitar background, yes), and I absolutely LOVE it!!!!!!
Koaloha sounds beautiful - warm, deep and rich
1anatiti that’s because it’s the only one with a low G
really enjoying the playing, great sounds!
KANILE`A all the way , simply sublime sound
This is the best comparison video of the big three that I've ever seen. The USA has its big three in cars, but Hawaii is so cool!
This however didn't convince me to buy either one. I just ordered a custom LoPrinzi concert size Uke cause donnas shop is literally 15 minutes drive away.
Nickie McNichols no judgements here - I have a Lo Prinzi Custom Koa Concert myself.
Wish she would hurry up and get some Ukes I ordered back in July made! Haha
Alex, You are right, all three are very nice. I do like the Koaloha ,as it does have a bit more warmth to it. Maybe because it has a slightly larger body and a low G. I always seem to gravitate towards Koaloha's . jeff
KoAloha without a shadow of a doubt for me. What a beauty!
I have a K1-T and the KoAlohah at home (lucky me) and I’m hearing the same sound differences (so I think this is a pretty good representation of the tone of these ukuleles). It’s early days for me with the KoAlohah but I’m enjoying it very much. I find depending on my mood and the song I prefer one or the other, they both have their own voice and character.
The Kanile`a is the most melodic of them all, IMHO. Such a sweet tone...
My preference changed based on who was playing. Loved the Kamaka sound to start with but I adore that kanilea headstock
David Mc to be fair - Phil does make everything sound good. That doesn’t help 🤗
Southern Ukulele Store Wow! Alex, I shook my head and looked again and realised you play each instrument upside down! Which has much to do with why you and Phil produced different sounds! Thanks for the comparison. I preferred the Kanile’a, but ultimately it became high-G v. low-G comparison.
Interesting video. I think the comparison's were pretty spot on. However, having all three uke's with the same string and tuning rather than the one Low G would have been better overall. For me personally though having owned a Kanilea and Kamaka and playing several Ko'Aloha's you can't really say one is best. They all have their unique and distinct tonal qualities. KoAloha's are naturally brighter, Kamaka's more warm and full and the Kanilea is punchy with a strong bass tone especially when strumming. You really can't go wrong with any Hawaiian made Koa ukulele. They truly stand the test of time and can be passed down through generations. Aloha 🤙🏼
Kanilea's sounds is so sweet!!
I've been a player and collector of vintage guitars for 35 years. Been playing Uke for just a few months and have been figuring out which my first high end will be. When I first began playing them, I was sure it would be Kamaka or nothing. From the the dozen or so I've played, plus recordings like this, I feel like Kamaka is a bit of a faded dame. The KoAloha is the best sound and value proposition. Kamaka had the blandest tone, the tacky stock tuning machines and the lowest grade Koa. High end Kanile's are great too and Pedro Romero.
Interesting observations. 'Pepe' Romero Ukuleles are excellent alternatives too.
It would be worth you checking out our more recent comparisons of 7 Hawaiian Koa Tenor Channels from October.
@@SouthernUkuleleStore On it. Thank you.
@@SouthernUkuleleStore Just watched. Yes, Pepe. :) Great instruments. I love the sound and feel of the tiny Tenor. Unsure about the shape for my eye. Time will tell.
Hey Alex, thanks for this great demo. I know I am late finding this but I am so torn and on the fence between the Kanile'a and the KoAloha, but that may just be the low G. Since I live in Hawaii I guess I should hop on a short flight to Oahu and see how they are crafted along with the attention to detail each takes in the process. Much Aloha and thanks for the great demo again!
If you’re that close Dan then you owe it to yourself!
When you compare the sustain at 1.40 - 2.20 - 3.10 min I think the KoAloha is unbeatable.
Although playing it with the Low G isn't that fair to the competitors.
In the end you should test them for yourself and live, to hear the slight differences of their sound and to value their haptic.
In regard of the look I'm really attracted by hole, head, it's own character of the KoAloha.
I love the sound of the Kanile'a and the Low G on he Koaloha is great too! All great instruments but the Kamaka is in last place for me.
I have owned all three and have to the the kanilea is the richest sounding / is so light feel and has a bigger body !
The type of music your going for sort of determines the sound your looking for. Im old school therefore I like the soft warm tones of the Kamaka. Now if you were to string all the ukeleles with identical strings, they all sound the same.
Aieaboy oh man, I completely agree - it’s all subjective and I spend so much time answering questions about what strings are best for Ukes before the customer has even played it. I think the Kamaka strings are a great match for the Kamaka - not so much for the more modern sounding and feeling instruments.
I just purchased a KoAloha tenor tuned to Low G. Sounds amazing!! Absolutely appreciate your videos!! Please keep it up. Mahalo Nui Loa!!
I’m partial to KoAloha. However, they all sound very nice.
Lovely playing. Koaloha for me too (obviously!)
TheOldBaz it’s the only one with a Low G string on here.
I confess I was more intrigued by your style of playing - lefty playing a righty instrument - than I was by the comparison. I’m a lefty and play true lefty, having modified my instruments. I have a Martin, a Kamaka, and a Koaloha.
I play that way too with my own instruments. I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
LOL I just thought the video was inverted that’s cool!
I wish you would have included the Ko'olau the other Big K from Hawaii and of course high or low G on all of them.
KoAloha is my number one, love the deep rich tone
absolute beautiful instruments; each in its own right. i think it's important to note that the KoAloha comes strung w/ a lowG, whereas the other don't... and: the Kanile'a's sure have a (very) flat and wide neck which you either like or... DON'T!!!
I really like the Kamaka. In my opinion a ukulele is supposed to be clear and tonal, not deep and rich. All of them sound good and are beautiful.
Did this myself and bought a Koaloha. There was no comparison. The KTM-00 (with a high G) played and sounded significantly better than kanile'as and kamakas that were twice the price. Even after attending multiple namm shows and trying them again I still prefer koaloha instruments. Kanile'as and Ko'olau are second, with Kamaka in fourth. They all sound great, but the setup, sustain, volume, and warmth were all just a step above with all the koalohas I tried.
I have owned all three but never at the same time. I think my favourite of the Koa Tenors is the KoAloha too...
For what it’s worth, Kamaka would be behind Kanile’a and KoAloha for me too purely because they are a little bit limiting. You can only really make a Kamaka sound like a Kamaka which is probably as much a blessing as it is a curse when comparing the brands.
Thanks for your comment, I really enjoy hearing another perspective.
hi do you still like the KTM-00 .Thinking of buying one myself or the K1 ,But i do like the sound and looks of the KTM-00
Regards Dez
The KTM-00 is still my favourite although the K-1 is also excellent. I'd choose the KoAloha - but if you asked me another day I might say Kanile'a 🤦♂️
Derek Scott My KTM-00 is still my favorite uke. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks for the reply you have made my mined up
Cheers
Why is the Koaloha so damn good!
Aloha spirit
I once was thinking theoretically, it's possible to play a regular ukulele left-handed, now I see the living proof lol.
KoAloha; Kanile'a; Kamaka dat's my opinion!
I wonder why I hardly ever see any of these three ukuleles with a cut out for fingerpickers. Whata are your thoughts on cutouts for finger picking??
Kanile'a do a few models with bevelled cutaways. I think the frequency of the notes that high up the board with nylon style strings sounds very shill and the smaller overall scale lengths of ukuleles than guitars make it easy to reach whatever frets are at the upper end withouta cutaway. .
The Kamaka has the true sound of what an UKULELE should sound like!
Kanile’a
Bob Harty fine choice
I agree, a comparison with the same strings on all 3 would have been a bit more "equalizing". Strings really do make a difference, but I understand that if you walked into SUS and tried all 3, it would have been the same situation as this video comparison. Having said that the KoAloha came out on top for me in all categories. The Kamaka 2nd and Kanile'a 3rd.
I agree with that too. The Kamaka strings and Kanile’a Aquila let’s both instruments down... glad the reasoning behind using factory strings for display demonstration makes sense though.
Thanks for watching.
@@SouthernUkuleleStore Thank you guys for doing a great job of "everything ukulele"! Wished I lived in the UK, for three reasons, 1. to shop with you 2. to see my team (Tottenham) live, 3. to get away from Trump!
I honestly couldn’t tell you whether Trump is better or worse than impending Brexit Britain... still I suppose you would get to see Spurs! 👍
I like all of them but cannot afford them. Ha ha..ha. May be one day I will buy a Kanile K2 -TE Gloss Tenor.
Great choice!
Beautiful insturments all, and so well played! Thank you! I definitely prefer the low G setup so that swayed my opinion. Does each instrument have a different (manufacturer) set of strings? My thought is that these are all beautifully crafted ukuleles so...how much do different strings affect the sound? My guess is that all would sound very much alike if strung with the same exact strings. Am I off the mark here? Thank you again for a wonderful demo. If I’m ever in your neighborhood (about 5,400 miles from mine) I will be sure to stop in!
If you put the wounded c string I could tell you which one is better.
Does the Koaloha have a low G?
It sure sounded like it has a low G and the other two have high G's. Over all I like the resonance and warmth of the Koaloha the most and the balance of the Kanilea the most in this video. The Kamaka sounded rather dull in comparison to me. I have played all three brands and felt the same when I played them and they all had the same set of strings on them. I actually ended up passing on all three when it came time to purchase. If I ever add one to my collection it will be a Koaloha.
Daniel Flores yes the KoAloha is Low G as it arrives from the factory.
1: Kanile'a (for sure) // 2: Kamaka // 3: KoAloha
Lasse Lund fine choice
Same!
I noticed you were playing left handed. Do you have to rearrange the strings?
Nope. In the videos I play upside down.
for me the KoAloha all day , not being disrespectful, you;'ll understand,,,, if Andy eastwood or Peter moss was playing that it would sound no diff than the custon kamaka jake s plays ,,,,, your a lovely player btw, im just makin a point, i see people race to buy a ludwig crown, its sold after 3 months ,,, oh its the uke, not the fact they arent george formby,,,,, people expect miracles when they can't be bothered to practice
Nice how you transitioned from Stairway to George Harrison 🇬🇧
Yep, Koaloha (by quite a margin) then Kanile'a and finally the Kamaka. But I want all three.
Laurence Counter do you think the Low G on the Koaloha could have swayed your opinion since the others have a high G
I preferred the Ko-aloha. I feel warmth. and I'd like to know the title of second song.
It's one of my own songs created for our demo videos. Apologies
Thank you very much for my answer. It has a pleasant melody. I want ed to tab musical score or explanation video.But maybe cannot....
Thank you very much.
You are a leftie, I am a strong leftie. Where are u located I want to purchase a leftie, tenor ukulele? thanks.
Bournemouth, UK
I'm so torn between the Kanile'a and the KoAloha. I think KoAloha pipped it just slightly but that might just be the sound of the low G. Sorry Kamaka!
The Kanile'a I think for me.
which song is it?
You probably are asking about 'blow this house down'
ua-cam.com/video/v7Iqil0cFnM/v-deo.html
KoAloha I think but what do I know! 🤣 What’s the tune Alex - sounds great!
Kevin McKeown which one? 🤷♂️
The first ‘three’ you played? 👍
Kevin McKeown it’s a song of my own called ‘blow this house down’. You can find the guitar version on Spotify under the band name ‘hummingbird and the crow’ and I am recording the version for a Ukulele album at the moment ready for release in the new year.
@@SouthernUkuleleStore Many thanks, I'll check it out!
Kevin McKeown ua-cam.com/video/v7Iqil0cFnM/v-deo.html
All are nice ukuleles however it would be best to compare them if you did less strumming and more fingerpicking
It's Koaloha for me.
Best sounding: Koaloha. Kanile'a is a close second. Best looking: Kanile'a. Sorry, Kamaka! :(
MattyPeq poor Kamaka!
Looks Koaloha,sound Kanilea.
All beautiful instruments....but Kanile`a, ahhhhh
Or the Kamaka. Lol.
They all sound the same like expensive toys