Mahogany Soprano Ukulele Comparison - Kiwaya KTS-7 vs Millar PD-210MN Phil Doleman Signature Demo
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- Опубліковано 16 вер 2024
- In this battle of the mahogany soprano ukuleles, it's the Kiwaya KTS-7 (priced at £1,099) against the Millar Phil Doleman Signature uke (£329). Both instruments are available from World of Ukes:
Kiwaya: worldofukes.co...
Millar: worldofukes.co...
Really interesting. They’re distinct, both beautiful sounds, with different tone ranges. I think I actually prefer the Millar, which just shows how good it is bearing in mind the price difference…
Thanks Paul. I think agree for chords and picking, it's with the chord melody that I find the Kiwaya a bit clearer.
@@WorldofUkes yes, I think where the Kiwaya shines is hearing individual notes in the chord.
Great comparison Matt! I love the vintage Martin styling of the Kiwaya and it sounds a bit louder & punchier than the Millar to my ears. Difficult to ignore the Millar though at less than a third of the price and the sound has a completely different character to the Kiwaya that I really like. I think the only sensible solution is to buy both ;)
Haha yes, I'll go along with that! I was surprised, when playing, the Millar sounded louder and clearly nicer I thought. Then listening back the Kiwaya is louder and better than it seemed when I was playing. Which seems to make little sense!
For me the soprano Kiwayas are unbeatable. Even their cheaper laminatted series are surprisingly good! To me the KTS7 has a richer sound! Thanks!
I would choose Millar personally. Thanks for the comparison as always Matt.
My pleasure (as in, I got to play some nice ukuleles, so it really was my pleasure!)
Kiwaya is 100 years of a sound that is refined and is the one that sounds more measured. If I had the luxury of a choice it would be this. However for a third of the price, the millar is, I agree with other, a livelier uke. What I am surprised of, being a concert and tenor player, is the level of sustain on both these instruments. Thanks again Matt.
My pleasure! (Two nice instruments to play, it really is my pleasure!)
It is great to see and listen to two excellent sopranos together. Objectively, and I mainly play a Kiwaya KTS-4, so have an inbuilt bias, I think that the KTS-7 hs the greater potential, though I'd definitely change the strings. We are however very much in the land of diminishing returns and the Phil Dolman Signature is incredible value. I think the KTS-4 has a particular magic of its own but at around twice the price of the Millar Phil Dolman a comparison video could well be an even closer run thing....
Yes that's not a bad plan for a future video ☺️
Both sound great, though I agree that the Millar sounds a little 'livelier'. I lean towards the looks of the Kiwaya, but I'd most likely go for the Millar if I had a choice. I have a Cort soprano which sounds completely different again. It's never ending...
It is never ending, and such an imprecise science as you never quite now what factor is influencing the sound most!
Might be in the strings 🤔 not much in it. I think the Kiwaya has a little more snap and warmth. I like both on the price I'm definitely tempted more by the Millar. Fingerstyle there didn't seem to be much difference. I think I'd go Millar with nylon strings but tuned to ADF#B 🤔
Thanks :) I definitely think that tuning suits the Kiwaya. The Millar I don't mind in either.
@@WorldofUkes it's the tension I have trouble with generally with a normal scale gcea soprano. Struggle to find a set with the right feel generally.
@@TubeJLF Yes. You can certainly see why it used to be the norm.
Over my computer headphones the Kiwaya has a richer and fuller sound. The Millar is no slouch though and sounds very good as well. But I must say I prefer the Kiwaya.
Picked the Kiwaya sounds darker and fuller to my ears. Millar seems to have a bit more sustain when strummed, with more top end. Tend towards fingerstyle myself so if money wasn’t an object then it would be the Kiwaya. But the Millar is fantastic for the price.
Thanks Jonathan, useful comments!
To my ears, the Millar seems more colorful and less compressed (which is a very good thing).
Takk Jannik
Thankyou for this comparison I prefer the Millar. I felt the sound was not as harsh and a more pleasant sound
I prefer the Kiwaia, sounds as a ukulele should sound with equilibrated tones. For me, Mîllar sounds too much baroque.
Interesting that the Kiwaya sounds a bit dampened compared to the vibrant Millar. Whether the Honduran mahogany on the Kiwaya, which is supposed to sound a tad bit warmer than most other mahogany woods, has an effect there but I'd guess the biggest difference is the strings. I've never liked Fremont Blackline strings on smaller scale ukes as they tend to be a bit muted. I switched to Worth Clears on my KTS-7 and they really bring the uke to life.
I have to say that the build quality for Kiwaya ukes really is second to none. The playability is superb, and once you find the strings you like, be it the stock strings or something else, they also sound fantastic. That said, I think the Millar is still better value considering the price. It really does sound better in the video in my opinion.
Interesting, I didn't know that about Honduran Mahogany. I have tried the Millar with Fremont strings too and I still think its a close race with the same strings.
@@WorldofUkes Supposedly, as I mentioned. Obviously the actual build comes into play as well regarding the sound. In any case, it is better grade mahogany and much more expensive compared to, for example, African mahogany which less expensive ukes are usually made out of. Anyway, thanks for the video. :)
@@D0hle Thank you, for the interesting discussion!
To my ears, kiwaya sounds better strummed, while the miller sounds better fingerpicked. Both sounds gorgeous!
Buy the Millar and then spend the rest of the money on wine and pizza,😂 The Kiwaya definitely, it has a tone that I really love, however, how much is in the strimgs! Take care Matt and thanks very much.
No expert, but I liked the brighter sound of the Miller, it really sung out. But as others have said, a string change could alter that, and there’s no denying the quality of the Kiwaya.
Yes, bit more ring in the Worths I feel.
Was that a cheeky wee bit of Formby there at the start? I can't make my mind up which of the two I prefer. I want them both. Brilliant outro song
Maybe a bit like that, I've never got around to learning any songs from anyone else - so if it was, it was a fluke!
@@WorldofUkes I love a happy accident. It sounds like a part of Aunty Maggies Remedy. Keep on strumming brother
For me there is no comparison the Kayaya wins in every respect and the price reflects that.
Interesting, thank you.
Kiwaya easily bested the Millar IMO. But the Millar might be a better bang for the buck.
Interesting. What is that you liked about the Kiwaya?