Thanks for another great review, not a great instrument, always amazed at why companies would put so much effort and resource into producing inferior items. You gave Enya as an example of making a better product and improving. Would only direct people to reputable specialists and they have some real used gems that are a million times better. Thanks and you have a real good week.
I bought my Kala from a local respected music shop, it was taken out of the box and simply handed to me. When I went back to complain about poor sound I was told nothing wrong, when I asked about set up I was laughed at. Lessons learned.
Not all 'local respected music shops' are ukulele specialists. In fact very few are. The shops I list on my site as recommendations are very small in number for a reason.
@@SlaughteredDecay Yes exactly. Most of them in fact (in my experience). It's why I don't list stores en-masse just because they ask - the only uke stores I list on my site are ones I have had personal experience of or have been given the experience of people I trust implicitly.
Throwing a few extras is the usual way of compensating for the main part of your purchase being not as good. I pointed my sister towards the Octopus Rosette tenor £79 for my niece knowing she was buying from Amazon. Through your channel I would only buy from specialist dealers and mainly thanks to your honest reviews Baz 👍 I look forward to 20 minutes on a Sunday with a review and brew before the dog drags me back out.
Without actually seeing it I cannot comment on the “varnish”. Why make a large instrument, in Ukulele terms, then put a narrow neck on it !!! Finally, why put a strap button on the end and put a neck hole strap in the “goodie bag” !!!
I like the looks of it for the most part but I agree the varnish is thick. It is a shame that the factory doesn’t set it up right when they build it. It sounds like a cheap soprano and I don’t really like the sound. I don’t think this one is even a good beginner ukulele because are not learning the proper sound…. Thanks as always my friend….DOC
@@GotAUkulele recommend to me a soprano ukulele flight but with good quality and sound and not very expensive with plastic or wood i dknt know which is better
@@korniakornis9199 Sorry - have a policy of never giving individual recommendations beyond what I say in reviews. It's because eventually a lot of stuff on looks / sound etc is subjective to the buyer. We are all different. On my reviews page, the higher the score the more I personally like it
Thanks - it’s a useful review as if one was solely judging by a picture, and seeing the solid top, it looks quite attractive. But your description of the multiple shortcomings and hearing the thin tone, and appalling intonation, makes it a definite no. Looking forward to something exciting next time. Still, when I first came across GotAUkulele, honest reviews of mediocre instruments were what made me trust the enthusiastic reviews of good instruments - if all reviews are equally favourable, they’re not much use are they?
£95 for that instrument is expensive I think. As soon as I heard I thought .. Nah! That sound is awful .. almost dead and one dimensional. Thanks Baz .. I think haha!
Way too much - the setup issue is unacceptable at any price of course, but if it was £50 I may have suggested it could be worth tinkering with. Not for £95 though
@@MattyPeq you wouldn't think so, but it looks similar to sapele soundboards I have on a harp and a hammered dulcimer. I've also heard people say that sapele is "african mahogany" so I figured maybe the manufacturer feels more comfortable with saying mahogany rather than using its proper name which may not be as well known outside the music community. As you say though, that wood choice would be inconsistent with the standard of the rest of the instrument.
That is the classic kanilea headstock shape, and the bridge with pins is too. It has a very one dimensional, boxy tone. The intonation is HORRIBLE. A set of Aquila strings might help, with a setup. Sand off the damn finish and respray it. I play fiddle, so I like the narrow nut. I think I’d give this one a 4, or a 5 at the most. To H-- with amazon. Thanks for suffering through this, so people who watch you won’t get robbed.
When diving into the pool of Amazon ukuleles, it is best to wear a crash helmet since it is a very shallow pool!
Ha!
Hahaha! Made me laugh!
Any time I see that plain mahogany it reminds me of basic hollow core doors and luan plywood. Appreciate hearing your review.
Yes!
Wow, going from a high-praise review last week to the opposite this week. Love watching them all. Nice way to tease us for next week's review!
Would be boring if they were all excellent.. (Some review sites of instruments do just that!)
First to comment for the algorithm gods-great review as usual, makes my Sunday ❤
Yay! Thank you!
Thanks for another great review, not a great instrument, always amazed at why companies would put so much effort and resource into producing inferior items. You gave Enya as an example of making a better product and improving. Would only direct people to reputable specialists and they have some real used gems that are a million times better. Thanks and you have a real good week.
Thanks Mike!
As usual, such a great review!
Thanks!
It was me! I thought your macro's flattered the instrument, you got me good. 😂
😁
I bought my Kala from a local respected music shop, it was taken out of the box and simply handed to me. When I went back to complain about poor sound I was told nothing wrong, when I asked about set up I was laughed at. Lessons learned.
Not all 'local respected music shops' are ukulele specialists. In fact very few are. The shops I list on my site as recommendations are very small in number for a reason.
Unfortunately a lot of Music shops are snobs that don't consider ukulele a "real" instrument.
@@SlaughteredDecay Yes exactly. Most of them in fact (in my experience). It's why I don't list stores en-masse just because they ask - the only uke stores I list on my site are ones I have had personal experience of or have been given the experience of people I trust implicitly.
Wow only 34 mm. I have small hands this would be too small for me !
@@SlaughteredDecay Really? I wish I had discovered this channel a year ago, I would have followed the advice.
Thanks for a brilliant review. Amazon must be listening to you as they have reduced the price 20% to £75.99.
I know - someone told me - funny!
Throwing a few extras is the usual way of compensating for the main part of your purchase being not as good.
I pointed my sister towards the Octopus Rosette tenor £79 for my niece knowing she was buying from Amazon.
Through your channel I would only buy from specialist dealers and mainly thanks to your honest reviews Baz 👍
I look forward to 20 minutes on a Sunday with a review and brew before the dog drags me back out.
Absolutely - no such thing as a free lunch!
Without actually seeing it I cannot comment on the “varnish”. Why make a large instrument, in Ukulele terms, then put a narrow neck on it !!!
Finally, why put a strap button on the end and put a neck hole strap in the “goodie bag” !!!
Ha ha - yes missed that point about the strap!
Thanks for a good review. Rule number 1: One does not purchase from Amazon. Simply as that 😆
Amen
You've demo'd other cheapo ukes that sound much better. With this one, I'd be tempted to throw the uke on the bonfire and keep the snazzy bag!
Exactly - easily beaten
Very thin sounding why such a small nut typical amazon 🤔 great review as always
My thoughts exactly
I like the looks of it for the most part but I agree the varnish is thick. It is a shame that the factory doesn’t set it up right when they build it. It sounds like a cheap soprano and I don’t really like the sound. I don’t think this one is even a good beginner ukulele because are not learning the proper sound…. Thanks as always my friend….DOC
It's not so much 'thick', rather it feels like cheap plastic!
What good equality ukulele soprano ? Not very expensive and not very cheap .
See my full reviews list for scores about 8.5 and above
@@GotAUkulele flight nus 310 soprano good?
@@korniakornis9199 Not bad, but didn't quite make it into my 'recommendations' www.gotaukulele.com/2016/09/flight-nus310-soprano-ukulele-review.html
@@GotAUkulele recommend to me a soprano ukulele flight but with good quality and sound and not very expensive with plastic or wood i dknt know which is better
@@korniakornis9199 Sorry - have a policy of never giving individual recommendations beyond what I say in reviews. It's because eventually a lot of stuff on looks / sound etc is subjective to the buyer. We are all different. On my reviews page, the higher the score the more I personally like it
Thanks - it’s a useful review as if one was solely judging by a picture, and seeing the solid top, it looks quite attractive. But your description of the multiple shortcomings and hearing the thin tone, and appalling intonation, makes it a definite no.
Looking forward to something exciting next time. Still, when I first came across GotAUkulele, honest reviews of mediocre instruments were what made me trust the enthusiastic reviews of good instruments - if all reviews are equally favourable, they’re not much use are they?
Quite agree - it's why i've always tried to cover all bases
£95 for that instrument is expensive I think. As soon as I heard I thought .. Nah! That sound is awful .. almost dead and one dimensional. Thanks Baz .. I think haha!
Way too much - the setup issue is unacceptable at any price of course, but if it was £50 I may have suggested it could be worth tinkering with. Not for £95 though
Already £76 quid on Amazon...
Oh really? Ha ha!
Looks like sappelle top.
Certainly different from the rest - they say it's mahogany. I don't think so!
Adam, Sapele is actually an amazing wood. Beautiful and with awesome qualities... and not cheap. So... I doubt it is Sapele in this case!!!
@@MattyPeq you wouldn't think so, but it looks similar to sapele soundboards I have on a harp and a hammered dulcimer. I've also heard people say that sapele is "african mahogany" so I figured maybe the manufacturer feels more comfortable with saying mahogany rather than using its proper name which may not be as well known outside the music community. As you say though, that wood choice would be inconsistent with the standard of the rest of the instrument.
That is the classic kanilea headstock shape, and the bridge with pins is too. It has a very one dimensional, boxy tone. The intonation is HORRIBLE. A set of Aquila strings might help, with a setup. Sand off the damn finish and respray it. I play fiddle, so I like the narrow nut. I think I’d give this one a 4, or a 5 at the most. To H-- with amazon. Thanks for suffering through this, so people who watch you won’t get robbed.
Which itself is very reminiscent of Taylor guitars!
Oh Baz, I hope you don't play poker!
Eh?
@@GotAUkulele Your feelings are written all over your face when you play these woeful instruments...
Could be a sapele top as you mentioned...hmmm. Either way it's a big NO for me...
Nope indeed.