I think the Martin has a sweeter tone with better sustain. I suspect the Timms sounds like the Martin did 100 years ago. Wonderful comparison! Thank you for posting this.
Still LOVE Martin's! Close sound but there is always a recognizable sound to the Martin! I just cannot settle on anything else! Thx for showing us these both fantastic ukes! Glory days.
You can’t beat a vintage Martin, and Kenn Times chose well when he decided to copy them! These early wood-peg Martin sopranos are some of the best ever made. UA-cam, microphones and speakers tend to level things out, but it sounds like the Timms holds its own very well. There are few modern sopranos that can, in my opinion. Lovely presentation- thanks for this! The Martin is a style 0, by the way.
I do have a few vintage Martins and I did have a Timms. I sold the Timms, because it was SO close to the Martins that I felt some sort of redundance. Timms are among the best Soprano Mahogany ukes I've played and I highly recommend them!
Great video - I think the Timms shades it - more volume and crisper tone - but then the Martin has had decades to mellow out. You should do more reviews - great presentation!
@@GotAUkulele cool! I almost made it private just for friends as I was a bit rushed and garbled my words a bit. But that is encouraging, I'll definitely do more if I get the opportunity.
The Ken Timms is either tuned more accurately or better intonated and a lot of care gone into fret placement wheras the Martin was mass produced at speed (great, talented luthiers). I like the Martin tone, very sweet probably beautiful old best quality mahogany but those friction wooden pegs may be difficult to tune dead accurately unlike the geared modern banjo pegs. Beautiful demo playing, interesting comparison, thank you. 👍
The Martin/Ditson has a very nice typical Martin tone. The Timm sounds clean and sharp and will likely morph as it ages. I would like to hear it after it has been played in a bit. I notice the wood quality in the Ditson ( did not see the back unfortunately) is very high and may be Cuban and 1/4 sawn. Not sure of the fingerboard wood but if rosewood likely Brazilian. The Timm has likely Honduran or Brazilian mahogany and the back looks to be slab cut with nice figure. Appears to be East Indian rosewood fingerboard. Very well made. I built ukes in the early 90s...only concert sizes and only quarter sawn honduran mahogany with ebony fingerboards and brazilian rosewood bridges, rosewood binding, bone nuts and saddles and geared pegs. I currently make cavaquinhos. Looking at these two beautiful instruments I am thinking about building ukes again. Luckily I have a very large and very old stash of wood collected over many years. Thanks for the excellent and inspiring video...you play well. Liked and subscribed. From So. Oregon USA
In which it becomes instantly clear that I have only ever heard you sing (The Lava Birds, so great!) and not actually speak. How lovely. [Knowing you're on the non-US side of the pond, this should perhaps not have been the surprise that it was...? I'm laughing at myself, here.] -- Thank you for this comparison, in detail and presentation. More, please. :-)
Nice comparison, but perhaps it would have been better to fit both instruments with the same set of strings. That could account for the wide difference in sound.
Interesting video, for me the Ken Tim's is lovely. however... Martin sounds better, not sure whether it is just placebo but what can beat the whole look feel and vibe of a vintage instrument that old? No comparison for me. Martin is super cool. And may I ask what the tunes were please?
👍🏻 mirror-inverted, nevertheless a NEAT video, Emma! Even though it is marginal, yes, there is an audible difference. Frankly, I would think that only in a direct A/B comparison this is even recognizable. I doubt that a blindfolded person would be able to tell 'em apart.
Nice nice playing girl.........both sound wonderful BUT the Martin is just that much nicer. Sound wise I mean. THX for posting. It be interesting to hear a Kiwaya hog against these two beauties.
Hard to tell over the computer speakers. Both sound great. Fine ukes, nice playing. Which is your favorite? In the 20s, most pro players tuned up to. a D f# b. Do you ever tune those up a step?
Hey, thanks for the constructive comment. I have used that tuning from time to time depending on my needs, perhaps they would sing a little more in that tuning. Hard to say which was my favorite though…unfortunately the Martin isn’t mine but perhaps it had a little more clarity of tone and well…it just feels special to hold and pay a uke that old. Probably the Timms will start to open up over time. The Timms feels more solid too which is a nice sensation… I would likely gig the Timms but not the Martin, I would be too scared of damaging it!
Thanks for sharing your excellent playing. It is hard to describe a difference except I thought the Timms appeared louder on both trials. I presume you are using similar strings. Do you hear a difference in volume using similar technique? Is the approximate thickness of the soundboard the same for both instruments? I presume the Timms is also Mahogany or could it be a different wood? I wonder the difference between current-day Mahogony and 1920s sourced materials? I am sure you will enjoy both instruments.
Hi TriJim. Yeah, I was using Martin M600s on both but the ones on the Martin seem a touch finer and clearer? New and old versions of the same strings perhaps...? The soundboard looks the same to me but the Timms feels a little heavier and more solid, maybe BC of the metal tuners, but perhaps also the wood being newer and less dried out? Just an impression I have...no idea if that's even a possibility.
Hey ,Thank you for this Video,i think in Single Note the Martin is Warmer and the other clearer, But on struming i belief Martin is little Lourdes ,can t say ,if Its i real also! And you Play Nice thanks
Actually you cannot compare ukes by age or brands because every uke has its own voice like you and me. All I'm saying you will not get a consistent sound even if it's build by the same guy , same materials side by side. But it was nice watching your video
Thanks John, yeah...I think the Chas Ditson Co. was instrumental in bringing about the brith of the production of style 1 Martin ukes. I should have also made a clearer distinction between the Chas Ditson Co. in NYC and the Oliver Ditson Co. in Boston. Most of the ukes made for Chas Ditson had the dreadnaught body.
My question would be, do you have the same strings on the instruments, new and old string sound very differently and so it would be hard to make a true opinion without knowing that the Timm one sounds warmer, but again, it’s a strings thing lol
THE Martin has a "Mature" sweet sound. The Timms is definitely louder. In 100 years what will the Timms sound like? More "Mature"? I would expect so. Time changes acoustic instrument sound!
Nothing sounds better than a Martin 0 and the proof is right there, sorry Ken. No contest. Actually the difference is far greater than I imagined it would be. Tim Laughlin makes the best copy....but a good style 0 is the best sounding ukulele ever made...including their style 3 and 5.
I think the Martin has a sweeter tone with better sustain. I suspect the Timms sounds like the Martin did 100 years ago. Wonderful comparison! Thank you for posting this.
I’d be very happy to own either of those lovely ukes.
I think they both sound fantastic how you present them. May be the Timms is a little bit crisper but I think it is a matter of taste. Awesome Emma.
Still LOVE Martin's! Close sound but there is always a recognizable sound to the Martin! I just cannot settle on anything else! Thx for showing us these both fantastic ukes! Glory days.
You can’t beat a vintage Martin, and Kenn Times chose well when he decided to copy them! These early wood-peg Martin sopranos are some of the best ever made. UA-cam, microphones and speakers tend to level things out, but it sounds like the Timms holds its own very well. There are few modern sopranos that can, in my opinion. Lovely presentation- thanks for this! The Martin is a style 0, by the way.
I agree with the last post the Martin has a sweet tone and better sustain.
I prefer the Martin. Thanks for the video. :)
The Martin was sweeter, the timms was brighter but note separation was off and a muddled tone (clarity was off) I have a ton of Martin's and one timms
I do have a few vintage Martins and I did have a Timms. I sold the Timms, because it was SO close to the Martins that I felt some sort of redundance. Timms are among the best Soprano Mahogany ukes I've played and I highly recommend them!
Great video - I think the Timms shades it - more volume and crisper tone - but then the Martin has had decades to mellow out.
You should do more reviews - great presentation!
Thanks, that's nice to hear coming from you!
@@ukulelewoodshed6694 It's really engaging I thought
@@GotAUkulele cool! I almost made it private just for friends as I was a bit rushed and garbled my words a bit. But that is encouraging, I'll definitely do more if I get the opportunity.
I garble mine all the time!
@@GotAUkulele I never notice!
I owned 3 Ken Timms sopranos, i loved them very much.
Yes they are a bit louder.
But it cannot beat a Vintage Martin.
The Martin has a warmer tone possibly due to it being a more mature instrument
The Martin wins the sound test hands down.
They’re both had nice crisp and mellow sound. I wish I can get hold of Ken Tim’s too. That’s a good collections you have.
Thanks! Unfortunately the Martin isn't mine...I brought it back from the states for a friend. Maybe one day it will come back to me :)
The Ken Timms is either tuned more accurately or better intonated and a lot of care gone into fret placement wheras the Martin was mass produced at speed (great, talented luthiers). I like the Martin tone, very sweet probably beautiful old best quality mahogany but those friction wooden pegs may be difficult to tune dead accurately unlike the geared modern banjo pegs. Beautiful demo playing, interesting comparison, thank you. 👍
Thanks for that. Wow! Love the sound of that Martin it's fantastic. Beautiful playing too.
I think the Martin's tone is just nicer than the Timm's! Thanks for the tunes!
bigger sound with the martin. thank you for the comparison!
Nice video & comparison! So Happy I found you! 😊😊
Thanks Paul! I may dissapoint as I rarely make any videos about instruments. Glad you enjoyed this one anway :)
For me the difference was not really big but it was nice to watch your video. And I loved the melodies you played. Thanks for sharing.
I'm a great fan of Martins ukuleles, but to be honest the Timms sounded as well as the Marin did. Thanks for a very nice and intersting compare ❤
The Martin/Ditson has a very nice typical Martin tone. The Timm sounds clean and sharp and will likely morph as it ages. I would like to hear it after it has been played in a bit.
I notice the wood quality in the Ditson ( did not see the back unfortunately) is very high and may be Cuban and 1/4 sawn. Not sure of the fingerboard wood but if rosewood likely Brazilian.
The Timm has likely Honduran or Brazilian mahogany and the back looks to be slab cut with nice figure. Appears to be East Indian rosewood fingerboard. Very well made.
I built ukes in the early 90s...only concert sizes and only quarter sawn honduran mahogany with ebony fingerboards and brazilian rosewood bridges, rosewood binding, bone nuts and saddles and geared pegs. I currently make cavaquinhos.
Looking at these two beautiful instruments I am thinking about building ukes again. Luckily I have a very large and very old stash of wood collected over many years.
Thanks for the excellent and inspiring video...you play well. Liked and subscribed. From So. Oregon USA
Thanks a lot for your input. There were a couple of small cracks that has been repaired in the Martin but good condition overall!
In which it becomes instantly clear that I have only ever heard you sing (The Lava Birds, so great!) and not actually speak. How lovely. [Knowing you're on the non-US side of the pond, this should perhaps not have been the surprise that it was...? I'm laughing at myself, here.]
-- Thank you for this comparison, in detail and presentation.
More, please. :-)
You are welcome! Planning another video soon!
I think the Martin is more sweet sounding.
great demo and comparison!
Timms sounded louder but harsher, I liked the sweetness of the Martin better..I think string choice could make the Timms sweeter..
I like both but the Ken Timms is a little cleaner sounding to me. Timms is a very talented luthier. Like your playing also!
Nice comparison, but perhaps it would have been better to fit both instruments with the same set of strings. That could account for the wide difference in sound.
They both have Martin M600s on.
Both are great its a matter of taste for me i prefer the Timms sound.
I like both equally despite the subtle differences. Ken would've got a job straight away with the old Martin workshop such was his skills.
Interesting video, for me the Ken Tim's is lovely. however... Martin sounds better, not sure whether it is just placebo but what can beat the whole look feel and vibe of a vintage instrument that old? No comparison for me. Martin is super cool.
And may I ask what the tunes were please?
Thanks Paul! The tunes were a bit of Magic Ukulele Waltz and Egyptian Ella
👍🏻 mirror-inverted, nevertheless a NEAT video, Emma! Even though it is marginal, yes, there is an audible difference. Frankly, I would think that only in a direct A/B comparison this is even recognizable. I doubt that a blindfolded person would be able to tell 'em apart.
martin hands down fuller sound not so scratchy
Nice nice playing girl.........both sound wonderful BUT the Martin is just that much nicer. Sound wise I mean. THX for posting. It be interesting to hear a Kiwaya hog against these two beauties.
Very interesting, thanks!
Hard to tell over the computer speakers. Both sound great. Fine ukes, nice playing. Which is your favorite? In the 20s, most pro players tuned up to. a D f# b. Do you ever tune those up a step?
Hey, thanks for the constructive comment. I have used that tuning from time to time depending on my needs, perhaps they would sing a little more in that tuning. Hard to say which was my favorite though…unfortunately the Martin isn’t mine but perhaps it had a little more clarity of tone and well…it just feels special to hold and pay a uke that old. Probably the Timms will start to open up over time. The Timms feels more solid too which is a nice sensation… I would likely gig the Timms but not the Martin, I would be too scared of damaging it!
Martin has a softer tone
My 1920 martin 5k would blow those 2 and many others away
Thankyou good stuff!
You are most welcome!
Thanks for sharing your excellent playing. It is hard to describe a difference except I thought the Timms appeared louder on both trials. I presume you are using similar strings. Do you hear a difference in volume using similar technique? Is the approximate thickness of the soundboard the same for both instruments? I presume the Timms is also Mahogany or could it be a different wood? I wonder the difference between current-day Mahogony and 1920s sourced materials? I am sure you will enjoy both instruments.
Hi TriJim. Yeah, I was using Martin M600s on both but the ones on the Martin seem a touch finer and clearer? New and old versions of the same strings perhaps...? The soundboard looks the same to me but the Timms feels a little heavier and more solid, maybe BC of the metal tuners, but perhaps also the wood being newer and less dried out? Just an impression I have...no idea if that's even a possibility.
Martin all the way.
what is the difference in weight, if you have some kitchen scales?
Hey ,Thank you for this Video,i think in Single Note the Martin is Warmer and the other clearer,
But on struming i belief Martin is little Lourdes ,can t say ,if Its i real also!
And you Play Nice thanks
Actually you cannot compare ukes by age or brands because every uke has its own voice like you and me. All I'm saying you will not get a consistent sound even if it's build by the same guy , same materials side by side. But it was nice watching your video
Excuse me for asking, but 600 dollars seems an absolute steal for a 1920's Martin uke, especially one that sounds this good in such great condition.
I don't remember for certain, but I believe the Martin ukes are the classic Oliver Ditson style, not the other way around.
Thanks John, yeah...I think the Chas Ditson Co. was instrumental in bringing about the brith of the production of style 1 Martin ukes. I should have also made a clearer distinction between the Chas Ditson Co. in NYC and the Oliver Ditson Co. in Boston. Most of the ukes made for Chas Ditson had the dreadnaught body.
My question would be, do you have the same strings on the instruments, new and old string sound very differently and so it would be hard to make a true opinion without knowing that the Timm one sounds warmer, but again, it’s a strings thing lol
THE Martin has a "Mature" sweet sound. The Timms is definitely louder. In 100 years what will the Timms sound like? More "Mature"? I would expect so. Time changes acoustic instrument sound!
The second one sounds better to me and that sounded Like a bit of Roy Smeck.
The Martin has a more aggressive sound.
the timms must be louder as it is distorting the microphone...
3:20 skip here for the actually playing....
You can tell that the Timms is louder, because it's saturating your mic.
The “Martin” comes in second, by a small margin. But let’s face it, they’re both ukuleles, so tone is secondary.
Nothing sounds better than a Martin 0 and the proof is right there, sorry Ken. No contest. Actually the difference is far greater than I imagined it would be. Tim Laughlin makes the best copy....but a good style 0 is the best sounding ukulele ever made...including their style 3 and 5.
My 1920 Martin 5k would blow those two away in tone
The martin had a richer tone overall.
what about your thoughts? do you have any? are you afraid of having thoughts? why don't I know what they are
You should get a big ukulele tattoo.
The sound is distorted
Martin is Higher in tone .. Replica's tone is more full
1920's ukuleles were hand built by Luthiers.