Showing posts with label Hardcase. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hardcase. Show all posts

Thursday, 30 October 2014

Ohana SK-28 Soprano Ukulele Vintage Series Limited Edition Solid Mahogany $365 with hard-case, tuner and Set-up.

In a world overflowing with 'ME TOO' Cookie Cutter ukuleles the Ohana  SK-28 is a breath of fresh air... the tone, the feel, the look, really are a world away from mass  produced blandness. 

And at $365 AUD somewhat of a bargain as my Package Includes Hardcase, Setup, Tuner, Shipping within Australia

Launched recently overseas the SK-28 is another homage to a vintage instrument, inspired by  the instruments introduced to Hawaii by the likes of legendary luthiers Manuel Nunes and
Augusto Dias.
"The Ohana SK-28 model is copied from  an ORIGINAL UKULELE made by cabinet maker Augusto Dias." 

The 'Figure 8' or 'Peanut' body shape is a true classic, it is the closest relative of the  Portuguese instruments brought to the Hawaiian islands.  Dias and Manuel Nunes the earliest
ukulele makers and crafted ukuleles for more than 40 years and are legend amongst ukulele  enthusiasts.


HISTORY
History tells that Samuel Kamaka and Nunes own son, Leonardo, were apprentices and continued making quality ukuleles. In 1998, the Ukulele Hall of Fame inducted Manuel Nunes  into their honorees.

Louis Wu of Ohana Music has come up with a fantastic homage to the 'original' ukulele, made  in the traditional style.

If you are serious about your ukulele playing and uke collecting then a 'Peanut' body style soprano  is a must have for you.

This soprano has such a pleasing warm tone and easy playability that you soon realise that the  old master Luthiers really were onto something good.



SPECIFICATIONS SK-28 Soprano

  • $365 AUD Includes Hardcase, Setup, Tuner, Shipping within Australia
  • Premium solid mahogany top/back and sides
  • Ebony nut and saddle
  • Classic rope rosette and purfling
  • Satin finish
  • Friction tuners
  • Aquila strings













Thursday, 9 October 2014

Kala KA-ASAC-C Solid Acacia Wood Concert Size ukulele, It's the Goldilocks Size, not too big not too small.

Pictures for comparison only.
Ukulele and Case Package $599
Concert Ukulele Kala KA-ASAC-C and Hard-case Package.



Kala KA-ASAC-C + UC-C Case


The Concert size Ukulele fits in between the smaller Soprano and the larger Tenor Size.  It's the Goldilocks Size, not too big not too small.  


A soprano has less Volume, has less Bass and has less Frets (notes) than a Concert.  And a Soprano, being so small an instrument, may prove to be quite a squeeze playing chords.  

Whereas playing the larger Tenor size you may find the neck getting too big for smaller hands.  

So why struggle with the Tenor size ukulele when a Concert Uke offers the number of frets you need, with the full loud tone you want.


Setup Options: String Brand
High OR Low G
Right / Left handed


Includes; 

KA-ASAC-C Ukulele ($595)
Polyfoam Hardcase  ($80)
Clip On Headstock Tuner ($15)
Setup ($50)
Free Shipping (approx $45 value within mainland Australia).

Your Choice of
1. Aquila or Worth Strings. 

2. Low or High G String.
3. Right or Left-handed.

MAX BANG FOR YOU DOLLAR
Kala have got a lot of things right with their acacia range of ukes. They’re obviously going after a more serious ukulele player but they’re keeping it affordable by using Acacia wood (a close relation of Koa and much cheaper) and manufacturing it in China.
'Definitely worth checking these Solid Acacia ukuleles if you’re in the market for a quality uke,
but don’t have a massive budget.'

Solid woods are usually reserved for high end professional luthier constructed ukuleles great to see a solid wood ukulele at this mid range price point. If you were looking for a beautiful, solid wood concert in this price range, then put this All Solid Acacia Concert from Kala on you short list, check out the pictures and the sound demo and you may find that the KA-ASAC-C may be just what you want.

SOUND DEMO


Pictures for comparison only.

SOLID WOOD AGES LIKE FINE WINE

Solid wood ukuleles sound better from the get go, but they get better with time, the wood ages like fine wine.  Unlike Ply (which is a laminate of 3 slices of wood glued together) solid wood ukuleles will dry out over time.  

As moisture leaves the wood the top, back and sides become stiffer and lighter, that’s a good thing as the lighter and stiffer the wood the more resonant it is.  

The stiffer and lighter the wood the better string energy can be transferred, that means a better dynamic range of frequencies and more volume.

Ply Ukes will sound pretty much the same now as in ten years, solid wood ukuleles will  improve every year you own it.
Pictures for comparison only.


A RELATIVE OF KOA WOOD
Solid Acacia trees are also called the Mimosa or Shower Tree; these tropical trees are cousins of the Hawaiian Koa tree. They have gorgeous striped patterns of light and dark brown and have a deep colourful tone that match their visual beauty.

My analogy for the Koa v Acacia wood is its 'Champagne if it’s made in France, sparkling wine if it’s made elsewhere'.  Do not think that Acacia is inferior to Koa, it's not.

These solid wood ukes are trimmed with rosewood edge binding and classic herringbone purfling and custom position markers accent the fret board. 

'This beautiful, all-solid Striped Acacia
has the WOW FACTOR, 

that is going to get admiring looks from your friends at ukulele club'

Pictures for comparison only.

Some of the key features -  a rosewood bridge and fingerboard, and ebony nut and saddle. Decorative features include custom abalone fret marker inlays, rosewood binding and vintage-style herringbone purfling.

With the all solid acacia wood construction this Kala is sweet and loud... a sweetness that ply laminate construction just cannot achieve.

DON'T BUY A LEMON
I never ship unopened boxes, every Ukulele I sell gets a thorough inspection for cosmetic flaws and a play test, every note at every fret, then is setup to play the best it possibly can.


SETUP IS INCLUDED
Mass produced ukuleles come with "factory settings" and to get more units 'out the door' they err on the side of Medium to High-action (ACTION = The Gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the frets). 


 The Higher the 'Action',  the harder your ukulele is to play,
sadly some ukes I've seen you can drive a 
truck under the strings.
 I don’t like that and you won’t either.


TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CHANGES
Ukuleles are made in the Far East and travel to Australia via Bulk Cargo Container Ship.  Sitting in 40 foot containers out at sea for months takes its toll on the wood, as it reacts to the changes in temperature and humidity. 

That's why I never ever ever ship out an unopened uke box, every ukulele is checked, tuned and played and then Set-up for proper play.

SET-UP INCLUDED

I set up each instrument to ensure you get the absolute best feel possible from your ukulele for your money. 

This includes, if required, altering Saddle and Nut heights/slots, Fret work and intonation checks, with levelling, re-crowning, fret end filing and fret polishing.

In Set up Ukuleles, the Fret ends will be smoother so your instrument feels more comfortable in your left hand, frets will be level and polished so you get the best possible contact between string and fret to extract every ounce of energy and tone.

Also fret boards dry out a little and shrink leaving the ends of the frets exposed and feeling sharp.  I remove these rough fret ends and treat the board with lemon oil to hydrate and protect it.  

You get your choice of 
1. Aquila or Worth Strings. 
2. Low or High G String.
3. Right or Left-handed.
Standard is Aquila High G Right-handed, let me know if you want something else

Pictures for comparison only.
CAN YOU FEEL THE DIFFERENCE?
YES YOU CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE A PROPER SETUP MAKES
Just about every Ukulele can benefit from having a thorough setup.  You can feel the difference between a non-set up uke and a uke that has been through the Set Up Process. 


SPECIFICATIONS
Size: Concert
14-7/8 Concert Scale (Distance from Nut to Saddle)
24-3/8 Overall body length
11 Body length
6 Upper Bout
8-1/4 Lower Bout
5 Waist
2-1/4 to 2-3/4 Arched Back Body depth
1-3/8 At Nut
All solid Acacia Top, Sides and Back
Rosewood Binding with herringbone purfling
18 Silver Nickel Frets
Custom vine Fret position Marks at 5th,7th,10th and 12th frets on neck and top of fingerboard
Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge
Ebony Nut and Saddle
Mahogany neck
Multi-Layered Headstock cap with carved Kala logo
Satin Finish
Chrome Die-Cast Tuners with black buttons

Ukulele and Case Package $599
Concert Ukulele Kala KA-ASAC-C and Hard-case Package

Setup Options: String Brand
High OR Low G
Right / Left handed
 

Includes; 

KA-ASAC-C Ukulele ($595)
Polyfoam  Hardcase  ($80)
Clip On Headstock Tuner ($15)
Setup ($50)
Free Shipping (approx $45 value within mainland Australia).


Your Choice of
1. Aquila or Worth Strings. 

2. Low or High G String.
3. Right or Left-handed.



















Ukulele and Case Package $599
Concert Ukulele Kala KA-ASAC-C and Hard-case Package


Setup Options: String Brand
High OR Low G
Right / Left handed
 

Monday, 29 April 2013

The Kala Resonators are in-stock at The Ukulele Trading Co Australia.

The Kala Resonators are in-stock at The Ukulele Trading Co Australia.

The Tenor Resos are $425 with Hardcase, and the Concert is $395 with Hardcase.

Of Course tell me you belong to a Ukulele club, any club, and Claim Your 10% Discount Off The Rec Retails.

Plus Every Ukulele is Setup by me prior to delivery.

I ship Australia Wide too ;-)

Cheers CC


Kala Resonator Ukuleles from The Ukulele Trading Co Australia