A somewhat different perspective; Bravo to Kala their new line. I live 1/2 hr away from them (and Coast) in Sonoma. (Sorry i missed ur driveby). Among the ukes i have bought (IRS return too tempting to let sit in my wallet) are two fine elite ukes, port orford cedar and koa. They are beautiful, well made and their sound easily rivals the small shop Hawaiian brands. BUT; the neck at the top of the fretboard is too big/thick for my small (still very manly) hands. they get tired/strained. I use them as performance ukes 'cause they sound so good. Fretboard size does matter. Essentially the consideration; big hands -big fretboard, small hands-small fretboard. And then there is just personal preference.
My spruce baritone arrived a week ago and I've been very impressed by it (sound, playability, looks). I feel like the timing for first baritone couldn't have been better with them just coming to UK/EU, I've been playing it every day.
Got to love what Kala have produced. Have to agree on the ID names. Any more additions and the inside label will have to be moved to the outside so we can read it 😂. Just think having a “Contour Series “ with a fresh short user friendly reference would have been another difference. Sat and listened and must emphasise that reviews by specialist stores and unbiased matter expert sites (you all now who you are) is so so important to the Uke community. My opinion is that a lot of players can’t really get to stores to try the Ukes out and seeing new Ukes demonstrated on line enables real informed purchases to be made. Which are always on point and knowing specialist stores exist and purchasing from them ensures a great set up and you can play from the off, keeps everyone happy. Have a great week Thanks for the run through.
Ukes with Alex which are a hard nylon I get made by Rotosound. Or if you think it's weird I recommend my own brand Daddario EJ65Bs on the Baritone. Worth brown on the Tenors.
I played an old elite salt and Pepper and picked up this newer model and this new model feels way better and sounds just as good. The new black satin neck is a dream, Definitely change the strings though on all these models to do them real justice. I changed mine to Uke Logic.
All of my Salt and Pepper elites had satin necks. I know what you mean though... Kala have done a great job of reducing the output from the US workshop and making sure what they do produce there is always special.
Big fan of that curvy Kala R2D2C3P0ATATROFLLMAO model. Nice to see some cool new designs, although I’d argue they’ve stolen my black t shirt covered in dog hair look I wear so well
For some reason, Kala never particularly appealed to me - until now! How would you say these baritones compare to Flight (Aurora, Fireball, Carabaou Light...) ?
Carabao lite is a much lower spec model from a different factory to the others you mentioned. The contour series and fireballs are extremely similar spec and any preference one might have would he down to the little details.
Most Kala ukuleles are made in China. The exception being the Revelator and Californian Ubasses... if its under £1000 it will be a Chinese model or possibly Indonesian.
@SouthernUkuleleStore There latest Earth Day promotion is idealogy based and rejecting science. I'm all for planting trees but then to restrict them from their nourishment and their ability to produce oxygen is not right. Playing with Carbon Credits, Renewable, Sustainable and Responsibly Sourced are justice warrior signaling terms.
Also not being hard on Kala / when I think of the fact they’ve been part of my uke journey for over 15 years (I’ve played them on stage) they deserve a nod for being so fundamental to this current wave. Suppose I just got a bit frustrated. Saying that I’ve spent all my time doing what I do plugging Makala and then I remember things like that Bamboo series which I loved too. They are a core through the uke world in current incarnation.
![CAMPปลิ้น | EP.82[1/2] แก๊ง 3 สาวเพื่อนซี้บุก CAMPปลิ้นครั้งนี้ห้ามเสียอาการ](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_6WUjXHe1TM/mqdefault.jpg)
![[UNCUT] “บอสณวัฒน์” ลากไส้!! ใครหนุนหลัง "แม่ตั๊ก ป๋าเบียร์" I คนดังนั่งเคลียร์ I 30 ก.ย. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QlD7mU2KKRk/mqdefault.jpg)
Really beautiful sounding and looking ukes!
I would name the Acacia Models >HoneyMilk<
sweet and smooth
A somewhat different perspective; Bravo to Kala their new line. I live 1/2 hr away from them (and Coast) in Sonoma. (Sorry i missed ur driveby). Among the ukes i have bought (IRS return too tempting to let sit in my wallet) are two fine elite ukes, port orford cedar and koa. They are beautiful, well made and their sound easily rivals the small shop Hawaiian brands. BUT; the neck at the top of the fretboard is too big/thick for my small (still very manly) hands. they get tired/strained. I use them as performance ukes 'cause they sound so good. Fretboard size does matter. Essentially the consideration; big hands -big fretboard, small hands-small fretboard. And then there is just personal preference.
My spruce baritone arrived a week ago and I've been very impressed by it (sound, playability, looks). I feel like the timing for first baritone couldn't have been better with them just coming to UK/EU, I've been playing it every day.
Got to love what Kala have produced. Have to agree on the ID names. Any more additions and the inside label will have to be moved to the outside so we can read it 😂. Just think having a “Contour Series “ with a fresh short user friendly reference would have been another difference. Sat and listened and must emphasise that reviews by specialist stores and unbiased matter expert sites (you all now who you are) is so so important to the Uke community. My opinion is that a lot of players can’t really get to stores to try the Ukes out and seeing new Ukes demonstrated on line enables real informed purchases to be made. Which are always on point and knowing specialist stores exist and purchasing from them ensures a great set up and you can play from the off, keeps everyone happy. Have a great week Thanks for the run through.
Agreed, Kala is upping their game! (Have several on my wish list . . . totally digging the new Doghair/waiting on the Baritone version )
Contour Baritone Acacia on order...Thank you for helping me choose!
Love the dog hair tenor, great review 👍😊
Great review! 👍 What strings would personally put on it?
Ukes with Alex which are a hard nylon I get made by Rotosound.
Or if you think it's weird I recommend my own brand Daddario EJ65Bs on the Baritone. Worth brown on the Tenors.
Phil starting to sound bluegrassy in his picking.
That S&P is looking sweet on Camera!
I played an old elite salt and Pepper and picked up this newer model and this new model feels way better and sounds just as good. The new black satin neck is a dream, Definitely change the strings though on all these models to do them real justice. I changed mine to Uke Logic.
All of my Salt and Pepper elites had satin necks. I know what you mean though... Kala have done a great job of reducing the output from the US workshop and making sure what they do produce there is always special.
Big fan of that curvy Kala R2D2C3P0ATATROFLLMAO model. Nice to see some cool new designs, although I’d argue they’ve stolen my black t shirt covered in dog hair look I wear so well
For some reason, Kala never particularly appealed to me - until now!
How would you say these baritones compare to Flight (Aurora, Fireball, Carabaou Light...) ?
Carabao lite is a much lower spec model from a different factory to the others you mentioned. The contour series and fireballs are extremely similar spec and any preference one might have would he down to the little details.
Are Kala USA made?
Most Kala ukuleles are made in China. The exception being the Revelator and Californian Ubasses... if its under £1000 it will be a Chinese model or possibly Indonesian.
Great ukus. Alex would you consider teaching us the tube you played on the baritone… Any time she goes away? It sounds great. 👏😁
I've done a lesson of this in GCEA on my ukes with Alex youtube channel already. You could definitely learn it from that 🙂🙂🙂
Great I will check it out thank you 😁🎵
What is the tune called?
Ain’t no Sunshine When She’s Gone tune. Alex has two lessons on it on his utube Chanel 🎵👍
Im sorry i don't think the contour series sound that good they don't play as good as they look to each his own
Is the mahogany model African mahogany ? I’m trying to decide between the spruce and mahogany model
It is not specified, sorry
What strings would you recommend for the SDH tenor? I don't like Nylgut and also wNt a low G
Worth BT with a Fremont Soloist would sound great.
I’m wondering if you have the 8 string baritone that kala has made. I’ve been trying to find more samples to listen so I can make a purchase
We have them in stock. I honestly can't remember if I made a video... there are quite a few out there on TH-cam.
And then they went Woke. So sad.
What do you mean? I'm genuinely interested.
@SouthernUkuleleStore There latest Earth Day promotion is idealogy based and rejecting science. I'm all for planting trees but then to restrict them from their nourishment and their ability to produce oxygen is not right. Playing with Carbon Credits, Renewable, Sustainable and Responsibly Sourced are justice warrior signaling terms.
Personally I think Kala stopped developing earlier than 2019. Much earlier. Just variations on a theme.
This new series has really impressed me
I was being polite...
Also not being hard on Kala / when I think of the fact they’ve been part of my uke journey for over 15 years (I’ve played them on stage) they deserve a nod for being so fundamental to this current wave. Suppose I just got a bit frustrated. Saying that I’ve spent all my time doing what I do plugging Makala and then I remember things like that Bamboo series which I loved too.
They are a core through the uke world in current incarnation.
Do they do satin finish? Why only gloss? Perhaps they will appear later.
Are these going to come out in concert size, do you think? The spruce/rosewood one is lovely.
I don't know, sorry.