NAMM 2017: Manufacturer Spotlight - Kala Luthier Collection Ukuleles

Aloha!

I have played plenty of Kala ukuleles over the years and actually own a few of them. This is because they are one of the best values on the market as they use good materials and their overseas workmanship is top-notch. But, I have never seen them as a premium brand until their Luthier Collection caught my eye at the 2017 Winter NAMM show.

Well, it turns out that Kala has a custom shop in Petaluma, California that makes instruments for artists, and they produce a few models for the general public too! These are serious instruments that are built with quality woods by real craftsmen, and you will pay accordingly: the four models in this collection have MSRPs that range from $1599 to $2299 (case included!). Looking each of them over in person and giving them a few strums, I have to say that these are amazing instruments, and it would be hard to imagine how any of them could be made better. Here is a brief rundown of each:

- Poi Pounder. This is pretty a pretty cool name, as this tenor-sized uke is made out of Hawaiian Koa, which is the same material that is used to mash taro into the dubiously yummy poi paste. This is the most highly figured Koa I have ever seen, and it is simply breathtaking. The neck is Honduran Mahogany and the bridge and fretboard are Indian Rosewood. The binding and inlay are African Padauk, and the rosette has a trick Koa and Padauk swirl. Top quality components, including a GraphTech Nubone nut and Wittner planetary friction tuners, are standard. The list price on this model is $1599.

- Parquetry Tenor. This tenor-size ukulele would make any Celtics fan happy, as its design will remind them of the parquet floor at Boston Garden. You see, in an effort to not waste beautiful wood, the luthiers fit together discarded pieces of Hawaiian Koa into a lovely mosaic, and the effect is truly wicked when it is contrasted with the Maple binding and glossy finish. The neck is Honduran Mahogany while the bridge and fretboard are Ebony. Top quality components, including a GraphTech Nubone nut and Kala open gear tuners, are standard. The list price on this model is $1599.

- Three Cord Strand Koa and Three Cord Strand Maple. These two tenor ukuleles have similar specs, with one being constructed of Hawaiian Koa and the other of figured maple. They get their name as they are pieced the back is pieced together from a marquetry of Maple, Purpleheart and Koa, in deference to the Cord of Three Strands concept that you will find in Ecclesiastes 4:12 (“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” NIV). Anyway, it symbolizes strength, and religion, and really pretty wood. The neck is Honduran Mahogany and the bridge and fretboard are Indian Rosewood. Top quality components, including a GraphTech Nubone nut and closed-gear gold-plated Kala tuners, are standard. The list price on either of these models is $2299.

As I said earlier, each of these is the ne plus ultra of ukuleles, and anyone who picks one of these up will surely be satisfied with their purchase. Of course these instruments are not available through just any dealer, and they may actually have to build one for you. So, head over to the Kala website at www.kalabrand.com to get the complete story.

Mahalo!

2013 Kala KA-SMHT Tenor Ukulele Review

Aloha!

Over the past three years quite a few ukuleles have come through the studio, but not many of them stuck around. Some did not sound very good, and some were just physically unattractive. Two that made the cut were the Kala SMHS and SMHT, which are both great instruments and good values. So, when my wife needed a ukulele for a players' group / club, it made sense to pick up one of the newly designed Kala SMHT instruments.

The SMHT moniker is a good indicator of what you get with this ukulele. The SM means that this instrument is constructed of solid mahogany, not a laminate, which is a huge plus. The T stands for tenor size, and I have no idea what the H stands for. Maybe it means "hogany."

It is a classy-looking uke with a clear satin poly finish and faux tortoiseshell body binding and black & white purfling. This binding goes around both the top and back and it joins with another piece across the end seam of the body. I love that look! The purfling and rosette are new for this year.

The neck is also shaped from mahogany and it is capped with a nicely-grained rosewood fretboard. The craftsmanship of the 19 silver-nickel frets on this one is very good, but I have seen some newer Kala instruments with rough fret ends and damaged fretboards, so be sure you pick a good one. If you choose to buy online, make sure that there is a good return policy.

The most noticeable differences on these newer SMHT instruments are the slotted headstock and die-cast geared tuners. Not only do these changes make the uke look up-market, but the tuners also work very well. The inlaid bridge is made of rosewood and the saddle and nut are both made of synthetic bone.

This Kala is a well-made instrument, with an even finish, nice joints and a great action right out of the box. The routing for the newly-added purfling and headstock are flawless, which is nice to see at this low price point. And, I appreciate the fact that it looks like a classic uke, with no odd cutaways, inappropriate F-holes or bizarre features.

It also sounds very good! This solid wood tenor has a warm and full mid-range tone that is nothing like the tinny jangle that comes out of entry-level laminated instruments (I am very partial to mahogany ukes). If you are stepping up from a cheap uke, or even if you are just taking up the instrument, this is a great choice. You will only want something better if you are going pro or if you hit the lotto -- it is that good.

The best part about the new Kala SMHT is that it is a great value. It is dirt cheap (because it is imported), with an MSRP of $350, and a street price of around $250. Shop around online and you might even be able to get them to throw in a case and tuner for free. Try one and see what you think!

Mahalo!

2013 Kala KA-ASAC-T Tenor Ukulele Review

Aloha!

My dad recently sent his ukulele to my aunt so she would have an instrument to play again, as years ago she gave her uke to a friend. I found him a new uke, a Kala KA-ASAC-T, and it has turned out to be a fantastic instrument.

The KA-ASAC-T is a tenor ukulele that is part of Kala’s solid acacia series, meaning that it comes with a solid acacia top. The acacia is also called the mimosa or shower tree, and is a close relative of the Hawaiian koa tree. This is a handsome wood, and provides a nice tone an instrument’s sound. The top has herringbone purfling and is bound with strips of rosewood (the back is bound too). The back and sides are made of lacewood.

Mahogany is used for the neck, and Kala uses rosewood for the fretboard and bridge, and ebony for the nut and saddle. There is some nice detail work here, with customer mother of pearl fretboard inlays and a laminated headstock that makes the beveled slots for the tuners look fabulous. The tuners are geared units from Grover, and they are really neat looking pieces.

The build quality of this uke is good, and all 19 of the silver nickel frets have nice smooth edges. The binding, purfling and fretboard inlays are also well done, and with its flawless satin matte finish, it is quite attractive.

This one came set-up with premium Aquila Nylgut strings, and it plays very smoothly with no buzzing or other problems. It has a sweet and mellow tone, and I really cannot think of anything bad to say about it. This thing only weighs 1 pound, 3 ounces, and it would be a nice travelling companion!

If you like the looks of this but need another size, Kala also sells this uke in soprano and concert versions, but you will not get the slotted headstock or cool geared tuners.

As it is a quality instrument, the Kala KA-ASAC-T is a bit more expensive than your basic starter ukulele, and it has a list price of $519.99 and a street price of around $364 (case not included). But it plays well, sounds good, and it looks nice so it is worth every penny. My dad certainly loves his!

Mahalo!

Spruce Top Kala U-Bass SSMHG FS Review

Aloha!

A while back I reviewed the Mahogany-top Kala U-Bass, and thought maybe I should go through their similarly-equipped spruce-top ukulele-inspired bass. It turned out that there were not many surprises with this one.

I first played the Kala U-Bass at Bass Player Live a few years ago, and my first impression was that it was a toy or a gimmick, but after I played one for a while I changed my tune. This is a fun and easy to play instrument that also happens to sound very good.

The U-Bass is about the size of a baritone ukulele, so it has a scale length of 21-inches, which is about 61% the length of a normal bass guitar. The neck, back and sides are made of solid mahogany, and the top is solid spruce. The bridge and fretboard are both hewn from nice-looking rosewood.

The spruce-top model is a little dressier than the mahogany model, with classy binding on the top and back. It has the same toad inlay and matte finish. There is also a U-Bass with a solid acacia body, but I have never seen one in the wild. These instruments are also available in fretless models, but with a scale that short there was no way I was going to spring for one of those. You might be up for the challenge, though.

The fret wire on the U-Bass is very small (like other ukuleles), which is not a big deal with the strings they use on these basses. The fret ends on this one are well done, and they seem level enough for what this thing is going to do. The hipshot tuners are finished in black, and are more like electric bass tuners than uke tuners, which is a good thing in my book.

The Shadow electronics package is simple, with no knobs, pre-amps or batteries – just a jack on the endpin to plug it in. The passive piezo pickup is not a single strip, but instead has separate elements for each string. This provides much more consistent volume between strings and makes the U-Bass a much more usable instrument. As this is a passive piezo set-up, if you have a poopy amplifier you might need to use a pre-amplifier with this instrument.

This one shows good craftsmanship, with nice joints and an even finish., As I said earlier the frets are good, and it played very well out of the box. As I have seen a couple of shabby Kala products over the years, I recommend playing before buying, or buying from a retailer with a good return policy.

Then there are the strings, which are thick and made of black polyurethane stuff. They are almost like the silicone strings on Ashborys, but not as sticky and maybe with more tension. As they are stretchy it can take a lot more turns than normal to get it up to pitch, so having real tuners is a blessing.

And, it comes in a nice embroidered soft case, that appears to be a little long for most airlines’ carry-on luggage size requirements, but they will probably let you bring it on anyway. People bring all kinds of huge crap on the plane with them, it seems.

That about covers the mechanics of the U-Bass, but the real magic is playing it. Despite their plastic composition, the strings have decent tension and they are still soft enough that there is no buzzing. The super-short scale takes a lot of getting used to, and I find myself staring at my left hand when I am playing. The action is high and there is no truss rod to adjust, but the strings are so fat and soft that it does not seem to matter.

It is pretty quiet when playing unplugged, but when amplified the sounds out of this Kala are nothing short of amazing, even though the electronics are not high-tech. Depending on how you use your right hand and where you pluck the strings, you can get thumpy 1960s Motown to a genuine double bass sound. And pretty much everything in between. If you want to sound like Flea or the guy from Tool you are out of luck, though. It just does not have that much of an edge on it.

So, this thing is pretty much a winner, as it plays well and sounds very nice. The folks at Kala put a lot of thought into making this instrument versatile, and they should be happy with themselves. Of course it still looks weird, which is probably enough to scare off many bassists who are concerned about appearance.

I notice no sound or playability differences between this one of the mahogany bass, so the changes are only aesthetic. And looks-wise, the mahogany one is pure money and my #1 choice.

My gripes are few and far between. The top is pretty soft, and gets dinged by fingernails too easily. I also miss having a strap pin, but since ukuleles do not usually come with strap pins I will let that one slide.

The list price for a spruce top Kala U-Bass is $530, with a street price of $450 ($100 cheaper than the mahogany one), and is steep when compared to similar quality baritone ukuleles, but this one will do a lot more than any of those one-trick ponies.

Mahalo!

1st Quarter of 2013 Inventory Update

Howdy!

Now that the New Year has begun, so it is time to look at what is in the studio this quarter. This is a snapshot in time, and next week it will surely be different. Everything I have is for sale, so drop me a line if you see something that interests you. But don’t wait too long or you might miss out…

Basses: (it makes sense to start out here, as this is Rex and the Bass)

∙ Fender JV Serial 1957 Precision Bass re-issue

∙ CIJ Fender 1970 Precision Bass re-issue

∙ MIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass

∙ MIJ Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass

∙ Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 with a 2-band equalizer

Electric Guitars:

∙ Yamaha SA-700 Super Axe

∙ MIJ Fender Telecaster Micawber

∙ CIJ Fender Telecaster Custom 1972 re-issue

∙ CIJ Fender Stratocaster 1962 re-issue

∙ Gibson Les Paul Standard

∙ Gibson SG Standard

Acoustic Guitars

∙ Simon and Patrick Songsmith Dreadnaught

∙ Epiphone Masterbilt AJ-500E

∙ Kala soprano ukulele

∙ Kala tenor ukulele

∙ Kala U-Bass

Amplifiers

∙ Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 12-T with extension cabinet

∙ Ampeg SVT Classic with an Ampeg 810 Classic Cabinet

∙ Ampeg V4B

Check in again on April1 to see what has made the cut. You know it will be different!

Mahalo!

Kala U-Bass Review

Hiya!

I have reviewed quite a few Kala ukuleles on my blog, and overall I have been very happy with their products, and they are a first-rate manufacturer in the uke world. So, it should not be much of a surprise that I also like one of their weirder, products: the U-Bass.

I first saw the Kala U-Bass at Bass Player Live a few years ago, and my first impression was that it was a toy or a gimmick, but after I played one for a while I changed my tune. This is a fun and easy to play instrument that also happens to sound very good.

The U-Bass is about the size of a baritone ukulele, so it has a scale length of 21-inches, which is a bit different than the usual 34-inch scale you will find on many traditional electric basses. The neck, body and top of this one are made of solid mahogany. Except for the inlay on the headstock it is relatively plain-looking, with a matte finish and no binding. You can also get these instruments with a solid acacia body or with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, but the mahogany one is the best looking one (in my opinion). The bridge and fretboard are both hewn from nice-looking rosewood.

These basses are also available in fretless models, but with a scale that short there was no way I was going to spring for one of those. You might be up for the challenge, though.

The fret wire on the U-Bass is very small (like other ukuleles), which is not a big deal with the strings they use on these basses. The fret ends on this one are well done, and they seem level enough for what this thing is going to do. The hipshot tuners are finished in black, and are more like electric bass tuners than uke tuners, which is a good thing in my book.

The Shadow electronics package is simple, with no knobs, pre-amps or batteries – just a jack on the endpin to plug it in. The passive piezo pickup is not a single strip, but instead has separate elements for each string. This provides much more consistent volume between strings and makes the U-Bass a much more usable instrument. As this is a passive piezo set-up, if you have a poopy amplifier you might need to use a pre-amplifier with this instrument.

This one shows good craftsmanship, with nice joints and an even finish., As I said earlier the frets are good, and it played very well out of the box. As I have seen a couple of shabby Kala products over the years, I recommend playing before buying, or buying from a retailer with a good return policy.

Then there are the strings, which are thick and made of black polyurethane stuff. They are almost like the silicone strings on Ashborys, but not as sticky and maybe with more tension. As they are stretchy it can take a lot more turns than normal to get it up to pitch, so having real tuners is a blessing.

And, it comes in a nice semi-hard foam case, that appears to be a little long for most airlines’ carry-on luggage size requirements, but they will probably let you bring it on anyway. People bring all kinds of huge crap on the plane with them, it seems.

That about covers the mechanics of the U-Bass, but the real magic is playing it. Despite their plastic composition, the strings have decent tension and they are still soft enough that there is no buzzing. The super-short scale takes a lot of getting used to, and I find myself staring at my left hand when I am playing. The action is high and there is no truss rod to adjust, but the strings are so fat and soft that it does not seem to matter.

It is pretty quiet when playing unplugged, but when amplified the sounds out of this Kala are nothing short of amazing, even though the electronics are not high-tech. Depending on how you use your right hand and where you pluck the strings, you can get thumpy 1960s Motown to a genuine double bass sound. And pretty much everything in between. If you want to sound like Flea or the guy from Tool you are out of luck, though. It just does not have that much of an edge on it.

The only gripes I have are negligible. It is too plain-looking, and I would love to see tortoise binding and chrome tuners like my other Kala ukuleles have. I miss having a strap pin too, but since ukuleles do not usually come with strap pins I will let that one slide.

So, this thing is pretty much a winner, as it plays well and sounds very nice. The folks at Kala put a lot of thought into making this instrument versatile, and they should be happy with themselves. Of course it still looks weird, which is probably enough to scare off many bassists who are concerned about appearance.

The list price for a Kala U-Bass is $660, with a street price of $550 which is steep when compared to similar quality baritone ukuleles, but this one will do a lot more than any of those one-trick ponies. The spruce top model is about $100 cheaper, by the way.

Come to think of it, you can get a decent used Precision Bass for that kind of money too. Hmmm.

Mahalo!

Kala KA SMHS Soprano Ukulele Review

Aloha!

Today we are looking at the first nice ukulele that I ever bought, a soprano-sized Kala SMHS. This one set my expectations quite a bit higher for the tone and playability of the ukulele, and I have since purchased the same uke in the tenor size.

Kala is good about using their model names to help identify what kind of instrument you are looking at. For the SMHS, the SM means that this uke is made of solid mahogany, not a laminate. The S stands for the soprano size, and I have no idea what the other T is for.

It is a handsome little ukulele, with a clear satin finish over the mahogany body, and a classy white and faux tortoise body binding. This binding goes around the top and the back as well as the end seam, and there is a matching piece of tort on the heel cap. Pretty!

The neck is also mahogany and it has a rosewood fretboard. The fretwork on this one is good, and I cannot ever imagine wearing them out with nylon uke strings. The bridge is made of tastefully-inlaid rosewood with a synthetic saddle.

The tuners are basic straight pegs through the headstock, and they are my least favorite part of the SHMS. They are finicky and I do not think they hold tune as well as they should -- I wish it had the same sealed-back die cast tuners that are on my SMHT.

Kala instruments are made overseas, and I have seen a few come through that were not up to snuff, with thing like sharp fret edges and rough fingerboard finishing, so it is highly advisable to buy from a reputable dealer that will let you exchange it if something is wrong. That being said, this SMHS is a very nice example, with great workmanship.

It plays very well, with a sweet tone and good volume for its size. It is a bit small for me as I prefer the tenor size ukes, but this one is tiny so it is perfect for traveling. Let me also say that this is probably the lightest musical instrument I have ever owned, coming in at a feathery 15 ounces.

Because it is imported, the Kala SMHS is uber-affordable with a list price of $280, and a street price of $196. This has to be one of the best values out there for a solid wood uke.

Mahalo!

Kala KA SMHT Tenor Ukulele Review

Howdy!
I have tried a lot of different tenor ukuleles looking for one that plays and sounds like my Kala SMHS soprano ukulele, and have not had very good luck. Then it dawned on me that I should try the SMHT, which is the same ukulele in the tenor size. It seems pretty obvious now that I think about it.

The model name SMHT gives a few hint of what this ukulele is like. The SM means that this uke is made of solid mahogany, not a laminate. The T stands for the tenor size, and I have no idea what the other S is for.

It is a classy-looking ukulele, with a clear satin finish, and subdued tortoise body binding. This binding goes around the top and the back, and is joined with another piece across the end seam of the body. I love that look.

The neck appears to be mahogany as well, with a rosewood fretboard. The fretwork on this one is good, but I have seen some rough ends on a few Kala instruments now, so make sure you try before you buy.

The sealed-back die cast tuners are nice quality and hold well; they are a step above the more basic pegs on my SMHS, which can be a bit finicky. The inlaid bridge is made of rosewood with a synthetic saddle.

This SMHT is a well-made instrument and is constructed of solid materials, which is a great start. And I love the fact that it looks like a classic uke, with no odd cutaways or bizarre features. But it also has a mellow and balanced tone. It is pleasant to play, and is a perfect travelling companion.
Despite the quality of the Kala SMHT, it is dirt cheap for what you get (because it is imported). The MSRP on these is $330, with a street price of about $230. You will not find a better solid wood ukulele for the money.
Mahalo!

Kala KC-02 Clip-on Ukulele Tuner

Hiya!

I got my Kala KC-02 clip-on ukulele tuner for free when I bought a ukulele, and it is not a bad product. But, after working with it awhile I would not purchase another because it is not very versatile nor is it the best value for the money.

It is a basic tuner that works like many other products on the market (they are probably all made by the same company). It clips to the headstock and uses vibrations from the instrument to display whether the instrument is in tune. Unlike some other tuners out there it does not have a built-in microphone, so it has to be clipped to the instrument to work.

Operation is very simple – there is one button on the front that is pressed to turn the unit ON or OFF, and if the button is held it can be switched between C tuning, D tuning or Chromatic (meaning you can tune other instruments besides ukes).

The notes is displayed on the LCD screen along with a needle showing how close the string is to being in tune. When the pitch is correct, the needle swings to the 12 o’clock position, and the display tunes from blue to green. Simple, huh?

It is well-enough made. The clip is rubber-coated so it will not scratch the finish on your ukulele, and the case is rubberized plastic so it does not feel too cheap. It uses some sort of large flat battery, and I shudder to think how much it will cost when it comes time to replace it.

I compared it to another cheap-ass tuner that I got for free (O’ahu brand – it looks almost identical), and they both seemed to provide the same readings. So the thing is consistent, at least.

But I am not sure that it is very accurate. There are other tuners in this price range that are adjustable, and that moves them ahead of the Kala on my list. And to take it a step further, there are $15 tuners (like the Snark) that are adjustable AND have a built-in microphone AND a metronome.

The Kala KC-02 tuner has a suggested retail price of $24.99, and a street price of about $16.00. Due to its Spartan array of features I would be hard-pressed to recommend it, especially when you consider the better options out there.

Stay tuned for my review of the Snark SN-1 tuner.

Mahalo!

Inventory Update: Third Quarter of 2011

Hi there!

What is in Rex’s newly remodeled garage/studio today? Inquiring minds want to know, and the second quarter ukulele frenzy has changed up the mix a bit. Here is a snapshot of what is around today:

1. 1982 Fender JV Precision Bass. The oldest Japanese Fender I have ever seen. I recently had this one strung with D’Addario tapewounds. This thing is sexier than Face’s Corvette.

2. 1982 Fender JV Precision Bass. Ditto the above, but with Jamerson flats.

3. 1984 Fender JV 62 RI Jazz Bass. This bass is on its way out because I hate the neck on it. Maybe I am not a Jazz Bass guy anymore.

4. 1999 Fender 75 RI Jazz Bass. Ditto the above, although it is dead sexy.

5. 1997 Fender 52 RI Telecaster. A heavy thing, but the best Tele I’ve ever owned, and that says a lot.

6. Kala Tenor Ukulele. Cheap, but a very good ukulele.

7. Kala solid mahogany soprano ukulele. I am in love again, and this one make the other ukes hide in dark corners (and Chris’ house).

8. Simon & Patrick Songsmith dreadnought. Still a very popular subject on my music blog.

9. 2008 Martin D-18V. It is good to have a really nice acoustic back in the fold. Hopefully I will not be so hasty to off such things in the future.

10. Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 with 2 12-inch Shuttle cabinets. The ironmen of my collection.

11. Cave Passive Pedals. These are the only products on my pedalboard besides my trusty Boss tuner.

12. Fender Vibro Champ XD. Cheap, but it has a 5-year warranty.

On August 1st things will look completely different. Trust me.

Mahalo!

Kala Tenor Ukulele KA-JTE-M

Hiya!

Today we are looking at a super Kala KA-JTE-Mahogany tenor archtop ukulele. This is a pretty rare one in the now-discontinued clear mahogany finish. Most of these you see are finished in various burst colors or are black.

I am impressed by the sound and the build quality of this ukulele, and even more by the price, which is quite reasonable.

It is a pleasant-looking ukulele, with a glossy clear finish, and classy mother-of-pearl body and fretboard binding. There is a cute mother-of-pearl palm tree inlay on the fretboard too.

The back and sides are mahogany and the spruce top is tinted to match. The neck appears to be mahogany and it has a rosewood fretboard.

The sealed tuners are nice quality and hold well. The bridge is made of rosewood with a synthetic saddle.

This model comes standard with the Shadow P3 pickup with volume and tone controls. The electronics are quiet and reproduce the uke’s sounds accurately.

The workmanship on this one is good: all of the joints are solid, and the fretwork is nice. The frets are level and the edges are neat.

It is nice and light, weighing in at a featherweight 1 pound, 11 ounces according to my scale.

So, overall it is a nicely-made ukulele that is made with solid materials. But, it sounds good and plays well too! It has a sweet, balanced tone. Due to the f-holes it has a little less volume than a conventional ukulele, but it still has some good low-end tone. It is pleasant to play, and would be great to gig with if you plug it in.

The MSRP on these is $395, with a street price of about $277. You will not find a better electric ukulele for the money.

Mahalo!