Am I the only one who, while listening to this, almost falls asleep with happiness? I keep coming back to this video; the music is so calming and peaceful. I wish I knew the names of the songs he is playing...
LUNA TT 0:06 LALA TEM 0:21 GRETSCH 9120 0:40 ISLANDER MT-4 0:58 KALA TG 1:19 CORDOBA 20TB 1:37 FENDER HAU'OLI 1:59 KALA PWT 2:18 KALA ST 2:37 youre welcome.
Kala ST and the Gretsch 9120 are my favorite ones. But, I really have to say that this guy can make any string instrument sound good. What a pure player he is with a true artist touch from his heart. I hear his soul through his music. I wish I knew which one he liked. He did seem comfortable with the Gretsch. I am a percussion player of Congas, steel drums, and various other percussion sounds. I really enjoyed this guys groove picking just slightly behind the notch. Great job showing us the difference. I'm in Maui and he is probably in Oahu.
@ohisux9389actually it was a great comment. If I didn’t like what I saw I would have, unlike you, moved on without saying anything. ...but you take time out of your busy life to be a sad prick.
I purchased a Gretsch 9120 online, my choice based on the sound sample here being the one I liked best. I am incredibly happy with it. It's such a beautiful instrument in looks and sound!
If you guys aren't hearing differences then you need better headphones or speakers. They are profoundly different when you listen through "true" sources
+HawaiiMusicSupply Now I'm able to tell the difference between the ukes, thanks to that new pair of headphones, but now I can't figure out which one is suitable for me since every one of them has got an aspect that the other one hasn't
From their web site article, the numbers of times participants chose a favorite uke: Luna TT 363 Gretsch 9120 336 Islander MT-4 291 Cordoba 20TM 251 Kala STG 151 Fender Hau'oli 150 Kala TEM 144 Kala PWT 93 Kala TG 66 They were easy to tally up, and fairly accurate, using the 'find' function of my browser with key words. It also made it easy to gain first hand user insights on specific ukes. Some insight and impressions I have gained up to now in my quest is 1) HMS at the time of this comment is not setting up and selling online sub-$200 ukes due to their backlog/success 2) The Luna TT is thin skinned ply, comparatively speaking 3) The Gretsch seems to have a quality control issue more than the others (many 'as-is' ukes on eBay) 4) The Islander is harder to find than the others 5) Paying more for a better uke seems to result in a better value compared to a comparably priced guitar. Maybe because one can get more ukes out of a given amount of wood than guitars? I hope this helps someone! I'll comment again on what I chose and how I got it when I soon make my own purchase.
I picked up the Luna TT and it is a little somewhat thin skinned as mentioned, but I don't see that as a problem. Don't let your dog use it as a chew toy and make sure you put in on the stand before you jump off the stage into the mosh pit, and you should be fine. The action is ideal as is the sound. I was going back and forth between the Gretsch and the Luna. So far I have no regrets.
I am using cans! I am listening to 20 great sounding instruments :-) I am just strating (still strugling to tune my Uk, but music was my life for almost 3 decades until I had an accident- Now I am trying to find a new way back and have chosen the Ukulele. The playing was so masterful, it made all the Uk's, sound great! I own several Fender Bass, but the Fender Uk, was the one I liked least! The whole video was a pleasure!
Me too! I liked it the best. Was reading through the comments and it wasn't mentioned, and I was beginning to think I had to listen to it again. Good to see you liked it, too!
I listened to the video many times before I could decid upon my favorite. The Kala PWT seemed to stick out among all of them. It had both the tone and the wood that was most appealing to me. The Kala TEM was my second most favorite ukulele. I seemed to gather a pleasant and bright tone to it. The tiger strip wood popped. I was surprised by Gretsch 9120's sound. I seemed to be drawn to its rich mahogany wood. If it is a mahogany like wood, then Gretsch did a good job fooling me. Enjoyed it.
This is exactly the criteria of ukulele I am looking for. Very well recorded and put together demonstration thank you. I will have to watch a few more times to decide. I like the gretch body tone and the kala tg presence if you could combine the two! Nice playing too.
+James Faulder The islander and fender seem to have more balance (to me) and the kala st has a lot of clarity...it is so hard to choose but this video certainly helps.
+James Folder It also depends on the strings you put on each of them. Strings effect the sound greatly! I had a gretsch for a while. The 9121 till it broke due to being dropped. Highly recommended because the 9120 sounds very similar.
+Brandon Sherwood Cheers Brandon, I still haven't made up my mind but have been swaying more to the Islander. What strings do you recommend then? Are there types you would specifically recommend for different charactaristics? I am still playing a cheapo Mahalo with cheapo string and getting nice sounds out of it but am ready to upgrade to a real instrument!
Awesome! That one sounds great as well! For strings it's really all about preference a lot of the times. I would recommend trying out a few different sets. They're cheap and you could test them for a couple months each before you settle one a set. Try out some of the D'Addario titanium strings (Don't worry, they aren't metal), some of the martin line of strings, and a set of low G strings (preferably by D'Addario.) Low G sounds very good on a tenor! It's one octave lower than a typical G. Good luck!
Many years ago I was going to buy an acoustic Martin. I was lucky enough to go up into their Attic and try out all 11 of their exact same models. THEY WERE AS DIFFERENT AS PEOPLE. I was amazed!! I found one and said "PUT THIS OVER HERE!!!!" I tried all the others and bought THAT one. Studied piano for 10 years. I was always told an instrument that keeps on "ringing/sounding" was best! Not one that you play it, then the sound is GONE!
I put a low G on my soprano uke. It works fine, in fact, I love it. However, it's your preference as to which one you want to go with. I have greater freedom of creativity with my low G.
They all sound lovely. I would love to have the Kala ST in my collection someday. Thank you for the beautiful demonstration because I love the sound of tenor ukes.
I personally REALLY like the Kala TEM and the luna TT! they really have a great balance between bass mid and treble and they have their own unique sound that i think shines over the rest!
Index for watchers convenience First Set 00:08 --- Luna TT 00:21 --- Kala TEM 00:41 --- Gretsch 9120 00:59 --- Islander MT-4 01:19 --- Kala TG 01:40 --- Cordoba 20TM 01:59 --- Fender Hau'Oli 02:18 --- Kala PWT 02:38 --- Kala ST Second Set 03:05 --- Luna TT 03:42 --- Kala TEM 04:05 --- Gretsch 9120 04:30 --- Islander MT-4 04:51 --- Kala TG 05:12 --- Cordoba 20TM 05:34 --- Fender Hau'Oli 05:54 --- Kala PWT 06:15 --- Kala ST Please "like" this reference a lot to keep it on top - thanks!
Thank you for this! This is the best comparison video I've seen (consistancy of playing and the edit transitions were great!) and really helped me to decide which ukulele to buy!
The smaller bridge, with a steeper break angle, makes the Gretsch 9120 sound better. Uke manufacturers will never learn to make smaller bridges. I suppose they don't want it to rip off; however, you'll occasionally find ukes with small holes in the bridge so that the string (with a little bead on the end) will run through the top of the body then through the bridge. This takes away the pulling-up pressure from the bridge and it can't rip off, nor do you need screws to hold it down. It's the most practical design in my opinion.
***** but the Gretsch 'sounds' better ;-). The problem is not so much decisions but money..and the lack of it. One day I'll have the cash for both cheers
Yeah, it's crazy. For some reason I would have never thought that a Gretsch ukulele would be the best sounding one of the bunch. But, it sure sounds like it is!
I love Córdoba. I have a Córdoba 25 ck concert ukulele I got for 280. It sounds amazing and play it everyday hours on end. I just got a kala soprano not as high of quality but still great sounding. Can wait to get my hands on a tenor 😄
What a trip, quite a few months ago I was trying out different ukuleles and came across an Islander and it had just the sound I wanted, looked pretty too. So happy to see it on this list. I really like that Gretsch too.
i’ve been wanting the gretsch 9120 for a while now, and i’ve asked for it for christmas, hopefully i get it! this video just made me want it even more :)
First uke I bought and i went with the the gretsch. Its fuckibg amazing. I hated it at first, mainly because im new to the uke, but after playing around with it a bit I couldn't be happier. Glad I kept it and didn't return it to the store despite the $220 price tag. All in all - doubt u can get a better uke with such beautiful tone and sound. It truly sounds fucking beautiful
I don't have any ukulele and I don't know how to play one. But I know now that if I ever get a chance to pick an instrument to play it'll be an ukulele and only ukulele.That video was so inspiring.
The Snow White is just gorgeous in sound & design. And my one & only son lives in Hawaii. I miss him SO much. So , hearing & seeing a work of art like your instruments brings my boy closer. I hope you can understand my thought here
These all sound really great especially for the price. The wood looks great on them too! The Kalas are really impressive, so far I'm really loving the Kala TG, and the Cordoba 20TM the most!
I most enjoyed the Kala TEM. My second favorite was the Kala TG. My younger sister broke my first ukulele over my head when she got jealous of me over 40 years ago. It did not keep me from enjoying the ukulele for the rest of my life. I wish I had another one now because my family is always borrowing my current tenor ukulele to play. I am still the best ukulele player in my family. I guess you never forget the ukulele once it is in your blood.
Oh my! Everything has each unique sound and look! But I think the best is the Kala STG! It has such a bright and beautiful sound! I love how it looks like, beautiful and simple design! I'm so excited to whoever is gonna win these ukes! (crossed fingers hoping that i would get one!)
The Kala PWT was my very first tenor ukulele. It’s one of the best looking (imho) very crisp and loud and beautiful for finger picking but when strumming, it’s not as “warm” toned as the others and has a more treble sound. I am thinking of getting a Gretsch 9120 based on what I’ve heard in this video. Thank you!
The solid top on that Kala ST (particularly the new STG, with its new supports) really shines in comparison to the laminate of the other instruments on display here.
I really liked the control on the fender, i thought the bass really stuck out the most, and let's face it, you can't deny that infamous fender style head on a ukulele!
I loved Gretsh the most! I'd buy it for sure, only it's more expensive than $200 here in Russia.... Things have changed since 2013 when you posted this video.
Just listened thro' headphones and you can hear differences,albeit slight. I would say the Gretsch and the Cordoba have the best bass response but I rather like the crispness of the Kala KA STG.
Mia Roman I have a Kala,the matte finish version of the one in the video and it doesn't buzz at all.It was the first uke I ever bought.I have since bought five more--various makes and all costing more than the Kala.I have since sold them all bar one,and have kept the Kala.It is still my favourite!
Yeah I also prefer the spruce top sound, same as my folk guitar. Got the Ohana TK22. Similar to Kala with satin finish. (gloss leaves to many messy fingerprints)
What a brilliant production i( while I did notice the gretsch and more than 1 kala- that quicksilver Tshirt sure made a great color coordination) Mahalo nui from lake ontario
I plan on getting a nut with a High G, then widening it for a low G to alternate back and fourth. I will be doing lots of down and up-tuning on my tenor. Is it likely I will warp/bend the neck where it will become un-useable? I live in GA where there is alot of humidity and I will be playing indoor and outdoors alot. Anything I can do to acamodate this? The tenors with the truss rod are too expensive. Great playing btw.
The tutorial is this video. Just watch his fingers. It's actually pretty easy to play. Took me about 15-20 to get the parts sorted out. Just got to work on the finesse. You can do it to if you give it a go.
Just the video I need. I've been listening to many of these ukes on theukulelesite, but hearing them in one video is really quite helpful. My two favorites: Gretsch and Kala TG, which are similar (and only $4 price difference right now). The Kala ST and the Islander project really well, and the Kala PWT provides a nice balance between first two I mentioned and the second two. I've tried the Fender and Cordoba in a store, and was not impressed with either, but maybe with better strings, the sound of those would improve.The Cordoba sounds pretty good on the video, at least. Fender.. not so much. But, to each his (or her) own. Thanks HMS for making this video!
I really liked the look and sound of the Luna TT. Although they are all great instruments and would be proud to have any one of them. Thank you, great video editing by the way.
Excellent demo,Thankyou :0) I've had a hankering after a uke for a while but if I'm gonna buy one I want to save up and get a proper quality instrument. I had an el cheapo one once and it was just crap ! This video has inspired me again and I rather like the mellow tone of the Gretch myself. Cheers for that Gary
Are these set up with high or low g? I am going to try a low g on mine. I started out with the baritone, and miss the warmth of the tone.I may end up getting one that I can set up each way. My tenor is Makai TK-65 Mahogany Tenor Cut. It has awesome sound. I paid about $200 in a shop in Lake of the Ozarks, MO. Any thoughts out there on Low G vs High G?
I found a great site for strings. www.stringsbymail.com/store. I got several sets of good quality strings that I wanted to try out, plus 3 kinds of peg winders for changing them, all for under 50, including shipping. I got the high g changed out for the low g on my tenor, and adjusted the new Aquila strings on my baritone, and they sure sound good. Now if I could just get my strumming pattern down pat..I'd be good to go. But I better get outside and do some yardwork. This is the first decent day we have had in a couple of weeks.
The Gretsch has a really nice resonant tone, and seems to cope really well higher up. I like the clarity of the Islander. The fender has an interesting roundness to the sound, but i find it a bit dull, not much brightness. I think the Kala TG has the most classic 'ukulele' sound, which is really great, but maybe not so unusual. Great to be able to hear them all on a parallel like this! Thanks!
They all sound very very close. It would help if I knew the playability difference. What did you like best? That would be the next deciding factor...for me.
how are you recording this???? all sound really gooooood. it'll help with my future purchases :)) The golden kala and fender sound awesomeeee HawaiiMusicSupply
I really love how the Luna one sounds, sadly I can't find it in my country. I want to buy my first uke, and I don't really like the bright and crisp sound of soprano ukes, fI have to choose between Lanikai zebrawood (or monkeypod) tenor and Ibanez mahogany tenor, which one should I pick for a more deep, warm and melancholic sounds? Any help will be much appreciated!
The Kala TEM sounds the most balanced to me. It has a bite to it that cuts through nicely and since I play with the pads of my fingers instead of my nails, I need as much bite as possible to fill out my sound. Great video! And great playing!
HEY EVERYONE: the song he is playing is called Digger's waltz, by Tommy Emmanuel
Thank you
Thanx John Doe! Fell in love with just this "snippet of it", and you saved me an unimaginable search!
Thanks, friend.
wow ! I was just wondering ! thanks bro !
Am I the only one who, while listening to this, almost falls asleep with happiness? I keep coming back to this video; the music is so calming and peaceful. I wish I knew the names of the songs he is playing...
song name? :)
Apparently it is called the Digger's Waltz
It is just random notes and chord progressions; you can do the same if you learn chords and keys (I believe you can!)
Georgia Peake same here! I almost fall asleep too.😴👍🏼❤️
Me too!
fell absolutely in love with the tone of the Gretsch 9120!
Lethia Hye me tooooo
Lethia Hye ME TOOOOO! It was my favorite. It sounds very... "acoustic"
+Lethia Hye I have it, its a very nice uke
+Lethia Hye Me too! Glad it isn't just me
I also thought the Gretsch to be the best!
LUNA TT 0:06
LALA TEM 0:21
GRETSCH 9120 0:40
ISLANDER MT-4 0:58
KALA TG 1:19
CORDOBA 20TB 1:37
FENDER HAU'OLI 1:59
KALA PWT 2:18
KALA ST 2:37
youre welcome.
Danke für die Mühe!
*You're :)
@@joedomaille613 thou art*
What are the approximate retail prices on each?
what's that?
Kala ST and the Gretsch 9120 are my favorite ones. But, I really have to say that this guy can make any string instrument sound good. What a pure player he is with a true artist touch from his heart. I hear his soul through his music. I wish I knew which one he liked. He did seem comfortable with the Gretsch. I am a percussion player of Congas, steel drums, and various other percussion sounds. I really enjoyed this guys groove picking just slightly behind the notch. Great job showing us the difference. I'm in Maui and he is probably in Oahu.
I'm with you, Kala ST stands above the rest
Wow. You really make them talk. Hard to say which one sounds best, you make them all sound like $1M
@ohisux9389actually it was a great comment. If I didn’t like what I saw I would have, unlike you, moved on without saying anything. ...but you take time out of your busy life to be a sad prick.
I purchased a Gretsch 9120 online, my choice based on the sound sample here being the one I liked best. I am incredibly happy with it. It's such a beautiful instrument in looks and sound!
If you guys aren't hearing differences then you need better headphones or speakers. They are profoundly different when you listen through "true" sources
Thank you very much for your advice! It helps a lot!
Did u restring any of them?
+HawaiiMusicSupply Now I'm able to tell the difference between the ukes, thanks to that new pair of headphones, but now I can't figure out which one is suitable for me since every one of them has got an aspect that the other one hasn't
Hi, please helo me, what is your favorite of all
+HawaiiMusicSupply I'm having a little trouble differentiating between the uses, but that could just be me.
This video was a TREMENDOUS help with my choosing a Uke!
Sooooo which one did you go for and what's your thoughts on it? :)
which one u choose?
From their web site article, the numbers of times participants chose a favorite uke:
Luna TT 363
Gretsch 9120 336
Islander MT-4 291
Cordoba 20TM 251
Kala STG 151
Fender Hau'oli 150
Kala TEM 144
Kala PWT 93
Kala TG 66
They were easy to tally up, and fairly accurate, using the 'find' function of my browser with key words. It also made it easy to gain first hand user insights on specific ukes.
Some insight and impressions I have gained up to now in my quest is 1) HMS at the time of this comment is not setting up and selling online sub-$200 ukes due to their backlog/success 2) The Luna TT is thin skinned ply, comparatively speaking 3) The Gretsch seems to have a quality control issue more than the others (many 'as-is' ukes on eBay) 4) The Islander is harder to find than the others 5) Paying more for a better uke seems to result in a better value compared to a comparably priced guitar. Maybe because one can get more ukes out of a given amount of wood than guitars?
I hope this helps someone! I'll comment again on what I chose and how I got it when I soon make my own purchase.
Frugal Yachter Have you made a purchase that I’m really curious!!!!
Also curious
I picked up the Luna TT and it is a little somewhat thin skinned as mentioned, but I don't see that as a problem. Don't let your dog use it as a chew toy and make sure you put in on the stand before you jump off the stage into the mosh pit, and you should be fine. The action is ideal as is the sound. I was going back and forth between the Gretsch and the Luna. So far I have no regrets.
The Kala PWT was my first ukulele. The wood is even more gorgeous in person than in this video, and the tone is beautiful.
I am using cans!
I am listening to 20 great sounding instruments :-) I am just strating (still strugling to tune my Uk, but music was my life for almost 3 decades until I had an accident- Now I am trying to find a new way back and have chosen the Ukulele. The playing was so masterful, it made all the Uk's, sound great! I own several Fender Bass, but the Fender Uk, was the one I liked least! The whole video was a pleasure!
I've just listened through a set of monitoring headphones and I really like the Islander MT4
Me too! I liked it the best. Was reading through the comments and it wasn't mentioned, and I was beginning to think I had to listen to it again. Good to see you liked it, too!
The best one is the one with the Quicksilver shirt on....Amazing the sounds.
Thought i knew what i wanted... then i watched this video ahahah.
Thanks for the upload!
Update: Ended up purchasing the Gretsch9120
C. .R I can't find the gretch anywhere!! I really want to buy it but I don't know where to find it :(
amazon!!!
It's been a year since you commented this, how has the uke treated you? Would you recommend it?
Hi it's 2021
You make them all sound great !!
I come here because this version of the song is really soothing. It's like a lullaby really 😌
Thank you for this..glad to see my Fender in there...I love it..beautiful, soulful playing too. Mahalo!
Very, very cool effect in morphing from instrument to the other in a virtually imperceptible manner! Well done!
Ended up getting the Gretsch 9120 after watching and reading all the comments :) Thanks a bunch!
Cordoba makes some of the best ukes, you can really tell the classical guitar influence if you ever played one
Agreed! I have a Cordoba 15CFM as my main uke. I restrung it with Worth Brown strings in low G. The tone is out of this world.
@Super-Tofu where do you find worth brown strings?
I listened to the video many times before I could decid upon my favorite.
The Kala PWT seemed to stick out among all of them. It had both the tone and the wood that was most appealing to me.
The Kala TEM was my second most favorite ukulele. I seemed to gather a pleasant and bright tone to it. The tiger strip wood popped.
I was surprised by Gretsch 9120's sound. I seemed to be drawn to its rich mahogany wood. If it is a mahogany like wood, then Gretsch did a good job fooling me.
Enjoyed it.
The nice thing about the tenor is its versatility and it's great for fingerpicking if that's your thing
This is exactly the criteria of ukulele I am looking for. Very well recorded and put together demonstration thank you. I will have to watch a few more times to decide. I like the gretch body tone and the kala tg presence if you could combine the two!
Nice playing too.
+James Faulder The islander and fender seem to have more balance (to me) and the kala st has a lot of clarity...it is so hard to choose but this video certainly helps.
+James Folder It also depends on the strings you put on each of them. Strings effect the sound greatly! I had a gretsch for a while. The 9121 till it broke due to being dropped. Highly recommended because the 9120 sounds very similar.
+Brandon Sherwood Cheers Brandon, I still haven't made up my mind but have been swaying more to the Islander. What strings do you recommend then? Are there types you would specifically recommend for different charactaristics? I am still playing a cheapo Mahalo with cheapo string and getting nice sounds out of it but am ready to upgrade to a real instrument!
Awesome! That one sounds great as well! For strings it's really all about preference a lot of the times. I would recommend trying out a few different sets. They're cheap and you could test them for a couple months each before you settle one a set. Try out some of the D'Addario titanium strings (Don't worry, they aren't metal), some of the martin line of strings, and a set of low G strings (preferably by D'Addario.) Low G sounds very good on a tenor! It's one octave lower than a typical G. Good luck!
@@GunDogSlimI have an Islander soprano and I love it. Also, all Islanders have a 38mm nut width which gives your fretting fingers a little more room.
Many years ago I was going to buy an acoustic Martin. I was lucky enough to go up into their Attic and try out all 11 of their exact same models. THEY WERE AS DIFFERENT AS PEOPLE. I was amazed!! I found one and said "PUT THIS OVER HERE!!!!" I tried all the others and bought THAT one. Studied piano for 10 years. I was always told an instrument that keeps on "ringing/sounding" was best! Not one that you play it, then the sound is GONE!
Thank you for that beautiful demonstration! They all sound good, and so does your playing. I want a tenor with pickup!
I put a low G on my soprano uke. It works fine, in fact, I love it. However, it's your preference as to which one you want to go with. I have greater freedom of creativity with my low G.
They all sound great! But a lot of it comes down to your finesse/dynamics. I could seriously listen to this all day!
They all sound lovely. I would love to have the Kala ST in my collection someday. Thank you for the beautiful demonstration because I love the sound of tenor ukes.
I have been wanting that Fender for awhile. I know a lot of people don't like how it looks, but it just feels so right in my hand.
I personally REALLY like the Kala TEM and the luna TT!
they really have a great balance between bass mid and treble and they have their own unique sound that i think shines over the rest!
Index for watchers convenience
First Set
00:08 --- Luna TT
00:21 --- Kala TEM
00:41 --- Gretsch 9120
00:59 --- Islander MT-4
01:19 --- Kala TG
01:40 --- Cordoba 20TM
01:59 --- Fender Hau'Oli
02:18 --- Kala PWT
02:38 --- Kala ST
Second Set
03:05 --- Luna TT
03:42 --- Kala TEM
04:05 --- Gretsch 9120
04:30 --- Islander MT-4
04:51 --- Kala TG
05:12 --- Cordoba 20TM
05:34 --- Fender Hau'Oli
05:54 --- Kala PWT
06:15 --- Kala ST
Please "like" this reference a lot to keep it on top - thanks!
Gretsch blows me away, that has fuller sound and more acoustic, then kala tt then the cordoba then fender. my choice is the 9120.. likes the music..
H
The Islander is awesome. Not only the sound, but it looks amazing too.
Thank you for this! This is the best comparison video I've seen (consistancy of playing and the edit transitions were great!) and really helped me to decide which ukulele to buy!
Awesome, so would you say I'd need to look for a specific shape or style of build? Thanks for putting out such great content HMS!
I like the tone of gretsch9120
I don't think you can generalize the wood like that. It more has to do with the way it's built
This video is definitely one of life's simple pleasures, I enjoyed this very much :)
The Kalas sound big and open to me unlike the tight sound of the others
Played a soprano, and then bought a concert.. now i'm looking for a tenor uke.. I really like Kala ST. Any thoughts?
The smaller bridge, with a steeper break angle, makes the Gretsch 9120 sound better. Uke manufacturers will never learn to make smaller bridges. I suppose they don't want it to rip off; however, you'll occasionally find ukes with small holes in the bridge so that the string (with a little bead on the end) will run through the top of the body then through the bridge. This takes away the pulling-up pressure from the bridge and it can't rip off, nor do you need screws to hold it down. It's the most practical design in my opinion.
I ordered an acoustic-electric Gretsch tenor with a cutout. I plan to restring it to low G tuning.
Oh man I love the first one. I loved the sound it produced and the Polynesian design
Me wants the Gretch…followed by the Luna.
Lovely playing by the way
Only problem is that the Luna looks better.... Decisions Decisions....
***** but the Gretsch 'sounds' better ;-). The problem is not so much decisions but money..and the lack of it.
One day I'll have the cash for both
cheers
***** The biggest decision is if you want to play it or sit all day looking at it. ☺
DelTangBrav Definitely play. The Gretsch wins by tone for me. Nice rich sounds. I'd look at it..then want to pick it up to play it :-)
Yeah, it's crazy. For some reason I would have never thought that a Gretsch ukulele would be the best sounding one of the bunch. But, it sure sounds like it is!
I love Córdoba. I have a Córdoba 25 ck concert ukulele I got for 280. It sounds amazing and play it everyday hours on end. I just got a kala soprano not as high of quality but still great sounding. Can wait to get my hands on a tenor 😄
What a trip, quite a few months ago I was trying out different ukuleles and came across an Islander and it had just the sound I wanted, looked pretty too. So happy to see it on this list. I really like that Gretsch too.
That Luna TT looked awesome... defo my ukulele crush lol
I have the Luna TT and a Cordoba . The Luna has the sweetest sound to me anyway.
Jean Anderson Agree! Sound is in the fingers also
such a beautiful sound. definitely going to get one of these babies!
Awesome! Thank you such much for this. I own a soprano but I wanted one a little richer in sound. This gives me a great place to start with low cost.
Does this player teach online? I love his playing. For me...the Gretsch 9120!!
i’ve been wanting the gretsch 9120 for a while now, and i’ve asked for it for christmas, hopefully i get it! this video just made me want it even more :)
Did you get it? 😊
First uke I bought and i went with the the gretsch. Its fuckibg amazing. I hated it at first, mainly because im new to the uke, but after playing around with it a bit I couldn't be happier. Glad I kept it and didn't return it to the store despite the $220 price tag. All in all - doubt u can get a better uke with such beautiful tone and sound. It truly sounds fucking beautiful
I don't have any ukulele and I don't know how to play one. But I know now that if I ever get a chance to pick an instrument to play it'll be an ukulele and only ukulele.That video was so inspiring.
Great demo. Really helps me decide on my Tenor purchase. There is definitely a difference if you have good headphonces on. Thank you.
Awesome giveaway! Both the Kala TEM, PWT and the Islander really looks and sounds beautiful! No one can go wrong with any of these 9 ukes!
The Snow White is just gorgeous in sound & design. And my one & only son lives in Hawaii. I miss him SO much. So , hearing & seeing a work of art like your instruments brings my boy closer. I hope you can understand my thought here
Great demo. For my money, I'd take the Islander for it's overall balance of tones, sweetness.
These all sound really great especially for the price. The wood looks great on them too! The Kalas are really impressive, so far I'm really loving the Kala TG, and the Cordoba 20TM the most!
I most enjoyed the Kala TEM.
My second favorite was the Kala TG.
My younger sister broke my first ukulele over my head when she got jealous of me over 40 years ago.
It did not keep me from enjoying the ukulele for the rest of my life.
I wish I had another one now because my family is always borrowing my current tenor ukulele to play.
I am still the best ukulele player in my family.
I guess you never forget the ukulele once it is in your blood.
Oh my! Everything has each unique sound and look! But I think the best is the Kala STG! It has such a bright and beautiful sound! I love how it looks like, beautiful and simple design! I'm so excited to whoever is gonna win these ukes! (crossed fingers hoping that i would get one!)
The Kala PWT was my very first tenor ukulele. It’s one of the best looking (imho) very crisp and loud and beautiful for finger picking but when strumming, it’s not as “warm” toned as the others and has a more treble sound. I am thinking of getting a Gretsch 9120 based on what I’ve heard in this video. Thank you!
Wonderful playing and great comparison. Thanks so much!
The solid top on that Kala ST (particularly the new STG, with its new supports) really shines in comparison to the laminate of the other instruments on display here.
I really liked the control on the fender, i thought the bass really stuck out the most, and let's face it, you can't deny that infamous fender style head on a ukulele!
What a great way to end my day! Beautiful playing, Corey. Mahalo
Pra mim a orde dos mais relevantes é:
1- kala tem, 2- gretsch 9120, 3-fender hau'oli =Córdoba 20tm, 4-kala st.
All sound good. The player makes the difference.
Great way to demonstrate - and good for practicing video editing too. Well done on both☺☺☺
Hello! Could you please do a new one? Absolutely loved this video!! 🙌🏼☺️
I loved Gretsh the most! I'd buy it for sure, only it's more expensive than $200 here in Russia.... Things have changed since 2013 when you posted this video.
Ooo Gretsch 9120 resonates nicely.
The look and sound of the Kala's are gorgeous! I would love to be able fingerstyle like that.
Just listened thro' headphones and you can hear differences,albeit slight.
I would say the Gretsch and the Cordoba have the best bass response but I rather like the crispness of the Kala KA STG.
Same, but kalas tend to buzz a little which kinda bothers me
Mia Roman I have a Kala,the matte finish version of the one in the video and it doesn't buzz at all.It was the first uke I ever bought.I have since bought five more--various makes and all costing more than the Kala.I have since sold them all bar one,and have kept the Kala.It is still my favourite!
Yeah I also prefer the spruce top sound, same as my folk guitar. Got the Ohana TK22. Similar to Kala with satin finish. (gloss leaves to many messy fingerprints)
For me I looove the Kala TG! It has a very unique look, love the borders around it! It has a balanced and bright sound and I think it's perfect!
What a brilliant production
i( while I did notice the gretsch and more than 1 kala- that quicksilver Tshirt sure made a great color coordination)
Mahalo nui from lake ontario
Perfect! What compositions do you play?
I plan on getting a nut with a High G, then widening it for a low G to alternate back and fourth.
I will be doing lots of down and up-tuning on my tenor. Is it likely I will warp/bend the neck where it will become un-useable? I live in GA where there is alot of humidity and I will be playing indoor and outdoors alot. Anything I can do to acamodate this? The tenors with the truss rod are too expensive. Great playing btw.
the Luna TT was my favorite
do you think that you could make a tutorial for the song you're playing! it's really nice and i think alot of us would enjoy learning it (:
The tutorial is this video. Just watch his fingers. It's actually pretty easy to play. Took me about 15-20 to get the parts sorted out. Just got to work on the finesse. You can do it to if you give it a go.
Just the video I need. I've been listening to many of these ukes on theukulelesite, but hearing them in one video is really quite helpful. My two favorites: Gretsch and Kala TG, which are similar (and only $4 price difference right now). The Kala ST and the Islander project really well, and the Kala PWT provides a nice balance between first two I mentioned and the second two. I've tried the Fender and Cordoba in a store, and was not impressed with either, but maybe with better strings, the sound of those would improve.The Cordoba sounds pretty good on the video, at least. Fender.. not so much. But, to each his (or her) own. Thanks HMS for making this video!
any chance of the tab to the second piece?
I really liked the look and sound of the Luna TT. Although they are all great instruments and would be proud to have any one of them. Thank you, great video editing by the way.
Excellent demo,Thankyou :0)
I've had a hankering after a uke for a while but if I'm gonna buy one I want to save up and get a proper quality instrument. I had an el cheapo one once and it was just crap !
This video has inspired me again and I rather like the mellow tone of the Gretch myself.
Cheers for that
Gary
What's the song that you're playing called? It's really beautiful.
What a beautiful piece of music Cory is playing!
I liked the sound of the Luna TT and the look of the Kala ST but really great video :D
The Gretsch 9120 sounds GORGEOUS. I have to change my mind, though, and go with the Luna TT! Such a resonant sound, ughhhh.
Are these set up with high or low g? I am going to try a low g on mine. I started out with the baritone, and miss the warmth of the tone.I may end up getting one that I can set up each way. My tenor is Makai TK-65 Mahogany Tenor Cut. It has awesome sound. I paid about $200 in a shop in Lake of the Ozarks, MO. Any thoughts out there on Low G vs High G?
I found a great site for strings. www.stringsbymail.com/store. I got several sets of good quality strings that I wanted to try out, plus 3 kinds of peg winders for changing them, all for under 50, including shipping. I got the high g changed out for the low g on my tenor, and adjusted the new Aquila strings on my baritone, and they sure sound good. Now if I could just get my strumming pattern down pat..I'd be good to go. But I better get outside and do some yardwork. This is the first decent day we have had in a couple of weeks.
The Gretsch has a really nice resonant tone, and seems to cope really well higher up. I like the clarity of the Islander. The fender has an interesting roundness to the sound, but i find it a bit dull, not much brightness. I think the Kala TG has the most classic 'ukulele' sound, which is really great, but maybe not so unusual. Great to be able to hear them all on a parallel like this! Thanks!
They all sound very very close. It would help if I knew the playability difference. What did you like best? That would be the next deciding factor...for me.
Just got the fender no hea tenor natural I feel in love with the sound and the looks.
Todd Le how is it? i want it.
how are you recording this???? all sound really gooooood. it'll help with my future purchases :)) The golden kala and fender sound awesomeeee HawaiiMusicSupply
I really love how the Luna one sounds, sadly I can't find it in my country. I want to buy my first uke, and I don't really like the bright and crisp sound of soprano ukes, fI have to choose between Lanikai zebrawood (or monkeypod) tenor and Ibanez mahogany tenor, which one should I pick for a more deep, warm and melancholic sounds? Any help will be much appreciated!
Luna TT so feels man
The Kala TEM sounds the most balanced to me. It has a bite to it that cuts through nicely and since I play with the pads of my fingers instead of my nails, I need as much bite as possible to fill out my sound. Great video! And great playing!
Luna TT.
Warm deep sound
damn straight
@chris richard: I know the song as "The digger´s waltz" by Tommy Emmanuel.
This is Amazing
Happy to hear the instrument ukulele
Great 👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
Always success