In addition to the strings, the mahogany is a soprano, the koa is a supersoprano (longer neck). The scale length difference will also be very noticeable (higher tension and additional resonance from the longer scale). A noble comparison effort, but there's just too many differing factors at play that will make a much more dramatic difference to the sound then the type of wood.
@SketchLegit He states in the video description that the second ukulele is a KoAloha super-soprano. One thing that certainly might make a difference here however, is the fact that a super-soprano is concert scale. A concert scale would have more tension on the strings and project more.
I have a beautiful concert solid Maui koa from Mele in Maui. Cost $550 a few years ago. Just lovely sound - and yes it does "sound Hawaiian" - that's why I wanted it!
The mahogany ukulele has a very crisp almost guitar-like sound, I love it. The koa is much softer and mellow in sound, like a marshmallow. My sis has a koa concert uke, and it sounds so nice, but I prefer the crispness and clear warm tone of the mahogany.
I think the big difference is actually that one is a Kamaka Uke making a huge difference in wood quality and craftmanship. Also if i'm not mistaken one looks like a saprano and the other a tenor (second one). This would also make a difference in sound... just saying
I am fortunate to have both types of wood, one is a Lanakai, the other a Veelah. The Lanakai is $150 w/electrics, the Veelah $245, no electrics. Honestly I love them both. There is a quality difference in my ukes, the Lanakai 'rings' much less than the Veelah but they both have there pluses and minuses and are useful for different types of play. I feel the Vellah is really excellent when you want to pick but the Lanakai is great for 'moody' type music where you want a soft, mellow mood.
Thanks for the video, but it's not really a fair comparison because koaloha makes crispy sounding ukuleles. If you use kamaka koa ukuleles here, then koa would sound mellower.
ok. I also listened to a spruce top and I did hear very subtle differences but honestly they all sound great. If I had to vote it'd be mahogany, but not so fast. I haven't heard walnut yet.
could you pse tell me what tuning these ukes are in. i recently purchased a koa sounded great.when i got it home i decided to tune is electric tuner to c . It has totally altered the sound. any ideas please
@2JobsStillPoorUSA of course it does. It is the most expensive and the first Hawaiian ukuleles were made from it. Some of teh most expensive ukuleles in the world are made from koa.
Both good uk woods, two different flavors. Taste varies with each person and mood. For me if I had to pick it would be mahogany, but they are both great.
Put those white strings from the second one, the koa, onto the first one, the mahogany and you'll get an even warmer tone on the mahogany. But I prefer an Engelmann spruce top.
This comparison wasn't fair at all. It looks and sounds like he's playing with dull, shitty strings on the Mahogany Uke. And yes, the Koa Uke has clear, Worth strings with a long neck Soprano. My 1955 VIntage Martin Style 3 is as bright and it's much punchier than the Koa Uke. And his labored, heavy breathing was a distraction from the sound which I played through a sub-woofer and speakers. Koa is good, but aged Mahogany sounds fuller, brighter and punchier using Worth Clear Medium Strings.
For a test like this to really be meaningful, you would have to play two ukes of the exact same model and manufacturer, but one in mahogany, one in koa. There is just too much difference in the construction details between different manufacturers for this to be useful...the second uke is clearly of much higher quality than the first.
Dude, you are using different strings to do the comparison. It should not be that way, and you probably already know, string affect the sound greatly. So your video not only compare the wood, but the strings too.
The comparison is not the best. You have different strings on different Ukuleles. If you play a mahagony Kiwaya with Worth Strings and a Koa Kiwaya with worth Strings, so you can make a real comparison.
bluenote131 Unfortunately Mike passed away last year.
RIP Mike
RIP Mike.. my favorite Ukulele vendor
In addition to the strings, the mahogany is a soprano, the koa is a supersoprano (longer neck). The scale length difference will also be very noticeable (higher tension and additional resonance from the longer scale).
A noble comparison effort, but there's just too many differing factors at play that will make a much more dramatic difference to the sound then the type of wood.
@SketchLegit He states in the video description that the second ukulele is a KoAloha super-soprano. One thing that certainly might make a difference here however, is the fact that a super-soprano is concert scale. A concert scale would have more tension on the strings and project more.
that sounds like a Ukulele, I love when people make it stand out!
Just how valid is this comparison when they have totally different strings?
I have a beautiful concert solid Maui koa from Mele in Maui. Cost $550 a few years ago. Just lovely sound - and yes it does "sound Hawaiian" - that's why I wanted it!
The mahogany ukulele has a very crisp almost guitar-like sound, I love it. The koa is much softer and mellow in sound, like a marshmallow. My sis has a koa concert uke, and it sounds so nice, but I prefer the crispness and clear warm tone of the mahogany.
I think the big difference is actually that one is a Kamaka Uke making a huge difference in wood quality and craftmanship. Also if i'm not mistaken one looks like a saprano and the other a tenor (second one). This would also make a difference in sound... just saying
Excellent demo!! Thank you. :-)
I am fortunate to have both types of wood, one is a Lanakai, the other a Veelah. The Lanakai is $150 w/electrics, the Veelah $245, no electrics. Honestly I love them both. There is a quality difference in my ukes, the Lanakai 'rings' much less than the Veelah but they both have there pluses and minuses and are useful for different types of play. I feel the Vellah is really excellent when you want to pick but the Lanakai is great for 'moody' type music where you want a soft, mellow mood.
Thanks for the video, but it's not really a fair comparison because koaloha makes crispy sounding ukuleles. If you use kamaka koa ukuleles here, then koa would sound mellower.
Nice technique. Do you have a site or link for the tab for Don't get around much anymore? That sounded great.
ok. I also listened to a spruce top and I did hear very subtle differences but honestly they all sound great. If I had to vote it'd be mahogany, but not so fast. I haven't heard walnut yet.
Nice demo! Now all we need are Martin comparisons :-)
could you pse tell me what tuning these ukes are in. i recently purchased a koa sounded great.when i got it home i decided to tune is electric tuner to c . It has totally altered the sound. any ideas please
@2JobsStillPoorUSA of course it does. It is the most expensive and the first Hawaiian ukuleles were made from it. Some of teh most expensive ukuleles in the world are made from koa.
Both good uk woods, two different flavors. Taste varies with each person and mood. For me if I had to pick it would be mahogany, but they are both great.
Put those white strings from the second one, the koa, onto the first one, the mahogany and you'll get an even warmer tone on the mahogany.
But I prefer an Engelmann spruce top.
Maybe you should make another comparison with two ukes that have the same sets of strings.
Does anyone know the songs he plays for this demo? It sounds great… a perfect test of the instrument.
string type has a lot to do with sound quality too. Aquila strings from Lanikai will make any uke sound 10x better!
Danny O. Thank You ! Nice to know!
Aquila isn't a Lanikai brand. Aquila is a string maker from Italy that does all sorts of stuff
Which one did you play first
RIP Mike. We'll miss you.
A solid mahogany soprano goes for around $300. A good solid koa goes for around $800, or more depending on the brand.
i definitely prefer the koa. thanks for the comparison video, mike!!
The difference in sound is not just because of the woods, numerous other factors are different between those two.
Besides sound like that guy from hey arnold who always gets punched in the face you're ukelele playing was lovely :)
I think I actually prefer the first one, mahogany, by a tiny bit. Nice playing bro.
Koaloha sounds so good!
I lol'd at your Tay Zonday reference.
Wait, which one's the mahogany and which one's the koa?
The mahogany has a sweeter tone to my ear, which is why I chose a mahogany uke.
This comparison wasn't fair at all. It looks and sounds like he's playing with dull, shitty strings on the Mahogany Uke. And yes, the Koa Uke has clear, Worth strings with a long neck Soprano. My 1955 VIntage Martin Style 3 is as bright and it's much punchier than the Koa Uke. And his labored, heavy breathing was a distraction from the sound which I played through a sub-woofer and speakers. Koa is good, but aged Mahogany sounds fuller, brighter and punchier using Worth Clear Medium Strings.
While I agree that it wasn't a good comparison, you're trying to make remark to a guy who isn't living anymore
comparison will be better if the same set of strings are used but i love the effort and the piece rendition(:
For a test like this to really be meaningful, you would have to play two ukes of the exact same model and manufacturer, but one in mahogany, one in koa. There is just too much difference in the construction details between different manufacturers for this to be useful...the second uke is clearly of much higher quality than the first.
whats the song that starts at 0:27?
And what about the price difference?
Great! But there are different strings on the ukes...
Thank You🌹
Every time I hear people play ukulele, it reminds me of music from Super Mario World
I have to agree with Mahalo. At least need to use same kind of strings to make a more equal comparison.
what songs is he playing
Is this soprano size?
@N4GW i believe its the mahogany
Great mahog uke
I prefer the Mahogany's warmer sound.
His is GCEA as standard
Maybe you can upload a picture of your netbook speakers and let other people tell the difference?
list of Song names?
Love me some Matsumoto Shave Ice!
What's the first song ?
First is Mahogany, Second is Koa. Vote up so people can see!
I think Koa sounds the best.
Awww ... no fair using the Kamaka koa. It blows away that mahog.
Were you sleeping through this?
can't really tell the difference on my netbook's speakers.
@harranjo legend ;D
Koa all the way!
Indisputably, koa .... I also have a Soprano Koaloha : great !
RIP MGM
The breathing scares me.
the second one looks like mahagony
first one wouldsound much better with better strings
So the answer is get both.
The Koa sounds better, local music Hawaiian style music on local Hawaiian wood... Go figure
Dude, you are using different strings to do the comparison. It should not be that way, and you probably already know, string affect the sound greatly. So your video not only compare the wood, but the strings too.
koa sounds better to me!
MAHOGANI!!!!!!
The comparison is not the best. You have different strings on different Ukuleles.
If you play a mahagony Kiwaya with Worth Strings and a Koa Kiwaya with worth Strings, so you can make a real comparison.
I don't think that this is necessarily a fair assessment because of the different strings. -_-
please **move away from the mic to breathe in
First is Koa, second is Mahogany. Vote up so people can see!