Considering a Kala Baritone or Tenor Ukulele

[Tom]

... the 100% carbon fiber ukuleles from Enya?

Thanks, I hadn't seen or heard of them until reading your message Took a look at their web site.

 

[Larry N.]

It is the top that is the tone wood, or so I have been told. The rest of the body doesn’t matter nearly as much to the tone. And have you seen the 100% carbon fiber ukuleles from Enya?

And the Ovation guitars with the composite back- they too sound great.

 

[8Muddypaws]

The problem with Ovation guiras is that the back is slippery. In my humble opinion they are hard to play in just about any position. But maybe that’s just me.

I really like my ovation Celebrity electric though. But it’s a traditional wooden body.

 

[Tom]

The part I thought might confuse people was a mic' (on a stand) located a few inches from the sound hole. Maybe the headline should have said "No pre-amp required" (?)

Sitting on the dock of a bay ...

For the last week or so, I've been seeing the TonewoodAmp new ad ... the guy is playing his guitar (with Tonewwod amp attached) on an unattached floating dock in the middle of a small body of water. No mic' in front of the sound hole.

It gets their "no amp required" message across quite effectively.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Technically there is an amp. It’s stuck to the back of the guitar and uses the body as a speaker.

I’m using mine quite often. Even as a DI and effects box by plugging in. It cost almost as much as my Peavy Vyper amp but the effects are much better.

I also have it on a classical guitar now. Sounds great.

I wonder how soon someone will figure out how to put one on a uke?

 

[Tom]

I wonder how soon someone will figure out how to put one on a uke?

I figured that would be you

 

[Seilerbird]

I wonder how soon someone will figure out how to put one on a uke?

Pignose has made one for years.

Pignose PGG 200 Electric Guitar | All Colors Available

Pignose PGG 200 Electric Guitar is a portable travel guitar with built in amp and speaker for instant play anywhere. Buy yours today at DeathCloud!

deathcloud.com

 

[UTTransplant]

Pignose has made one for years.

Pignose PGG 200 Electric Guitar | All Colors Available

Pignose PGG 200 Electric Guitar is a portable travel guitar with built in amp and speaker for instant play anywhere. Buy yours today at DeathCloud!

deathcloud.com

Tom, you do realize we are talking about ukuleles, right?

 

[Seilerbird]

Tom, you do realize we are talking about ukuleles, right?

Well all you gotta is cut off two strings.

 

[8Muddypaws]

There are several guitars now with integrated amps and very limited effects. All of the demos I’ve seen make me want to stay away from them. Toys. I traveled with a Baby Taylor for several years and got rid if it in the blink of an eye when I got the Gs-Mini. Not completely enamored of the mini either.

I’m still thinking of an Epiphone LP. Like this one.

 

[8Muddypaws]

I figured that would be you

you’re absolutely right! Figured it out right after I typed it.

I already know where to get the magnets, adhesive (super glue gel) and three popsicle sticks. A pair of curved medical forceps would help get the homemade X-Brace inside the uke I think.

 

[8Muddypaws]

We’re in Lodi, Ca for a few days and yesterday I went to ‘The Music Box’ to get a few sets of strings. While there I played a Yamaha Trans Guitar. It has something like a Tonewood Amp built into it. I was impressed with the feel and build quality of the guitar but not so much by the limited effects. A similar Yamaha without the electronics was under $500 and was the best looking guitar in the shop in my opinion. Yamaha builds good stuff.

They had a Kala baritone uke for $99 but I didn’t buy it.

 

[Tom]

We’re in Lodi, Ca for a few days ...

At Flag City?

... yesterday I went to ‘The Music Box’ ...

I've never been to The Music Box, but it looks like it's close to Hwy 99.

They had a Kala baritone uke for $99 but I didn’t buy it.

What brand was that? $99 is on the low price end for a decent uke.

Yesterday I was talking with the contractor working on our OH townhome. He plays guitar in gigs with a couple of bands. When I first met him he was ogling some of my instruments, and he played/sang one of his own compositions (on my Yamaha guitar). Yesterday I suggested he grab my baritone uke, which he'd carefully moved to a safe place, and play it with guitar fingering (minus 2 strings). He wasn't aware of a uke with that tuning, so I'm curious about his "experience".

 

[UTTransplant]

I have definitely had guitarists wanting to try out my baritone. The partner of one of my sons played guitar in HS and college before work and Dungeons and Dragons took over (hey, they are both certified nerd/geek/whatever engineers). She commented “Hey, there is a lot of room for my fingers!” Which I found kind of funny.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Sorry I missed your questions Tom.

Yea, we were at Flag City. We drove home yesterday morning before it got too windy.

This link will take you there: the music box

I think at $99 it did not include a case, strap, new strings or anything else. Similar Kala Baris go for about $130 on Amazon.

 

[Tom]

Sorry I missed your questions Tom.

Yea, we were at Flag City. We drove home yesterday morning before it got too windy.

You must have been blown around pretty good on the weekend. Not much protection there at Flag City.

 

[Tom]

Yea, we were at Flag City.

Popular with clubs, small groups, and folks transiting the area. Very convenient for fuel with the FJ and another truck stop at the same exit.

First time we stayed there (hooking up with friends who were traveling through), one of our group talked with the owner/manager about the park layout; He 'fessed up to them making a major error in the design ...

It was essentially built for trailers. Step out of the mid-door and you land on the concrete patio. But, step out of a front door (e.g. our DP motorhome), and you land in mulch, part of the landscaping. I took a quick peek at their web site on the weekend, and it looks like nothing has changed (?)

 

[Tom]

Similar Kala Baris go for about $130 on Amazon.

The model of my 2 el cheapo Kala baritones seems to have been discontinued. I vaguely recall paying around $140 for one new and roughly half of that for the same model used on ebay. Don't recall what came with the new one, but the used one had no case and didn't have all strings; I bought it in the MidWest so I didn't need to carry one from home.

 

[Tom]

you’re absolutely right! Figured it out right after I typed it.

I already know where to get the magnets, adhesive (super glue gel) and three popsicle sticks. A pair of curved medical forceps would help get the homemade X-Brace inside the uke I think.

Russ,
When time permits, could you please share the details (magnets, X-brace, etc) ? Thanks.

 

[UTTransplant]

UAS has stuck! I found a lovely Pono acacia baritone in Vegas. It is definitely an intermediate instrument instead of solid beginner Kala spruce I had. She is beautiful and sounds even better.