Got A Ukulele Review - Kala KA-RES-CHR Resonator Ukulele

Got A Ukulele Buyers Guide review of the Kala KA-RES-CHR Resonator Tenor ukulele. Full review www.gotaukulele.com/2014/11/ka...
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[@rachelayjay89]

thanks for this review! very honest. However, I think you are right about having been a little spoiled ;) I recently got one as a gift so i couldn't try it before buying it obviously but personally i love it! It's a step up for me from my first tenor which was a cordoba 199 usd..very entry level. so even if its not amazing quality compared to the nicest resonator ukuleles I think it's great for people who are new to resonators and have a little Luke experience. New members of the family so to speak :) thanks for taking the time to make the video.

[@lurch36]

Nice review. I bought my (brass) one specifically for busking for the extra volume. It hasn't got the beautiful subtle tone of a pricey uke but for busking it's brilliant. I use a low G & it's especially good for countryish blues. I think different ukes have a very specific purpose & this one is great bashed with a plectrum in the open air. It's so playable, loud & looks great & has a great tone in that situation.

[@GotAUkulele]

+lurch36 Most resonators, including the highest end stuff from National are made from brass bodies - nothing wrong with that!

[@daverobinson7707]

Bought one of these in the brass finish looks great sounded OK but as the guy says a little buzzy I have restrung it with Worth strings on a high G and what a vast improvment I much prefer the sound.

[@marieandersson6655]

Nice review! I must get a resonator ukulele😊

[@rja12]

So yes I know that I'm commenting on a very old video but I just had to say that the way you've evolved doing these reviews is so cool to see. Here you're not showing your face and saying "uhmm" a lot (I do the same) compared to now where it's extremely evident that you are much more confident in front of the camera plus the format of your reviews is much more entertaining. Been watching you for a long, long time Barry and you're the first place I go to when I want to try and find a review of a uke that I'm considering and I'm willing to bet that most would say the same. Thanks for all the work you put in and the valuable information and good entertainment that you put out! Now I'm off to send a little bit of a different kind of thank you your way.

[@GotAUkulele]

Hiya - and thanks so much! You know this has long been an issue with me and I often wondered about whether I should leave the older reviews up - they make me cringe big time! Thing is - I'm more a fan of written word and initially had to be strong-armed into even doing the videos - was never comfortable with them and took quite some time to get them to how I 'just about' now like them! The videos now stay as they are integral, but I won't be dropping the written stuff either! Really nice words - and thanks for the blog tip on the Buy Me A Coffee too - very generous!

[@BooliDeano]

Hi Baz! Thanks for another great review. Not sure I'm into resonators myself, but you've made some good points about the price range and availability of this style of instrument. I'm not really hearing the reverb effect as you've described it, as you said the camera is not picking it up, but it's helpful to see/hear your hands-on demo even so. Please keep up the good work. -Booli

[@GotAUkulele]

Booli Deano Thanks dude!

[@Meymeygwis]

I own the same in brass and just love it. Couldn't put it down the first year, still play it all the time. Mine has low wound G, and wound C, more bottom end. Sounds even more amazing in alternative tunings.

[@GotAUkulele]

Nice for slide too!

[@graham8harrison565]

Good evening Baz I’ve never seen you do a review on that lot ukuleles. I’m considering buying one and I’ve looked all over the place but can’t seem to get any joy and as you get the best review of anybody. I love to hear your verdict. Your sincerely Michael Harrison

[@GotAUkulele]

Sorry - a review of which ukulele?

[@nuclearhythmics]

intended to get a banjo uke but got this instead,(much lighter and better sustain). put on a low g aquila red and another nut to raise the action.. cuts through great in a mix of other ukes, very bright as you'd expect, guess not the best tone ; maybe real brass would be nicer with more resonance. plenty enough resonance for slide playing with the higher nut, fun , try it

[@alexkremer9621]

I received mine yesterday. I put on a set of d'Addario baritone rectified nylons and tuned it up to EBC#F#. The tone is remarkably mellow and resonant.

[@GotAUkulele]

+Alex Kremer It's not a BAD instrument (and looking back on reflection it may come across like that). But I think that Resonators are quite fussy really and dont really like the sound of any at this price (not just Kala). I actually dont want a resonator to sound mellow - kind of defeats their purpose to me.

[@Astronomater]

i am with you. think you will be happier higher on the neck IRT tone

[@GotAUkulele]

So a uke that only satisfies higher up the neck? No thanks..

[@rontazzy9622]

I have a Ka-Res-chr, and love it, so do my uke friends. But!, I stripped the innards out of it, and set it all up, as per Reso Uker's clips, it is definately not the uke I bought, but much much better.

[@GotAUkulele]

I'm sure they can be improved - naturally I only review instruments as they arrive to give people an idea of what they'll get out of the box.

[@sparky1321]

I've always thought resonators look a bit like colanders :P

[@GotAUkulele]

+Spudnik They do!

[@sparky1321]

Not sure I'd get the same effect putting kitchenware on my uke though :L Probably end up looking like a prize idiot.

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

Tried one of these at a local music shop a couple of years ago and I was a bit underwhelmed tbh. I'm a Kala fan - my solid mahogany tenor fitted with a low g is wonderful for the £200 it cost (a lot of money for me by the way) so I was intrigued by this. I don't really mind the echo so much I just found it a bit too polite for a resonator if that makes sense?

[@GotAUkulele]

Totally understand your point. I like Kala normally too - this underwhelmed me also

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

yeah, couldn't really put my finger on it, but it just didn't do it for me. I reckon I'll just have to save up my pennies for a really good one - getting fed up with practising claw hammer on an old laminate soprano - lol!!

[@GotAUkulele]

Sadly with resonators - all of them at this sort of price tend to underwhelm me. One of those instrument types where you really do need to spend a bit more as they don't work well on the cheap. Can heartily recommend the models from Beltona. They are sublime.

[@UKISOCIETY]

Would like to try one out myself. Wonder how it sounds with country blues.

[@GotAUkulele]

UKISOCIETY The review sounds like I am being harsh on it - its perfectly playable, but I just think that resonators are odd in that you really DO need to spend big to get a good one.

[@najwankhambari]

Hi, how does this model compare to the 2014 RES-BRS? Many thanks.

[@GotAUkulele]

Essentially the same thing but the wood is a more brown sunburst and the cover plate has a brass effect.

[@marcashmann2540]

Nope. The chrome one (CHR) is very different to the Brass one (BRS) and is exactly the missing Link between Ashbury and a National. Would be worth 500 quid, tonewise.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

I just bought the brass cover one and it's arriving this week. Hope it's good.

[@GotAUkulele]

I prefer the look of the brass one

[@JuniperCo]

Just doing some research on resonators 🎶 I can feel one coming 😉

[@lucydayLucida]

lol I know that feeling.

[@JuniperCo]

@lucydayLucida I played a £300 one in a shop & fell in love 😆💜🎶🙏🏽

[@lucydayLucida]

@@JuniperCo At 300 quid I'd imagine it must have been an exceptional instrument. Really don't see any around here, even in the specialist uke shops. I just got a Flight so my budget is completely blown now lol

[@JuniperCo]

@lucydayLucida ah I see 😃 I’m watching some 2nd hand ones on eBay. I’m now thinking an electro acoustic maybe…😉 have a good trip ✈️ xx

[@jaimer744]

I bought this a year ago or more in brass and put a low G on it and dropped string 1 to a G too for open tuning. No way am I going to spend thousands for "good one". But I am glad I got it for fun even with all the points you mention like the echoing. :)

[@GotAUkulele]

Can't argue with that - if you like it - you like it - that's what matter!

[@edwardpetersen4309]

I like Kalas. They sound ab fab for the price . . . any price really, but I think they all have string spacing which is too narrow. Although their Elite USA made series has a wider spacing.

[@GotAUkulele]

Not all of the Elites have necks - they make two versions - one with their standard nut and a wider one. You need to ensure you buy the right one!

[@edwardpetersen4309]

I had and then sold a Kala Elite 2 Koa Concert. I guess I was lucky and got one with a wider nut and saddle width. Looked gorgeous, but I hardly played it because it just didn't satisfy sonically. Maybe I should have given it a few years . . . or decades.

[@dukeofpearl]

I like it a lot. Prefer the brass look on the resonator though. Sounds great. And looks cool as f***!! ;)

[@GotAUkulele]

No arguing that resontators look very cool. Did you see this one I reviewed - people love it or hate it, but boy, does it play well! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWOpkJysjqyZkNE

[@TheCobberK]

First time I listened I didn't hear it Barr but second time I did - and its put me right off. I can't afford a Beltona or National so I think I'll give up on the idea.

[@lurch36]

I do have a brass Nashville resonator which is also good for busking but I was referring to my Kala with the brass panel rather than the chrome that you have reviewed. Much the same I guess. Here's a rough & ready clip of it in action. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6uZYuDmsysrpY I also really like my Kala arch top sunburst which is my main electric uke that I play through the cube amp in the clip. The resonator is so loud though that I rarely need an amp. The low G made a big difference. Love your site & thanks.

[@GotAUkulele]

+lurch36 Oh I see - my mistake!

[@FinnBjerke]

Cheap reso guitars are also terrible, maybe its a good idea to buy a cone from Beltona og National resophonics? After this review Ill def not buy a reso uke from Kala / Gretsch... Try before you buy

[@GotAUkulele]

I do know some people who bought ultra cheap resonators and changed the cones to Beltonas - did make quite a lot of difference

[@Johno143]

I bought one loved it, at first, then i was horrified to find it nearly impossible to 'chunk'.

[@GotAUkulele]

Why? It's perfectly possible!

[@Johno143]

GotAUkulele Yes,, well kinda, i had to modify my playing a little, i like to chunk and palm mute across the bridge together..and it dosent work on a rezo :/ just my opinion, I ended up giving it away to my grandaughter :)

[@VvERingmustmOneven]

for this price range it should be solid top, even for a resonator!

[@GotAUkulele]

To be honest with reso ukes, the body material isn’t so important. The resonator unit does the work.

[@PhillRobinson]

Nothing special

[@GotAUkulele]

+Phill Robinson No - a shame really as I think it has nice looks

[@PhillRobinson]

It does pity that

[@GotAUkulele]

I think it's common actually for budget resonators - I've never played a great one from any brand at this price. Bear in mind a National will cost you about five times the price of this. I don't normally like advising that the answer is to just spend more, but with resonators I think you really have to.

[@larrybaby9377]

you repeat yourself 37 times for every point you make, classic amateur screen talker.

[@GotAUkulele]

+larry baby Dammit. Was aiming for 38...

[@uknavynige]

GotAUkulele ha ha amateur lol 😜 some people say the most uninformed things. I'd trust Baz with my life( well that's a bit dramatic, but reviews and uke knowledge can't be beaten 😍)

[@GotAUkulele]

I think that Larry also doesn't realise that the videos are only added extras to the written pieces (which is where most of the effort goes). Either that or he can't read...