We need to talk about KALA...

[@bighatstephens]

My husband has a solid cedar top Tenor Kala and he loves it. Even though we live in California, we didn't purchase the uke from Kala, but from the Ukulele Site in Hawaii. They have a more focused and limited inventory of Kalas. I think they focus on providing their customers with quality and price. I also like how they set the instruments up and treat you like family. As always great video!

[@martimbe]

Super interesting and informative. Thanks! I could watch these videos all day.

[@DavidMarshall-scrybler]

Really useful video Alex. As a musician for 60 years and more, I bought my first ukulele from you just about a year ago... A Kala ATP CTG CE... I'm loving it... and will doubtless be adding to my collection shortly...an eight string mabye... But for now I just want to make one comment about non-gloss necks. In the last 5 years I've bought two new acoustic guitars with non-gloss necks... an off-the-shelf Martin OM-18 and a Gibson L-00 style made by an English luthier... within six months of daily playing both instruments had developed really "shiny" necks; equal to the toner of the main body of the instruments... and now I'm beginning to sense a slight "drag" on the necks when I play... this "drag" is greater even than my oldest instrument which is a 1969 Guild acoustic with a nitro-cellulose finish. So having tried/played nitro-cellulose, polyurethane gloss, and what I guess is a polyurethane matt ... without intervention I'm leaning towards preferring the gloss, in particular the nitro... and I'll be resistant to buying a non-gloss neck... unless maybe you or someone else can offer advice on how to "restore" (by cleaning ?) the non-gloss necks to their former "silky" feel.... Thanks again for the great videos.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

Sadly thay buffed up shine on a neck is not easy to buff out and I've even seen people sand and reseal a neck to remove it. I do like the satin necks myself but I do understand and agree with your point. It's part of a trend for new instruments to develop real wear and tear quicker. I am not surprised by the Martin as this has happened with both of the 000-15 guitars I have owned in the past too. A lightly glossed neck is probably the way to go, you are correct.

[@arodgoogle6327]

Where I live in Houston the only ukuleles you can find at music stores is mainly Cordoba, Mitchell, Martin, Luna, and sometimes Fender.

[@mikek4708]

Hi Alex, agree about the UK doing their research before buying. I purchased my first uke from yourselves, Kala SMHT due to reviews being really good for a value all solid. I then got a great deal on another Kala Tri back from Matt up in Carlisle. Both stores gave it a good review and I was lucky one was available. Pleased with both, but changed the strings. That said, I think the new versions are an improvement, they sound clearer and louder to me. My only advice to the USA, buy from a specialist store (preferably In the UK), you may want to discuss a change in strings, nut width etc. You will then find a model to help you grow. Keep up the good work guys and have a great week.

[@lizzieb6311]

Thank you so much for this information. I am preparing to purchase the Kala baritone Uke with the cedar top and acacia back and sides.. I found this on the Kala site…however, I am purchasing from the local music store who I have my lovely Martin Guitar consigned with. I believe in buying local. More expensive? Maybe… but I’d feel like a hypocrite buying direct then relying on free help and advice from my local music store. You have given me some valuable information for my upcoming Kala purchase ♥🙌

[@kingstumble]

I have had the ATP-CTG tenor for a few years. Other ukes have come and gone but the ATP-CTG is going nowhere. I love it!

[@kelbysappington]

Pretty late to the conversation here, but U.S. resident over here. I just bought my first uke a few months ago. It took a ton of research, but I ended up going with the Kala SCAC concert. Very happy with it, and I’m about to buy a tenor with low G (because you can never have just one uke, right??). But you’re right, it definitely wasn’t one of the first ones to pop up when I first started looking

[@leetayon8791]

Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! I bought a kala LTPS while in Hawaii on a lark. I’m musical (piano and voice) so I thought I’d give it a try. I am having such a good time learning, but need a bit more fret room. Im thinking I want a tenor and your reviews are helping me to make a decision. I love the sound of the new SCACT, so I’m off to find a deal!

[@gadgetnut8109]

To my untrained ear I found the newer models across all sizes to have more volume and projection. Thanks for showing these comparisons.

[@trishbattersby5749]

I started out with a Kala SCAC T CE. It’s a good quality start out uke with solid cedar top. It’s bright and feels good to hold. I loved it. I will say I had to replace one of the graph tech ratio tuners. It’s the only criticism I have of it though

[@WanderingUkes]

I have 5 kala ukuleles. I love them all. They sound wonderful with the fluorocarbon strings I use. One is a cedar top open headstock concert. I live in the U.S. To me they sound as good as many of my friend's more expensive ukuleles.

[@DanielFlores-ku8os]

Nice video Alex. If the finish is thinner it is certainly welcome on the newer Kala ukuleles. I have always preferred the Ohana Cedar models to the Kala models. Kala's heavy bracing and very thick finish produced ukuleles that to my ear sounded a bit constrained when compared to the Ohana Cedar models with their lighter bracing. Listening with nice headphones I don't notice much difference; though even the best sound system will not record slight differences like greater resonance and vibration in the body that the players can feel which makes the instrument come more to life and feel more responsive to the player. I would still choose an Ohana over one of these Kala's for the wider string spacing and more comfortable, to me, neck profile. Yet for people that like Kala these look like a nice refinement of a popular model.🙂

[@fbales]

This video is a couple of years old, but I just bought a Kala KA-SMH-T Satin Solid Mahogany Tenor Ukulele from Sweetwater in Ft. Wayne, IN. It’s my first ukulele. It is a beginner ukulele, but a little nicer than entry level ukuleles. I paid $230 for it. I did some research, and most people I talked/listened to gave them high marks.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

Glad you like it. I always wonder why people feel compelled to promote other huge warehouse style shops on our KZbin channel though 😅 Glad you like it! Kala have been quietly producing great ukes for over a decade... can't go wrong with an SMH-T

[@fbales]

@@SouthernUkuleleStore Thanks for your comments. I noticed that the Kala I bought came with D'Addario Titanium strings. Any comment for a beginner? By the way, Sweetwater is a pretty famous music store in the USA.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

Everyone's heard of Sweetwater.

[@TheJamesOPhillips]

I am from the US, and my favorite Kala is one they did for the Ukulele Site of solid cedar over laminated ziricote back and sides. I know some folks are all about mahogany but I do find the cedar top is more of the sound I go for when I play the ukulele (I'm also a guitarist of 31 years as well and my favorite guitar is my cedar top over walnut Sheeran by Lowden W01).

[@lsclair]

I really love the look of the older one better, guess I just prefer the slotted headstock. The newer ones look a little larger body, maybe just an optical illusion... They both sound beautiful, but the newer model seems to have a little more punch/volumn. .

[@143jeg]

I tried to buy a cedar top kala (ka-ascp-t) about a year ago. I received three separate ukuleles with rather large cracks in the top. Finally went with a Flight Phantom which I love.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

Oh dear

[@miahconnell23]

Cracks on a soundboard are terrible for all parties involved !! May I ask what company did the shipping ? (It’s gotta be the shipping, right ? 🤔)

[@143jeg]

@miahconnell23 I'm not sure who did the shipping, but I think you are on to something. This was also right at the onset of COVID, so shipments were being held up, too.

[@noors5841]

My first ukulele was a Kala. I’m based in California and I prefer to buy my ukuleles in local music stores. However, the selection in my area is limited and I don’t like shopping at the chain stores. So if something does catch my attention I do attempt to get in online through a smaller retailer…When I did decide to get a solid cedar top model though I picked Ohana’s over Kala’s.

[@lt1caprice57l]

I just got a SCAC-T8. Didn't have a CTG series before but do have a SA-T8 (now discontinued) and I can confirm, the finish on the SCACs is very light, much lighter than my SA-T8. A combination of that plus the cedar makes the SCAC much more resonant, even though the SA-T8 is all solid.

[@notsuretwo]

Great video. I noticed that all the euro popular models are spruce tops (i am assuming that is spruce) my impression living in the usa that matching tonewood tops seem to be popular here. In my opinion the varying tonewood tops look less like a mini guitar. I am a guitar tonewood freak so all this is very interesting. I have the Kala Ka TEM from 10 or so years ago and am so impressed with the sound.

[@NicholasANappiNick]

Looks like a classical guitar in the states we want a use that Luke’s like a traditional use .my take only not a fact.very nice indeed 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@anoukradix916]

Hi Alex and the whole team! Thanks a great deal for all the in depth videos. Its such a valuable resource. I was wondering if its possible to do a video about some 4string vs 8string ukes really interested in how they sound differently for example the tenor and bariton in this video and if its a lot more difficult to tune the 8string versions and to play them ingeneral. I dont think that you have any 6 or 8string uke videos on the channel yet.

[@Bob-gn8ph]

I just bought the solid Spruce top KA-STG ❤

[@RickHenderson58]

It seems that Kala is trying to bring its US sales in-house, perhaps by reducing the discounts they provide to US specialty stores. Mim has not replenished her inventory.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

I agree with you. We have good distribution in Europe fighting on our behalf but the US speciality shops are competing with Kala directly.

[@badhric]

The new Baritone looks lovely

[@faethe000]

I have one of these. It's the ZTP, the TUS exclusive ziricote version. It's beautiful, but I got it for a steal because like you say, these just aren't that popular with Americans and The Ukulele Site was looking to get rid of them. It's a nice uke, but definitely not up to the quality of real midrange ukes like Ponos, Opios, etc. The very first thing I did when I got it home was pick up a scrubby pad and some tape and change the glossy neck finish to a satin one, because you're right, it's better that way.

[@forestsunrise26]

Thank you very much for the useful demonstration as always! I'm considering getting a Baritone Uke and have narrowed my choices to these 2 and the solid Mahagony. I really like the look of the newer Uke, but somehow I feel like the sound of the older model is warmer and more stable, do you feel that too? Also, this only has a solid cedar top, but its more expensive than the solid mahagony model, does that mean that cedar top makes better sound than mahagony?

[@visualpun650]

I had the slot head cedar tenor. Great sound. But I couldn't get used to the higher tension strings it had vs my other ukes.

[@blackmetalgran7279]

From the entire lot, I like the scac tenor. Seemed like it opened up from the original.

[@richardbodine7256]

Just had the opportunity to play the new kala s c a c B . I Fell in love.❤

[@edwardpetersen4309]

I've owned a few Kalas when I was starting out. They sound good, but I always thought the nut and saddle width are too narrow. I'm in the US and personally I'd be very attracted to solid cedar top ukes. I once owned a CA made Kala Elite solid koa concert and was disappointed with the tone although the aesthetics were first rate.

[@PeteHowlett]

Fascinating insight....

[@jimsatola3397]

As to the look, I definitely prefer the padauk binding - and especially the rosette - over abalone. It just looks more “refined.” I admit I am not really much of a fan of “standard” looking abalone rosettes (or binding) on a ukulele (my view is different as to more “feature” types, like a wide green abalone one), and I like wood ones almost universally. I tend to agree with your conclusion that there was not a real need to reinvent the wheel with updated models.

[@matthewb9955]

I definitely prefer the orange look of the older models. Make me think of a sunset by the ocean, like I’m at a luau or something.

[@kithg]

So, it looks to me like the bodies on the new models are slightly larger than on the old model. Is that an optical illusion caused by the lighter cedar? The newer model concert and tenor also are louder than the older one, which are a bit more mellow. They do still have that distinctive Kala sound, I think.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

It is an optical illusion, I sit just slightly side on to the camera so I don't get light reflecting and I think that's why it looks that way.

[@neilanderson2374]

The only uke I regret selling was the KA-ATP-CTG, bought off Matt and fitted with worth browns and a low g it was awesome, though as it got older (or maybe my ear got better) it became boomier so i begrudgingly sold it. I also tried the 8 string Baritone version, but it was a pita to tune and was a bit limited in genre it could be applied to. From the looks of the video the new model sounds crisper, but they should have kept the padauk rosette In general I really have a hard time finding a baritone Uke with a tone that i like; later on I tried a Pono AB and the earthy undertone didn't work for me. Maybe i need to save my pennies for a Kanile'a Baritone

[@davestambaugh7282]

The one that I bought has a scale length that measures nineteen and five sixteenth not eighteen and seven eights as is reported on line. What I don't understand why you would not just buy a baritone. I am putting baritone strings on mine.

[@JodyM2]

I have KA-ZTG-ASC Ziracote Back & Sides

[@dp2955]

As to why they are less popular in the US than Europe, speaking for myself I don’t like the shape. At all. It may sound lovely, but it just looks… wrong. Wrong in a way that I can’t look away, but I wouldn’t even pick it up in the store. I guess I do still listen with my eyes! Now that Contour line… put 2 more strings on the baritone Kala, and give the Flight GUT850 a run for the money! Again for myself, my town only has a Guitar Center and they stock Cordoba, Mitchell, and some disposably cheap sopranos. Not a place to shop ukes. The nearest “local” music stores with good stuff would be minimum 3 hours drive, a ways to go for the day to test drive some instruments. So for the most part, I buy online from brick and mortar stores rather than the big chains, after binge watching KZbin videos, of course.

[@Dean_Owens]

The concert and baritone seemed louder in the newer versions. Not sure if I would prefer the sounds of one over the other. But I did not like the new tenor. The older model sounded great to me and the new one sounded boxy to my ears.

[@k3lee]

Kala's midrange ukuleles are doing poorly in my area because Kala has flooded shops with numerous slightly different all-laminate instruments and newer players think that is all that Kala makes. If a newer player wants a step-up instrument, they are more likely to try a different brand than to buy another Kala. I see a lot more Pono, Opio, Martin, and Romero Creations than better quality Kala at my local uke classes and clubs.

[@artchickification]

Does KALA have a left-handed concert ukulele? If not, can you easily restring for left-handed?

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

No they don't but....yes, you can.

[@chuckmatses6803]

Would you please comment on those beautiful Kala arch tops?

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

We have featured them previously. To be honest they aren't a model we stock anymore as they are largely style over substance.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6jOqIF3rLagq5Y Found the video for you 🤙

[@PeteHowlett]

We are parsimonious here in the UK.....

[@marlena.abril.w]

Hi:) I am looking for a proper Ukulele to buy as my old one is not really good. I am traveling a lot and want an ukulele that is good quality but also robust and dont mind traveling - it should stand very cold and very warm temperatures, I want to use at the beach and so on. Would you recommend buying Kala KA-SCAC than? And if not you have any other recommendations for me?:) I would be really thankful!

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

If you want something suitable for travelling I would look at the Magic Flukes or if you really want woods, try harder woods than Cedar or Spruce... Probably a good quality laminate with a satin finish would survive different humidity and climates better. Cedar is soft and gloss finishes react more to environmental extremes so I would probably avoid it.

[@marlena.abril.w]

@@SouthernUkuleleStore Thanks for the fast reply and the information. I just had a look and found the "Kala KA-MG" - it looks good but I am not sure, if it is laminated. Are you familiar with the model and would recommend it instead?:) or have any other idea of good quality laminated Kala Ukes? Thanks very much!! Marlena

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

It is laminated. Its a good uke.

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

People need clarity not chaos

[@Bob-gn8ph]

❤John 3,16 ❤

[@doctorphil0078]

Alex I know this question has been asked. Are you left handed? Do string the uke lefty? Or do you jus play upside down on s right-handed uke? Or is it just video in Reverse?

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

I am left handed. I play my own ukes as a lefty but for shop demos I play right handed ukuleles upside down. I don't restring them to suit me, I play them as they are. 👍

[@doctorphil0078]

Excellent! I'm right-handed and play guitar lefty with bass string on top. However I have sort of learned uke right and left. Thanks for the videos and greetings from Oakland California and the San Francisco Bay Area!

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

Sounds like you understand better than most then! All the best.

[@janlesinski4719]

New models sound muddy compared to the old

[@PhilPage227]

My brand new Kala PWT tenor has no kerfing and sounds awful.

[@dougjames1618]

My first ukulele was a Kala Teak Tri-top Concert. I bought it on Amazon so it came as boxed from the factory with no setup. That ukulele has soured me to the brand. Based on that purchase I wondered if ukuleles were just inherently difficult to play with buzzing strings and painful fingertips from trying to coax music out of it. I've since purchased a few other ukuleles, Flight, Makaio, and Ohana all with professional setups and am absolutely shocked at the difference in playability. Perhaps that Tri-Top can be made playable with a visit to a luthier but even so at this point, Kala isn't a brand I consider.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

I can understand how that could sour you for sure.

[@kle2217]

Are Kala's made in China?

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

I notice you are commenting this on multiple videos. Most Kala ukuleles are made in China. The exception being the Revelator and Californian Ubasses... if its under £1000 it will be a Chinese model or possibly Indonesian.

[@D0hle]

"Kala" is Finnish for "Fish". That's all I have to say about the brand.

[@SouthernUkuleleStore]

😄

[@tazmac4559]

The old one sounds better to me

[@Studio42dotCom-Real]

Kala's website itself is a bit hard to navigate. I can't find the KA-SEM unless I do a search. For now, what I've already bought is more than good enough for my learning. These new ones seem affordable and a good upgrade if at that time those have the sound I'm after.

[@audreygiamlayhoon]

My first uke was a Kala They have high end, low end , and everything in between thrown in. It causes brand dilution. They have Watermelons, an Elvis Presley model, and Sixties ukadelics ... As well as expensive models .... rather confusing.