Ukulele Review: Kala KA-15S Soprano Ukulele

Рет қаралды 3,859

Күн бұрын

This is the full UkeGuide review of the Kala KA-15S. I purchased this ukulele secondhand.
You can use the time stamps (or chapters using the scrolling feature on the video) to jump to things you want to watch or you can watch the One Minute Ukulele Review ( • One Minute Ukulele Rev... ). The written summary is available at ukeguide.info.
00:00 Title
00:04 Tuning
00:15 Sound Demo
01:50 Intro
03:33 Subjective Matters
06:18 Internal Uke Cam
07:29 Back to Subjective Matters
11:21 Tonal Energy Harmonic Energy Series (original strings)
12:42 Objective Data
14:44 Summary
16:49 UkeGuide Rating
17:24 Thanks for Watching!
17:31 Outro
************************************************
Video created on the iPad Pro using Luma Fusion. Motion video background from www.motionbolt.com
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Пікірлер: 32

@OttrPopAnimations Жыл бұрын

Amazing review video! Thank you.

@UkeStuff Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@kimlewis5429 9 ай бұрын

This lighthearted sounding lil soprano is what I'd like to start the younger kids with. ( keep em off mine 😂)

@UkeStuff 8 ай бұрын

I bought an awful Mickey Mouse ukulele for my son for the same reason. We pulled it out the other day, as he was in his room playing on his own (he’s 11 now)

@sheilahdang11 4 күн бұрын

I have the Kala KA-S soprano, and this one ( the Kala 15S in my cart. even though they are made of the same wood in the same areas of the Ukulele the Kala KA-S soprano tones seem richer some how. I am trying to decide between the two. the former has ABS cream binding and cost $24 more.

@sheilahdang11 4 күн бұрын

by the way the kala KA-15S sounds really good just higher pitched than the Kala KA-S I am leaning towards a richer tone

@Joe-zd8zt 10 ай бұрын

Great review. What are songs you play in the demo?

@UkeStuff 10 ай бұрын

Generally I start with a tune called "Snowden Symphony" by Mark Pugh (runs Stones Music in the UK), then "Für Elise", then "Rubber Ducky" (Pete McCarty), then "Tiptoe with the Tulips" (Mim), then "I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate" (Barry Maz's demo), sometimes "Creep" (another Barry Maz), then one of the demo songs from SUS, ended by my own little arrangement (The UkeStuff Demo Song). The idea was to use the songs most widely used by reviewers when I started reviewing so that potential buyers could switch between the videos of differing reviewers and hear the same songs head-to-head. The whole UkeGuide approach is to try to provide a lot of information, versus the One Minute Review which is just a quick review. I was also intentionally trying to stay away from what Barry Maz (Got a Ukulele) does so well.

@marjoriecohn3868 3 жыл бұрын

Do you think a laminate like this is ok for a first ukulele or would it be better to get solid wood....... I know I need to go try them out.......

@UkeStuff 3 жыл бұрын

First ukulele? Laminate or Plastic. Or both. There are care issues with solid wood that are best avoided until you're sure that you want to commit to the instrument.

@marjoriecohn3868 3 жыл бұрын

@@UkeStuff OK thanks, yeah I don't want to get into humidifiers and care like that right now. Although I just fell in love with a Kanilea. lol I will go try out some laminates. Thank you so much.

@UkeStuff 3 жыл бұрын

If it's Kanile'a you're after (an absolutely worthy goal) look at the Islander models, imported by Kanile'a. They have the same basic setup as a Kanile'a. Craig Chee just reviewed their Concert Starter Kit on the Kanile'a KZfaq Channel.

@marjoriecohn3868 3 жыл бұрын

I actually like even darker ukuleles, like dark brown, vintage looking. Do you know of any sopranos that look really vintage-y. Thanks!

@UkeStuff 3 жыл бұрын

Yes! The Makala models for sure. In terms of solid wood models, look at the MUS-2 from Flight, the Ohana SK-25 (reach out to Mim's Ukes if you want either of these) or the Mainland Mahogany Soprano. None of the $65 ukuleles on Amazon will scratch that particular itch.

@marjoriecohn3868 3 жыл бұрын

@@UkeStuff OK thank you so much. I will look at those. Yeah, I have been looking at some basis Kalas. Then I found the Kohala KPP-S that is that classic vintage look, probably laminate. I am probably going to get laminate for my first one. Any opinion on this Kohala?

@UkeStuff 3 жыл бұрын

Here's what I'll say about the Kohala models...they haven't been updated for a very long time (neither have the Makalas, I guess). Lanikai (Kohala is the bargain model of Lanikai) has updated all of its models since 2017, and has not yet addressed Kohala. I'd urge you to play one in person to make sure that you're happy with it. If you are, then by all means, go for it.

@m.agarcia5023 4 жыл бұрын

Been wanting to buy the long neck soprano I guess it's almost the same as the regular soprano.🤠🎸🐾

@UkeStuff 4 жыл бұрын

You would get a bit more space on the fretboard. I really like the SSLNG (solid spruce long neck)-it is one of the few ukuleles to get a 5/5 rating from me.

@forfam1992 3 жыл бұрын

Sadly the newer KA-15S no longer uses kerfling inside. Just glued. Light & lovely, but no idea if it will last as long.

@UkeStuff 3 жыл бұрын

That is very sad; it used to be the main difference between the Makala MK-S (straight kerfing) and the Kala KA-15S. KoAloha doesn't use any kerfing, but their build is unique. I'm just surprised by that. Have you checked with any stores to see if perhaps yours was a factory error that wasn't caught? In other words, have you checked any of the other new KA-15S Models?

@lifejourneytv1427 3 жыл бұрын

My Kala 15s doesnt have kerfing braces inside,only thin flat of wood.does it affect the sound quality?

@lifejourneytv1427 3 жыл бұрын

Same thing with may kala 15c,flat thin braces.

@UkeStuff 3 жыл бұрын

The flat pieces are kerfing, just not "notched." It works just fine, but is a less expensive option for manufacturers to use...it saves a little bit per ukulele, resulting in a lower cost for an instrument.

@forfam1992 3 жыл бұрын

@@UkeStuff Thin narrow cross bracing, but not around the edge inside, just cross bracing.

@susa48 4 жыл бұрын

Have you tried the spruce top version?

@UkeStuff 4 жыл бұрын

Do you mean the SSLNG or another model? I do have a review of the SSLNG on this channel.

@susa48 4 жыл бұрын

@@UkeStuff No, the spruce top version of the 15S series (not the long neck). I just ordered one, and wondered if you have reviewed it.

@UkeStuff 4 жыл бұрын

I had to go look at it. First, of all, it's going to be just fine as a ukulele. If you're buying it from a vendor that does a set-up, that would be better; Kalas in general, in my experience, aren't set-up well out of the box. Also keep in mind that the spruce top is spruce laminate, at best layers of spruce, at worst layers of unknown wood with a thin spruce layer on top. But laminate isn't a bad thing. Ultimately, I think it will end up sounding and playing much like the Mahogany version--maybe a touch brighter--but probably not too much. Later you may want to try other strings, such as Martin M600 fluorocarbons or Worth Brown mediums.

@susa48 4 жыл бұрын

@@UkeStuff Thank you for your information on this ukulele! I didn't know the spruce top was laminate! Ohhhh, that changes things. I had hoped for the better projection of a solid spruce top! I have the mahogany EQ soprano version, and like it okay. I didn't buy it from a place that does setups, but only paid less than $60. for it. I can do a basic setup - saddle, and nut lowering (as I am in my 70s with some hand arthritis) and require a very low setup (just north of buzz!), and can also level frets somewhat, and sand sharp frets, so not much of a problem. I most always change out the strings to either M600s or D'Addario Titaniums depending on the ukulele. My sopranos (other than the Romero Creations XS) have M600s, some with low G. I put D'Addarios on my husband's concerts and larger. Thanks again!

@UkeStuff 4 жыл бұрын

You’ll be set to go with the spruce model if you can do basic set-ups. We sound very similar in the way we like to set up ukuleles and the strings we like to use. The only solid tops I know of in this low price range are Aiersi and Aklot; solid tops generally start at $150 (the aforementioned SSLNG). If you find that the Kala doesn’t really meet your needs, I do recommend that SSLNG. Right now if I could only have one ukulele, it would be between the Enya Nova, Flight TUSL-35, Outdoor Ukulele Tenor, or the Kala SSLNG. Living in Wisconsin/Minnesota, I have to pay attention to the humidity, and I wouldn’t want to have a solid instrument out in the elements all the time. It is beneficial to have a ukulele you can leave out, as you play it more.