Comments on: Ohana Tenor Ukulele TK-35G Review

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 07:56:40 +0000

I am pleased you got it sorted, Andrew.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:21:47 +0000

Ken — Thank you for your time and advice. I took it back to the shop where I bought it and the luthier had another look at it. He adjusted the position of the pickup and fitted a new, slightly higher bridge as there was also some fret buzz with the fatter non-wound strings. The pickup is perfect now, no dominant string without having to adjust the pre-amp at all.

As to the muddy amplification, you’re quite right. It seems Little Miss 4 had been playing with the mixer while I was changing the strings…

So all in all I’m now very happy with my purchase. Which for anyone wanting to buy in New Zealand was from Toadstool Guitars in Tokoroa and I highly recommend them.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:05:35 +0000

ANDREW: The amplified sound is much more to do with the pickup and amp than the instrument. When I fitted a Fishman system to a TK-35G I had to adjust the position of the pickup several times until it was balanced. To rectify the boomy bottom string, you might try rolling off the lower frequencies if your amp or preamp has that facility. As for muddiness – it is almost certainly the amp.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:27:07 +0000

In follow up to my post above: I had the action lowered, which was a good move and made it much easier to play. Also fitted Worth strings, which to my ears improved the acoustic tone and they’re cheaper and easier on the fingers than the Aquilas. However when amplified the sound is muddier with a slightly boomy G string as compared to the Aquilas. So I’m a little conflicted. Suggestions welcomed.

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:05:48 +0000

Andrew: Thanks for the review! Glad you like it.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:02:17 +0000

I’ve only been playing a few months, but I just bought one of these — my Ovation soprano uke got sick (developed a rattle) and is having some surgery under warranty, so I brought forward the purchase of a tenor so I’d still have an instrument. I went to the shop to look at a Kala arch top jazz uke but liked the Ohana a lot better.

I would echo the reviews above. I didn’t research the instrument before I bought — its tone persuaded me in the shop. But on more extended playing at home I agree that the action is too high. The finish is good, though with minor blemishes noticeable on close inspection; intonation is good; the tone is lovely with lots of sustain and it really responds to picking. When I jam with friends I have to “compete” with amplified instruments, so I had a Belcat UK-300T pickup added at time of purchase. The Ohana sounds really sweet through that and the addition made no perceptible change to the acoustic tone, so a good move I think. I’ve also put a low G string on it. I really like the contrast with the re-entrant g on the soprano, but my wife reckons it makes this uke sound like a guitar…

For the future I think I’ll have the action lowered and give Worth strings a try when the low G wears out. Which probably won’t take very long the amount of play it’s getting.

Thank you for the tips!

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:25:05 +0000

Mario. It sounds great with Worth brown (BT) or clear (CT). I use the clear strings. I don’t play very much low G, but I’m sure it will sound fine.

By: Mario

Mario — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:39:00 +0000

He you all i am mario from Holland and i just ordered the Tenor Ohana Tk35 and i can’t waith to play with it.standard its with high g but i like the low g can anybody thell me how its sounds with( brown) Worth strings and low g , couple of months ago i by a Ortega lizard tenor i realy don’t like the sound off it, thats why the Ohana.
Greetings Mario

By: john

john — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:41:57 +0000

thanks Ken,appreciate the knowledge and keep up the good work

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:56:56 +0000

John. Yes, it happens more often than people realise. It is the string that has stretched unevenly. It usually happens with the top string. Just happened on two of my ukes: my Howlett and my Kanile’a. Just change the string and don’t tug at it to get it to settle.