Comments on: Kala KA-ASLAS Lacewood and Spruce Soprano Review

By: Tribal Surf

Tribal Surf — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:19:16 +0000

For anyone that has the tenor of this lacewood uke, did you find the action a bit high? I’m just a beginner so I’m not sure I would know any better but it just seems high to me.

By: Tamster

Tamster — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:57:52 +0000

The Lacewood looks great.
As far as sniffing my ukes goes, I have a cedar top uke and after a year it still smells quite strong.

By: Woodshed

Woodshed — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:19:58 +0000

Nelson: Yes it is! It looks like I’m in the majority.

Chris: I’d be interested in giving a spruce tenor a go.

byjimini: They’re definitely good blokes.

todd: Weirdo!

Jake: Good to get a professional opinion on uke smells.

+one: Thanks for the review. Haven’t had any problems like that with mine.

Ken: I love the smell of cedar. I’ve even got a stock of cedar shower gel.

cbf: It certainly looks like a previously hidden section of the uke world has just outed itself.

Melissa: Good to be part of the gang.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:09:17 +0000

This is the Kala I bought — except mine’s a concert. I love it! It’s pretty and spritely. Welcome to the Kala Lacewood club!

By: cardboardfrog

cardboardfrog — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:23:21 +0000

haha i think all the secret uke sniffers can unite around this review, mind you if you sniff the soundhole on some new cheap ukes you can get sawdust up your nose.

By: Ken Middleton

Ken Middleton — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:11:37 +0000

I afraid I too like to sniff the soundholes of ukes and guitars. Maple and cedar are my favourite woods. the smell of some woods, like cedar, is still strong even years after you buy it.

By: +one

+one — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:23:06 +0000

I’ve got the travel version of this soprano lacewood Kala uke – I love it – the sound is great, loud and punchy. Strumming is heaps of fun on it, I play finger picking style a bit too but tend to leave most of that for my Cole Clark (beautiful tone, superb ukulele).

I know there are some schools of thought that say a travel uke is a contradiction in terms, but I really like the thin body, fits nicely into a backpack, necessary for the limited space on my motorbike.

got to agree with you about the geared tuners, they make it top heavy but I can live with that, can always put frictions on if I feel inclined.

My only issue with my particular uke is the E string when fretted on the first fret, seems all out of tune but when I check it with a tuner its perfectly ok. I think the action might be just a tad too high at the nut end. I bought it from Ukulele World who were about US$40 cheaper than Music Guy Mike – would highly recommend Ukulele World, very fast delivery from Texas (I’m in Australia) and friendly service. The only drawback with it is that I can’t pop into the shop to see about the E string.

Other than that, I smell this uke often, oh, and I rub her all over sometimes ;), she’s got a lovely arched back…

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:29:11 +0000

Everyone smells their instruments… whether they want to or not! I always do archaeological studies on instruments when they come in… you can tell a cigar or cigarette smoker right away as opposed to a pipe smoker… and the weirdest smells are instruments that smell like garlic or onions. Left in the kitchen?

Although my favorite uke-specific smell is the faint eucalyptisy-pine smell of a bit of sanded koa when I’m trying to figure out what kind of wood adorns the top of a vintage instrument (sometimes those finishes are awfully dark).

By: todd

todd — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:32:25 +0000

- Smell: Oh, am I the only who likes to give the soundhole of a new uke a good sniff?

er, um, no…..i confess….i do that as well….

mmmmm glue….wood….whiff whiff….

congrats Al, good stuff….

By: byjimini

byjimini — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:37:00 +0000

I used Southern Ukulele Store back before they re-branded. Flawless customer service on my broken Eleuke, gave me a refund and then emailed me when they got some back in stock, which I took up.

I really want that uke, but in concert size. Going to Leeds in October to Hobgobblin to try it out for myself.