Makai Ukulele
RatingsMakai ukuleles seem to be strikingly similar to other ukuleles such as Hilo and Ohana. As I write, there's a Makai concert and a Hilo concert on eBay. The only difference I can spot is that the Makai is more than $20 more expensive (both are 'Buy It Now's). So it's definitely worth you checking out the Hilos before you buy a Makai.
On eBay
US $9.45
Makai Ukulele Review
UKISOCIETY is 'amazed by the sound' of his Makai ukulele.
5 Comments
I purchased a Makai TK-55 out of curiosity and I along with my friends are truely amazed with the sound that it puts out. It sounds pretty much identical to my Kamaka. Good job Makai!
One of my friends just got a Makai concert uke for Christmas. When I tried it out, I was blown away. It’s very playable; the tone is bright & crystal clear, and it’s louder than any other uke I’ve played (except possibly Flukes). Definitely a quality instrument in my opinion.
I just purchased a Makai LK-80R with hard shell case for $200 and this is one of the best ukes I’ve seen in this price range. Solid ceder top with solid rosewood sides and back and looks, plays and sounds great. Unlike my Ibanez UEW20SG and Oscar Schmidt OU3 I didn’t need to do any setup, this Makai was setup correctly from the factory. Worth every penny I paid for it.
I just purchased a Makai TK-55 and I’m amazed at the quality of construction of this uke. I wasn’t expecting this attention to detail on such an inexpensive instrument, it’s flawless. It sounds great too!
I had a chance to compare the Hilo and Makai ukuleles back to back. First I tried the Hilo 2652 soprano laminate mahogany ukulele priced at $38.99. This ukulele, like the Makai is very basic. My ratings are for the MAKAI UK-55.
The biggest aesthetic difference you’ll notice right away is that the Hilo has black binding. Whereas the Makai has none. I usually like this feature on any stringed instrument (especially as inexpensive as this one) but on the Hilo ukulele it left much to be desired. The binding was crooked and the joints where the binding meets the laminate were extremely sloppy. Imagine the router bits on the machines are dull and it’s causing the ply to chip in small bits around the binding.
Secondly you’ll notice the stain on the Hilo is blotchy and uneven. The standard of quality control is inferior to the Makai line. The Makai is uniform and the laminate is a much more accurate simulation of mahogany. It just looks less like slap dash than the Hilo.
Unfortunately Makai strings the UK55 with GHS strings. Just when you thought GHS strings were the worst you’ve ever heard, you are introduced to the strings on the Hilo. I’m not sure what they are. Akin to thick floppy fishing line, these strings are just plain dull and wont intonate. In either case, the strings on both these ukes should be immediately swapped out for Aquila’s upon purchase.
The frets on the Hilo are just plain garbage. It’s bad all around. They come pre-oxidized! The Makai has nice polished frets and they obviously put a focus on the fretwork.
The tone of the Hilo was a huge let down. I expected the Makai and the Hilo to sound very similar. The tone of the Hilo was reminiscent of those painted ukulele’s you find on the web for $14.99. Thin, quiet, and muted. The laminate is too thick and I think they’re trying to do to much with this basic model. Makai has the right idea. No frills, just good craftsmanship with focus on clean lines and good tone. The Makai has a very strong high end response. It also has great clarity and has plenty of throw to boot. The ukulele is responsive and has a strong attack.
In conclusion. The Makai is a far superior instrument in every way sans the price. Though in my opinion, if you can’t afford the extra 7 bucks to get a better instrument, maybe choose a different hobby. Though you’ll have a hard time finding one as cheap and easy as the ukulele!
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