Bulletin Board: wow SCEPTRE IS AWESOME...

Original Post By: musicguymic Date: 7/7/2007 10:03:30 PM I finally got down to Koaloha to get pictures of the Sceptre this morning and Papa Kolaloha was gracious enough to let me post these..Thanks and way to go Koaloha...I played all three of the working concert Sceptres and they blew me away... If you thought the Pineapple sundays were loud and had good projection these babies are off the map. The first thing i noticed that although "built like a tank" as Papa Kolaoha says was the projection and volume of this ukulele. You could pound away with the hardest srumming and this ukulele kept giving out more. Positively this ukulele will cut above the rest when played in a group of ukuleles. The tone was awesome Clear, bright, great sustain and a just wonderful tone. Clearly this uke will be a beginning of a new bemchmark for all to follow. The action was great intonation dead on. These were strung with Worth bm as OEM factory standard strings which I feel fit the uke like a glove in tone and feel. I noticed that even though the design incorporates some huge pieces of solid Koa on the top and base of the sides this baby had the resonance and volume untouched in this this. Another neat feature is the 45 degree bevel all around the sides making for a look not seen in ukuleles the bevel was about 3/8" across in width. An engineering marvel done by Alwin. I feel I must tell the story behind the SCEPTRE design. Papa tell me that one night he was lying down and all of a sudden on the ceiling was this shape dancing around. he thought he was imaging it so he closed his eyes but it was still there...quickly he grabbed a notepad and sketched the design. Papa feels it was a gift from God..."I believe this is a design that came from aboveare meant to be enjoyed by all" This is the production concert sized sceptre which to some technically may be closer to a supersoprano with the body being closer to a soprano size with a concert neck but as Paul O. states"Its a concert" This is not the masterpiece collection Sceptre which will be a tenor sized model with a little more added features yet undisclosed. enough said...I am now going to add more photos of the Sceptre and the newly renovated...Koaloha Showroom... Posted By: musicguymic Date: 7/7/2007 10:07:16 PM http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/051.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/055.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/048-1.jpg Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 7/7/2007 10:14:44 PM http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/051.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/055.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/048-1.jpg Posted By: musicguymic Date: 7/7/2007 10:15:11 PM http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/057.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/056.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/045.jpg Posted By: Bruce E Date: 7/7/2007 10:33:09 PM http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/057.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/056.jpg http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c345/musicguymic/045.jpg Posted By: musicguymic Date: 7/7/2007 10:40:40 PM some pictures are in the thread below for those who missed it. Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 7/7/2007 10:51:03 PM Looks like a Fluke on steroids.... I mean that in a nice way. What's the price? Posted By: GX9901 Date: 7/7/2007 11:00:02 PM This design is not speaking to me like the Pineapple Sunday did visually. But if it sounds like a million bucks, then I'm still going to be interested. I bet this design will grow on me though. I will need to play/hear it in person before thinking about getting one, I think. (need to keep UAS under control!) Any idea on how much the production concert version will cost? Even a ballpark figure? Posted By: musicguymic Date: 7/7/2007 11:06:50 PM $$$$$ is a ?????. well at least for now Posted By: Clark Turner Date: 7/7/2007 11:12:02 PM   (Updated: 7/7/2007 11:15:12 PM) What GX said. I'm guessing it'll be 'spensive. I didn't like the Fluke at first, but the sound got me. Now I think it looks cool. There goes the budget, again.... (Is UAS a deductible expense?) Posted By: hoaryhead Date: 7/7/2007 11:17:15 PM Too artsy fartsy for me. Even though I don't dig it, this does reinforce to me the 'cutting edge'-ness of KoAloha as a whole. There are so few companies that push boundaries, so it's nice to see KoAloha doing just that. Just as long as they keep making normal ukes... Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 7/7/2007 11:51:23 PM There's a certain whimsical appeal to the design because EVERYONE would be able to tell from a distance that you're playing a KoAloha. No one will miss the crown-pattern on that uke. I think the key selling point will be the sound. Would love to hear it. Posted By: GX9901 Date: 7/8/2007 12:43:09 AM It just occurred to me that the big pointy bottom end could cause some serious blunt force trauma if used like a spear. Better not piss off anyone playing a Scepter! :D Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 7/8/2007 1:08:08 AM "It just occurred to me that the big pointy bottom end could cause some serious blunt force trauma if used like a spear." The whole body structure looks very robust. I wonder how its weight compares to equivalent-sized ukes? In image 056, I'm rather curious about two KoAlohas to the far left. One looks like a Flamenca Blanca (all light Maple/Spruce) and the other looks like a Spruce top with Rosewood sides. I'm guessing that they're customs. Posted By: musicguymic Date: 7/8/2007 4:58:52 AM Those are customs and personal instruments of the okami family Posted By: hokeypokey Date: 7/8/2007 8:01:06 AM Is the sceptre a concert or a super concert? Posted By: musicguymic Date: 7/8/2007 10:43:25 AM Its a concert. Posted By: old smelly bob Date: 7/8/2007 4:20:15 PM aaaaaaand the reason you dinna steal one while you were there, was the lack of a flashlight Mike? we *know* about you...... Posted By: studentaccount1 Date: 7/8/2007 5:18:24 PM Is it me or is it the same shape as the headstock? Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 7/8/2007 5:26:13 PM "Is it me or is it the same shape as the headstock?" It is. That's why I mentioned that no one will mistake you for not playing a KoAloha. I assume that was also the reason behind the name. Posted By: mahiplate Date: 7/8/2007 6:00:58 PM The KoAloha headstock has always reminded me of an old hawaiian 'kahili' used by the Hawaiian Royalty. Now that image is stronger than ever simple due to the size of the body. I think it's unique enough to be very cool and if it sounds good how can you lose! sceptre [ˈseptə(r)] noun the ornamental rod carried by a monarch on ceremonial occasions as a sign of power Posted By: studentaccount1 Date: 7/8/2007 10:06:57 PM Maybe it connects with other soon to be released Koaloha models, and forms a giant ukulele of which it is the headstock... (MGM: Do I smell limited edition "Voltron" super uke?) http://err. . . on second though maybe that was the theme for Jake's new concept album... I always get them mixed up Posted By: koalohapaul Date: 7/9/2007 1:50:39 AM SA1, Man, I almost spit on my screen, laughing, after reading your last post. But, you never know. ChiyoDad, The two ukulele in the back ground are a matching pair that I built for my parents, for our 10th anniversary celebration. The lighter ukulele is a birds eye maple body, with a curly maple neck. The darker ukulele is has ebony sides and an ebony back, with a honduras mahogany neck. Both are spruce tops. Basically the idea was black and white, to represent the balance of marriage. Guess why mom got the white one. I also built a mango ukulele for my brother. It would have been weird if I presented myself with an ukulele, so I didn't make one for myself, but my crew tried to make on in secret for me. Ben took charge of the project and built mine using all of the woods that I used for my families' ukulele. I say "tried," because I work with them in the shop and it's hard to get anything past me in secret. I joke that I'm the all seeing eye at the top of the tower in Mordor. (Lord of the Rings) As for the uke, it is an awesome sounding instrument. I still don't have a Pineapple Sunday for myself. I think I'm going to take one of these home, before dad decides to move on to the next in the line. Oh yeah. Thanks for posting the pictures, MGM. We have a new webmaster, but I've been so busy with the renovations and the new members of my staff, I haven't had a chance to send him a list of updates. We really wanted to get the Sceptre up on Saturday, but there just wasn't enough time. Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 7/9/2007 5:07:45 PM "Maybe it connects with other soon to be released Koaloha models, and forms a giant ukulele of which it is the headstock... " 百獣王ゴライオン! Mecha-combo-ukes! Betcha they would sell like sushi in Japan. :-D You never know, SA1. That'd be an interesting concept for a performing group. Three or more ukes that combine into one for the finale performance. Paul, thanks for the info on those two! Even with that small image, they look impressive. Have the webmaster put up a historical gallery of customs someday. Posted By: Strum Bum Date: 7/9/2007 6:09:49 PM Is it my imagination, or is that fretboard a little wider up the neck than most? Posted By: ChiyoDad Date: 7/9/2007 8:52:19 PM SB, now that you mention it, it does look wider. Paul will need to provide the specs. Posted By: ukulele4u Date: 7/10/2007 12:28:11 AM I was sworn to secrecy, but got to see and play this beautiful uke earlier this year (February) when visiting KoAloha & having lunch w/the Okamis. You guys are going to be blown away by its sound! It is truly an awe inspiring design!--Get ready!!! Posted By: Strum Bum Date: 7/10/2007 12:29:27 AM IMHO - they should have made this a Super Concert. Everybody I know is dying for a Koaloha SC, and it's beyond me why they are not making them. If this was a SC, it would fly out the door. Look at the popularity of the Pineapple Sundae, which is basically a pineapple-shaped Super Concert. Posted By: Ernie Date: 7/10/2007 1:14:40 AM   (Updated: 7/10/2007 1:15:42 AM) Oops... misread the last post. Never mind... Posted By: koalohapaul Date: 7/10/2007 1:43:43 AM The fret board is identical to the regular concerts. It must be an optical illusion with the lines of the body. The SC version is coming. The second Sceptre will be the masterpiece collection edition, with more visual bells and whistles, at a tenor scale length.

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