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Original Post By:
spoefish
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Date: 6/2/2017 12:14:20 PM
(Updated: 6/2/2017 12:17:48 PM)
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| I have not seen that many detailed reviews of the Ohana TK-35G so thought I would share my recent experience. I got to thinking it would be nice to have a tenor to take on outings when I did not want to chance it with one of my good ukes. Current tenors include a Kanile'a K-1 Duluxe, two custom LoPrinzi tenors - one mahogany, one Spanish cypress, and a Pohaku 6 string. The Ohana was bought off the auction site for $185 with a tweed hard case. It arrived in pretty much new condition. The construction is really amazing. The body is solid sapele, with the top, back, and sides each being a single piece. The wood is all straight and close grained, and the top has a nice quarter sawn figure. It might be some of the nicest sapele I have ever seen. The wood binding and black and white purfling are well done and overall the construction is very clean. No glue blobs, nice bracing, perfect gloss finish. The tuners are geared, I think made by Gotoh - not what I am used to, but seem light and work very well. To look at the Ohana without the name it could easily pass for a uke costing 5 times as much. But how does it sound? Well, not as good as my Kanile'a (nothing is - it might be the best tenor I have ever played), but not bad at all. Pretty much in there with the older Martin tenor ukes I have owned, and very close to my mahogany LoPrinzi and a number of other mahogany tenors I have owned op played. A little tighter than most Koa ukes, but to my ear would be right in there with most good tenor ukes. I have noticed that many of the pictures I have seen of other Ohana sapele ukes show wood that was not very attractive, and from only one example it is hard to tell how representative mine is. So seeing and playing is still best (I bought this one with the option of returning it - no chance), but I think for the price the solid sapele Ohana ukes are worth consideration. My only problem is that mine turned out so good that I am wondering if I really want it as my campfire uke. Oh well... |
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Posted By:
Tom B.
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Date: 6/7/2017 1:14:35 PM |
| Thanks for the review, Spoefish, and congratulations on your new uke.
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