Players seeking an instrument with a bit more substance may want to consider the KA-15S (also from Kala) or the highly-rated Donner and Hricane ukes in the table below.
The musical instrument was officially released this last weekend, but I have been lucky to have had a trio of Waterman ukuleles on test for the last week. The Shark is available in many of the same colors as the Dolphin; I’ve posted a few examples below. I've one on the way, though it's bound for Sven in Sweden eventually. - Musical Instruments Reviews, How are Ukuleles Tuned? Really well balanced and informative review. In fact I’ve found myself playing this ukulele standing far more than any other that I own over the past few weeks. It’s better than many ukes I’ve seen in this price range and far superior to the super cheap ukuleles you’ll find on Amazon for $20 to $30. They work fine, but they have loose plastic washers on the top of the headstock that can occasionally vibrate when certain notes or chords are played. Having spent a little bit more time refining their process, Kala has made sure that all of their ukuleles have fairly low action. – Complete New Guide 2020, Top 10 Best Strings For Bass Guitar In 2020 With Buying Guide, Best Electric Guitar Amps For Beginners 2020 | Read Our Guitarist Conversation, Best Bass Guitar Amps For Every Type Of Bass Player [2020 Update Review]. Its size means that it is well suited to making chords. Priceless father/daughter fun. The top, body and sides are made from agathis, with the fretboard and bridge made from rosewood.
These options are about the same price and offer a number of upgrades over the Dolphin that are well worth the investment.
So you have made your mind to get the ukulele for starting your musical journey. After doing extensive shootouts and proper research on all three of them, we would say yes. The bright “Candy Apple Red” finish was rich, deep, and uniform. I’ve found it be really well suited to a bit of fingerpicking mainly due to the volume that you can get from it. They make sure that the strings are placed resolutely on the ukulele. ","placement":"top","template":"
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As soon as the strings are too loose, it can cause a buzzing sound though you are playing the ukulele. When I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added-
Don’t worry; we’ll make sure you understand what the improvements are below.
Thanks for the thoughtful review.
It may not be a serious instrument it is a damn sight better than most on the market at this price point. Another plus point of Makala ukulele is the feeling when you are holding it. We have put it to the test to find out. Set a price range for your ukulele and get the best version you can find based on your criteria. The tie-bar bridge might be an issue for some newcomers to ukulele who would prefer a slotted bridge but regular readers of Ukulele Go will know that I’m not a slotted bridge type of guy. Fortunately, the Makala MK-S does not have that issue.
There are dissimilar types of tuners for ukuleles are available for Makala. The detail work is surprisingly clean for a uke of this price, but it’s not flawless. One of the things that Kala really upped their game with is that they started replacing the cheap strings they came with (one of the improvements we mentioned in the beginning). Makala Waterman Soprano Ukulele REVIEW Well it was a little time coming over to UK shores for this blogger, but the much awaited Makala Waterman plastic soprano has finally launched in the UK.
I emailed Kala and their service team said it should not have a dip, and to return it for a replacement.
But, as another commenter said, it is what it is: a fun, casual, well-built plastic uke.I should add that when introduced with only two color options, I immediately jumped on the Concert version of this uke. It might be helpful to you to have a DVD that teaches you the basics of how to learn ukulele, although all of that can also be found on the Internet. The string tension holds it in place.
The nut and saddle are made of plastic (this is one of the specs that would improve if you were to buy the KA-15S (Amazon link) with turning pegs made out of perloid and open-geared tuners. You can compare a $5000 Martin Ukulele to a $50 Makala and it ultimately comes down to “Does it feel good to play? What a fantastic choice!
Also, all the silver paint (frets, position markers, side dots) disappeared within half an hour of play. Now if you were to purchase the KA-15S, the tone would become slightly richer and warmer. This is the 2nd uke I have bought this week due to your reviews lol!
The MK-SD is a decent-sounding uke, and I found myself liking the tone more than I expected.
This is definitely one I'm going to need to consider. The MK-S has a good balance between the brightness of the Lanikai and has more resonance than the Ohana. While it’s not the same uke (the Dolphin has a plastic back and sides with an agathis top) and the sound is pretty different, in my opinion it’s on a par with the Dolphin in terms of value for money. While the Dolphin sounds better than the super cheap ukes you’ll find online for $25, its tone is thinner and quieter than some other ukes I’ve played in this price range.
When I got it home I gave it the appropriate time to acclimatize to the ambient temperature and humidity of my kitchen .a.k.a. Changing Fingering For Faster Chord Changes, The Ultimate List of Christmas Ukulele Songs and Tabs, 36 Ways To Become A Better Ukulele Player.
Kala makes a nearly identical ukulele called the Shark. I recommend a few models at the end of this post, or you can read my article on the best beginner ukuleles. It was the one hanging on the wall.
There are a number of reviews available online that highly praises the stability and usability of this brand.
Makala MK-S Look and Feel. I'm trying to convince myself I don't need one ... Barry, I'm a teacher considering either a class set of these or the Dolphins for a six week unit. I think that the reinforced and deep sided sound hole gives it more resonance thereby overcoming much of the plastic tones.
The Makala MK-S is one of the best entry-level soprano ukuleles you can find on the market. Featuring tips, chords, worksheets & more! why and what's the difference between the two, if any?-Deb.
Barry, your review was bang on. One small issue I have with the Dolphin is the tuners. I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at again right here regularly. Makala’s Waterman is a plastic take-anywhere soprano ukulele that has become incredibly popular since it launched back in 2016. Here the ukulele sounds when you are playing it would completely sooth your mood. It is all I expected and I have had a lot of fun with it. The Best Large Screen Tablet on the Market for Sheet Music, Our Top 4 Travel Ukuleles Ideal for Backpacking Vacations, Easiest Musical Instrument to Learn for Adult Beginners.
Well I bought the Kala Makala Waterman UKE. It's really lightweight too for canoeing and camping. Malala Waterman part II Barry mentioned in his review that the Waterman is "bomb proof".
Nice review, Baz, as always. It sounded much better than I had expected and at 55$ CDN its sound was far superior to the Outdoor UKE that purchased at twice the price. We have put it to the test to find out.
I like the helpful information you supply in your articles. I've had 5 through my hands. Rachel - definitely definitely the Dolphins - these are more of a specialist ukulele for existing ukulele fans and can need quite a bit of work getting them to play right. Required fields are marked *. No, but for a few more bucks it might be a good idea to improve your sound. Also, the cheapest ukuleles from the Makala ukulele are almost always soprano ukuleles. Any suggestions? Here are my main takeaways: My final verdict is that if you like the Dolphin’s unique design and interesting color options, it’s a reasonably good uke for the money.
[…] Uke, but altering the subtleties of tone and volume. Before describing the Makala MK-S it is very important to mention that for a few years now, Kala (which is the brand that makes them) decided to improve the quality of their MK-S’, therefore it is very important that you make sure that the specs we are about to mention are included in the description of the page where you would buy it, if and when you choose to.
Most of the model from this brand has received immense love from the users and consumers. Any advice welcome!
The second bungle you can find actually includes an instructional DVD from Kala’s “dealer of the year”, Austin Bazaar. No one else that I've read has mentioned this about the concert: the silver paint problem is solved. The Dolphins are also plastic back and sides and incredibly tough. Essentially, they are all solid beginner ukuleles in the same price range. The neck of the ukulele feels contented in your hand. Also quickly goes out of tune, I installed geared pegs and new strings. I want to help you find the best uke for your budget and skill level.
There has to be a means you Or maybe you can get an expensive one to keep at your house and take the cheaper one with you to the shore. The nut re not be too high or too low since this may cause the ukulele to be out of tune.
Makala Ukulele 2020: An Honest Makala Ukulele Review. An electric tuner would help you choose the version of ukulele that is the perfect buy. They are decent manufacture who used the best designing plan for their bestselling ukes and most people love the way these ukuleles turned out to be for them. You can learn more about these models on my reviews page. Kala MK – S Makala Soprano Ukulele – Best for Beginners. But I think, starting with a small and reasonable four-string would be a good decision. While I don’t like to see brass frets on steel-string instruments like guitars, uke strings are so soft that it’s not something I worry about.
Essentially, if you were to put aside cost (the other models can be $25-$35 more expensive) what you should be looking out for is for a ukulele that fits you well.
As soon as the strings are too loose, it can cause a buzzing sound though you are playing the ukulele. When I originally left a comment I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added-
Don’t worry; we’ll make sure you understand what the improvements are below.
Thanks for the thoughtful review.
It may not be a serious instrument it is a damn sight better than most on the market at this price point. Another plus point of Makala ukulele is the feeling when you are holding it. We have put it to the test to find out. Set a price range for your ukulele and get the best version you can find based on your criteria. The tie-bar bridge might be an issue for some newcomers to ukulele who would prefer a slotted bridge but regular readers of Ukulele Go will know that I’m not a slotted bridge type of guy. Fortunately, the Makala MK-S does not have that issue.
There are dissimilar types of tuners for ukuleles are available for Makala. The detail work is surprisingly clean for a uke of this price, but it’s not flawless. One of the things that Kala really upped their game with is that they started replacing the cheap strings they came with (one of the improvements we mentioned in the beginning). Makala Waterman Soprano Ukulele REVIEW Well it was a little time coming over to UK shores for this blogger, but the much awaited Makala Waterman plastic soprano has finally launched in the UK.
I emailed Kala and their service team said it should not have a dip, and to return it for a replacement.
But, as another commenter said, it is what it is: a fun, casual, well-built plastic uke.I should add that when introduced with only two color options, I immediately jumped on the Concert version of this uke. It might be helpful to you to have a DVD that teaches you the basics of how to learn ukulele, although all of that can also be found on the Internet. The string tension holds it in place.
The nut and saddle are made of plastic (this is one of the specs that would improve if you were to buy the KA-15S (Amazon link) with turning pegs made out of perloid and open-geared tuners. You can compare a $5000 Martin Ukulele to a $50 Makala and it ultimately comes down to “Does it feel good to play? What a fantastic choice!
Also, all the silver paint (frets, position markers, side dots) disappeared within half an hour of play. Now if you were to purchase the KA-15S, the tone would become slightly richer and warmer. This is the 2nd uke I have bought this week due to your reviews lol!
The MK-SD is a decent-sounding uke, and I found myself liking the tone more than I expected.
This is definitely one I'm going to need to consider. The MK-S has a good balance between the brightness of the Lanikai and has more resonance than the Ohana. While it’s not the same uke (the Dolphin has a plastic back and sides with an agathis top) and the sound is pretty different, in my opinion it’s on a par with the Dolphin in terms of value for money. While the Dolphin sounds better than the super cheap ukes you’ll find online for $25, its tone is thinner and quieter than some other ukes I’ve played in this price range.
When I got it home I gave it the appropriate time to acclimatize to the ambient temperature and humidity of my kitchen .a.k.a. Changing Fingering For Faster Chord Changes, The Ultimate List of Christmas Ukulele Songs and Tabs, 36 Ways To Become A Better Ukulele Player.
Kala makes a nearly identical ukulele called the Shark. I recommend a few models at the end of this post, or you can read my article on the best beginner ukuleles. It was the one hanging on the wall.
There are a number of reviews available online that highly praises the stability and usability of this brand.
Makala MK-S Look and Feel. I'm trying to convince myself I don't need one ... Barry, I'm a teacher considering either a class set of these or the Dolphins for a six week unit. I think that the reinforced and deep sided sound hole gives it more resonance thereby overcoming much of the plastic tones.
The Makala MK-S is one of the best entry-level soprano ukuleles you can find on the market. Featuring tips, chords, worksheets & more! why and what's the difference between the two, if any?-Deb.
Barry, your review was bang on. One small issue I have with the Dolphin is the tuners. I will bookmark your weblog and take a look at again right here regularly. Makala’s Waterman is a plastic take-anywhere soprano ukulele that has become incredibly popular since it launched back in 2016. Here the ukulele sounds when you are playing it would completely sooth your mood. It is all I expected and I have had a lot of fun with it. The Best Large Screen Tablet on the Market for Sheet Music, Our Top 4 Travel Ukuleles Ideal for Backpacking Vacations, Easiest Musical Instrument to Learn for Adult Beginners.
Well I bought the Kala Makala Waterman UKE. It's really lightweight too for canoeing and camping. Malala Waterman part II Barry mentioned in his review that the Waterman is "bomb proof".
Nice review, Baz, as always. It sounded much better than I had expected and at 55$ CDN its sound was far superior to the Outdoor UKE that purchased at twice the price. We have put it to the test to find out.
I like the helpful information you supply in your articles. I've had 5 through my hands. Rachel - definitely definitely the Dolphins - these are more of a specialist ukulele for existing ukulele fans and can need quite a bit of work getting them to play right. Required fields are marked *. No, but for a few more bucks it might be a good idea to improve your sound. Also, the cheapest ukuleles from the Makala ukulele are almost always soprano ukuleles. Any suggestions? Here are my main takeaways: My final verdict is that if you like the Dolphin’s unique design and interesting color options, it’s a reasonably good uke for the money.
[…] Uke, but altering the subtleties of tone and volume. Before describing the Makala MK-S it is very important to mention that for a few years now, Kala (which is the brand that makes them) decided to improve the quality of their MK-S’, therefore it is very important that you make sure that the specs we are about to mention are included in the description of the page where you would buy it, if and when you choose to.
Most of the model from this brand has received immense love from the users and consumers. Any advice welcome!
The second bungle you can find actually includes an instructional DVD from Kala’s “dealer of the year”, Austin Bazaar. No one else that I've read has mentioned this about the concert: the silver paint problem is solved. The Dolphins are also plastic back and sides and incredibly tough. Essentially, they are all solid beginner ukuleles in the same price range. The neck of the ukulele feels contented in your hand. Also quickly goes out of tune, I installed geared pegs and new strings. I want to help you find the best uke for your budget and skill level.
There has to be a means you Or maybe you can get an expensive one to keep at your house and take the cheaper one with you to the shore. The nut re not be too high or too low since this may cause the ukulele to be out of tune.
Makala Ukulele 2020: An Honest Makala Ukulele Review. An electric tuner would help you choose the version of ukulele that is the perfect buy. They are decent manufacture who used the best designing plan for their bestselling ukes and most people love the way these ukuleles turned out to be for them. You can learn more about these models on my reviews page. Kala MK – S Makala Soprano Ukulele – Best for Beginners. But I think, starting with a small and reasonable four-string would be a good decision. While I don’t like to see brass frets on steel-string instruments like guitars, uke strings are so soft that it’s not something I worry about.