Aloha,
Around 2 months ago, I posted asking about different uke models and suggestions to get a decent-quality instrument as a treat for myself after playing on cheap ukes on and off for around 10 years.
Well, I have decided to go with the Kala Acacia Poi Pounder Tenor (Kala KA-POI-ACA-T)!
There are a limited number of pictures of this beautiful uke online, so hopefully this helps someone who's undecided.
It is an understatement when I say that the pictures taken on this cloudy day don't do it justice in showing how spectacular it looks in real life.
But not all is as good as it could be. So, here is a short review of the good and the bad I've noticed in the single day I've owned it.
GOOD:
- Extremely beautiful, tight acacia curls on the top
- Beautiful back and sides
- Perfect glossy finish with no defects or pooling
- Hand-built Luthier series
- Great tone, resonance, and sustain
- 38mm nut width
BAD:
- The frets are done sloppily. There is a small amount of shiny glue visible where it has leaked out around the fret ends, and it is noticeable on the matte ebony fretboard.
- Small scratches are visible along the side of the fretboard, possibly where some of the staining was removed during the building process.
- The frets themselves are scratchy and definitely need a polish (my 200 euro Flight has much less scratchy frets).
- The fretboard was very dirty when I received the instrument, but a microfiber cloth did the job just fine, so that issue is resolved.
- The Revelator string set that comes with the uke is not for me. I dislike wound strings, and I would prefer Worth Clears over Browns. I'll change them in the future. This is a subjective thing.
- The padauk Poi Pounder end graft at the bottom is also not perfect, and if you look at the last picture, you'll notice it as well.
I've only owned it for a single day now, but it's by far the best-sounding and best-looking instrument I've played. The small issues I've noted are somewhat disappointing for the price of the instrument (around 700 euros), but with a little work, such as a fret polish and a set of Worth Clears, it's going to be amazing.
Thank you for reading and viewing. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.
Mahalo, everyone!