Kala vs Kala

I am going to squeeze one last post out of these two wonderful Kala tenor ukuleles. In the previous entries I tried to describe and explain the most important features of Kala's two masterpieces, and naturally I played them a little in the videos as well. The best way to compare their sounds is to play exactly the same thing on one and then immediately on the other, so the difference can be evaluated at once.

I would never say that either is better than the other. Each has advantages and disadvantages, although even “disadvantage” makes sense only in comparison, because taken on its own each instrument is wonderful and sounds excellent. I prefer strumming chords on the eight-string because its rich sound provides a fuller background for a solo instrument, although with some songs the four-string still makes a better accompaniment. It is clearly easier to play accompaniment and melody simultaneously on the four-string; on the eight-string the same combined part may be much harder, if it can be played at all. On the other hand, the doubled strings give the eight-string a truly special sound. Let us see — or rather hear — how the two instruments compare!