The Koa is definitely brighter , but not necessarily better . I like both . They are both beautiful . I would think you can change the sound with different strings . That’s the next comparison you should do !!

It may be that my ear is not sophisticated enough, but I could not tell the difference between the two. Both lovely.

Thank you for showcasing my Uke Terry, doesn't quite sound that good when I play it yet but I'm working on it! Hope to see you on the beach playing or in the line up soon... Tony

@AndreRMeyer

2 жыл бұрын

Anthony Morales surf's up

Sounds like the Koa has more bass, and the Acacia has a more treble. The Koa sounds more “rounded” what does that mean, well the way I think of it, is if we were to visually see the sound waves from both instruments, we would see more large mountainous shape waveform from the Koa, but the Acacia would have more of a hill shape waveform. Hope this helps!

Took me a while but then I did notice a big difference that I didn't hear right away though I plugged in my earphones to hear it better. But...how big is the influence from satin and gloss finish... I watched several german videos on Pono Ukuleles and there the absolutely same wood sounded different when the instrument came in satin or gloss. What a pitty that Koaloha doesn't have an acacia gloss version.

@JJ_TheGreat

5 ай бұрын

I actually think I like a satin finish more (from a tonal standpoint) - because of it is similar to mandolins, the satin finish isn't as much as the gloss finish - so the gloss finish takes away more of the sound after you down-strum.

The comparison is a good in so far as that they are both Koaloha tenors but the construction between the two ukuleles differs. Since late 2019 the Hawaiian made koa models have a slightly narrower waste and the neck now joins at the 14th fret. The acacia Opio models are still constructed in a manner similar to the earlier, pre late 2019 Hawaiian models - i.e., a wider waste with the bridge seated a little further forward because the neck joins at the 15th fret. This is said to give the models, either koa or acacia, a slightly more ‘base’ sound. A more accurate and useful comparison would have been to use your own KTM-00 tenor (older model) which would mirror the Opio so the only difference between them would have been the woods! Nice ukes either way.

Thanks for this useful side.by side comparison. While I had difficulty discerning the differences I realized that in your professional hands almost any instrument can sound great. Technique matters and subtle differences in wood can be compensated for with subtle variations in strum picking timing and vibrato. I bow to a uke master.

I would be proud to own either one, they both sound great and are both beautiful ukulele's 👍.

It would have been better if the sound comparison had the same finish. If we didn't miss the fact that the satin-finished instruments sound a little brighter and lighter than the high-gloss instruments, even if they are made of the same wood.

This video convinced me to buy the KTO-10. I mostly cannot tell the difference, and they both fantastic. I live my KTO-10.

Both are great! At first it sounded like the Acacia was a little brighter, but on listening again it's because the Koa sounded generally fuller with a rounder more balanced tone overall and more bottom end, which gave a sense of the Acaia being brighter as the top end stands out a bit more. Love these listening videos!

Koa is so angelic sound, thank you so much, it’s the first time I am in love with a ukulele sound. Thank you so much, it’s a revelation for me :)

Koa is a warmer fuller sound but both are really nice

Thanks! I asked for this a few weeks ago and you responded! Koa is, as you said, a variety of acacia. I thought the Thai acacia sounded warmer, which I prefer in a Low G.

The 25th anniversary Koa Tenor is roughly $3500 form what I’ve seen online! I’ve watched so many of your videos since I began my quest to play the Ukulele. I really feel like your geared towards a more high end audience who can afford very expensive instruments. And all the bells and whistles that go with them. Most every video I’ve watched your sell, sell, selling one thing or another. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, I’m guessing it’s how you make your living. I’m a novice when it comes to the ukulele. So the chances at this stage in my life of ever purchasing an Ukulele for $3500? Are about the same odds I’ll hit the lottery for big money🤑

Very interesting comparison, thank You for that Video! In my ear, the Koa has a bit more volume in the reverb at the lower notes, while the Acacia is more defined, especially in the higher notes. I'd probably prefer the Koa for strumming and the Acacia for picking, but both instruments sound really beautiful and for me surprisingly similar. I do not own a Koa Ukulele (yet), but I have a soprano in all- Acacia with solid top and bottom (Ortega RUACA-SO) which is my best sounding Ukulele so far. But I also like the voice of my solid spruce top Uke (Casha Premium, got it in soprano and in tenor size) which is clearly more open than laminated Mahagony. Anyway I think that the difference solid/laminated is also a very important factor, (as well as the manufacturing quality) maybe as important as the used kind of wood. Recently putted an all-solid Bamboo Uke on my wish list, curious how that very hard "wood" (in fact it's a grass) will sound. Of course there is one more difference, which might be very important for some people: Koa is "original Hawaii" while Acacia and many other Woods (especially Bamboo) are not. But Koa is also a wood which I'd rather see as living tree than as instrument. I see no reason to insist for Koa, there are real good alternatives around. At the end, it's a matter of individual taste anyway.

@Ukelikethepros

2 жыл бұрын

Great points. You will love the Koa wood once you get yourself one

@SH1974

2 жыл бұрын

​@@Ukelikethepros I had opportunity to play a real hawaiian made and all solid Koa Uke once. (I don't remember the brand or model, but she told me that it was custom made and really expensive, above 3k. Was in a hardcase made of mirror polished teak plywood that had brighter inner layers, even that was very impressive.) That Instrument sounded and looked absolutely beautiful, just perfekt in all ways! But I'd probably never own such a precious Instrument. I'm okay with that, I play my Ukes just for fun - and the Ukes in the prize level of few hundred bucks (or even less) can also sound very beautiful and/or interesting. Like the Bamboo-Uke I mentioned above. (Meanwhile I have her here) Her voice is as "cold" as her blue stone washed Bamboo finish. When the voice of a Koa Uke is warm and remembers to a beautiful sunset behind a cozy hammock on a palm draped beach, the voice of this all solid Bamboo Uke remembers to an iceberg floating in the arctic. But she's (loud!) very open-sounding, she has a long sustain with good volume (more than the solid top&bottom acacia) and, dang: she sounds so very precise, clean and defined! Especially picking, but also the strums sound somehow pure. Not lovely or beautiful, but nevertheless very impressive. Love it! And with that one also came a (very cheap) Harley Benton made of Ashwood. I ordered her more out of curiosity and because I liked the grain of that wood. Didn't expected much, but equipped with good strings, she sound really astonishing.

they both sound great. the difference wasn't very big on my laptop.

Still love this video. Great comparison

Koa sounds better to me like more full with fuller bass . Yet Koa is a lot more expensive to buy when Acacia toped ukulele can be found for a great deal. Especially if you can find someone selling B-stock that does not effect tone.

The Koa. Wood has a mellower sound but only slightly. Not sure the price difference is worth it. But it depends on where you strum.

It seems the koa uke sounds more dynamic and full. But it real life when singing along and having a good time the difference is minute. For recording I would chose the koa though.

I think you summed it up perfectly! 😊👍

Since I’ve never been able to afford a genuine Koa, I prefer the acacia wood sound. (Even though both koa and acacia are the same type tree, just grown in different places.) It’s just so much more familiar.

Almost the same. It is just the price tag that differs.

Koa = warm cup of coffee. Acacia = warm cup of tea. Both amazing. I'm more of a coffee person.

Both sound great, but the difference I hear is the difference I hear in all ukes and guitars when one is glossed and one has a satin finish. Gloss finished ukes always seem to be a little brighter and the sustain a little longer compared to their satin finish counterparts. But my old ears are just that old. Thank you for the comparison.

Both are really pretty, I want both 😭😭😭😭

Interesting comparison between 2 comparable instruments, well done ! From what I can hear (without headphones), the koa wood sounds cheerful, bright and warm. The acacia has a darker, more bassy voice. I'd say the koa one is more extravert and the acacia more introvert, lol. I was seriously impressed by the difference because I have ukuleles of both tonewoods and I had never really felt acacia was deeper sounding. On the contrary, I had the feeling that acacia had a bit more projection. But it was difficult for me to really notice : my acacia ukes are a tenor and a baritone, whereas the koa ones are all concerts or sopranos. I love my Kamaka koa pineapple for its amazing cheerfulness and island sound, and my Kala baritone for its sexy male voice, lol.

I've been watching a lot of your reviews and have decided I want a koa baritone. Now I guess it's mainly a matter of waiting.

@Ukelikethepros

3 жыл бұрын

Kanilea makes some amazing koa baritones

This is why acacia wood is used so much. The difference in tone is subtle while the cost is quite divergent.

Great video. Thank you! I had asked about this on your KOA video because I have been looking at the KALA S-AT which is ACACIA. They both sound great. I noticed the difference most during your last comparison when you were playing slowly. Thanks again.

Not sure if I'm also influenced by the looks. I simply love the colour and iridescence of the koa wood. But every time I hear the acacia after the koa, the acacia sounds kind of dull to me.

@chokdeesam2365

2 жыл бұрын

So true !

Koa sounds a little bit brighter and slightly more sustain. The acacia is a little more mellow. I like them both.

I like very much the satin finish of the Opio. I find sound of the acacia « dryer « , less rounded than the koa. Nice sound with the acacia but i prefer the koa sound as well as the wood apparence.

Only in the final test did I hear a difference. The koa in that one had a more immediate attack when strummed in that way, and was clearly preferable. In the other tests, no difference. By all means buy acacia if you like and save the koa wood for special, expensive models. BOTH are FAR better than most ukes I have heard.

The koa had a more rounded,fuller, good mid range tone, and stronger projection which I prefer in stringed instruments. Professor T. Carter you mentioned both had the Koaloha low unround low G. I’ve been looking for a set of nylon Tenor ukulele with unwound low G string. Where can I find or purchase this particular combination?

Brightness on the acacia , deeper reverb on the Koa

The Acacia sounds clearer t me. But I prefer the fuller, richer sound of the Koa.

I would love to see more concert sized ukes as that seems to be the standard ukulele but I could be wrong

The Koa KTM-25 is clearer (I think some say brighter) and the bass notes are not muddy. The Acacia KTO-10 has more 'plucky' notes or not as bright (crisp) and the bass notes are muddier. I can clearly hear a difference.

nice comparison. what is the name of the song you're playing at @7:08 where you're finger picking? it's lovely.

Koa defiantly has open sound and whereas acacia has muted or closed sound.

@Ukelikethepros

4 ай бұрын

Koa is a great wood for ukuleles.

Like them both, but would pick Koa. Mahalo!

@Ukelikethepros

2 жыл бұрын

Me too

My old ears couldn't hear a difference. I'll stick with my Opio Acacia Concert and forget the koa. Gary Northrop

@jimmytrenton623

3 жыл бұрын

a trick : watch movies on flixzone. Been using it for watching all kinds of movies recently.

@nicholasmohammad6961

3 жыл бұрын

@Jimmy Trenton Definitely, I have been using flixzone for since december myself :D

I think its a tie

with my head phones on, it seems the KOA had a clearer voice, clarity and projection, as compared to a fine spruce guitar, the acacia seemed more like a warmer tone similar to a mahogany guitar, with a mellow voice, less clarity but good resonance. However both had beautiful tones, so I would choose one over the other based on song types. Of course holding one and letting it resonate thru your hands and body along with the audio would be the best experience, like taste and smell, its more of the total experience.

Koa is a softer, more angelic sound than acacia. Acacia sounds more tinny, but still a nice sound.

@chokdeesam2365

2 жыл бұрын

I think this too : angelic sound. I never heard something like that, It was a real pleasure !

Koa definitely has a clearer and richer sound. Acacia sounds a little muddy in comparison.

My mom was born on Maui my (Apo) grandmother was 100% Hawaiian my mom's been playing the ukulele throughout the 50s and handed down to me(I am 63 female) how do I know if it is koa) or acacia koa and when did they stop making koa?

In you last A/B, you didn't play the same sequence of chords, which made the comparison more difficult for me.

Anyone know the name of the song he plays at 6:33?

I have a solid neck thru ‘87 Koa wood Peavey Unity bass. It sounds like mud compared to my maple body basses. Looks nice but sounds like crap.

@Ukelikethepros

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting point. You don’t see tons of basses in Koa. Maybe the warmth of the Koa and the low end of the bass aren’t a great fit.

@GilaMonster971

2 жыл бұрын

@@Ukelikethepros I think would be good for jazz...kind of sounds like an upright bass instead of an electric. But because large slabs of Koa are extremely hard to find and expensive I keep the bass based totally on its value, not it’s sound.

The Koa sounds fuller. I'm quite disappointed with my Kala KA-GAS Golden Acacia solid top soprano (with Martin M600 strings). Low volume with thin sound.

Nice

Not enough difference to accommodate a huge increase in price for the Koa. Save your money and get the Acacia.

Scrolling through I was like Max? Haha I was watching catfish earlier. Love the grey hair

I liked the Koa Aloha

You said the Acacia model is made in Thailand. Are the Koa's made there too? I really don't think the sound difference justifies the big price difference between the two. I guess if you have plenty of cash and are somewhat of a "Ukulele Snob" then the Koa is the go..ha ha..

@Ukelikethepros

3 жыл бұрын

The Koa are made in Hawaii

l like acacia more because acacia sounds sweet for me.

Acacia vs mahogany pls

Random, cool fact for those who don't know: termites don't/can't eat koa wood 👍🏾

Koa is Acacia.

Acacia is comparable. At almost half the price.

With my headphones on I can hear a bit more clarity of the strings with the koa uke. The acacia sounded like it had a bit more volume at the lowest end. They both sound similar.

🤔 Hmm... Koa is an acacia... 'Koa' is the Hawaiian name the variant of the species that grows natively. Acacias that grow elsewhere (Far East, Africa etc) are not called Koa, but both are naturally very similar. In this comparison, both sound great; the 'Koa' does sound a little less middly and sweeter, and the 'Acacia' sounds a little more middly with less top-end - which suggests that it's more heavily-built and less 'open' than the 'Koa' model.

Isn’t Koa just the Hawaiian name for Acacia wood? In essence are they not the same?

@happykittenmeow

3 жыл бұрын

No. Acacia is a genus, koa is a species in that genus that is endemic to Hawaii. There are other species in the Acacia genus, which are typically referred to as Acacia. In other words, Koa is acacia, but not all acacia is koa.

Koa sounds deeper

Koa sounds better to me, but I'd be happy with either.

The Koa sounds much clearer Acacia sounded muddy I would spend the money on Koa

The Acacia sounds tinnier, while the koa rings out better

Koa has better sustain of the sound in my opinion

Koa wood. All day, everyday!

Koa brighter acacia warmer i think the acacia sounded earther I think sometimes koa is over rated

Koa

Koa has much richer sound more depth than the Acacia

Acacia is less lively and sparkling when picked. Difference less visible when strummed.

Can’t tell the difference!

The Koa one sounds very Koatic and the Acacia one sounds very Acaciatic.

Wow. This video made me realize I have no business trying to learn the uke. Just kidding, it's still fun, but I literally can't hear the difference whatsoever. Maaaaaybe the acacia has a deeper sustain on the sustain test. But in all seriousness, I think some people obviously just have more sensitive ears than I.

Acacia, for my taste but I play the instrument more like a classical guitar.

Acacia koa is a species of flowering tree in the family Fabaceae en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Acacia_species There are hundreds of acacia's...

Acacia sounds more bluesy and warm.

I think I prefer acacia

No offense, but the biggest difference? The price. Via KZread, the ukuleles sound virtually identical. Take heed: the quality of instruments built in Asia is going to put American builders out of business.

@chokdeesam2365

2 жыл бұрын

Big difference my friend ! Really

for me i lke koa better than acacia

Both great but if you can afford Koa, go for it.

Koa has a richer well rounded sound

Koa warmer, more even tones, koa all the way.

koa more acurate sound

YOU TALK TOO MUCH 😭😭😭😭 i just want to hear the sound comparison but you talk too much that's why i have no choice but to speed up the video 😭😭😭😭

I appreciated the video however he repeats himself a lot and regularly goes of on tangents instead of getting to the point, it kinda feels like he’s stalling to get the video to the 10 min monetization mark

Splittin hairs