![]() The frets (metal bars on the neck) are made of brass. This is common on more affordable instruments, but I think the synthetic bone found on slightly more expensive ukuleles tends to offer increased sustain and volume. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard and saddle are rosewood–all fairly standard materials for acoustic instruments. It looks and feels like plastic, Makala refers to it as a “composite.” I’m guessing this because the marketing folks at Kala thought it sounded better. The back and sides are made of a single molded piece of material. Ukes with a solid top will generally sound better, but they also tend to cost quite a bit more. The Dolphin uke has a laminated mahogany top, which is very common on budget-priced ukes. I like these strings a lot more than the cheap nylon strings often found on budget ukes. Like all Kala ukuleles, the Dolphin comes with Aquila Nylgut strings. In my experience, heavily built instruments always sound less rich and lively. The Dolphin’s composite back and sides don’t do it any favors, and the uke feels very dense and heavy for its size. I also feel like the Dolphin has less sustain and resonance than Kala’s other budget-friendly instruments like the KA-15S. 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. It didn’t blow me away, but it certainly didn’t sound bad. The MK-SD is a decent-sounding uke, and I found myself liking the tone more than I expected. Improved playability is just one of the many reasons people pay hundreds (or thousands) of dollars for a higher quality uke. Even though I prefer ukes with a traditional look and finish, I think may folks will like the Dolphin’s bold color options.Ī budget uke like the Dolphin will never have the buttery-smooth action of a more expensive instrument. ![]() The bright “Candy Apple Red” finish was rich, deep, and uniform. This is a small issue and it only happened occasionally on my uke, but it’s still worth noting. 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. One small issue I have with the Dolphin is the tuners. ![]() There were a few minor imperfections here and there, but these issues were purely cosmetic and don’t affect tone or playability. The detail work is surprisingly clean for a uke of this price, but it’s not flawless. The uke I tested for this review is in line with what I’ve come to expect from Kala, which is good quality at a reasonable price. The important stuff was all there: Straight neck, even fretwork, and decent playability. ![]() 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. The MK-SD’s build quality is reasonably good considering the price. ![]()
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