I will do a proper NUD, but I don't want to leave this thread hanging with my last brief post. Yesterday afternoon the package from UKESA arrived several days earlier than originally scheduled. I have torn into UPS before, but this time I have nothing but kudos. They delivered early, giving me the weekend with my new instrument. The package was in fine shape and they even delivered within their estimated time window.
The package included two hard cases, a KoAloha badged soprano case and an unbadged concert case with the Wow Concert inside. Both cases were very similar to Oahu cases in form and function, though the KoAloha branded case had some extra detailing (red stitching, soft handle).
When I opened the concert case, the ukulele looked so much like my soprano that it didn't look concert size. When I took it out to start tuning, the first thing that struck me was that it was more than the soprano in several respects--heavier, more string tension, more volume. As I got it in tune and played a few chords, I was immediately struck with the depth of the voice as much as the volume and sustain. I took out the soprano and spent most of the next hour comparing them in one way or another.
Before I continue this quick compare and contrast, I want to get something out of the way. I did not have the same love at first strum reaction to the concert that I had with the soprano. And by the way, I did not have that with my KoAloha tenor either, though it has become beloved, and I think of it as my best and most capable ukulele. While I want to accurately report this initial response, I don't want it to be either a criticism or a conclusion about the Wow Concert. It is more a statement about a very unique and special response to the Wow Soprano based on where I was in my ukulele journey when I first played it.
The Concert Wow sounds, feels, and plays like something from KoAlohaland. While the soprano and concert already look like siblings, your hands and ears know immediately that the KoAloha KTM00, and the two Wows come from the same family, both figuratively and literally. In general, the tonal characteristics of the concert are similar to the soprano; the tone is bell-like, very articulate, and well balanced across the strings. However, the voice of the concert is different. Not only is it bigger in the sense of volume and sustain, it is more full throated and tonally rich. I'm not a spectrum analyzer, but I think the tonal similarity is like having the same mix of harmonics, but difference in voice is due to enhancement of the mid-range. The difference in volume between the concert and soprano is more significant than the difference in sustain. Again, my nerdy analytical self sees that as more energy in those mid-range harmonics that the concert body amplifies and projects better. I also notice more change in tonal quality when I play at different volumes. In particular, more attack is possible depending on where and how I play the concert, so it is easier highlight a particular line in chord/melody. In this respect, the Concert Wow may be superior to the KoAloha KTM00. The concert maintains more of its volume and fullness of tone when played higher on the fretboard compared to the soprano. The concert sound is a grown up, more adult version of the soprano's child-like voice. It is a bit more guitar-like while the soprano is more ukuleleish. Comparing the sound to the tenor, the KTM00 voice is fuller, richer, louder, a bit more sustain, but you can tell that a Wow Concert would not "grow up" to sound like a KoAloha tenor. I would expect the KoAloha to be a bit more complex and woody sounding with the Wow Tenor being louder and a little more articulate (that attack again).
While the look and sound of the concert is more related to the soprano, the feel is closer to playing the KoAloha Tenor. The string tension and playability up the fretboard are much more tenor-like. Even though it is still a relatively light instrument at 451g, it just feels more subtantial in hand than the soprano at 354g. The action feels much more like the tenor as well, and it is easier to avoid unintentionally bending notes on the concert compared to the soprano. The slightly longer transition from the neck to the headstock compared with the soprano makes it very comfortable, and there is a bit more room for chords where I angle my wrist upward like Fm or F#dim. Playing the concert, I feel like I am playing a tenor with larger hands vs. playing a soprano with smaller hands if that makes any sense.
This morning I quickly brought my Anuenue C4 Concert (solid cedar top with laminate sides and back in high G) into the comparison. I think the C4 is a great sounding example in the $200-$300 new price range. It felt klunky (weight and action) and sounded muted compared with the Concert Wow. In fact, the Wow Soprano caught or surpassed it in volume.
This instrument is everything I hoped for and more.
I want to thank Ed, Pops, and the whole KoAloha family for submitting to this and being so open in sharing with us. I admitted to being a fanboy when I started, but I want to make it clear that there was no editorial pressure or influence from UKESA (Pops and Ed) or KoAloha. Except where I quoted directly, the words and all the mistakes/errors in prose and judgement are mine and mine alone.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who has participated here whether you posted or merely watched the thread evolve. Talk about active involvement--we even had a participant travel to Oahu, visit the shop, and put his stamp of approval, or at least some fingerprints on the Concert Wow. I appreciate the patience, the support, and all the great insights and experiences you shared. I am designating everyone who followed this thread as UU Aunties and UU Uncles of this new addition, and I am willing to discuss visitation rights if/when you are in Southern California.
If it's a typo, I think you should leave 'em because it shows the subconscious either stating how much the concert sounds like a tenor or urging the start of your next build! 
forum.ukuleleunderground.com
