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- Jan 7, 2024
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So I finally got my first Kamaka a coupe of weeks ago. Beautiful HF-2. One of my only two concerts.
I thought it was wonderful in the simplicity and fine workmanship of its design.
And it sounds devine, when it’s in tune!! And that’s where things began to sour a bit. The friction tuners that were used on the concert in 2011, when this one was made, were the same old German friction tuners they’d been using for years.
I thought they were awful. The slightest adjustment would send the tuning way off and it was back and forth over and over again.
I started to not want to bother playing it. So sell it or change the tuners. The newer concerts have Gotoh UPT geared tuners so I started looking.
First question was long or standard. Measuring the head stock didn’t help much because it sort of fell between the two. I finally decided to buy the standard UPT.
Now to get them on the Kamaka. Luthier or me? Checked out prices, made calls, watched videos.
Finally decided to do it myself. (With MUCH hesitation)
The video by Joel on The Ukulele Site is priceless!
It is by far the best thing I’ve seen out there. If you do it exactly as he instructs you’ll be fine.
I went with his suggested use of a reamer to enlarge the tuner holes. Bought one of the StewMac peg hole reamers. I was now up to about $200 with the reamer and the tuners.
So, time to take a very sharp tool to a very expensive instrument.
Old tuners came off easier than expected. The reamer cut smoothly and very easily. (Worth the high price) Used an awl to enlarge the rotation pin holes. Slipped in the new tuners everything done in about 20 minutes or less. (Of course nothing is that easy. Discovered that the one wrench I didn’t have was the one that fit the nuts on the tuners that tighten them down. Quick trip to the hardware store to get a 10 mm crescent wrench.)
All in all I was amazed at how quickly and easily it was accomplished!
Decided to try the black buttons. I think they look pretty cool.
Now the next big question. Which strings?
I thought it was wonderful in the simplicity and fine workmanship of its design.
And it sounds devine, when it’s in tune!! And that’s where things began to sour a bit. The friction tuners that were used on the concert in 2011, when this one was made, were the same old German friction tuners they’d been using for years.
I thought they were awful. The slightest adjustment would send the tuning way off and it was back and forth over and over again.
I started to not want to bother playing it. So sell it or change the tuners. The newer concerts have Gotoh UPT geared tuners so I started looking.
First question was long or standard. Measuring the head stock didn’t help much because it sort of fell between the two. I finally decided to buy the standard UPT.
Now to get them on the Kamaka. Luthier or me? Checked out prices, made calls, watched videos.
Finally decided to do it myself. (With MUCH hesitation)
The video by Joel on The Ukulele Site is priceless!
It is by far the best thing I’ve seen out there. If you do it exactly as he instructs you’ll be fine.
I went with his suggested use of a reamer to enlarge the tuner holes. Bought one of the StewMac peg hole reamers. I was now up to about $200 with the reamer and the tuners.
So, time to take a very sharp tool to a very expensive instrument.
Old tuners came off easier than expected. The reamer cut smoothly and very easily. (Worth the high price) Used an awl to enlarge the rotation pin holes. Slipped in the new tuners everything done in about 20 minutes or less. (Of course nothing is that easy. Discovered that the one wrench I didn’t have was the one that fit the nuts on the tuners that tighten them down. Quick trip to the hardware store to get a 10 mm crescent wrench.)
All in all I was amazed at how quickly and easily it was accomplished!
Decided to try the black buttons. I think they look pretty cool.
Now the next big question. Which strings?
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