Ohana SK-28 Soprano Ukulele

Got A Ukulele returns this week with yet another soprano (yay!!).. and it's a model that's been around for a good few years but only gets its first outing on my reviews today.. This is the Ohana SK-28 Soprano Ukulele.

I've struggled to date exactly when this model was introduced by Ohana, but back in 2013 I got to photograph and have a quick play of the original prototype for this issue so it must be around then. What this is is the Ohana take on the first instruments introduced to Hawaii by the likes of Manuel Nunes and Augusto Dias from Portugal. So it's very traditional in stylings, shape and one or two other areas too. I'm not entirely sure why but I've been seeing these around a lot in stores and on socials lately so wonder of Ohana are giving them a push.

SUMMARY VIDEO REVIEW

I've looked at quite a few Ohana sopranos in my time and they've always done largely well, not quite up there with the best soprano review scores I've given, but very respectable. It's also a brand that largely is consistent with their decency I find. As for this one the body and this is made from all solid mahogany with a narrow waist figure of eight shape where the upper bouts are not much different from the lower. That immediately screams 'vintage' and 'trad' and whilst I do like modern ukulele shapes, there is something about this style that has always appealed to me. The solid wood pieces are are all single sheets, which is more understandable for a skinny body like this.

The bridge material isn't specified, but looks like rosewood and is a very tidily finished slot style with slightly tapered sides. It's such a small thing, but I've always found Ohana slot bridges to be some of the tidiest I see. Sitting in that is a straight top bone saddle and string spacing of 41mm.

The decor is where the 'trad' Nunes look starts to make this really take shape with bold rope binding made from real wood inlays around the top and back. I love this look and it's a uke styling that has been used by a great many brands such as Kamaka, Mainland and Millar. Around the soundhole that rope inlay is repeated edged with a white purfling ring to frame it. Nice. The body is then finished in a satin which has been done very well, as I usually find they are with Ohana but it does feel a little 'factory' if you know what I mean.

Inside is unremarkable, but tidy. Notched linings and regular braces.

The neck is specced as mahogany and is made from three pieces with both joints pretty well hidden. I don't like how yellow looking it is against the body though. Unsurprisingly the neck profile is very much as expected and similar to other Chinese sops with a width of 34mm and spacing of about 26mm. That's not to my taste, but the back profile isn't massively rounded. The neck is also in satin which feels nice.

The fingerboard is where things move to 'uber-trad', both in style but also functionally. This looks like rosewood too and is set flush to the body in vintage style. Running down the middle of it is more wooden inlay in chevrons which sets it off wonderfully. Outward position dots are also Nunes style with pairs of them at the 5th, 7th and 10th and these are repeated with side dots. Frets wise you get a traditional 12 to the body which a dressed very well, helped by the fact it is edge bound. I like everything about this neck bar the nut width, but as I always say, that's my subjectivity.

Beyond the bone nut is a crown headstock that is faced in a veneer of darker mahogany to match the body. Rather than putting the Ohana logo here they have continued the inlay pattern from the fingerboard which looks nice, though on this example some of the chevrons don't align up which would annoy me. The logo is placed on the back in a silver screen print.

The tuners are those you will find on the other Chinese Ohana sopranos insofar as they are Gotoh standard friction pegs. I'm obviously delighted to see rear facing pegs, particularly on a trad instrument like this, but these are lower end Gotoh. Still, they are easily swapped for better models.

Finishing it off are a set of Aquila strings and an asking price currently of about £220 which is very reasonable. I say Aquila, these look a touch too clear for that and wonder if the store has swapped these.. Mine also came with an Ohana padded bag, but I can't find any listings (including the one for the high street store I bought this one from blind) saying that is standard... I don't 'think' it is so lets just say I got lucky (though do correct me if wrong). All in all though, still a good price for what is a very attractive instrument. I should also add that this is also available in concert and a sub soprano offering.

So it's a nice one. I like the styling and build and it's finished largely well too. It's uber light at only 310g as you would expect and balances very well too. Setup out of the box (bought blind as I say) is spot on too.

The basics on sound first and the volume here is excellent. It has a real punchy bark with little effort which is what you want from the rhythmical soprano scale. Great. Sustain is surprising too and whilst sopranos never have longing sustain, this is very decent meaning you can easily add some frills to your melody lines. Good so far.

I generally like the sound of Ohana sopranos but I did say about the SK-39 that I found the sound a little too warm for my tastes. That wasn't to say it was a bad sound, but I like my sopranos with a bit more zing. I find it's the same here as whilst this has a pleasant sound it, despite the volume it's a bit more subdued and laid back than the bounciest sounding sops. Strummed it is still very rhythmical, but maybe a bit more bite and zing would pep it up. It's very nice to play picked (despite my struggle with the nut width) and single notes seem to suit it a bit better with no volume drop off up the neck. But I really am nit-picking - this is still a nice sounding sop and more in line with that laid back sound of the Kamaka or a Kiwaya than the punchiest soprano there are. It is indeed still pleasant though.

I'd say this is my favourite of the Chinese Ohana sopranos I have reviewed, pushed up mainly be the stylings. It's otherwise similar in my ears to the SK-39 (which is more money) though I appreciate that if you prefer the Martin look the 39 is the way to go. For me I have a soft spot for the old vintage look and this is doing it for me. Take looks out of the equation though and this is still a lovely little soprano.

Recommended!

https://ohana-music.com/

UKULELE SPECS ROUNDUP

Model: Ohana SK-28

Scale: Soprano
Body: Solid mahogany

Bridge: Rosewood slot style

Saddle: Bone

Spacing at saddle: 41mm

Finish: Satin

Neck: Mahogany

Frets: 12

Fingerboard: Rosewood?
Nut: Bone

Nut width: 34mm, 26mm G to A
Tuners: Gotoh friction pegs
Strings: Aquila as standard

Weight: 310g

Country of origin: China

Price: Circa £220

UKULELE PROS

Great vintage style look

Sound build

Excellent volume

Better than average sustain

Fair price

UKULELE CONS

Neck width not for me (personally)
I'd upgrade the tuners
A little subdued on tone (perhaps these strings)

UKULELE SCORES

Looks - 9.5 out of 10

Fit and finish - 8.5 out of 10

Sound - 8.5 out of 10

Value for money - 9 out of 10

OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9 out of 10

UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW

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