Pono MGT - Mango Tenor
Quarter Sawn Solid Mango Wood - Smooth Satin Lacquer Finish.
Pictures show the exact instrument available here. The video shows the same model.
Pono is a line from the Ko'olau company that makes high-end custom ukes here on the island. The Pono is a more affordable version with the same specs and build as the Ko'olau. They really stand out in the ukulele market for their quality and value. The Mango wood gives a sweet tone just like the fruit it produces. It has warmth and clarity similar to the best characteristics found in both mahogany and koa.
Along with great sounds, this new mango line features beautiful, exotic looks and variations in the wood grain that will bring you joy to just hold and admire. Only a few have arrived so don't miss this opportunity to be among the first to experience this wonderful new model.
A key feature in all of the Pono tenors and baritones is the dual-action adjustable truss rod. This stabilizes and adjusts the lengthwise forward curvature (also called relief), of the neck. It can be adjusted from right inside the sound hole with an allen wrench provided. Over time and with humidity changes, this is a very useful option to have, and a very easy thing to adjust with little room for error.
Top customer reviews
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I waited 8 months to review...and STILL gotta have it. 0 people found this helpfulEveryone is excited about getting a new uke, so I made myself wait to offer this review. I've had my Pono MGT for over 8 months and I am still drawn to this instrument. There is rarely a day when I don't play it. I see this uke in the same light that I see really good vanilla ice cream. Bear with me. I love vanilla ice cream. I find an absolute joy in simplicity done very well. This uke has no real glitz or glam to it, but it is simply stunning to me in many ways. The mango is naturally a beautiful wood, the rosette is very minimal and tasteful, the rosewood cap on the back of the neck heel is a simple yet sparkling touch of contrast. On top of all of that, the solid construction and expert finishing work make for a complete package. The sound of this instrument seems warm and welcoming. I've experimented with a couple of string sets. I originally had it set up with the Ko'olau Mahana string with wound 3rd and 4th string (low G). I thought it sounded very guitar like. It was nice, especially for some of the jazz standards I like to play. Of course, part of the fun of having a uke is trying different strings. I missed the re-entrant tuning, so I now use the Freemont Black Line strings. I like them as well. I won't get into my perceived nuances of string sounds, so try different sets and see what you like. Who other than HMS is going to properly set up each uke that goes out the door? I'm no luthier, but I've experienced other companies that say they set up, and you can tell that obvious corners are cut. See, I don't have to know how to bake an apple pie to know when I'm eating a good one (with or without vanilla ice cream). The people at HMS have been great in their customer service in every aspect. I thought this was going to be a simple and short review, but I got excited. If you're looking for stunning simplicity and an overall excellent value, I recommend the Pono MGT.
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5 stars 0 people found this helpfulThe 5 stars says it all !!!
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Just buy it 0 people found this helpfulThis is my first ukulele but I have been playing guitar for years. The build quality is excellent and the setup was perfect.
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Truely one of a kind 0 people found this helpfulFirstly, I love the tone of my Pono Mango Tenor (The video of Corey from HMS playing this on Vimeo is an accurate representation of the tonal qualities: http://vimeo.com/82941281) If you are a finger-style player you will love the tone, sustain and resonance as well. This is a picker's uke, hands down. I am a finger-style blues guitar player with 23 years of experience. I was also pleasantly surprised by the beautiful depth and diversity within the wood grain. This uke shimmers in the light, even though it is a satin finish . The Ko'olau Mahana strings produce a mellow yet nicely projected sound. On that note. the strings might take some getting used to, they are very thin and tightly strung. These end up working well with Pono's larger than average frets. (Which might take some getting used to as well) What does this mean? With this string and fret combination, the musician has to apply much less pressure to produce clear notes. It is remarkable how well the notes sing out without much effort. This uke will take some getting used to but once you know this instrument it will do exactly what you want it to do. All that being said, I would call this a "musician's" ukulele. It is a professional instrument at a very accessible price. The added truss rod; the professional quality strings; the large, raised frets (Think Stevie Ray Vaughn's #1 with bass frets as a reference) all scream quality instrument. If you are ready to step up from a laminate to an all wood instrument, I would put Pono at the top of my list for quality, price-point and professional play-ability. Happy strumming, Johnson =)