Back this week with a ukulele that requires me to point out some bias - it's from a brand that is probably one of my favourites. This is the Kanile'a 'Ilikai Tenor Pro Ukulele
Showing posts with label kanile'a. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kanile'a. Show all posts
2 Feb 2025
19 May 2024
19 May 2024T14:39
Read More »
Kanile'a KTR-T Master Grade Koa Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW
As I hinted in my last ukulele review, this week has seen the arrival of something quite special indeed. This is the Kanile'a KRT-T Master Grade Koa Tenor Ukulele.
3 Sept 2023
3 Sept 2023T15:06
Read More »
Islander AC-4 Concert Ukulele
Got A Ukulele returns after the summer break with a look at a brand that's always done quite well on the review bench. This is the Islander AC-4 Concert Ukulele.
23 Jul 2023
23 Jul 2023T14:47
Read More »
Kanile'a K-1 B Baritone Deluxe Ukulele - REVIEW
Following on with a series of dream ukuleles, I'm delighted to be able to get my hands on this Kanile'a K-1 B Deluxe Baritone.
17 Jan 2021
17 Jan 2021T13:56
Read More »
Islander MAT-4 Spalted Maple Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW
Seeing as Kanile'a are probably my all time favourite ukulele brand, I guess it's only natural that I like to feature their far eastern 'value' line of ukuleles - the Islander series from time to time. This is the Islander MAT-4 Spalted Maple Tenor, kindly sent to me by Nicolas at Uke Shop Barcelona.
22 Nov 2020
22 Nov 2020T15:19
Read More »
Kanile'a - Southern Ukulele Store Manakō-T Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW
Back to the higher end of the ukulele market this week and, in what is becoming a trend, another 'store's own' model. This is the Kanile'a Manakō-T Tenor, exclusive to Southern Ukulele Store in the UK.
4 Oct 2020
4 Oct 2020T14:04
Read More »
Kanile'a SUS-T Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW
Back in 2011 I bought my first truly serious ukulele - the Kanile'a K-1 Tenor. It was flawless, I still own it and adore it. It's been a long time coming to get to feature the brand again, but it finally happened. This is the SUS-T Tenor from Kanile'a.
9 Oct 2019
9 Oct 2019T12:26
Read More »
A Big Got A Ukulele Thank You!
A slight diversion from the ukulele reviews for this post, but there is something I want to shout about! Good things in the ukulele world!
21 Sept 2019
21 Sept 2019T14:25
Read More »
Islander MS-4 Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW
What could be more stereotypical Hawaiian than a ukulele brand called 'Islander'? This week I am looking at the Islander MS-4 Soprano.
12 Jan 2013
12 Jan 2013T13:17
The Kanile'a K1 Tenor was my first step into the upper end of ukuleles, and I originally reviewed it very favourably back in August 2011. It has therefore had some 17 months of play since then (and I can assure you this one has had a lot of playing!)
When this one arrived I was immediately impressed by the build, the looks and the killer tone that it projects. It really is a first class ukulele, crafted from fine solid Koa in Hawaii.
The tone really is to die for, but I suppose when you are at this high end you do find yourself perhaps getting a little over critical on things - looking for issues that may not be there. The sound of the Kanile'a is definitely earthy and woody. Nothing wrong with that, but after a few months playing I decided that I wanted to try to get a richer harmonic chime out of it and set about going through countless string brands to try to get the tone I wanted. Nothing was working, and I think I tried pretty much every brand available on it. Don't get me wrong - with each string brand the tone is still superb, but still a little too woody for my liking (just a personal thing). That was until I put a set of Ken Middleton's Living Water Strings on it, and that changed everything. They really brought out a rich singing chime to the strings, whilst retaining the naturally woody tone that for my ears, makes this without a doubt the nicest sounding ukulele I own. I now don't use any other strings but those on this.
Has the sound changed? (Bring on the whole 'wood opening up debate') - Well, as I always say in those discussions, how can you tell? I can't remember exactly what it sounded like when it arrived, and even though I have early recordings, my style and competence has changed also, so it can only ever be subjective. All I can say is that it sounds as warm, rich and accurate as it ever did!
As with most high end products, the K1 went through a period of being cossetted by me on account of it's price, but it was just too good to leave in a case and it gets played daily. I have gigged with it acoustically many times, recorded it and it is the usual uke I take to weekly band jams. It's just so playable and tactile to hold.
All of that playing has taken it's toll though, and one thing that does not seem to be the greatest on the Kanile'a is that hand rubbed finish. It doesn't stand up to dings or scratches from strumming all that well and pretty soon I started to develop quite an amount of wear on the top where I strum. That really doesn't bother me, as I prefer a uke to look 'played', but it's something to be aware of. The finish generally can also go quite dull and dry looking after a while, but I try to keep it spruced up with a very light application of Axe lube which gives it a nice sheen. The way to avoid that on a Kanile'a is to get their highly acclaimed gloss finish on the same model, but I just don't really go in for gloss all that much. In fact one of the reasons I bought this was the simple understated looks.
To assist with gigging I also fitted a strap button which was pretty painless and on the first photograph you will see that I didn't go down the route of adding a button to the heel of the neck, and attach my strap to a Martin strap adapter looped on to the headstock. That's not to say it's difficult to hold without a strap - it isn't, but on extended gigs it's just easier to have your hands free between songs to grab a beer!
All other fittings on the uke are doing just great, and those open Grover tuners are just sublime. This thing holds it's tuning like no other ukulele I own. It needed no nut or saddle adjustment and intonation and tuning have been bang on since it arrived suggesting nothing in the build is (yet) starting to move.
I still love the look of the bridge pins which really set this apart from many ukuleles, but the downside of overly fiddly string changes remains - just an extra layer of faffing that I don't really like. Oh well.
So do I still recommend it? Well, as I say, it gets played daily and I would need to be facing a catastrophe to consider selling it. It probably just about sits as being my favourite instrument. If you get the opportunity to obtain one, don't hesitate.
STOP PRESS!! What happened next with this uke was heartbreaking, but then, eventually, heart warming! Read all about it here! https://www.gotaukulele.com/2019/10/a-big-got-ukulele-thank-you.html
Read More »
Long Term Test - Kanile'a K1 Tenor
Time for another long term test of a ukulele, one that is quite dear to me. I felt it would be helpful to not only review ukuleles as I received them, but for those I own to let you know how they have stood up to a life of being played.
The Kanile'a K1 Tenor was my first step into the upper end of ukuleles, and I originally reviewed it very favourably back in August 2011. It has therefore had some 17 months of play since then (and I can assure you this one has had a lot of playing!)
When this one arrived I was immediately impressed by the build, the looks and the killer tone that it projects. It really is a first class ukulele, crafted from fine solid Koa in Hawaii.
The tone really is to die for, but I suppose when you are at this high end you do find yourself perhaps getting a little over critical on things - looking for issues that may not be there. The sound of the Kanile'a is definitely earthy and woody. Nothing wrong with that, but after a few months playing I decided that I wanted to try to get a richer harmonic chime out of it and set about going through countless string brands to try to get the tone I wanted. Nothing was working, and I think I tried pretty much every brand available on it. Don't get me wrong - with each string brand the tone is still superb, but still a little too woody for my liking (just a personal thing). That was until I put a set of Ken Middleton's Living Water Strings on it, and that changed everything. They really brought out a rich singing chime to the strings, whilst retaining the naturally woody tone that for my ears, makes this without a doubt the nicest sounding ukulele I own. I now don't use any other strings but those on this.
Has the sound changed? (Bring on the whole 'wood opening up debate') - Well, as I always say in those discussions, how can you tell? I can't remember exactly what it sounded like when it arrived, and even though I have early recordings, my style and competence has changed also, so it can only ever be subjective. All I can say is that it sounds as warm, rich and accurate as it ever did!
As with most high end products, the K1 went through a period of being cossetted by me on account of it's price, but it was just too good to leave in a case and it gets played daily. I have gigged with it acoustically many times, recorded it and it is the usual uke I take to weekly band jams. It's just so playable and tactile to hold.
All of that playing has taken it's toll though, and one thing that does not seem to be the greatest on the Kanile'a is that hand rubbed finish. It doesn't stand up to dings or scratches from strumming all that well and pretty soon I started to develop quite an amount of wear on the top where I strum. That really doesn't bother me, as I prefer a uke to look 'played', but it's something to be aware of. The finish generally can also go quite dull and dry looking after a while, but I try to keep it spruced up with a very light application of Axe lube which gives it a nice sheen. The way to avoid that on a Kanile'a is to get their highly acclaimed gloss finish on the same model, but I just don't really go in for gloss all that much. In fact one of the reasons I bought this was the simple understated looks.
 |
| Wear on the solid Koa top |
To assist with gigging I also fitted a strap button which was pretty painless and on the first photograph you will see that I didn't go down the route of adding a button to the heel of the neck, and attach my strap to a Martin strap adapter looped on to the headstock. That's not to say it's difficult to hold without a strap - it isn't, but on extended gigs it's just easier to have your hands free between songs to grab a beer!
All other fittings on the uke are doing just great, and those open Grover tuners are just sublime. This thing holds it's tuning like no other ukulele I own. It needed no nut or saddle adjustment and intonation and tuning have been bang on since it arrived suggesting nothing in the build is (yet) starting to move.
I still love the look of the bridge pins which really set this apart from many ukuleles, but the downside of overly fiddly string changes remains - just an extra layer of faffing that I don't really like. Oh well.
So do I still recommend it? Well, as I say, it gets played daily and I would need to be facing a catastrophe to consider selling it. It probably just about sits as being my favourite instrument. If you get the opportunity to obtain one, don't hesitate.
STOP PRESS!! What happened next with this uke was heartbreaking, but then, eventually, heart warming! Read all about it here! https://www.gotaukulele.com/2019/10/a-big-got-ukulele-thank-you.html
9 Aug 2012
9 Aug 2012T19:56
The Islander range of ukuleles come in two main flavours, either the cheaper laminate wood bodied versions, or the pricier all solid models like this one, each in soprano, concert and tenor scales. Their range offers those wanting the traditional looks of the Kanile'a brand at a more affordable price. The difference between my Kanile'a K1 Tenor and this is several hundred pounds. This was bought for £250 (thanks to Southern Ukulele Store who I bought it from).
Kanile'a control the quality of these ukes, and they are made to their own design - just not in Hawaii, but in China. They certainly look quite similar at first glance, with the same shaped headstock and distinctive Kanile'a bridge - but how do they really match up? Read on.
The Islander MST-4 is an all solid Mahogany tenor uke, built to a similar style and shape as the Kanile'a tenor. As the picture shows, they are kind of similar, but there are some obvious differences. The body shape is actually not quite the same, with the Islander having a deeper waist and slightly less flat tail.
A first look over the instrument shows that it has been very well put together. There are no marks on it at all, no glue drops or dodgy joints. It feels solid and secure in the hands. The body is finished in a satin coat, through which the mahogany grains can be seen clearly. It's a nice enough finish, but looks a little cheap to my eyes, though that is perhaps because it is also rather strikingly orange in colour. I suppose it is actually just rather plain with very little dark grain or anything to catch the eye - there is certainly no curl or flame in this wood! The Kanile'a finish is also satin, but is Koa, and is smooth as you like. The top and back of the body are a single piece, so no book matching, but the grain is straight and runs vertically on both pieces. The back and sides are in two pieces joined at the neck and butt, and again, the grain is nice and straight in line with the back.
The body of the uke is bound with a nice looking faux tortoiseshell finish which I like. Where the sides join on the butt there is also some binding trim (note - the strap button was added by me and does not come as standard!).
Inside the uke is nice and tidy, with an Islander label proclaiming it is made by Kanile'a. The kerfling is notched and neatly done and there are no glue drops at all. One point to note is that the bracing system in this is stock ukulele bracing and not the clever TRU bracing used on the Kanile'a instruments. Interestingly, there also appears to be side braces fitted attached to the inside of the sides on the upper and lower bouts - I have not seen that before.
The back of the ukulele has a very slight bow to assist with sound projection, but nowhere near as prominent a curve as on the Kanile'a. On to the top of the instrument and we have a very nicely finished soundhole in abalone. The bridge looks at first glance to be identical to Kanile'as but actually the shaping and the saddle are quite different. There is nothing wrong with it (though the saddle doesn't have much left on it for sanding if I want to take action down any more), but it is just different. The saddle material is nubone, like the Kanile'a. The strings are held by four black plastic bridge pins rather than a tie system. More on that later also.
On to the neck and we have a four piece (count them, four!) mahogany neck topped with a rosewood fingerboard. I don't expect cheaper ukes to have a single piece neck but this is made of three pieces at the heel and another joint at the headstock. No idea if they all come like that but it seemed excessive to me. The joints though are well hidden at the heel, though not at the headstock where the grain pattern changes noticeably. The end of the heel is capped in the same tortoiseshell as on the body binding.
The rosewood on the fingerboard is nicely finished and smooth, though does have some colour variation. The edges of the fingerboard are not bound, so fret ends can be seen - again, not surprising at this price point. The uke has 18 nickel frets, with 14 to the body. They are all set well and there are no sharp ends to any of them. Fret position markers appear on the fingerboard in white pearloid at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th, and dots are repeated on the side of the neck. A note about the pearloid... This is, to me, one mixed up looking uke. We have tortoiseshell body binding, abalone soundhole decoration and white fret markers. To me it gives the uke a confused jumbled look and would be far better if they stuck to just one or two material types.
The neck profile is slightly chunky, though not as deep as the Kanile'a. It does share the Kanile'a fat nut width which I adore on a tenor. The nut is nubone again, and nicely set.
On to the headstock and we have have a Kanile'a shaped head, faced with a very thin veneer of mahogany. Full marks to Kanile'a on the logo, as it would appear they are listening to customers. Earlier models of the Islander came with a bright white and HUGE logo that looked, frankly, horrible. Some people even said they could not bring themselves to buy one with that logo. They have toned things down wonderfully with a simple, understated Islander logo in pale gold with black edging. The tuners are unbranded, sealed geared tuners with black buttons (in contrast to the open geared Grovers on the Kanile'a). They look decent enough though and dont stick out too much on the uke. Again though - another choice of material makes an appearance - black buttons to go with the tortoiseshell binding, abalone sound hole and white fret markers.... Make your minds up!
Finally the uke arrived with Aquila strings. ARRRGHHHHHH!!!!! I know how some of you love Aquila strings, and I suppose full marks to the company for doing the deals but they now seem to come on EVERYTHING! On a sweeter solid wood uke I personally find them overkill and was disappointed to see them on this. Heck they arrived on my Kanile'a too, so what can you do? Well I changed them - it is now fitted with Living Water fluorocarbon Tenor strings.
So we have looked over the uke, but how about it's set up and sound? Well, as I say, it gets great marks for the build and the finish. Really nicely done and looks the part if you pass by the excessive choice of materials. Setup however was less impressive. As I suppose can be normal for a ukulele of this price, the action was way too high for my liking (nearly 2/8 of an inch at the crown of the 12th fret, and I prefer about 1/8). Out came the saddle for some sanding and it is now OK (though the saddle really has very little left on it now - which says something for the way the neck is set). The nut slots also were a little high (not much but a little), so I needed to take them down a touch. This is not a major gripe, and every uke owner should be prepared to make such adjustments, but it is still a little annoying when you just want to get on and play it.
And on to that bridge. Yes it looks like a Kanile'a bridge, but it really isn't - as I found out on the string change.... ....The Kanile'a bridge has slots within the holes that are plugged by the bridge pin. When you put a new string on, you tie a knot in the string and hook it in that hole and secure it with the pin. I find that fiddly enough to be honest, but the Islander takes it to another level. On removing the pin I noted that there are no slots, and on removing the old string, I saw that it came with a small metal ball end ring threaded on to the string. This acts to hold the string in the body which is then wedged by the pin. Yet more hassle. I love the look of bridge pins but the Kanile'a is fiddly enough thank you very much and I don't want the extra hassle of threading rings on to my strings on a change.
It gets worse though. Having re threaded the microscopic washer on to the new string, and seated the pin I started to tune up. All strings were fine, and then the A string - PING!! snapped at the bridge pin when approaching A. I fished out the washer and thankfully having enough string left, tried again. PING!! Snapped again at the bridge before I could get the string to A. I figured it may have been a bad string, so got a brand new A string from another pack. PING!!. This was now extremely frustrating. I grabbed a torch and had a look inside the hole where the string is meant to seat and think I found the culprit. The inside edge that the string would then be wedged against was really rough and must have been cutting the string. Out with a file and I smoothed it all down and thankfully the next string stayed put. That is the sort of niggle that a new player just does not need, and frankly there is no way I or the shop could have spotted it. It was just badly made in that zone at the factory. The slots on the Kanile'a seems a better system and are much smoother inside meaning no sharp edges.
I am pleased to report though that once the setup had been tinkered with, the ukulele is really, really nice to play. It feels very comfortable and balanced, and the neck is great to hold and play - almost on a par with my Kanile'a.
The sound is... loud! - there is a great volume from this uke and it is pretty much as loud as my Kanile'a so a great uke to play in the company of others without getting lost. It has a nice voice too. It is not as sweet or as complex as the Kanile'a and lacks some of the sustain and harmonics, but it is right up there with some of my better ukuleles. It is rich and I like that. The tone is balanced across the strings and it really does sing. It is much brighter than the Kanile'a in tone, but that is no critisism - the Kanile'a is renowned to be earthy sounding - this more 'chimey'. Intontation all over the neck is great. Not bang on at the lower frets, but perfectly acceptable. Strummed, it sounds great to me, and it is a joy to pick also with nice clear notes coming from all over the neck.
I will likely experiment with some other strings also to find the voice I prefer, but for now the Living Water strings are doing a fine job.
In summary it's a uke that, when sorted out, is a great player that I am sure most players will love and find very rewarding. I find the looks a bit mixed and confused, but I suppose that is just personal opinion on cosmetics (one wonders why they didn't go the whole hog and choose two more different materials for the nut and saddle...). The setup issues, particularly that bridge were a let down. I know that others may not have that problem, but this one did, and that is an issue as far as I am concerned. I know they wanted to keep the bridge pin look of the big daddy, but unless they can improve the holes to re-create the Kanile'a bridge more closely, I think they should revert to a tie or slot bridge.
But it is a £250 ukulele not a £700 instrument. And as such, the value for money is, I think, pretty decent. It beats other solid mahogany ukes of this price point and higher in my opinion for the loudness, finish, and quality of tone alone. The setup issues were a shame, because otherwise it is very well put together and feels good. Some like me may raise an eyebrow at the confused mixed design, but that is just subjective.
For me it's a keeper with a great voice and I would suggest you give one a try, though try it in the flesh first.
SCORES
Looks - 8
Fit and Finish - 7
Sound - 9
Value for Money - 9.5
OVERALL - 8.4
Video review below!
Read More »
Islander MST-4 Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW
Here is an interesting one. About a year ago, the venerable ukulele maker from Hawaii, Kanile'a decided to embark on a new line of business that some of their counterparts have chosen - making a budget version of their famous ukuleles in the far east. That range is called the Islander , and I have got my hands on their solid wood tenor model - the MST-4.
 |
| The Islander MST-4 Tenor ukulele |
The Islander range of ukuleles come in two main flavours, either the cheaper laminate wood bodied versions, or the pricier all solid models like this one, each in soprano, concert and tenor scales. Their range offers those wanting the traditional looks of the Kanile'a brand at a more affordable price. The difference between my Kanile'a K1 Tenor and this is several hundred pounds. This was bought for £250 (thanks to Southern Ukulele Store who I bought it from).
Kanile'a control the quality of these ukes, and they are made to their own design - just not in Hawaii, but in China. They certainly look quite similar at first glance, with the same shaped headstock and distinctive Kanile'a bridge - but how do they really match up? Read on.
 |
| Twins? Kanile'a K1 next to Islander MST-4 |
The Islander MST-4 is an all solid Mahogany tenor uke, built to a similar style and shape as the Kanile'a tenor. As the picture shows, they are kind of similar, but there are some obvious differences. The body shape is actually not quite the same, with the Islander having a deeper waist and slightly less flat tail.
A first look over the instrument shows that it has been very well put together. There are no marks on it at all, no glue drops or dodgy joints. It feels solid and secure in the hands. The body is finished in a satin coat, through which the mahogany grains can be seen clearly. It's a nice enough finish, but looks a little cheap to my eyes, though that is perhaps because it is also rather strikingly orange in colour. I suppose it is actually just rather plain with very little dark grain or anything to catch the eye - there is certainly no curl or flame in this wood! The Kanile'a finish is also satin, but is Koa, and is smooth as you like. The top and back of the body are a single piece, so no book matching, but the grain is straight and runs vertically on both pieces. The back and sides are in two pieces joined at the neck and butt, and again, the grain is nice and straight in line with the back.
The body of the uke is bound with a nice looking faux tortoiseshell finish which I like. Where the sides join on the butt there is also some binding trim (note - the strap button was added by me and does not come as standard!).
 |
| Islander tail and body binding |
Inside the uke is nice and tidy, with an Islander label proclaiming it is made by Kanile'a. The kerfling is notched and neatly done and there are no glue drops at all. One point to note is that the bracing system in this is stock ukulele bracing and not the clever TRU bracing used on the Kanile'a instruments. Interestingly, there also appears to be side braces fitted attached to the inside of the sides on the upper and lower bouts - I have not seen that before.
 |
| Sides and tortoiseshell binding |
The back of the ukulele has a very slight bow to assist with sound projection, but nowhere near as prominent a curve as on the Kanile'a. On to the top of the instrument and we have a very nicely finished soundhole in abalone. The bridge looks at first glance to be identical to Kanile'as but actually the shaping and the saddle are quite different. There is nothing wrong with it (though the saddle doesn't have much left on it for sanding if I want to take action down any more), but it is just different. The saddle material is nubone, like the Kanile'a. The strings are held by four black plastic bridge pins rather than a tie system. More on that later also.
 |
| Abalone soundhole decor |
On to the neck and we have a four piece (count them, four!) mahogany neck topped with a rosewood fingerboard. I don't expect cheaper ukes to have a single piece neck but this is made of three pieces at the heel and another joint at the headstock. No idea if they all come like that but it seemed excessive to me. The joints though are well hidden at the heel, though not at the headstock where the grain pattern changes noticeably. The end of the heel is capped in the same tortoiseshell as on the body binding.
 |
| Neck heel and back of the Islander |
The rosewood on the fingerboard is nicely finished and smooth, though does have some colour variation. The edges of the fingerboard are not bound, so fret ends can be seen - again, not surprising at this price point. The uke has 18 nickel frets, with 14 to the body. They are all set well and there are no sharp ends to any of them. Fret position markers appear on the fingerboard in white pearloid at the 5th, 7th, 10th and 12th, and dots are repeated on the side of the neck. A note about the pearloid... This is, to me, one mixed up looking uke. We have tortoiseshell body binding, abalone soundhole decoration and white fret markers. To me it gives the uke a confused jumbled look and would be far better if they stuck to just one or two material types.
The neck profile is slightly chunky, though not as deep as the Kanile'a. It does share the Kanile'a fat nut width which I adore on a tenor. The nut is nubone again, and nicely set.
On to the headstock and we have have a Kanile'a shaped head, faced with a very thin veneer of mahogany. Full marks to Kanile'a on the logo, as it would appear they are listening to customers. Earlier models of the Islander came with a bright white and HUGE logo that looked, frankly, horrible. Some people even said they could not bring themselves to buy one with that logo. They have toned things down wonderfully with a simple, understated Islander logo in pale gold with black edging. The tuners are unbranded, sealed geared tuners with black buttons (in contrast to the open geared Grovers on the Kanile'a). They look decent enough though and dont stick out too much on the uke. Again though - another choice of material makes an appearance - black buttons to go with the tortoiseshell binding, abalone sound hole and white fret markers.... Make your minds up!
 |
| Headstock - note the subtle logo |
 |
| Sealed geared tuners |
Finally the uke arrived with Aquila strings. ARRRGHHHHHH!!!!! I know how some of you love Aquila strings, and I suppose full marks to the company for doing the deals but they now seem to come on EVERYTHING! On a sweeter solid wood uke I personally find them overkill and was disappointed to see them on this. Heck they arrived on my Kanile'a too, so what can you do? Well I changed them - it is now fitted with Living Water fluorocarbon Tenor strings.
So we have looked over the uke, but how about it's set up and sound? Well, as I say, it gets great marks for the build and the finish. Really nicely done and looks the part if you pass by the excessive choice of materials. Setup however was less impressive. As I suppose can be normal for a ukulele of this price, the action was way too high for my liking (nearly 2/8 of an inch at the crown of the 12th fret, and I prefer about 1/8). Out came the saddle for some sanding and it is now OK (though the saddle really has very little left on it now - which says something for the way the neck is set). The nut slots also were a little high (not much but a little), so I needed to take them down a touch. This is not a major gripe, and every uke owner should be prepared to make such adjustments, but it is still a little annoying when you just want to get on and play it.
And on to that bridge. Yes it looks like a Kanile'a bridge, but it really isn't - as I found out on the string change.... ....The Kanile'a bridge has slots within the holes that are plugged by the bridge pin. When you put a new string on, you tie a knot in the string and hook it in that hole and secure it with the pin. I find that fiddly enough to be honest, but the Islander takes it to another level. On removing the pin I noted that there are no slots, and on removing the old string, I saw that it came with a small metal ball end ring threaded on to the string. This acts to hold the string in the body which is then wedged by the pin. Yet more hassle. I love the look of bridge pins but the Kanile'a is fiddly enough thank you very much and I don't want the extra hassle of threading rings on to my strings on a change.
It gets worse though. Having re threaded the microscopic washer on to the new string, and seated the pin I started to tune up. All strings were fine, and then the A string - PING!! snapped at the bridge pin when approaching A. I fished out the washer and thankfully having enough string left, tried again. PING!! Snapped again at the bridge before I could get the string to A. I figured it may have been a bad string, so got a brand new A string from another pack. PING!!. This was now extremely frustrating. I grabbed a torch and had a look inside the hole where the string is meant to seat and think I found the culprit. The inside edge that the string would then be wedged against was really rough and must have been cutting the string. Out with a file and I smoothed it all down and thankfully the next string stayed put. That is the sort of niggle that a new player just does not need, and frankly there is no way I or the shop could have spotted it. It was just badly made in that zone at the factory. The slots on the Kanile'a seems a better system and are much smoother inside meaning no sharp edges.
 |
| That blasted bridge... |
I am pleased to report though that once the setup had been tinkered with, the ukulele is really, really nice to play. It feels very comfortable and balanced, and the neck is great to hold and play - almost on a par with my Kanile'a.
The sound is... loud! - there is a great volume from this uke and it is pretty much as loud as my Kanile'a so a great uke to play in the company of others without getting lost. It has a nice voice too. It is not as sweet or as complex as the Kanile'a and lacks some of the sustain and harmonics, but it is right up there with some of my better ukuleles. It is rich and I like that. The tone is balanced across the strings and it really does sing. It is much brighter than the Kanile'a in tone, but that is no critisism - the Kanile'a is renowned to be earthy sounding - this more 'chimey'. Intontation all over the neck is great. Not bang on at the lower frets, but perfectly acceptable. Strummed, it sounds great to me, and it is a joy to pick also with nice clear notes coming from all over the neck.
I will likely experiment with some other strings also to find the voice I prefer, but for now the Living Water strings are doing a fine job.
In summary it's a uke that, when sorted out, is a great player that I am sure most players will love and find very rewarding. I find the looks a bit mixed and confused, but I suppose that is just personal opinion on cosmetics (one wonders why they didn't go the whole hog and choose two more different materials for the nut and saddle...). The setup issues, particularly that bridge were a let down. I know that others may not have that problem, but this one did, and that is an issue as far as I am concerned. I know they wanted to keep the bridge pin look of the big daddy, but unless they can improve the holes to re-create the Kanile'a bridge more closely, I think they should revert to a tie or slot bridge.
But it is a £250 ukulele not a £700 instrument. And as such, the value for money is, I think, pretty decent. It beats other solid mahogany ukes of this price point and higher in my opinion for the loudness, finish, and quality of tone alone. The setup issues were a shame, because otherwise it is very well put together and feels good. Some like me may raise an eyebrow at the confused mixed design, but that is just subjective.
For me it's a keeper with a great voice and I would suggest you give one a try, though try it in the flesh first.
SCORES
Looks - 8
Fit and Finish - 7
Sound - 9
Value for Money - 9.5
OVERALL - 8.4
Video review below!
2 Jun 2012
2 Jun 2012T11:06
Enjoy - click on photo for larger image.
Back row L-R - Makala Dolphin soprano, Mahalo U50 Soprano, Pono MHC Pro Classic concert, Kanile'a K1 Tenor, Brüko No.6 soprano, Koaloha Pikake soprano, Magic Fluke Firefly banjolele, Mainland concert, Vintage VUK20N soprano.
Front row L-R - Magic Fluke Flea soprano, Magic Fluke Fluke concert, Clifton (Lidl) soprano, Mahalo Flying V, Antonio Lemez Canarian Timple (ok, the last one isn't a uke, but let me off!)
No doubt over the years ahead, the collection will change, but most of these are keepers.
Read More »
The current ukulele collection
Ukuleles come and ukes go, and whilst I have owned others in my time, I thought I was overdue taking a photograph of the current crop.
Enjoy - click on photo for larger image.
Back row L-R - Makala Dolphin soprano, Mahalo U50 Soprano, Pono MHC Pro Classic concert, Kanile'a K1 Tenor, Brüko No.6 soprano, Koaloha Pikake soprano, Magic Fluke Firefly banjolele, Mainland concert, Vintage VUK20N soprano.
Front row L-R - Magic Fluke Flea soprano, Magic Fluke Fluke concert, Clifton (Lidl) soprano, Mahalo Flying V, Antonio Lemez Canarian Timple (ok, the last one isn't a uke, but let me off!)
No doubt over the years ahead, the collection will change, but most of these are keepers.
25 Sept 2011
25 Sept 2011T14:43
I did a tally and figured that there have been about 15 or 16 ukes in my possession over the last couple of years. Not all stayed with me and some have been sold or traded, but I thought I'd share with you the current crop from cheap to pricey.
First up in the cheap category is my uke of choice when recommending an instrument to a beginner with a limited budget - the Makala Dolphin Soprano. I actually gifted the red one in the review to my Nephew, but this purple one is technically my daughters, though I love playing it!
(above - Makala Dolphin Soprano)
With a proper setup and Aquila strings, I really don't think that these can be beaten (for the price). I've owned plenty of other ukes in the bargain price range, like a Mahalo and a Vintage though the least said about those the better! I did however own a Lanikai LU21 which I would also highly recommend to beginners.
Moving on, I got hold of a Flea Soprano from the Magic Fluke Company. These are unusual ukes in many ways, their shape, the plastic bowl back, the plastic fingerboard. What they do deliver though is great sound and zero issues with setup due to the nature of their construction. If you are fed up with instruments that buzz or have dodgy action I would highly recommend these.
(above, Flea Soprano in Purple)
I soon decided that I both wanted to move up a ukulele size and try a concert, but also wanted a solid wood uke. I had dabbled with my first solid wood uke which was a soprano by Brüko (highly recommended) but wanted a bigger size. This led me to the fabulous Mainlandbrand of ukes and I purchased an all solid mahogany concert model with a divine slotted headstock. Mainlands start their lives being put together in the far east to keep costs down, but are hand finished and setup by Mike in the USA. The sound is super sweet with a bell like chime and it has looks to die for. A google search or forum search for mainland ukes will show you that Mainland owners are a real community, and rightly so, they are marvellous instruments and in my opinion about as good as you can get for the price.
(above - Mainland Mahogany Concert)
I then took a diversion into a type of uke that I think every player should try at least once, a Banjo Uke, or 'Banjolele'. You can pay some serious money for a banjo uke but I wanted something cheap with a good reputation and went with the Ozark 2035. It's a no frills banjo uke but is very well made and has a great tone. I do, however find it uncomfortable to play due to it missing the more traditional wider resonator on the back and a tone ring, but it does sound good. I don't get to play it as much as I would like though as my friends play traditional ukes, and strumming this is overkill on the volume front!
(above - Ozark 2035 Banjolele)
My love for the Flea ukulele I mentioned above soon had me hankering after a big brother in the shape of the Fluke Tenor ukulele. I say tenor, and thats what it is billed as, but to me the size feels more like a halfway house between a concert and a tenor. The increase in size of this uke over the Flea really shows in the sound which is richer and warmer. It is on equal terms with the Flea in setup and playability, and that larger flat base makes this the perfect uke to always have on hand, standing up beside by sofa!
(above - Fluke Tenor)
I write so much about ukes that it wasn't long before I came to the scary realisation that I really needed to own a hand made Hawaiian ukulele, known as the K Brand Ukes. I also figured I didn't own a traditional tenor scale instrument so settled on a Kanile'a K1 tenor uke. Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy. It's buying a uke of this quality that really shows where that extra money goes. The sound and looks are out of this world, it really is so beautiful. This has become my go to ukulele for fingerpicking.
(above - Kanile'a K1 Tenor, satin finish uke)
The Hawaiian bug bit and this was soon followed by a purchase of a K brand soprano in the shape of a Koaloha Pikake soprano. I wanted a bright, loud, traditional sounding soprano and this uke has it in spades. I remain to be amazed at the volume from this tiny thing (easily the loudest of all my ukes) and it's my choice of uke now for gigging with friends as it provides a sharp clear sound that cuts through our mix of instruments perfectly.
(above - Koaloha Pikake Soprano)
The latest uke in the house is not actually mine, but it's worthy of a mention. Fairly recently my wife decided to start playing uke and her progress was astounding. She is now playing with us live and as an anniversary present / a 'well done', I bought her her own ukulele as she had been playing my Mainland. I think I made a good choice in the Pono MHC Pro Classic mahogany concert. This is one pretty instrument, impeccably made and with a fantastic sound.
(above- Pono MHC Pro Classic Concert)
So there you have it, a snapshot. There will be more I am sure, and perhaps some of those above will be sold or traded (though I doubt I'll ever be saying goodbye to the Hawaiian ukes), but that is part of the fun in playing uke - the addiction to buying them!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Read More »
The current ukulele collection
It struck me that new readers of this blog won't have seen the very earliest reviews and news about ukes in my household... And who the heck searches back over years of blog posting?
I did a tally and figured that there have been about 15 or 16 ukes in my possession over the last couple of years. Not all stayed with me and some have been sold or traded, but I thought I'd share with you the current crop from cheap to pricey.
First up in the cheap category is my uke of choice when recommending an instrument to a beginner with a limited budget - the Makala Dolphin Soprano. I actually gifted the red one in the review to my Nephew, but this purple one is technically my daughters, though I love playing it!
(above - Makala Dolphin Soprano)
With a proper setup and Aquila strings, I really don't think that these can be beaten (for the price). I've owned plenty of other ukes in the bargain price range, like a Mahalo and a Vintage though the least said about those the better! I did however own a Lanikai LU21 which I would also highly recommend to beginners.
Moving on, I got hold of a Flea Soprano from the Magic Fluke Company. These are unusual ukes in many ways, their shape, the plastic bowl back, the plastic fingerboard. What they do deliver though is great sound and zero issues with setup due to the nature of their construction. If you are fed up with instruments that buzz or have dodgy action I would highly recommend these.
(above, Flea Soprano in Purple)
I soon decided that I both wanted to move up a ukulele size and try a concert, but also wanted a solid wood uke. I had dabbled with my first solid wood uke which was a soprano by Brüko (highly recommended) but wanted a bigger size. This led me to the fabulous Mainlandbrand of ukes and I purchased an all solid mahogany concert model with a divine slotted headstock. Mainlands start their lives being put together in the far east to keep costs down, but are hand finished and setup by Mike in the USA. The sound is super sweet with a bell like chime and it has looks to die for. A google search or forum search for mainland ukes will show you that Mainland owners are a real community, and rightly so, they are marvellous instruments and in my opinion about as good as you can get for the price.
(above - Mainland Mahogany Concert)
I then took a diversion into a type of uke that I think every player should try at least once, a Banjo Uke, or 'Banjolele'. You can pay some serious money for a banjo uke but I wanted something cheap with a good reputation and went with the Ozark 2035. It's a no frills banjo uke but is very well made and has a great tone. I do, however find it uncomfortable to play due to it missing the more traditional wider resonator on the back and a tone ring, but it does sound good. I don't get to play it as much as I would like though as my friends play traditional ukes, and strumming this is overkill on the volume front!
(above - Ozark 2035 Banjolele)
My love for the Flea ukulele I mentioned above soon had me hankering after a big brother in the shape of the Fluke Tenor ukulele. I say tenor, and thats what it is billed as, but to me the size feels more like a halfway house between a concert and a tenor. The increase in size of this uke over the Flea really shows in the sound which is richer and warmer. It is on equal terms with the Flea in setup and playability, and that larger flat base makes this the perfect uke to always have on hand, standing up beside by sofa!
(above - Fluke Tenor)
I write so much about ukes that it wasn't long before I came to the scary realisation that I really needed to own a hand made Hawaiian ukulele, known as the K Brand Ukes. I also figured I didn't own a traditional tenor scale instrument so settled on a Kanile'a K1 tenor uke. Oh boy. Oh boy oh boy. It's buying a uke of this quality that really shows where that extra money goes. The sound and looks are out of this world, it really is so beautiful. This has become my go to ukulele for fingerpicking.
(above - Kanile'a K1 Tenor, satin finish uke)
The Hawaiian bug bit and this was soon followed by a purchase of a K brand soprano in the shape of a Koaloha Pikake soprano. I wanted a bright, loud, traditional sounding soprano and this uke has it in spades. I remain to be amazed at the volume from this tiny thing (easily the loudest of all my ukes) and it's my choice of uke now for gigging with friends as it provides a sharp clear sound that cuts through our mix of instruments perfectly.
(above - Koaloha Pikake Soprano)
The latest uke in the house is not actually mine, but it's worthy of a mention. Fairly recently my wife decided to start playing uke and her progress was astounding. She is now playing with us live and as an anniversary present / a 'well done', I bought her her own ukulele as she had been playing my Mainland. I think I made a good choice in the Pono MHC Pro Classic mahogany concert. This is one pretty instrument, impeccably made and with a fantastic sound.
(above- Pono MHC Pro Classic Concert)
So there you have it, a snapshot. There will be more I am sure, and perhaps some of those above will be sold or traded (though I doubt I'll ever be saying goodbye to the Hawaiian ukes), but that is part of the fun in playing uke - the addiction to buying them!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
17 Aug 2011
17 Aug 2011T09:32
I dont need to go into the details of how it looks again, you have read that in the review, but I will say that every time I open the case I smile - this is a beautifully made instrument. What I wanted to share with you is how it plays and sounds in a little more detail.
At the time of my first review I had put Worth clear strings on it and I am still working with those. The tone from this ukulele is incredibly sweet and has both a nice chime and an earthy quality to it. Making this step up to a serious professional instrument really shows and the volume, clarity and breadth of the tone this creates compared to my other ukes is night and day.
Strumming I am still working on. Not only is this my first tenor, but those build qualities do affect the way this "works" when strumming it. At the moment I am still experimenting with my playing style and strumming position, but I do find that if strummed hard the instrument can overdrive or boom a little. This doesn't concern me at all at this stage for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I have come to this ukulele from models that are nowhere near it in terms of quality, The way the company have constructed this uke, in particular the quality of the woods and the clever bracing system means that this instrument creates decent volume with very little effort. As I say, I am working on my strum style and frankly am strumming it harder than is needed. The other reason may be down to the strings, and I intend to try various brands on this uke until I find the type that suits my ears best. Next to be tested on the Kanile'a are D'addario Pro Artes.
That isn't a gripe at all, as strumming the uke creates a shimmering full tone that is hard to describe. The best way I can put it is that in any stroke, the sound that is created is full and every single string is noticeable in the mix. I don't have another uke that plays that way.
But where I am most pleased with the Kanile'a is in fingerpicking. I have never been a big (or great) picker of ukuleles but do play guitar and like to play in that style on those. The reason I never really have on uke is down to the sound and the pleasure it can (or can't) deliver to me. With my other ukes, as much as I love them, a lasting sustain is just not there and I prefer them for strumming. Don't get me wrong, there is 'some' sustain on my other ukes, but nothing that lasts, and bearing in mind I fingerpick on guitar, I just don't find they cut the mustard, and fingerpicking ends up sounding too staccato for my liking. The Kanile'a changes that completely. This instrument has significant sustain and a beautiful clarity to any plucked note. Add to that the fact that the intonation all over the neck is perfect, and that makes this a sublime instrument to play in fingerpicking style. During the last week I have found myself creating picked arrangements of many songs I usually strum. In fact I am getting huge pleasure just creating my own picking progressions. It sounds silly, but its one of those instruments that almost plays itself! Of course being a Tenor, that wider spaced neck helps in this respect, but the action and setup by Kanile'a is also a big part of it.
So, in summary, I am absolutely thrilled to have this ukulele in my collection. It has really opened my eyes (and ears) to the level of quality a handmade Hawaiian ukulele can deliver. Frankly its jaw dropping.
This uke is certainly going to be my go to uke when I want to fingerpick, it is just so sweet. Yes it is expensive, but if a uke like this is within your budget I can heartily recommend it.
Read More »
Kanile'a K-1 Tenor ukulele - UPDATE
Well, I have been in possession of my beautiful Kanile'a K-1 Tenor uke for almost a couple of weeks now, and I thought it was worth giving you an update to my review having had chance to play my uke every day since it arrived!
I dont need to go into the details of how it looks again, you have read that in the review, but I will say that every time I open the case I smile - this is a beautifully made instrument. What I wanted to share with you is how it plays and sounds in a little more detail.
At the time of my first review I had put Worth clear strings on it and I am still working with those. The tone from this ukulele is incredibly sweet and has both a nice chime and an earthy quality to it. Making this step up to a serious professional instrument really shows and the volume, clarity and breadth of the tone this creates compared to my other ukes is night and day.
Strumming I am still working on. Not only is this my first tenor, but those build qualities do affect the way this "works" when strumming it. At the moment I am still experimenting with my playing style and strumming position, but I do find that if strummed hard the instrument can overdrive or boom a little. This doesn't concern me at all at this stage for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I have come to this ukulele from models that are nowhere near it in terms of quality, The way the company have constructed this uke, in particular the quality of the woods and the clever bracing system means that this instrument creates decent volume with very little effort. As I say, I am working on my strum style and frankly am strumming it harder than is needed. The other reason may be down to the strings, and I intend to try various brands on this uke until I find the type that suits my ears best. Next to be tested on the Kanile'a are D'addario Pro Artes.
That isn't a gripe at all, as strumming the uke creates a shimmering full tone that is hard to describe. The best way I can put it is that in any stroke, the sound that is created is full and every single string is noticeable in the mix. I don't have another uke that plays that way.
But where I am most pleased with the Kanile'a is in fingerpicking. I have never been a big (or great) picker of ukuleles but do play guitar and like to play in that style on those. The reason I never really have on uke is down to the sound and the pleasure it can (or can't) deliver to me. With my other ukes, as much as I love them, a lasting sustain is just not there and I prefer them for strumming. Don't get me wrong, there is 'some' sustain on my other ukes, but nothing that lasts, and bearing in mind I fingerpick on guitar, I just don't find they cut the mustard, and fingerpicking ends up sounding too staccato for my liking. The Kanile'a changes that completely. This instrument has significant sustain and a beautiful clarity to any plucked note. Add to that the fact that the intonation all over the neck is perfect, and that makes this a sublime instrument to play in fingerpicking style. During the last week I have found myself creating picked arrangements of many songs I usually strum. In fact I am getting huge pleasure just creating my own picking progressions. It sounds silly, but its one of those instruments that almost plays itself! Of course being a Tenor, that wider spaced neck helps in this respect, but the action and setup by Kanile'a is also a big part of it.
So, in summary, I am absolutely thrilled to have this ukulele in my collection. It has really opened my eyes (and ears) to the level of quality a handmade Hawaiian ukulele can deliver. Frankly its jaw dropping.
This uke is certainly going to be my go to uke when I want to fingerpick, it is just so sweet. Yes it is expensive, but if a uke like this is within your budget I can heartily recommend it.
6 Aug 2011
6 Aug 2011T11:30
I have hankered after a Hawaiian ukulele for some time, and am thrilled that I am now an owner. Time for a detailed review!
Firstly, I really dont know why they ship these with Aquilas (presume a deal was done with the Company), but I cant believe they are the best option. This is a uke that wants to shine and show off its voice, and many many players prefer the use of Worths or D'addario Pro Artes. Saying that, you know my views on strings - they are totally personal and most people will think about putting their own favourites on instead, so I wouldn't run it down for this.
I suppose that if I had the choice, I would have preferred high quality friction tuners rather than geared. Dont get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with the Grovers on this uke, I just prefer
friction tuners for their looks.
Finally, I suppose some (not me), may think that the uke is a little too plain. Going up in price to the K-2 model gives you binding on the uke that some may prefer, but bear in mind that the K-2 is an identical uke musically. The binding is purely decorative. I prefer understated, but this is a VERY plain looking uke.
Read More »
Kanile'a K-1 Tenor ukulele - REVIEW
This one is an absolute peach. It's a Kanile'a K-1 Tenor ukulele all the way from Hawaii.
I have hankered after a Hawaiian ukulele for some time, and am thrilled that I am now an owner. Time for a detailed review!
Kanile'a ukes (pronounced Kan-ile-aya) are made by Joe Souza's team, by hand from wonderful solid woods in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Being a handmade Hawaiian uke gives it the moniker as being a K Brand ukulele (more about that HERE. Not having the funds to fly to the islands myself, I placed my order with the wonderful Southern Ukulele Store who are the registered UK dealers. Paul at the shop was extremely helpful, and shipped the uke in perfect packaging, inside a pod case that came as part of the price.
Whilst this is an entry level model in the Kanile'a range, this represents my first "professional" grade ukulele. I chose the Tenor as my collection prior to this consisted only of sopranos and concert ukes. Time for a step up in size! And what better than such a well loved name?
So, first off, the build details. The uke is constructed from solid, select Hawaiian Koa wood with a stunning bookmatched grain pattern, and this one is finished in satin, not gloss. The photos I have taken of it really do not do justice to how wonderful this wood is. It's a traditional double bout shape, simple but gorgeous.
The neck is a single piece of mahogany (strengthened with a carbon fibre rod inside it) with an impeccable rosewood fingerboard and 19 silver nickel frets with 14 to the body joint. Fret markers both on the fingerboard and the upper side of the neck are made from Paua Abalone. It's also a traditionally Hawaiian wide nut at about 38mm or 1.5 inches. That makes for such comfortable playing. Believe me, I see so much rubbish about how you can only play bigger ukes if you have a bigger scale ukulele. Really, the scale of the instrument makes far FAR less difference than the width of the nut does. You really notice this wide nut.
The headstock is faced with a veneer of Koa, and the Kanile'a logo is not printed but inlaid in a lighter wood. I love the headstock shape as it differs from the usual lazy three pointed crown style.
The tuners are excellent quality open geared Grovers in chrome. At the bridge end you will spot something more unusual - the strings are not tied to the bridge, but held in place by black bridge pins as you would normally see on an acoustic guitar. The bridge is rosewood also, and both nut and saddle are made of NuBone. Aside from that, there are no other embellishments or binding - this is a plain ukulele... and I like it for that reason. It arrived strung with Aquila strings, but more on that later. Inside the uke is the Kanile'a label showing its provenance and serial number.
The neck is a single piece of mahogany (strengthened with a carbon fibre rod inside it) with an impeccable rosewood fingerboard and 19 silver nickel frets with 14 to the body joint. Fret markers both on the fingerboard and the upper side of the neck are made from Paua Abalone. It's also a traditionally Hawaiian wide nut at about 38mm or 1.5 inches. That makes for such comfortable playing. Believe me, I see so much rubbish about how you can only play bigger ukes if you have a bigger scale ukulele. Really, the scale of the instrument makes far FAR less difference than the width of the nut does. You really notice this wide nut.
The headstock is faced with a veneer of Koa, and the Kanile'a logo is not printed but inlaid in a lighter wood. I love the headstock shape as it differs from the usual lazy three pointed crown style.
The tuners are excellent quality open geared Grovers in chrome. At the bridge end you will spot something more unusual - the strings are not tied to the bridge, but held in place by black bridge pins as you would normally see on an acoustic guitar. The bridge is rosewood also, and both nut and saddle are made of NuBone. Aside from that, there are no other embellishments or binding - this is a plain ukulele... and I like it for that reason. It arrived strung with Aquila strings, but more on that later. Inside the uke is the Kanile'a label showing its provenance and serial number.
As I say, the uke is a traditional shape with wider lower bout, and also has a slightly arched back for better sound projection. Inside the uke, it uses the revolutionary Kanile'a TRU (Total Resonating Ukulele) Bracing system - this is a system similar to those seen on very high end custom guitars. It essentially allows for a more efficient vibration in the soundboard in multiple directions.
The first thing that hits you in picking this uke up is the absolute impeccable quality of the build. There is not a mark, blemish or anything anywhere on the instrument. Everything is fitted together perfectly and the uke feels solid in the hands. It is however extremely light for a large instrument and feels perfectly balanced to hold. Frets are finished superbly and smooth, and the fingerboard looks well conditioned. The set up was also just perfect - the action height is just as I would like it, and testing the intonation all over the neck with an accurate tuner shows no issues at all - this is a uke that will be in tune! The tuner quality is superb, with each one stamped with the name "Grover". They have an excellent turning ratio meaning fine tuning of the uke is an absolute breeze. They are also incredibly smooth and stable. The nut and saddle are also perfectly finsished, and I adore the way the bridge saddle shape blends with the rosewood of the shaped bridge plate. I also like the shaping of the neck which is extremely comfortable to play.
So, how does it sound? Well, first off, it arrived with Aquilas as I say, so the first job was to remove them and put some Worths on. I have nothing against Aquilas, but they are a powerful string, and I wanted this uke for its tone and clarity, not volume. The range of tone that comes from this uke is quite astonishing. There is good bass, but a real shimmery chime across the notes. As is the case with high end guitars, every string shines through equally on this uke, nothing is "lost in the mix" or muddy. Just marvellous range.
Sustain is massive and the volume and projection is great, helped by that bracing system and arched back. I do mainly strum in my playing, and this ukulele certainly delivers in that regard, but where it really shines is when fingerpicked (part of the reason I bought it) - it's absolutely glorious in its voice.
The other thing that struck me was how balanced it sounded no matter whether you play it quietly or thrash it as hard as you like. Many cheaper ukes can suffer in this regard and either "boom" when played hard, or just lose their tone when played softly. As such, despite it being an acoustic instrument, I can see this as being perfect for late night practice without waking the family - supremely satisfying at low volume.
Sustain is massive and the volume and projection is great, helped by that bracing system and arched back. I do mainly strum in my playing, and this ukulele certainly delivers in that regard, but where it really shines is when fingerpicked (part of the reason I bought it) - it's absolutely glorious in its voice.
The other thing that struck me was how balanced it sounded no matter whether you play it quietly or thrash it as hard as you like. Many cheaper ukes can suffer in this regard and either "boom" when played hard, or just lose their tone when played softly. As such, despite it being an acoustic instrument, I can see this as being perfect for late night practice without waking the family - supremely satisfying at low volume.
I really am thrilled with it, and fully understand where the money goes in making a step up to a pro level instrument. As much as I love my other ukes, this is a significant step up in quality. I suppose its like spending your life playing a Yamaha piano, then sitting down to a Steinway Grand, or upgrading from a Volkswagen Golf to an Aston Martin - sure they are both cars, but... well, you know what I mean! People often ask whether you can notice the step up from the mid range instruments. I can say categorically that YES you can.
But lets be balanced. Do I have any gripes? Small ones I suppose.
Firstly, I really dont know why they ship these with Aquilas (presume a deal was done with the Company), but I cant believe they are the best option. This is a uke that wants to shine and show off its voice, and many many players prefer the use of Worths or D'addario Pro Artes. Saying that, you know my views on strings - they are totally personal and most people will think about putting their own favourites on instead, so I wouldn't run it down for this.
I suppose that if I had the choice, I would have preferred high quality friction tuners rather than geared. Dont get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with the Grovers on this uke, I just prefer
friction tuners for their looks.
Finally, I suppose some (not me), may think that the uke is a little too plain. Going up in price to the K-2 model gives you binding on the uke that some may prefer, but bear in mind that the K-2 is an identical uke musically. The binding is purely decorative. I prefer understated, but this is a VERY plain looking uke.
But those gripes are so minor they should not be worried about.
Would I recommend it? What do you think?! This is simply outstanding.
STOP PRESS - What happened next with this ukulele was heart wrenching, and then, ultimately, heart warming - read all about it here https://www.gotaukulele.com/2019/10/a-big-got-ukulele-thank-you.html
http://kanileaukulele.com
UKULELE PROS
Amazing build
Beautiful tone wood
Great quality tuners
Incredible projection, sustain, clarity of tone
Wonderully comfortable neck
UKULELE CONS
None really, suppose some would prefer more bling (not me though)
UKULELE SCORES
Looks - 9
Fit and finish - 10
Sound - 9.5
Value for money - 8.5
OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.3
UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW
STOP PRESS - You can read my update to my review, having had some proper playing time Here, and my Long Term Test having owned the ukulele for nearly 18 months.
STOP PRESS - What happened next with this ukulele was heart wrenching, and then, ultimately, heart warming - read all about it here https://www.gotaukulele.com/2019/10/a-big-got-ukulele-thank-you.html
http://kanileaukulele.com
UKULELE PROS
Amazing build
Beautiful tone wood
Great quality tuners
Incredible projection, sustain, clarity of tone
Wonderully comfortable neck
UKULELE CONS
None really, suppose some would prefer more bling (not me though)
UKULELE SCORES
Looks - 9
Fit and finish - 10
Sound - 9.5
Value for money - 8.5
OVERALL UKULELE SCORE - 9.3
UKULELE VIDEO REVIEW
STOP PRESS - You can read my update to my review, having had some proper playing time Here, and my Long Term Test having owned the ukulele for nearly 18 months.
23 Jan 2011
23 Jan 2011T15:51
As we have discussed before on this blog, the ukulele, whilst European in origin, has it's roots deeply in Hawaiian soil. The term K Brand really refers to the four main, hand made, and most well known ukulele makers in Hawaii, namely, Kamaka, Kanile'a, KoAloha and Ko'olau. These brands are considered by many to be about the best around, using superb woods and age old building techniques to create stunning instruments.
That said, there are actually a host of ukulele brands that begin with the letter K, including
Kala
Kawika
Kelii
Kohala
Many of these are not Hawaiian at all, in fact only Kelii is an actual hand made Hawaiian brand, with some of the others, such as Kala being made in the far east.
To further complicate matters, the term K Brand does something of a disservice to the wonderful Hawaiian uke manufacturer G-String, which are considered by many to be right up there with the big four K ukes.
Needless to say, if you are buying a genuine K Brand uke from those four (or a uke from G String) you are purchasing a high end professional, hand made instrument that has not come from a mass production factory.
So, a little more about those top brands.
KAMAKA UKULELES Kamaka ukes, with their distinctive double K logo on the headstock, were founded in 1916 by Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka in Kaimuki, near Honolulu.
Kamaka are credited for inventing the pineapple shaped ukulele body, and are endorsed by some big ukulele names, including Jake Shimabukuro and George Harrison. They are also famed for their support of the disabled community, winning the Outstanding Employer for Persons with Disabilities award.
They manufacture 9 models of ukulele in a variety of sizes.
Kamaka ukuleles
KANILE'A UKULELES Kanile'a ukes are a more modern brand, but made on Hawaii to similar exacting hand made standards by Joe and Kristen in Kaneohe.
Joe started playing uke at school and started training to be a master luthier in 1990, and in the last 20 years has built up an enviable reputation for quality instruments.
They offer a large range of models, with some special finishes and bracing systems.
Kanile'a ukuleles
KOALOHA UKULELES
Koaloha ukes are hand crafted in Honolulu by Alvin Okami, who actually started his career as a singer!
Alvin started his manufacturing business in 1981, and now make a large range of high quality ukes in a variety of styles including the unique Pineapple Sunday, considered by many to be one of the best 'stand out' ukes on the market.
Koaloha ukuleles
KO'OLAU UKULELES
Ko'olau started in 1979 as Kitakis Stringed Instruments, based in Wahiawa, Hawaii. The business expanded, and changed its name to Ko'olau, named after the mountain range on the eastern edge of the volcano on the island of O'ahu.
The company started in the early years making a small number of hand made ukes and mandolins, but mainly focussed on repairs to instruments. In the 1990's and the resurgence in ukulele popularity and the business expanded to the large range of expertly built, hand made ukes available to this day. Ko'olau are also responsible for the Pono (non hand made) line of mid level ukuleles
Ko'olau ukuleles
G STRING UKULELES
G String ukuleles, as I say above, are the honorary K Brand uke - honorary because sadly their name does not begin with a K, but they are right up there in the quality stakes!
They are a small company located in the Hilawa valley on the island of O'ahu, with a smaller number of ukes in the product range, but expertly built, and, of course, offering bespoke services. Started in 1993 in a single garage they have quickly built a huge reputation.
G String ukuleles
Read More »
Ukulele beginners tips - what is a K Brand Ukulele
As you develop your interest in the ukulele, you will find in your (many) web searches that you will find the term 'K Brand' when referring to ukuleles - but, what does that mean?
As we have discussed before on this blog, the ukulele, whilst European in origin, has it's roots deeply in Hawaiian soil. The term K Brand really refers to the four main, hand made, and most well known ukulele makers in Hawaii, namely, Kamaka, Kanile'a, KoAloha and Ko'olau. These brands are considered by many to be about the best around, using superb woods and age old building techniques to create stunning instruments.
That said, there are actually a host of ukulele brands that begin with the letter K, including
Kala
Kawika
Kelii
Kohala
Many of these are not Hawaiian at all, in fact only Kelii is an actual hand made Hawaiian brand, with some of the others, such as Kala being made in the far east.
To further complicate matters, the term K Brand does something of a disservice to the wonderful Hawaiian uke manufacturer G-String, which are considered by many to be right up there with the big four K ukes.
Needless to say, if you are buying a genuine K Brand uke from those four (or a uke from G String) you are purchasing a high end professional, hand made instrument that has not come from a mass production factory.
So, a little more about those top brands.
KAMAKA UKULELES Kamaka ukes, with their distinctive double K logo on the headstock, were founded in 1916 by Samuel Kaialiilii Kamaka in Kaimuki, near Honolulu.
Kamaka are credited for inventing the pineapple shaped ukulele body, and are endorsed by some big ukulele names, including Jake Shimabukuro and George Harrison. They are also famed for their support of the disabled community, winning the Outstanding Employer for Persons with Disabilities award.
They manufacture 9 models of ukulele in a variety of sizes.
Kamaka ukuleles
KANILE'A UKULELES Kanile'a ukes are a more modern brand, but made on Hawaii to similar exacting hand made standards by Joe and Kristen in Kaneohe.
Joe started playing uke at school and started training to be a master luthier in 1990, and in the last 20 years has built up an enviable reputation for quality instruments.
They offer a large range of models, with some special finishes and bracing systems.
Kanile'a ukuleles
KOALOHA UKULELES
Koaloha ukes are hand crafted in Honolulu by Alvin Okami, who actually started his career as a singer!
Alvin started his manufacturing business in 1981, and now make a large range of high quality ukes in a variety of styles including the unique Pineapple Sunday, considered by many to be one of the best 'stand out' ukes on the market.
Koaloha ukuleles
KO'OLAU UKULELES
Ko'olau started in 1979 as Kitakis Stringed Instruments, based in Wahiawa, Hawaii. The business expanded, and changed its name to Ko'olau, named after the mountain range on the eastern edge of the volcano on the island of O'ahu.
The company started in the early years making a small number of hand made ukes and mandolins, but mainly focussed on repairs to instruments. In the 1990's and the resurgence in ukulele popularity and the business expanded to the large range of expertly built, hand made ukes available to this day. Ko'olau are also responsible for the Pono (non hand made) line of mid level ukuleles
Ko'olau ukuleles
G STRING UKULELES
G String ukuleles, as I say above, are the honorary K Brand uke - honorary because sadly their name does not begin with a K, but they are right up there in the quality stakes!
They are a small company located in the Hilawa valley on the island of O'ahu, with a smaller number of ukes in the product range, but expertly built, and, of course, offering bespoke services. Started in 1993 in a single garage they have quickly built a huge reputation.
G String ukuleles
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
