Back to the ukulele 'homeland' again this week with another Hawaiian made instrument. This is the KoAloha Royal Pikake Mango Longneck Soprano Pineapple Ukulele...
Showing posts with label koaloha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label koaloha. Show all posts
23 Apr 2023
9 Sept 2018
9 Sept 2018T13:07
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Koaloha KTM-00 Tenor Ukulele - REVIEW
Back from a short break from Got A Ukulele to holiday with my family, and what better way to return to uke reviews than with a truly stellar name in the world of ukuleles. This is the Koaloha KTM-00 Tenor ukulele.
4 Mar 2017
4 Mar 2017T12:11
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KoAloha Opio Spruce Top Tenor - REVIEW
It's been some time since I featured the KoAloha brand on Got A Ukulele, so I am delighted to do so again, this time with their spruce topped Opio series tenor uke.
27 Oct 2016
27 Oct 2016T13:15
But as I say in the title - this one is a quite different, and really caught my eye. Top ukulele performer and friend over on the UK circuit, Robin (he, the lover of Earl Grey Tea, lover of rap, lover of the bow tie and occasionally the the lover of a sweary tune) is having a go at one himself. And no, this isn't just another 'how many ukulele players can we get at the same time' attempt. This one is SOLO. And looking at it, it's also rather scary. (Click the image below for a bigger version with all the details!)
On 26 November, Robin will be attempting to play a continuous ukulele set for 30 HOURS (yes 30!) at the famous Duke Of Uke store in London. I don't even know how that is possible, but then, that's World Records for you! The current record is 25 hours, and Robin hopes to smash it. And I thought gigging for a couple of hours was tough!
The event is being produced by Team #GNUF (Grand Northern Ukulele Festival) and sponsored by KoAloha Ukuleles. I also understand that there will be some KoAloha goodies to win if you attend.
See the pic for details, or head to his Facebook event page to show your support. Added to which it's FREE to attend. Go give him your support (or strong coffee!)
Pop along to Duke Of Uke at 88 Cheshire Street, London, E2 6EH from 11am on 26 November right through to 5pm on the 27th. This should be fun!
© Barry Maz
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World Record Ukulele Attempt (With a Difference)
Now before you click away from this post. I KNOW that ukulele world record attempts are nothing new. In fact it seemed for some time recently they happened somewhere each year without fail....
STOP PRESS!!! ROBIN MADE IT - IN FACT HE SMASHED THE WORLD RECORD AND SET A NEW ONE AT OVER 30 HOURS!
On 26 November, Robin will be attempting to play a continuous ukulele set for 30 HOURS (yes 30!) at the famous Duke Of Uke store in London. I don't even know how that is possible, but then, that's World Records for you! The current record is 25 hours, and Robin hopes to smash it. And I thought gigging for a couple of hours was tough!
The event is being produced by Team #GNUF (Grand Northern Ukulele Festival) and sponsored by KoAloha Ukuleles. I also understand that there will be some KoAloha goodies to win if you attend.
See the pic for details, or head to his Facebook event page to show your support. Added to which it's FREE to attend. Go give him your support (or strong coffee!)
Pop along to Duke Of Uke at 88 Cheshire Street, London, E2 6EH from 11am on 26 November right through to 5pm on the 27th. This should be fun!
© Barry Maz
9 Jun 2013
9 Jun 2013T12:41
I have had the Koaloha now for about 20 months, and it is regularly played. You can read my original review of it HERE, which as you can see heaped a lot of praise on this little instrument. How have my views changed?
Well, in a word - only for the better. This is an instrument that I just keep going back to again and again. It's fun to play, light as a feather, comfortable, and ohhh..... that sound! Despite its diminutive size, this remains to be one of the loudest and fullest sounding ukuleles in my collection! Even though I have owned it for some time, when I get it out and start playing it always surprises me what a rich loud voice it has.
The build has stood up really well. I occasionally see people questioning how strong they are on account of their unique bracing system, but I can attest that there has been no movement on this uke at all - no sinking in the top, no cracks.
One thing that those who are completely precious about their instruments may want to know - that satin finish (I prefer the satin on the Koalohas to their gloss) has started to buff to a shine where it has been rubbed with my playing arm (see picture below). I actually love that it has done that - it makes the ukulele mine and shows that it has been played.
It's accuracy in the setup has remained spot on, and intonation all over the neck is perfect. And what about those tuners? Well I do know that many of my readers don't like friction tuners, but the pegs on this uke are just brilliant. Not only do they look great, they move like butter and keep the instrument bang in tune. I can put this uke away for a few weeks and I know it will be perfectly in tune when I pick it up again. Strings wise, I know that Koalohas ship with a variety of Worth Clear strings, but I have since re-strung this with Ken Middleton's Living Water strings which work very well on this uke.
In my initial review you will note that I was a little disappointed with the finish on the fret markers when this uke arrived. That issue still niggles me, but less so since I applied new fret marker stickers to the neck which I think look rather good!
So in summary, it's a uke that has the looks, the build and the sound. I honestly can't speak highly enough of how much I like this instrument. It sits firmly in the 'never going to be sold' camp in my collection.
Highly recommended!
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Long Term Test - Koaloha Pikake Soprano ukulele
Time for another 'long term test' of one of my ukuleles with a look again at the Koaloha Pikake Soprano uke. I think long term tests are helpful as they show whether my views have changed having had a ukulele with me for a considerable period. (You can read my other long term tests on my Reviews Page)
I have had the Koaloha now for about 20 months, and it is regularly played. You can read my original review of it HERE, which as you can see heaped a lot of praise on this little instrument. How have my views changed?
Well, in a word - only for the better. This is an instrument that I just keep going back to again and again. It's fun to play, light as a feather, comfortable, and ohhh..... that sound! Despite its diminutive size, this remains to be one of the loudest and fullest sounding ukuleles in my collection! Even though I have owned it for some time, when I get it out and start playing it always surprises me what a rich loud voice it has.
The build has stood up really well. I occasionally see people questioning how strong they are on account of their unique bracing system, but I can attest that there has been no movement on this uke at all - no sinking in the top, no cracks.
One thing that those who are completely precious about their instruments may want to know - that satin finish (I prefer the satin on the Koalohas to their gloss) has started to buff to a shine where it has been rubbed with my playing arm (see picture below). I actually love that it has done that - it makes the ukulele mine and shows that it has been played.
It's accuracy in the setup has remained spot on, and intonation all over the neck is perfect. And what about those tuners? Well I do know that many of my readers don't like friction tuners, but the pegs on this uke are just brilliant. Not only do they look great, they move like butter and keep the instrument bang in tune. I can put this uke away for a few weeks and I know it will be perfectly in tune when I pick it up again. Strings wise, I know that Koalohas ship with a variety of Worth Clear strings, but I have since re-strung this with Ken Middleton's Living Water strings which work very well on this uke.
In my initial review you will note that I was a little disappointed with the finish on the fret markers when this uke arrived. That issue still niggles me, but less so since I applied new fret marker stickers to the neck which I think look rather good!
So in summary, it's a uke that has the looks, the build and the sound. I honestly can't speak highly enough of how much I like this instrument. It sits firmly in the 'never going to be sold' camp in my collection.
Highly recommended!
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.
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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
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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
25 Aug 2011
25 Aug 2011T10:04
This arrived during this week from the French ukulele store Musique83. Their service has been absolutely superb and I would highly recommend that you give them a try. Patrick who runs the store is excellent. He shipped this to me quickly and well packed and it came with a hard case too!
The Pikake (Hawaiian word for Jasmine) is a fairly no frills Soprano uke that comes in a semi gloss finish. It differs from the standard soprano in that respect, with the standard coming in gloss. The other difference is that the standard soprano doesn't have a straight cut end to the fingerboard, rather it has a carved end. I wanted the pikake as I am not a huge fan of gloss finishes, particularly not on a high end wood like this one which is made from Hawaiian Koa. Koalohas are made by the Okami family in Honolulu, where the business was started in 1994 by Alvin Okami. Each uke is made and finished by hand.
The construction is impeccable. The body is all solid, bookmatched Koa with a beautiful grain, particularly the sides which show some deep red banding. The soundhole is shaped and not round, something that Koaloha have trademarked and call the Musubi shape. A further nice feature on the top is the carved hardwood tie bridge which shows the name of the brand. The bridge saddle is made of TUSQ.
The neck is not made of Koa, but is Sapele, but is still rather pretty with a spotty grain that looks great at the headstock. I believe you can specify the same uke with a neck made of Koa too if you get hung up about wanting your instrument to be 100% Hawaiian Koa! It's a one piece neck and I love the way it is carved, particularly the heel which has an angle to it's back, and slight curves where it joins the body. Little details like this impress me. The neck has 12 fairly chunky nickel frets and I believe is also made from Sapele but without the semi gloss finish. There are three white plastic fret markers and the edges of the fingerboard are bound with thin strips of Koa to hide the fret ends - another nice touch. The neck feels smooth and quick and the frets are finished perfectly with no sharp edges. The nut is also made of TUSQ but a little rough looking with slots rather too deep for my liking. I would have thought that the nut didn't need to be as big as it is.
Moving further up the uke we come to the feature that makes Koaloha ukes stand out - that five pointed crown headstock. It really is stunning looking and gives the ukulele real individuality. The Koaloha logo is engraved deeply into the face of the headstock.
Tuning is achieved via some very high quality friction tuners in a deep red marbled colour, each one laser etched with the Koaloha logo on both sides. I was pleased with this as had they been screen printed they would eventually wear off. Many people dismiss friction tuners, but I personally prefer them as I think they suit a uke better than geared pegs. The quality of these is excellent (the best I have come across) and they tune the uke just fine.
Overall the construction is excellent, and the uke is also extremely light yet strong. Looking inside the soundhole is interesting. The top and back are not connected to the sides with any kerfling (the strips of notched wood inside most if not all other ukuleles to attach these parts, which leaves you wondering how the thing stays together. The answer is down to the bracing which, unlike other ukes which use strips of wood on the underside of the top (and sometimes on the back) the Koaloha uses a brace that runs under the top, down both sides and across the back in one piece. It's hard to describe but if you imagine a rectangular piece of wood with the center punched out you may get the idea. This system allows the uke to be light in weight but very strong. I read reports that you can stand on this uke on its side but I don't intend to try that!
Also inside the uke is the Koaloha label, and embossed into the end of the neck block is the date of manufacture. This is a nice touch also, as this is an instrument which will hold value. Many years in to the future this date means no confusion as to what vintage this instrument is.
Strings wise, they look to me like Worth Clears, but I had a word with Alan Okami at Koaloha and he advises they are their own selection matched to individual ukes. As far as I am aware they are not available to buy retail yet but they are working on this. Many Koaloha players I speak to suggest they move to Worth Clears when they need a string change.
Playability is very, very good. The ukulele is balanced to hold and the action is perfect for my playing. Intonation all over the neck is excellent too with a beautiful chiming harmonic at the twelfth fret. It's a uke that begs to be played and is great fun.
Sound is what this uke is really all about though, and I will report further on sound when I have owned the uke further. Initial observations though are extremely good. Firstly, the thing this Soprano is famous for - the volume. Boy, does this uke pack a punch! I am staggered at how powerful a sound this uke can produce. There is no booming and the sound is clear but massive. Tone wise, being a soprano you are never going to get the same richness of tone as you would in say my Kanile'a Tenor. But it sounds like the perfect classic soprano ukulele. There is a chiming bite to the tone and the clarity of each string is impressive. Every note of a chord when strummed just shines through, and some hammering on and pulling off within the chords during strumming really comes through in the sound. Fingerpicking is not as satisfying as on a tenor but still sounds great and clear with a really sweet tone. Overall this has exceeded my expectaions.
Any gripes? A couple.
There is the nut which I think could be finished better, but the fret markers are a let down. They are very rough around the edges with signs of filler and look quite messy. That surprises me when you consider the many other quality touches elsewhere on the instrument. Sure, they make no difference to the sound, and anybody watching me play would not spot them, but I know they are there and for a pro level instrument (albeit an entry level pro) it's disappointing. Further, if I wanted to be REALLY picky, I would say that there are some glue spots and seepage inside the body on wood joints. Again, this doesn't affect the uke at all but I know some ukulele fans get irritated by such things (personally I don't..)
But those aside, the whole ukulele is just wonderful and I believe is, frankly, all the soprano you would ever need. It's got a great voice, great looks and great volume. I love it!
SCORES
Looks - 9
Fit and finish - 8
Sound - 9.5
Value for money 9.5
OVERALL - 9
STOP PRESS. I have since written a little more about the sound having now been playing that for several days. You can read about that Here
Read More »
Koaloha Pikake Soprano Ukulele - REVIEW
Another new ukulele day, and another Hawaiian uke for me to share with you. This time it's by Koaloha and the model is their entry level Soprano, called the Pikake.
This arrived during this week from the French ukulele store Musique83. Their service has been absolutely superb and I would highly recommend that you give them a try. Patrick who runs the store is excellent. He shipped this to me quickly and well packed and it came with a hard case too!
The Pikake (Hawaiian word for Jasmine) is a fairly no frills Soprano uke that comes in a semi gloss finish. It differs from the standard soprano in that respect, with the standard coming in gloss. The other difference is that the standard soprano doesn't have a straight cut end to the fingerboard, rather it has a carved end. I wanted the pikake as I am not a huge fan of gloss finishes, particularly not on a high end wood like this one which is made from Hawaiian Koa. Koalohas are made by the Okami family in Honolulu, where the business was started in 1994 by Alvin Okami. Each uke is made and finished by hand.
The construction is impeccable. The body is all solid, bookmatched Koa with a beautiful grain, particularly the sides which show some deep red banding. The soundhole is shaped and not round, something that Koaloha have trademarked and call the Musubi shape. A further nice feature on the top is the carved hardwood tie bridge which shows the name of the brand. The bridge saddle is made of TUSQ.
The neck is not made of Koa, but is Sapele, but is still rather pretty with a spotty grain that looks great at the headstock. I believe you can specify the same uke with a neck made of Koa too if you get hung up about wanting your instrument to be 100% Hawaiian Koa! It's a one piece neck and I love the way it is carved, particularly the heel which has an angle to it's back, and slight curves where it joins the body. Little details like this impress me. The neck has 12 fairly chunky nickel frets and I believe is also made from Sapele but without the semi gloss finish. There are three white plastic fret markers and the edges of the fingerboard are bound with thin strips of Koa to hide the fret ends - another nice touch. The neck feels smooth and quick and the frets are finished perfectly with no sharp edges. The nut is also made of TUSQ but a little rough looking with slots rather too deep for my liking. I would have thought that the nut didn't need to be as big as it is.
Moving further up the uke we come to the feature that makes Koaloha ukes stand out - that five pointed crown headstock. It really is stunning looking and gives the ukulele real individuality. The Koaloha logo is engraved deeply into the face of the headstock.
Tuning is achieved via some very high quality friction tuners in a deep red marbled colour, each one laser etched with the Koaloha logo on both sides. I was pleased with this as had they been screen printed they would eventually wear off. Many people dismiss friction tuners, but I personally prefer them as I think they suit a uke better than geared pegs. The quality of these is excellent (the best I have come across) and they tune the uke just fine.
Overall the construction is excellent, and the uke is also extremely light yet strong. Looking inside the soundhole is interesting. The top and back are not connected to the sides with any kerfling (the strips of notched wood inside most if not all other ukuleles to attach these parts, which leaves you wondering how the thing stays together. The answer is down to the bracing which, unlike other ukes which use strips of wood on the underside of the top (and sometimes on the back) the Koaloha uses a brace that runs under the top, down both sides and across the back in one piece. It's hard to describe but if you imagine a rectangular piece of wood with the center punched out you may get the idea. This system allows the uke to be light in weight but very strong. I read reports that you can stand on this uke on its side but I don't intend to try that!
Also inside the uke is the Koaloha label, and embossed into the end of the neck block is the date of manufacture. This is a nice touch also, as this is an instrument which will hold value. Many years in to the future this date means no confusion as to what vintage this instrument is.
Strings wise, they look to me like Worth Clears, but I had a word with Alan Okami at Koaloha and he advises they are their own selection matched to individual ukes. As far as I am aware they are not available to buy retail yet but they are working on this. Many Koaloha players I speak to suggest they move to Worth Clears when they need a string change.
Playability is very, very good. The ukulele is balanced to hold and the action is perfect for my playing. Intonation all over the neck is excellent too with a beautiful chiming harmonic at the twelfth fret. It's a uke that begs to be played and is great fun.
Sound is what this uke is really all about though, and I will report further on sound when I have owned the uke further. Initial observations though are extremely good. Firstly, the thing this Soprano is famous for - the volume. Boy, does this uke pack a punch! I am staggered at how powerful a sound this uke can produce. There is no booming and the sound is clear but massive. Tone wise, being a soprano you are never going to get the same richness of tone as you would in say my Kanile'a Tenor. But it sounds like the perfect classic soprano ukulele. There is a chiming bite to the tone and the clarity of each string is impressive. Every note of a chord when strummed just shines through, and some hammering on and pulling off within the chords during strumming really comes through in the sound. Fingerpicking is not as satisfying as on a tenor but still sounds great and clear with a really sweet tone. Overall this has exceeded my expectaions.
Any gripes? A couple.
There is the nut which I think could be finished better, but the fret markers are a let down. They are very rough around the edges with signs of filler and look quite messy. That surprises me when you consider the many other quality touches elsewhere on the instrument. Sure, they make no difference to the sound, and anybody watching me play would not spot them, but I know they are there and for a pro level instrument (albeit an entry level pro) it's disappointing. Further, if I wanted to be REALLY picky, I would say that there are some glue spots and seepage inside the body on wood joints. Again, this doesn't affect the uke at all but I know some ukulele fans get irritated by such things (personally I don't..)
But those aside, the whole ukulele is just wonderful and I believe is, frankly, all the soprano you would ever need. It's got a great voice, great looks and great volume. I love it!
SCORES
Looks - 9
Fit and finish - 8
Sound - 9.5
Value for money 9.5
OVERALL - 9
STOP PRESS. I have since written a little more about the sound having now been playing that for several days. You can read about that Here
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
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