Why Kanile’a is My Favorite Hawaiian Ukulele Brand!

Why Kanile'a is My Favorite Hawaiian Ukulele Brand


Overview

In this video and article, I'll explain why Kanile'a is my favorite Hawaiian ukulele brand. We'll also take an in-depth look at both of my ukes. This will be an interesting comparison since one is an entry-level base model, and the other is a custom build.

Uke #1) Base Model K-1

SPECS

MODEL: K-1 Concert
STRINGS: 4 String High G w/ Aquila Strings
WOOD: Premium Curly Koa Body (Top, Back, Sides, & Headplate)
NECK & HEADSTOCK: Mahogany Neck w/ Rosewood Fretboard & Bridge
Paua Abalone Position Dots on Top & Side of Fretboard
Kanile`a Open Geared Chrome Tuners
NuBone Nut & Saddle
FINISH: UV Natural Satin Finish
PICKUP: LR Baggs FIVE.O
CASE: Hardshell Case w/ Leather Handle

The Purpose of this Uke

This was the first Kanile'a that I purchased. I bought it from The Ukulele Site in the Summer of 2015. It's a K-1 model. The "K" stands for koa, as this instrument is constructed with premium curly koa (an up-charge over standard koa) for the top, back, and sides.

Koa is indigenous to Hawaii. It has an intangible quality that delivers a bright, crisp tone with sonorous clarity. Simply put, it's the gold standard choice for crafting ukuleles. With this knowledge in mind, I knew that my first Hawaiian instrument had to deliver the traditional island sound... it had to be koa.

Price Point

I had the shop install a pickup at an additional charge of $200 dollars. This was important to me because I wanted three options for recording: DI (direct input), miked (acoustic), or a combo of both. A pickup also allows you to play through an amp, which is great for public performances.

Altogether, the total cost of this ukulele was $1,200 dollars. Keep in mind, this is a price point from 2015. In the past five years, the price of koa has increased.

The K-1 series is the entry-level model. There is a K-2 and a K-3 series. These instruments add decorative adornments such as rosettes (circular pattern around the sound hole) and purfling (ornamental inlay strips placed around the binding).

If you read our article on 4 Things to Consider Before Buying a Ukulele, you'll remember that adornments do not play a factor in increasing the timbre or playability of an instrument. They simply add an elegant style to the beauty of a naturally finished instrument.

Uke #2) Custom Build

SPECS

MODEL: Custom Concert
STRINGS: 4 String Low G w/ Aquila Strings
WOOD: Curly Sequoia Redwood Soundboard (Top)
Milo Back & Sides
Tortoise Front Binding
NECK & HEADSTOCK: Mahogany Neck w/ Ebony Fretboard, Bridge, & Headplate
Position Markers & Logo in Sand
Kanile`a Open Geared Chrome Tuners
NuBone Nut & Saddle
FINISH: UV Natural Satin Finish
PICKUP: LR Baggs FIVE.O
CASE: Hardshell Case w/ Leather Handle

The Purpose of this Uke

3 years after purchasing the K-1, I was ready to get my next ukulele! Now this purchase wasn't simply to fulfill the bug that bites many of us: UAS (ukulele acquisition syndrome); rather it was to expand our songwriting and arranging to offer lessons for Low G ukulele.

With the K-1 delivering the traditional Hawaiian tone, I wanted something different for this ukulele. I wanted an instrument that would contrast the K-1's bright timbre; in essence, complementing what I already had instead of duplicating it. Simply said, I didn't want another koa ukulele.

I began researching woods that would offer a tone that was the opposite of bright. I was searching for warm, mellow and earthy tone-woods. Before I knew it, I stumbled onto this video demo by Kimo Hussey. In the video, he's playing a Ko'olau with a redwood top and milo back and sides. This was it! I found the wood combo that would give me the warmth I was seeking.

Price Point

With these wood choices in mind, I jumped onto Kanile'a's website to use their 'design your own ukulele feature'. This provided a visual guide, as well as, price points for each customizable option.

I went with a concert size ukulele. These are my favorite ukes because they offer a sound similar to soprano, but in a larger size that makes it easier for an adult to play. Next, I had to decide on adornments (rosette, purfling, etc.). This was easy for me, I chose only what was required.

As redwood and milo are softwoods, binding was required to connect the front to the sides. I opted for tortoise simply because I like the look of it. Other than that, nothing else was added.

Now I know what you're thinking: "why not go all out?". The answer is simple. I view instruments as tools to produce music with. Therefore, adorning them with embellishments isn't important to me. And just because you opt for less decorations doesn't mean you'll receive a less than stellar looking instrument. As you can see in the photos above, the natural beauty of the wood grain is awe-inspiring!

To complete the uke, I opted for the same pickup and finish (satin) as the K-1. Satin finishes create a matte appearance, while gloss finishes add a shine to the instrument. Altogether, this brought the total price of the ukulele to $2,200 dollars.

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Pictured above: Kanile'a handcrafting my custom ukulele. Click HERE to view more pictures from the build process.

Which Uke is Best for You?

In my case, there was a $1,000 dollar price difference between the standard build K-1 versus the custom build. This brings up an interesting question:

"Is the custom model $1,000 dollars better?"

No! They both offer exceptional playability and sound! Think of it like this: If you buy a base model car, it's the same car as one that is heavily optioned. Therefore, it's up to you to decide on what you want or need. Either way, you can't go wrong!

So enjoy the hunt, for it's almost as exciting as the day it arrives on your doorstep and you get to jump in and create music on a new instrument!

Article by: Andrew Hardel
Special thanks to Kanile'a Ukulele for building amazing instruments!