Coast Ukulele - Solid Hawaiian Koa Tenor Ukulele w/Live Edge Soundhole #60

See and hear the Ukulele in the video above

First of all, let me start by saying that this solid Hawaiian koa Coast tenor ukulele is in the top 5% of Luthier built instruments I have played in my 13+ years of working with ukuleles here at Southern Ukulele Store.

Having followed Kawai and his Coast ukulele brand from its inception in 2020; I had eagerly awaited holding one for the first time and seeing if the Aloha spirit that Kawai radiates in his social media posts could really be carried over into his ukuleles.

I am delighted to say that both times a batch of ukuleles built for Southern Ukulele Store have arrived from Kawai in Petaluma, California - the overall vibe and presentation of these instruments have been outstanding, a joy to behold and a joy to play. They have an understated almost traditional beauty to them despite the elaborate look of the live edge soundhole and #60 here has a stunning Koa Dragon fingerboard/faceplate inlay which took 179 individually crafted and inlayed elements to produce. The original Koa Dragon idea and illustration was designed by Kawai's friend Gio Benedetti.

Kawai likes to say that his whole family is involved in the building of his ukuleles and although I don't feel it appropriate to discuss the heartbreaking journey they have been on, you can read more about it by browsing the photos attached to this listing. - As a team of young fathers here at SUS ourselves, we feel personally invested in this lovely mans journey to become a Ukulele master. We can't sing his praises enough based on the warmth he brings to his business and the quality of the instruments themselves.

This is the second live edge Hawaiian koa ukulele we have ever had at SUS, with the first last year also coming from Coast Ukuleles. I know that many of you have been eagerly awaiting this ukulele having followed Kawai's building journey of live edge ukuleles throughout 2023 so far and perhaps even from our initial video on them in the summer of 2022. The live edge soundhole is quite small which does make for a mellower sounding ukulele but thankfully the side sound port does a fantastic job in retaining the harp like tones you are hoping to get when you pick up something made of such sexy koa wood. The second video below shows off last years Coast Ukuleles at SUS, I have kept it in the listing so that you may learn more about Kawai and his artistic endeavours.

Speaking of the wood, it is just stunning. The different hues and autumnal tones of the koa is a real thing to behold. The feel of the unusual body resonating against you is wonderful and it feels perfectly balanced with a traditional Ukulele headstock, lightweight Gotoh planetary tuners and the introduction of a 38mm nut width and zero fret for #60.

It's a 'tone machine' - we love it and can't wait for him to make us more in the future.

This ukulele is made in Petaluma, California. Coast ukuleles may be a new name to many of you reading this but it certainly won't be the last time you find yourself inspired by one.

Specification:
Solid Hawaiian koa body with Live Edge soundhole and side port
Khaya mahogany neck
Royal Blackwood Fingerboard and Bridge
Koa binding and accents
'Koa Dragon' fingerboard feature inlay
38mm nut width
29mm string spacing
compensated bone saddle
bone nut
17'' scale length
Gotoh Planetary tuners
Semi Gloss Finish
Comes in a crossrock hard case
Uke Logic clear fluorocarbon strings