Coast Ukulele - Torrefied Spruce/ AAA Hawaiian Curly Mango Tenor Ukulele #63

First of all, let me start by saying that this torrefied spruce and Hawaiian curly mango tenor ukulele is in the top 5% of Luthier built instruments I have played in my 14+ 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 all of the ukuleles built for Southern Ukulele Store have been outstanding, a joy to behold and a joy to play. They have an understated almost traditional beauty to them but this torrefied spruce and Hawaiian mango ukulele is open sounding like a piano. It's a tiny harp, it might just be a little bit magic.

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 the past 2 years - 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.

He has our approval for sure but he doesn't need it as just looking at the ukulele speaks volumes for his potential. My first conversation with Kawai was about the Flight carabao where he mentioned that spruce and mango was his favourite wood combination. It feels fitting that he would go on to build us another tenor ukulele based on that conversation. The first one he built us sold in 90 seconds back in the summer of 2022. More information on Kawai and Coast ukes can be found in the video we made for #40 and #43 in 2022 below.

The wood is stunning - for those that are wondering what torrefied wood is. It's a unique process where wood is artificially aged by being baked over a long period of time. This process changes the molecular structure of the wood giving it a more similar molecular make-up to wood that has dried and settled on an instrument over many decades.

It is used often by the likes of Martin, Taylor and Kanile'a on custom shop models but this is the first time I can recall us having a workshop made uke with this wood. The reason I mention this is because workshop built instruments often have a more rustic, traditional charm to them and that natural charm paired with this wood has really impressed us.

Lets talk about the mango back and sides which is absolutely stunning - I wonder how Kawai even managed to find this wood given the scarcity of such highly figured mango in the world right now. It looks like somebody dropped a stone into a puddle and got the perfect photo of the waves rippling. Just great stuff with all the warmth and Hawaiian sub-harmonic undertones you could ever want.

Many of the other bits of trim on this Ukulele are accented with pieces of Hawaiian Koa including a really figured soundhole rosette that you won't ever get bored of admiring, the fingerboard and bridge are made of a lovely ziricote wood which adds to the softness of the tone. Don't be fooled though, the dynamic range on this ukulele is jaw dropping...

Finally, we need to talk about the 'tree branch' fingerboard inlay Kawai has designed which is a mixture of Hawaiian Koa and dyed pieces of Hawaiian Mango. He has mirrored these features with fret dots of dyed mango on a koa binding. Fret dots are on both sides of this ukulele so that it may be played by right and left handed players. 

This tenor ukulele is made in Petaluma, California and its one of the few instruments I shed a tear over when I saw it and heard it for the first time. Coast Ukuleles may be a new name to many of you reading this but it certainly won't be the last time we find ourselves inspired by one.

Specification:
Solid torrefied spruce top
Solid 3A curly Hawaiian mango body
Ziricote fingerboard and bridge
Hawaiian koa binding, dots and inlays
Hawaiian koa Rosette
Hawaiian Koa and Mango Tree branch Fretboard design
38mm nut width
0 fret
29mm string spacing
Compensated bone saddle
Bone nut
12'' radiused fingerboard
17'' scale length
Gotoh planetary tuners
Light poly-satin finish
Crossrock hard case included