KoAloha 2017 Custom Red Label Curly Koa Concert Ukulele

KoAloha are the absolute cream of the crop in unique Hawaiian Koa Ukuleles. Over the past ten years we have been honoured to behold several Ukuleles built by the senior factory Luthiers including Paul Okami's Monstera Ukuleles and Sceptres and Pineapple sundaes from 'Pops' Okami himself. Very few Red labels have been made available since 2012 and this most recent Red Label custom shop instrument takes a KCM-00 back to the drawing board and looks to improve what many view as perfection wherever possible. Not an easy task but the result is a gorgeous Curly Koa instrument with beautiful cosmetic and well thought out tonal upgrades firmly woven into its DNA. It is still a KoAloha but not as we know it.

KoAloha's famous unit brace rib system is replaced with a uniquely voiced traditional ladder style bracing on the top and back. When comparing this Ukulele to a KCM-00 the difference in tone is immediately apparent. In place of the bubbly exuberance of the standard model there is a warmer bass register that in no way interferes with KoAloha's famous volume making this Uke a real wall of sound and tone - a finger pickers ideal Concert Ukulele.

As with the Monstera's we received earlier in the year, the little touches add a lot to the overall presentation. Curly Koa is absolutely gorgeous and the stark contrast of the wood with the upgraded dark creamy Ebony fingerboard and bridge seem just meant for each other. The head plate and front binding are also Ebony but lightly figured creating an effect reminiscent of melting chocolate - I am hungry just looking at it! 

 

Other appointments include rare effect buttons on a set of Gotoh Planetary Tuners and shimmering Abalone both on the headstock head plate and on the fingerboard itself. My favourite small touch is the small maple strip inside the Ukulele to offset against the Red Label inside. That is classy however, I am really not surprised because everything about this Ukulele is.

 

Curly Koa, Top, Back and Sides

Ebony Fretboard and Bridge

Figured Ebony Front Binding

Figured Ebony Headplate

Abalone Custom Logo (KoAloha wing) inlay on headplate 

Abalone fret markers

Custom Maple plate label in the soundhole

Gotoh Planetary Tuners with special buttons

High Gloss Buffed Finish

Free TGI ABS Moulded Case included