USED KoAloha 2019 Red Label Custom Tenor Ukulele Solid Engelman Spruce/Premium Curly Koa

Please note that all used ukuleles are only for sale to UK based customers. 

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 is only the fifth ever to find its way to the UK. The task here was to take the ever popular KTM-00 and turn the design on its head in the name of evolution. If you want the desirable artisan nature of something like a Sumi or a Da Silva but with the Hawaiian heritage - Perhaps KoAloha Customs are what you are looking for?

It's not an easy task to improve on what many perceive as perfection (big claim I know!) but the resulting Ukulele is a gorgeous Engelmann Spruce topped Tenor with some gorgeous carefully selected Premium Curly Hawaiian Koa. You can't go wrong when you've beautiful cosmetic and well thought out tonal upgrades firmly woven into its DNA. It is still a KoAloha but not as we know it. To be frank - the only way any of us here at SUS could think to improve the tone of a KoAloha is with a Spruce top. This instrument is a folk machine. It sounds dynamic with more attack and a crispness that you don't get from a Koa top, it's so lovely.

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 KTM-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 Ukulele. To strum it sounds like a tiny flamenco guitar!

The headstock KoAloha Customs logo in Abalone is gorgeous as is the soundhole rosette. It strikes that balance between being a bit blingy and not too much at the same time.

Let's talk about the bear claw effect in the top! What is that you ask? When a top has 'bear claw' marks in it, its a series of small swirls that look like bear claw marks running off angle to the grain. This is especially rare on Spruce and is very hard to capture in photographs.

I haven't even mentioned my favourite bit yet which is the hipshot tuners. They are so precise, they don't look as traditional as something like the Gotoh Planetary tuners but they are solid with an excellent precision not normally found on any Ukulele. A massive bonus and something we hope we continue to see on KoAloha customs in the future.

The final thing that sets this Red Label apart from any others we have received previously is KoAloha's brand new revised Tenor shape. By shifting the amount of frets to the body down to 14 from 15 the position of the bridge is much more central to the lower bout. The body itself is more round with a tighter waist creating a unique sound that offers something warmer than traditional KoAloha with all the zest you have come to expect.

This instrument is in very good used condition, with small signs of use. There are no major dinks or dents anywhere that I can see, but there are some micro marks to the top and back here and there. Easily 9+/10 cosmetic condition.

New price was £2999.

Spec:

Solid Engelmann Spruce Top with bear claw figuring
Premium Curly Hawaiian Koa Back and Sides
Ebony Fretboard and Bridge
Ebony binding to top
CNC shaped Mahogany neck
Figured Ebony Headplate
Abalone inlay on headplate and soundhole rosette
Abalone fret markers
Custom Maple plate label in the soundhole
Hipshot open back tuners
High Gloss Buffed Finish
37mm nut width with 28mm G to A string spacing
432mm scale length
Clear fluorocarbon strings, with Fremont Squeakless Low G
TGI ABS Moulded Case included

Please note that all used ukuleles are only for sale to UK based customers.