UkeSA Masterpiece Solid Koa Tenor Sceptre Ukulele in Gigbag #1

These masterpiece tenor ukes from Pops are absolutely world class in terms of design, and sound. Each of them has some cosmetic issues, which you have to consider as part of the character of the instrument - the Japanese principle of Wabi-sabi, where you love something more because of its flaws, needs to be born in mind!

This one arrived here with string spacing skewed slightly to the right of the fretboard, but it intonates very well, and plays beautifully. It has been reduced in price by 10% accordingly.

The UkeSA sceptre ukulele range came about after a dream Pops, founder of KoAloha, had in 2006-2007. He produced the early sceptre prototypes in an attempt to recreate the ukulele that he had imagined and the model briefly became a custom order model with KoAloha in 2010-2013.

The sceptre itself mirrors the famous 5 point crown on the KoAloha headstocks and although these ukuleles bear Pop's new custom label and spec; it is just lovely to see him making this model again after such a long period of them being out of production. Pops actually sold off his original mid 2000's prototypes back in 2018 when KoAloha completed their factory move to Kona street and this batch are among the only others to be produced since 2013.

Pops produces these ukuleles by himself from his home workshop in Hawaii and although some of them have arrived with minor cosmetic issues; it is a real treat to have a ukulele from the grandfather of KoAloha, a true Hawaiian music legend and spiritually one of the people that truly embodies aloha spirit. I found playing these ukuleles that they share the DNA of the current crop of Hawaiian made KoAlohas. The sound and look beautiful and unlike anything else on the planet and it's just extra special to be able to try these ukuleles and trace KoAloha back to the company's roots.

Specification:
Solid koa top, back and sides
436mm scale length
37mm nut width
Mahogany neck
Flamed maple headplate
Ebony fretboard and bridge
Maple fretboard inlays
Planetary geared tuners
Uke-Reka high G clear fluorocarbon strings
52mm body depth
28mm G to A string spacing
Satin finish
NuBone nut and saddle