USED KoAloha Red Label Solid Spruce/Koa Long Neck Soprano (KSM02RED)

First things first, this instrument is sublime. This Ukulele is up there with the very best two or three instruments we have ever heard and I would go as far as to say it is the best Soprano (regardless of the Concert neck) I have ever played. Why did the original owner decide to part with it after several months? They loved it but fell in love with the Da Silva James Hill Tenor model that arrived recently and had to say goodbye to something just as special in favour for a bigger size. The condition is really very good indeed - a solid 9.5/10. A few very small marks on the top are really the only things to report.

What we said when it was new:

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 first long neck Soprano to reach Europe (that I can tell). The task here was to take the ever popular Hawaiian standard model 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 uke 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 like a Harp or a Piano. Man, it's so lovely. Check out the video where I gave it a quick play and the things like bloody Scrappy-do - it wants to fight the world and looks cute at the same time. It redefined my own personal opinions on how a Soprano long neck could sound

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 KSM-00 or 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 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.

Spec:

Solid Engelmann Spruce Top with visible straight grain
Premium Curly Hawaiian Koa, Back and Sides
Concert scale neck on Soprano body
37mm nut width
Ebony Fretboard and Bridge
Mahogany neck
Figured Ebony Headplate
Abalone Custom Logo (KoAloha wing) inlay on headplate and soundhole rosette
Abalone fret markers
Custom Maple plate label in the soundhole
Gotoh Planetary Tuners
High Gloss Buffed Finish
Frree TGI ABS moulded case
Strap button on bottom bout