Kamaka ukuleles are one of the longest standing ukulele manufactures around. The original Mr Kamaka (Samuel K. Kamaka) started out as an apprentice for Manuel Nunes (one of the original ukulele makers). They were the only Hawaiian uke makers that survived the war years and are increasingly popular today thanks in no small part to Jake Shimabukuro’s endorsement. The latest and earliest Kamakas are pricey, but, if you hunt around, it’s possible to find a real bargain in Kamaka ukes made in the 1950s and 60s.The early Kamakas are very sought after and command a high price tag. Kamaka invented the pineapple shape of ukulele. You can even buy a reproduction of the original patent (or you could just download it from Google Patent and print it out yourself). The 0s/30s koa Kamaka ukuleles demand a very high price (usually a four figure sum).
The Kamakas from the 50s and 60s don’t reach anything like that amount. These are usually referred to as Gold label Kamakas after the label in their soundhole. You’ll often find a few Gold Label Kamaka ukes on eBay, both Pinapple shaped ukuleles and more standard shaped ukes.
They’re not the flashiest uke around, but they do, by all accounts, have a good sound, are very playable and their reputation is increasing all the time. With all that, it’s quite possible that the Gold Label ukes could be a wise investment.
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