Lanikai Ukulele
RatingsLanikai are part of the Hohner music company. Initially their ukuleles, being made in China and laminated, were at the cheaper end of the scale (although they are increasingly moving into higher end ukes) but that hasn't stopped them getting some high level support.
Lanikai are a bit hit with the indie crowd. The most famous Lanikai uker is Zach Condon of Beirut.The model he uses is an LU-21TE. The LU-21T only costs around $100, which makes it a good buy for a first time uker - particularly if you're looking to start with a tenor. The LU-21T is also used by tUnE-YaRdS, Scott Matthew and Hailey Wojcik. Other high profile Lanikai supporter are Jason Mraz and Robert Plant (although the only place I've seen them with a Lanikai is in promo pictures).
Overall, their LU-21 range is a great place to start for anyone looking to buy their first ukulele.
On Video
Zach Condon strums on his Lanikai LU-21TE
On Musician's Friend
LU-11: Starter ukulele, nato construction. Price: $46
LU-21 standard: Soprano ukulele, nato construction. (no, I'm not sure what the difference between the LU-11 and the LU-21 is either) Price: $59
LU-21P: Soprano pineapple ukulele, nato wood. Price: $59
LU-21C: Concert size version of LU-21. Price: $79
LU-21T: Tenor version of LU-21. Price: $109
LU-21B: Introductory baritone ukulele. Price: $119
On eBay US
 NEW LANIKAI SPRUCE S TEQ TENOR UKULELE EQ CASE STEQ  US $219.00
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 LANIKAI PINEAPPLE UKE UKULELE EASTERN MAHOGANY EXTRAS US $53.00
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 LANIKAI S T SOLID SPRUCE TOP TENOR UKULELE UKELELE NEW US $159.00
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On eBay UK
 NEW LANIKAI SOLID SPALTED MANGO TENOR UKULELE AND CASE £228.03
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 NEW LANIKAI LSM C SOLID MAHOGANY CONCERT UKULELE £130.02
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 NEW LANIKAI O SERIES 6 STRING ELECTRIC UKULELE AND CASE £162.69
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Models
More in-depth look at Lanikai's models:
Cheap-o Range
Kohala C
Kohala Standard
Kohala HU-212
Introductory Range
LU-11
LU-21 Standard
LU-21
LU-21B
LU-21C
LU-21P
LU-21T
LU-21TE
LU-6
LU-8
O Series
O Series & Spruce O-6
O Series & Spruce O-8 8-String
O Series & Spruce S-T
O Series & Spruce S-TEQ
Curly Koa Series
Curly Koa CK-6E
Curly Koa CK-B
Curly Koa CK-C
Curly Koa CK-S
Curly Koa CK-T
Curly Koa CK-TEQ
Custom Series
Designer Series
Designer LCD-C
Designer LSM-C
Desinger LSM-T
Flame Maple LFM-C
Flame Maple LFM-S
Flame Maple LFM-T
Lanikai LU21 Video Review
Lanikai LU21 ukulele review by Mike.
Here's the picture showing the thickness of the top which he references in the video:
Lanikai Concert Ukulele Review
Review by hoosierhiver
Ode to a Lanikai Ukulele by Stephen Palmer
My Best Ukulele by Stephen Palmer
Chords: C, A, G
Time: 4/4
You get the idea of structure after the first verse:
C
My favourite uke is a
A D
Concert sized Lanakai
C
I bought from Ron.
He is man who owns a
A D
Music shop in my
C
Town Darlington
We had a conversation
A D
About me getting tickets
C
To see Tom Waits
When I got back I played my
A D C
Uke til my fingers ached.
My ukulele has a slender neck
And curves like my girlfriend
She is the only one that
I will ever play, until my ditty ends.
I'll never treat it bad
Or treat her bad.
This is a promise I'll tell you.
All I ever want to do
Is sit
And play my uke.
I wanted to make a video
To win the competition
I would have played the song myself
And give a demonstration.
But I don't have the time,
Technology
And I don't have the patience.
So I will leave the melody
Open to your own interpretation.
I think the ukulele is the best
Everyone should have one
Mankind should strive to reach
This aim of mine, it would be so much fun
There would no terrorism,
Or danger to the world coming from guns.
In the one hand would be a ukulele
The other hand would strum.
So now you know my great plan
To achieve world dominaton
Using only cunning plans
And a four string combination.
The world would be
Such a better place, if I was in charge.
With my army of ukulele players.
We would do no harm.
So this what I think of
When I pick up my uke to play.
And should my enemies try to steal
Her or plan to make her stray.
I will play a song so beautiful
10 Comments
I have a Lanikai S-C Concert Ukulele (same one shown in the video by hoosierhiver) and I absolutely adore it. It’s my first ukulele, and even if I buy a higher quality one, I will always love this one. The sound quality is fantastic – there are no pitch problems, and it has a nice ring to it. I’ve not changed the strings on it, and it still sounds wonderful. A friend of mine compared the sound to Zach Condon’s ukulele, which I think is quite a compliment. It has no problems in terms of the body, and it’s quite attractive.
This is a really great ukulele.
Thanks for the review, Carson. Your friend obviously has good ears.
I have a Lanikai LU-21 with aquila strings and I have to say for the price it sounds great. Like the video reviews say it’s absolutely above the toy ukulele price range. My first was a Stagg US20 that i got for $35. A decent start. It was playable, but had awful intonation, and the stock strings didn’t sound good at all. But I sold it and picked up the LU-21 and was thoroughly impressed for the price. The intonation is excellent, tunes quite easily, and looks pretty nice with the binding. With aquilas it sounds quite nice. I’m looking to get a nice gig-worthy concert uke, but I absolutely plan on keeping my LU-21. For the price it’s an excellent soprano ukulele.
I run a Ukulele Club at the K-8 school where I teach, so I have new ukers between ages 6 and 14. With no model recommendations from me, all but one student showed up with either a Makala MK-S or a Lanikai LU-11.
I’ve never been much of an equipment hound for whatever instrument I’ve played, but I have trouble finding any significant differences between these models – they both have a decent warmth of sound and hold in tune fairly well. They even have a remarkably similar appearance. These similarities are unsurprising as the man behind Kala, Mike Upton, started the company after leaving Hohner, Lanikai’s parent company. Throw in the fact that you can regularly find these for $45-50, and they really establish a standard for entry-level ukes.
As always, the right starting uke for you is best found by going to a music shop and trying different instruments out. However, if you’re shopping in the under-$100 range, don’t be surprised if you’re left holding one of these two.
My husband just bought me an LU- 21 TE. It has aquila strings and a pick up. I am new to uke and only played a little guitar, but this is a really great sounding instrument and the chords are easy to learn and play. We like the deeper soud than the soprano model provides, but it is still rustic and nylon-y sounding. I think it is a good value and a great introduction to the instrument. Walrus productions makes a laminated chord chart that is simple to read and virtually indestructible (www.walrusproductions.com).
i just got myself a lanikai lu-11 soprano and love it. i’ve been stuck with a stagg us10 for about a year, and this is a huge improvement.
I have a Lanikai NK-T that I had cherry picked thru
connections at the distributor and it is awesome. My main Uke forever. Also a Gold Tone Tenor Banjo Uke and a Fender Koa.
i’ve got my first uke, i bought a Lanikai – Kohala Soprano kind, i like it a lot but i tought the arm are bigger
little disppointed but thats fine!
thanks for the site, helpingm me a lot
Just got my LU-21P awhile ago. I love it!
Its my first one and I hope to get more Lanikai in the future
I’ve been playing a Lanikai S-C Concert uke for a little over a year now and I absolutely love it. However, I was wondering if someone could recommend a pickup that I could use on my ukulele and perhaps even the future mandolin I’m hoping to own. I just want something simple that wouldn’t damage my instrument when using it. Any thoughts on what I should go with?
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