Kanilea Islander Review

ItsAMeCasey reviews his Kanilea Islander MST-4.

On eBay US

New Islander by Kanilea MST 4 Tenor Mahogany Ukulele FREE SHIPPING GIGBAG    US $300.00

On eBay UK

Kanilea Islander MC 4 Concert Ukulele Mahogany    £110.00

How long have you been making ukuleles and how did you get started?

We’ve been building ukes since 2005. We had been building guitars, mandolins, and banjo necks for over 35 years out of our music store in Colorado Springs, so we had a lot of experience with building acoustic instruments.

There are a couple reasons we began building ukes. Nathan Fisher, the repair person at our music store in Colorado Springs, had built a few and we thought they were really cool. But we didn’t make the decision to start building our own line of ukes until after our first visit to Maui, where we fell in love with Hawaii and its music.

What sort of players are your ukuleles aimed at?

Everyone! Anybody who likes quality hand built instruments will like a Palm Tree ukulele.

What separates Palm Tree from other ukuleles?

We strive for a light construction build for a warm, open sound. We let our wood age in Colorado’s dry climate for months before using it, which we feel helps stabilize the finished product.

Our primary goal when we started Palm Tree Ukuleles was to build a contemporary uke based on vintage designs.

Your uke designs are influenced by the original ukulele makers. What is it about those designs that are so special?

We just love the simplicity and classic look of the older uke builders’ designs. There are a lot of unique and interesting ukulele designs out there these days, but there’s something timeless about the old-style ukes that we’re really fond of.

What do you think makes a great ukulele?

Tone, playability, design, quality wood, attention to detail. It’s a combination of a lot of little things that come together to make a great instrument.

As well as luthiering, he also hosts workshops, gigs and get togethers which you can find on his website.

On Video

Bosko and Honey pick up a Da Silva ukulele whilst on their safari.

Visit the Makapili website.

On Video

Wilfried Welti plays Bach's Bouree on his Makapili.

Mark Roberts is a luthier who is keen to push forward the sound of the ukulele. He says, "My instruments are definitely not your traditional ukulele. Every model is selectively design to enhance a new voice for the ukulele with a focus on enhanced playability. The tone of my instruments is more robust with a decidedly more guitar-like expanded range of tone and volume." You can see more videos of his ukuleles on his Facebook.

Visit Mark Roberts's Website

Which Brand of Ukulele Should I Buy?

- There's a huge range of makes of ukulele out there. This section gives you a quick history of each of the major brands, a discussion of the type of ukuleles they make, reviews from Ukulele Hunt readers and a video showcasing the uke (where available). Hopefully giving you a much better idea of which ukulele to buy and which to avoid.

Some of the ukuleles with the best reputation for beginners are Lanikai (particularly the budget LU-21 Lanikai ukuleles) and Kala (their KA-S ukuleles and Makala ukuleles are very popular with kids).

If you're looking to spend a bit (or a lot) more, take a look at the KoAloha ukuleles or the Pono ukuleles.

If you're after an electric ukulele, take a look at buying the Ovation Applause ukuleles or the RISA.

Which Size of Ukulele Should I Buy?

- There are four main sizes: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Most people start on the soprano ukulele since it is the traditional ukulele and, since it is the smallest, it requires less stretching. But more and more people are buying tenor ukuleles - inspired by the likes of Jake Shimabukuro - which is more suited to solo, instrumental ukulele playing.

How Much Should I Spend on a Ukulele?

- Your budget is going to play a big part in your decision. Most first time buyers get a very cheap ukulele - that's certainly what I did. But it is spending a little more to get a ukulele the sounds and feels good and is well set up. There are many good quality ukuleles in the $50 -$100 range. Buying one of these ukuleles will give you a nice uke which will encourage you to play more.

Which Strings Should I Use?

- When you buy a ukulele, it will come with strings fitted - but often these are cheap, poor quality strings. There are two types of ukulele strings that stand out above the others: Aquila and Worth. Spending a little extra money on these will make your ukulele sound much better than it does with cheap strings.

With the different sizes and tunings, buying ukulele strings is a bit of a minefield. This section will give you some guidance.

Which Ukulele Accessories Do I Need?

- Buying a ukulele isn't the end of the spending. There are plenty of other bits and pieces you just begging you to buy them. The most important being a tuner. Other less essential items include capos, pick-ups, straps and a whole lot of other stuff to keep your ukulele company. This section looks at which accessories are a must buy and which are less essential.

I've written a few articles that I hope will help you make the right ukulele choice and keep the body parts sold to a minimum. If you've got any tips to share yourself, please do leave them in the comments.

Best ukuleles for Beginners

Tips on the size and price of ukulele that people looking to buy their first ukulele should take into consideration.

If you want me to cut to the chase, two good options for beginners are the Lanikai LU-21 and the Kala KA-S.

Which Size?

Some thoughts on the pros and cons of the various sizes.

How Much to Spend?

A look at the sort of price you can expect to pay for your ukuleles.

Beginners

Ukulele for Dummies

A completely biased recommendation since I wrote it. But it is definitely the most comprehensive beginner ukulele book around. Find out about it here. Read reviews here.

Buy it on Amazon US
Buy it on Amazon UK

It's also worth picking up a chord dictionary like Mel Bay's Ukulele Chords

Intermediate

Fingerstyle Solos for 'Ukulele

A great book of straight-forward fingerstyle arrangements by Mark Kailana Nelson. Read my full review here.

Advanced

The Classical Ukulele

A book of tricky arrangements of classical and folk tunes from the master of campanella ukulele John King. Read my full review here.

DVDs

Beginners Instruction

The Complete Ukulele Course taught by Ralph Shaw

Ralph Shaw guides you through basic strumming technique and strumming in different styles. Read my review here.

Improvers Instruction

Ralph Shaw - Essential Strums for the Ukulele

Advanced Instruction

Bob Brozman - Ukulele Tunes & Techniques

Genre-hopping multi-instrumentalist virtuoso guides you through jazzy and Hawaiian ukulele playing techniques with the help of Ledward Kaapana. Read my full review here.

Performance

Jake Shimabukuro - Play Loud Ukulele Price: $14.98

On Video

A demonstration of the electric version of this uke (the KA-8E

Specifications

Size: 8 String Tenor
Construction: Mahogany (laminated) top, sides, and back
Fretboard: Rosewood
Frets: 18
Bridge: Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Tuners: Gold in line Tuners with Pearloid Buttons
Finish: Gloss
Binding: Traditional White

On eBay

KALA KA 6 TENOR 6 STRING UKULELE GLOSS FINISH WITH LOGO GIG BAG    US $219.99

Specifications

Size: 6 String Tenor
Construction: Mahogany (laminated) top, sides, and back
Fretboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Tuners: Gold in line Tuners with Pearloid Buttons
Finish: Gloss
Binding: Traditional White