Lanikai LU-11 Ukulele
RatingsLanikai are known for their cheap, beginner ukuleles and this is the cheapest the offer under the Lanikai name (although they do also make the Kohala range). I'm not entirely clear why these are cheaper than the more popular LU-21S - the stats are identical.
On Video
A musician plays Hallelujah using Lanikai LU-11 Ukulele
On eBay
On Musician's Friend
Lanikai LU-11 - $46.00
Specifications
Size: Soprano
Construction: Nato top, sides, and back
Fretboard: Nato
Frets: 12
Tuners: Inline Gold with Pearl
US $39.99

5 Comments
I spent a lot of time reading reviews and comparing ukes before deciding to buy this model and I could not be happier. Great price for even greater quality. I have many friends with ukuleles who did no research and bought cheep models for thirty bucks or less. All of them have regretted it when they see and hear my Lanikai LU-11 and I tell them I paid $32 bucks for it.
Check out guitar center when they’re having a sale, that’s when I nabbed mine.
As a newbie I’ve just got an LU-11 and spent ages before buying trying to figure out the difference between this and the 21S. I compared specs and sound samples of them both on Thomann, a german online music shop, where I eventually bought mine (in stock, before xmas etc. and delivered a couple of days ago: looks well made, no obvious nightmares, nice tone, but can’t comment on playability as no experience yet.)
I wondered if the price difference between otherwise identical spec and very similar sounding instruments is due to the 21s having a white binding rather than no binding but a decorated sound hole?
By the way mine, to my surprise, came with Aquila strings, rather than the unknown black ones the website pic showed.
That made it even better value and would be great, but I orderd a set of Aquilas too. Still on a bright note, I guess I have a spare set already…
and I’ve just ordered the Dummies book to get my teeth into as it looked very promising from the reviews.
Love this site btw–bursting with useful info, links and clips. Just need to tear myself away and go to bed!
Just bought this as my first uke. Tried to be smart and not spend too much until i know its something i want to stick with. But i think i came out pretty good on this deal! the design is attractive and simplistic, the sound is decent enough. The nato wood isn’t quite as resonate as others in the shop but I think the uke is still worth a bit more than its price tag! I can’t wait to get some practice under my belt.
So, after Los of research, I given in to this product, & decided to buy it. But This Is almost exactly like the s. If you wanna buy this, & your tight on cash, the makala mk-s is good. I actually ordered both, & th makala, (fixed with Aquila strings) sounds a little liver & loud. But the lanika looks like actual mahogany, compared to the makala. It actually looks like a toy, with its original un-known black strings & it peels pretty quick. I’m for the lanikai, the Malaya is garbage compared to it. I prefer you touch it up. ( paint in to actual mahogany brown, switch out the strings, & trace the Makala words with a silver sharpie) :’D
Not a bad ukulele for the price. I really like the sound. I’ve had trouble getting it to keep its tune though. I’ve had it a little over 6 months now and the tuning problem has improved some.
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