Lanikai LU-21T Ukulele
Lanikai‘s real strengh is in their cheap, beginner level ukuleles. If you’re looking to start out on a tenor ukulele, the LU-21T is a great bet.
And it’s not just for beginners. It’s also a big hit with the indie professionals such as Zach Condon of Beirut, Scott Matthew and Hailey Wojcik who have all used this uke.
It’s also available with pickups as the LU-21TE
On Video
Hailey Wojcik plays Amnesia on a Lanikai LU-21T.
On eBay
On Musician’s Friend
Lanikai LU-21T – $109.00
On Amazon
LU-21T – $109.00
Specifications
Size: Tenor
Construction: Nato (laminated) top, sides, and back
Fretboard: Rosewood
Frets: 18
Tuners: Chrome Die-Cast
Binding: White
5 Comments
I love this uke!! It sounds great, the tuners work well and it feels good in my hands. It’s been through a flood and still plays great. It’s totally affordable and I think it’s a great value.
-clawhammertim
I wanted a ukulele that was on the higher end of the beginners range and you can really tell the difference with this one. Lovely sound and I prefer the size of the tenor for my big hands. I have had this only for a few months but I feel guilty any day I don’t take the time out to play it. It really is a gateway uke as I now want to buy more and I can still barely play!
I have one of these and it’s brilliant! 😀
Lanakai LU 21-T ACOUSTIC was my 1st & remains a favorite along with Cordoba electric. Lanakai is sweet, sturdy, easy to play, and affordable. Can’t play it without smiling!
I began playing the ukulele right around the beginning of the covid-19 shutdown. I started off playing a very inexpensive soprano that was sitting around, and immediately loved playing the instrument. After a bit I wanted to upgrade to a better instrument, one that was bit better than a “beginner” uke, and also a tenor. I found my 21T at a guitar store. It was used but perfect, and came with a nice hardshell case, all for $100. This uke was able to grow along with me as I improved. The build quality is solid, with decent action and intonation. I had no issues with sharp frets, and generally any buzzing was due to my playing. My biggest complaint is that the uke took weeks before the strings set in, and required continuous tuning (as in after a hour or less of playing). Because strings don’t require such a long time to set (as a rule) I thought that this may be due to the tuners. As a comparison I just purchased a nice soprano pineapple uke and that uke stays in tune after just a day or two of playing. Regardless, I like my Lanikai 21T. It has a warm pleasing sound and is responsive to how you play it (mellow, funky, percusive, etc.) It is well made, plain but attractive, and has been a purchase that I have never questioned. I do plan to purchase a higher-grade solid wood tenor within the next couple of months, and when I do I hope it pleases me as much as this laminate Nato (East African Mahogany) Lanikai has. Aloha!
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