Locals: Ukulele Window Shopping

I didn’t know much about Locals ukuleles but Noela Castro left a comment on the site with some info, “Aloha, I am the maker of Locals Ukuleles. I work out of home garage in Makakilo-Oahu, Hawaii. Just a little about myself and how I got started. I started back in 1996 with K.C. Moore of Kelii Ukulele Company. Kelii just started his company about 2 month before I started with him. It’s been 12 years of helping him to build the Kelii product to a household name in this industry. Every ukulele that went through there had my detail finish on it. Along with shaping all necks, which after got its final C & C machine made copies, to bridge design, head stock, intonation and so on. In 2008 it was time for me to move on and fulfill my own dreams and goals. So here we are today, “Locals” Is just one label I started. In May of 2010 be on the look out for “Ka’Ohana” Ukuleles. I am proud to say as a 60% blood Hawaiian, that these ukuleles have a true Hawaiian sound with the finest quality of craftsmanship. And, to all of you who bought one of my ukulele’s, I say with much Aloha and Mahalo for keeping our culture and heritage alive today. Aloha ”

In the last window shop I mentioned the suspiciously cheap Ashbury AU-34S. Brian sent me a message with his experience, “I bought an Ashbury all Koa Tenor at Hobgoblin a couple of years ago for
£150. The wood is sooooo thick (perhaps 3rd grade koa can’t be cut thin). It has a built in amp that runs of a 9v battery which weighs a lot, and it has machine head tuners like the AU-34S. It is as heavy as a brick! But to be fair it does sound good.”

The Kala UBass has proved to be a huge hit. Even finding its way into the hands of the likes of Raul Malo and Jermaine of Flight of the Conchords. So it’s no surprise they’ve been filling out the range. Their latest prototype is a UBass with a slotted soundhole.

In other Kala news, I’ve caved in and bought a Pocket Ukulele. So expect a review of that before too long.

Strange girl w ukulele.

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