2006 KoAloha KSM-01 Pineapple Koa Soprano Ukulele

March 05, 2021

2006 KoAloha KSM-01 Pineapple Koa Soprano Ukulele

Hoo, this thing sounds great! It's the most Kamaka-sounding non-Kamaka I've played in a long time. Tone is bright, chipper, loud, and bell-like. The notes "snap" right out of the uke like I'd expect from a '60s or '70s Kamaka -- meaning the right way for a uke to do it. We own a '70s Kamaka pineapple uke that is my standard to measure all other "island-made" ukes by. You hear that kind of sound and you're instantly transported.

How's it do it? Very thin-cut koa, a bridge low on the lower-bout, and plenty of airspace in the body. The physics stack-up nicely for ukes made in this fashion.

Anyhow, this one's here on consignment and only needed the most minor setup adjustments to be playing perfectly. It's stamped October 2006 at the neckblock and, as you can obviously see, the whole thing is made from solid koa wood with some figure here and there throughout.

Repairs included: a very light setup

Made by: KoAloha

Made in: Honolulu, HI, USA

Top wood: solid koa

Back & sides wood: solid koa

Bridge: koa

Fretboard: koa

Neck wood: koa

Tone: bright, chipper, bell-like, clear, loud

Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast)
String gauges: fluorocarbon medium

Neck shape: slim-med C

Board radius: flat