Information on Moore Bettah Ukuleles

Moore Bettah Ukuleles are traditionally-built by an independent luthier whose career started when a local man asked him to build a ukulele out of a coconut. All of these instruments are built from scratch, by hand, using a mix of modern technology and traditional methods. The factory is an independent workshop, located in Opihikao, on one of the more remote sections of the Big Island. The Big Island is also the best source of koa wood, a traditional material used by this manufacturer in the creation of the instruments.

The process begins with the environment, which is humidity controlled to avoid over-acclimating the wood to Hawaii’s very humid environs. This ensures that these instruments will not suffer damage from changes in the climate when they are shipped to their owners.

Moore Bettah Ukuleles are made entirely of locally-available woods including koa, mango and kiawe. There are no plywood or veneer components used in these instruments. Each of these woods has its own tonal characteristics which are imparted to the instrument. Koa wood is in particularly high demand and the supply is diminishing.

Bindings and fret board materials include ebony, cocobolo and other species of non-endangered rainforest woods. Ornamentations such as rosettes and fingerboard inlays are made with black pearl shells and fossil walrus ivory. Materials such as composite stone and abalone shell are also used in this part of the process.

Each Moore Bettah Ukulele is manufactured over a period of two months, which allows the instrument to settle after it’s been worked on. The final stage involves the lacquering which protects and fills the wood and adds a lustrous finish to the instrument. These ukuleles are dried for two weeks before the final finish is applied, resulting in a durable surface that resists damage from use.

Kanilea Ukuleles

The word Kanilea means “joyful sound” and this manufacturer hand creates ukuleles, their builders working under the supervision of Master Luthier Joseph Souza. The company is based in Kaneohe, Hawaii and manufactures both standard-grade instruments and professional-level instruments suitable for performance use.

Kanilea Ukuleles are made with lumber that is air dried, a traditional way of allowing the wood to season and which brings out the tonal characteristics of the woods used in the instruments. The company offers several different options in woods, including Sitka, Spruce, Walnut, Maple, Myrtle, Mango, Rosewood, Purple Heart and Cocobolo. The standard wood used in ukuleles is koa.

Every wood component used in Kanilea Ukuleles is cut, fitted and set in place by the craftspeople at the company’s shop. Each piece of wood used in the manufacture is individually hand-selected to ensure the best tone and aesthetic results for the instrument.

These instruments feature a variety of design elements. A “slanted” headstock is available, for example, which has the characteristic cut and shape of the headstocks normally seen on electric instruments. The stringing options for the instruments are flexible, as well. Any instrument manufactured by Kanilea Ukuleles can be fitted with a “G” string in the fourth course. This allows more depth in the sound as this course is tuned an octave lower than standard. The effect is particularly noticeable on open-chords, when the instrument is allowed to ring out to its full resonance and body.

The 6- and 8-string variations of this manufacturer’s instruments feature carbon fiber rods embedded within the neck. This offers both increased strength and improved tone for the instrument. These ukuleles can be manufactured as multiple string variations with the exception of the company’s Baritone and Soprano Ukuleles. Prices for these instruments range from entry-level to professional grade.

Kamaka Ukuleles

The Kamaka Corporation is known for producing high-quality ukuleles appropriate for performance use. The company produces several different models of ukulele, comprising the standard voices from soprano to baritone. They strive to produce instruments characterized by a warm tone and their soprano models have a characteristically “plinky” tone with good note articulation and clarity.

Kamaka’s entry level ukuleles balance affordability with performance. Their standard model ukulele comes with 14 frets, more than enough for most players but particularly advanced players may want more range on the fret board. Their current lineup of models include the 4-string tenor, the 6-string tenor, the 8-string tenor, a baritone model, the standard deluxe and a concert model having a bell-shape that produces louder volumes. Kamaka produces “specials”, as well, which have modifications based on the consumer’s needs. These include customizations such as: different binding materials; spruce tops; rosette work; active or passive pickups for electric use; and features such as ebony fingerboards.

Kamaka manufactures their ukuleles in a traditional manner, using Acacia koa wood. The wood is prized for its tonal qualities. It also produces an attractive look for the instruments, characterized by good color variance and intricate grain patterns. The company ages all the wood they procure for instruments, the entire process constituting 4 years of natural aging.

The Kamaka ukuleles are built with solid wood. This means that changes in temperature and humidity have a definite effect on the instrument. While this isn’t a problem when those changes are gradual and mild, very extreme changes over short periods of time do risk compromising these instruments. The wood used in these ukuleles should be treated with appropriate care, including keeping the instrument in a high-quality case when not in use and making certain that it is not stored near heat sources.

All About Ko’olau Ukuleles

Ko’olau Ukuleles manufactures two distinct lines of instruments. The Ko’olau Model CS Ukuleles contain updated features and the Traditional line of Ukuleles for which this company is known will still be manufactured, providing lower-cost options. This company has also branched out where wood selections are concerned, owing to sensitivity to Hawaii and the rest of the Pacific’s diminishing forests.

The Traditional Series manufactured by Ko’olau ukuleles include the Model 1 and Model 100. These models are manufactured to the same standards of quality as are all the company’s products but are characterized by less adornment which makes them among their most affordable selections.

The company offers the CS Contemporary series of instruments, as well, which are more geared toward professional players and which feature more adornment and a wide range of options for other features.

The higher-end models of Ko’olau Ukuleles include the Delux, Premium and Collector’s Series. These instruments are made on the basis of custom orders and are not a stock item. They are priced working from a base figure which increases as features are added to the instruments.

The CS Series features a more modern design, including radiused fret boards. These instruments can be customized according to the client’s wishes. Currently, there are only 4-string models available, though the company is open to expanding the line to include 6- and 8-string models in the future.

Upgrade options for Ko’olau Ukuleles include: different choices in wood and binding materials; gloss finishes for the body and face plate; upgrades in tuners; the addition of electric pickups and specialized cases that control the environment in which the ukulele is stored. The CS Series standard features include bone and nut saddles, a satin finish, ebony faceplate and an ebony bridge. Standard tuners are manufactured by Gotoh and a hard-shell case is included.

Fender Ukuleles

Fender is best known for its high-end electric guitars and bases, standard equipment for performing musicians of every level, including the very top. The company has recently branched out into ukuleles, owing to the instrument’s increasing popularity and graduation in the public eye from a toy to a legitimate musical instrument. Fender Ukuleles currently comprise three models, all tenor voice and four-stringed models, that are designed to bring modern manufacturing techniques to this traditional instrument. They feature the distinctive elements of Fender design and wood patterns which are elegant and attractive.

There are three models that make up Fender Ukuleles current offerings. They include the Ukulele Hau’oli, the Ukulele Nohea and the Ukulele Pa’ina. The Ukulele Nohea features a blonde wood finish and the other two a darker, richer finish tone. All three instruments are topped with the Fender Telecaster style headstock, which features all four tuning pegs lined up on the bottom side of the neck where they are most accessible to the player. The tuning pegs, bridge components and fret boards are all commensurate with Fender’s level of quality and are suitable for professional use. Wood choices include koa and mahogany and passive electronic pickups are available for electrified use. All three models feature 19 frets. They are all full-body designs, without the cutaways at the top frets which are characteristic of the company’s electric guitars.

These instruments come with their own gig bag—a soft-shelled carrying case—as well as an instruction book which helps new players get started. Fender Ukuleles are newcomers to the marketplace and, as such, there are only three models currently offered. The instruments are priced at the mid to entry level range. These instruments all feature rosewood fingerboards and die-cast tuners. Hard shell cases must be ordered separately for these instruments.

Kala Ukuleles

Kala Ukuleles manufactures a wide variety of instruments, from entry-level to professional quality. Their line includes travel ukuleles designed to be ultra-compact yet still produce a full sound, novelty ukuleles that come in a variety of colors, patterned schemes and interesting designs and ukuleles manufactured from a range of different wood types that offer different tonal qualities as well as variation in the sound of the instruments. In total, there are over 100 separate varieties of ukulele produced by this manufacturer.

Kala Ukuleles has instruments in all the common voices, including soprano, tenor and baritone as well as 6- and 8-string variations of the instruments they produce. Some of the wood choices include acacia, lacewood, koa, curly mango, flame maple, mahogany, and spruce. There are cut-way body versions of some of their instruments which allow easier access to the highest range of frets. There are also electric models of ukulele available having either passive or active pickups. Some of the electric models come with sound equalization electronics built in to the instrument to allow the performer control over their tone. There are left-hand variations on the instruments, as well and a variety of options where finishes are concerned.

Kala Ukuleles also come in novelty varieties. These instruments aren’t designed for concert-level use but are created to make the instruments fun and lively. They include designs such as a watermelon pattern, a kiwi pattern, camouflage paint schemes and a design that looks like a pineapple. Their Makala line of Ukuleles is designed to offer an affordable option for entry-level players or those who simply have a hobby interest in ukuleles and don’t have a need for the higher-end models.

Kala Ukuleles has been in business for over ten years and are well-represented at trade shows. They are among the larger ukulele manufacturers.

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Kamaka Baritone Ukuleles and Other Instruments

The Kamaka company’s lines of ukuleles are traditional instruments which are designed for serious players. These instruments are made of koa wood, the traditional material from which ukuleles are luthiered. The instruments are also built to show off their beauty, with the wood being lacquered in a way that brings out its natural patters and which protects it. This manufacturer is also famous for its Pineapple Ukulele. As the name suggests, this ukulele does resemble that fruit, with an oval-shaped body design. This company has a long history, beginning at the turn of the last Century.

Kamaka baritone ukulele makes an excellent transition instrument for those who are moving from the guitar to the ukulele. This instrument is tuned D-G-B-E, a tuning which most guitar players will recognize as being identical to the top four strings on the guitar. This makes it very easy to pick up one of these instruments and start paying. The instrument’s heavier strings also give it more of a guitar-like feel, and the scale of the neck is larger, giving guitarists a chance to adapt to the smaller frets. Those who are accustomed to electric guitars will appreciate the 19-fret span of the neck on this instrument.

Kamaka baritone ukuleles get their sound from the use of koa wood. This wood has long been established as the standard for ukuleles, all the way back to the instrument’s Portuguese inventors. This instrument also has its modern aspects, however, as do all ukuleles made by this manufacturer. This company is famous for making innovative, creative instruments that allow players to expand their capabilities. There are ukuleles with 6 and 8 strings and ukuleles of various body shapes. All of these offer their own flavor to this instrument, no conversation about Kamaka would be complete, however, without discussing the Pineapple ukulele.

Like the Kamaka baritone ukulele, the Pineapple Ukulele showcases several traditional features. Its body is koa and its neck is the traditional scale. It is roughly the size of a traditional ukulele, but has a much different sound. The tonal characteristics lent to the instrument by this body style include a softer, woodier sound that is a bit fuller than that of the traditional body shape. Any one of the 8 models of ukulele from this manufacturer are priced at professional instrument levels, and are manufactured to the corresponding standards of quality.