What's the deal with Kiwaya?

Here's some threads you can refer to . . . some like it, some don't. Fact is it's a Japanese made ukulele available in the USA. They offer the KS Series which is a laminate and the KTS, KTC, KTT Series. These are solid wood and supposedly sound like vintage Martins. Again, whether or not they're worth the cost, that's totally objective.

http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20633
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19673
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1DgGqgA_A
 
Made to a very high standard, by skilled, well-paid craftsmen (craftspersons?), in Japan.

Ukantor.
 
Well, they are/were the staple instrument for a generation of uke players (say, somewhere between mom/dad and grandpa/ma depending on your own age) in Japan.
The laminate mahogany is very thin, as is the laminate koa (according to my speculations, the best sold uke in Japan?).

I guess they may be more expensive than your average (or above average, good, excellent) China made instrument, but not overly so. Try before you buy is always good, although the finish is good mostly, here in Japan I have seen the occasional rough spots, thick varnish, stuff like that. Perhaps they check better before exporting?
(This is not an attempt at bashing, just my shallow experience and meant as a point of advice)

Then again, the KS-1 (mahogany laminate) is about 14000 yen, and I bought a friend a Chinese soprano (solid mahogany) for 10000 yen at the same store that sounded just as good or better. YMMV.
 
It is one of the best made production ukes made..... They are very light and sound beautiful:drool:

Try one out and see.....
 
They are extremely well made ukes in the Martin style. They do have very low profile frets which may or may not suit you, but there's no denying they are incredibly high quality ukes, beautifully finshed and incredibly light. I've owned a KTC-2 and regularly play around on a KTS-7. They are quite expensive, though (The KTS-7 costs more than many luthiers charge for a hand-made).
 
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