Steel string electric Monkey Wrench, Kanilea, 2 Kiwayas, vintage Regal, Lanikai

Status
Not open for further replies.

Dionysis

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Messages
184
Reaction score
53
Location
Austin, Tx, USA
If you are interested in one of these ukuleles please message me!! I will consider offers, and will try to work something out for you if I can. Scroll down for photos.

I might consider a trade for a nice, quality uke with radiused fretboard, or a long neck pineapple but mostly need to thin the herd. I found myself with close to thirty ukes and just don’t have the space or time for them all. I have taken fastidious care of all my ukes, including maintaining humidity control which is a chore with so many! All are in excellent playing condition.

-Kanilea K-C1 SILK, concert with polyfoam case $650 + shipping

-Kiwaya KCU-1 concert; high quality laminate with gig bag, sounds good, set up with nice low action and what I consider to be a fast neck. Brand new. $175 + shipping. PRICE DROP to $160 + shipping. PRICE DROPPED TO $150 OR THE LOWEST BIDDER! I mean highest bidder, i mean any bidder! I still have too many ukes and promised my better half I’d cut way back so c’mon, let’s get some offers up in hurr! NO LONGER AVAILABUBBLE BEEs

-Kiwaya KTS-4 soprano (beautiful solid mahogany Martin replica, made in Japan) SOLD!!

-Lanikai LUTU-21S Tuna-Uke, **TUNED GDAE LIKE A VIOLIN OR MANDOLIN with Aquila Nylguts. I can swap them for a set of gcea fluorocarbons if you prefer. I don’t think Lanikai makes these any more. The Tuna Uke is great for exploring alternate tunings and maintaining intonation.
SOLD


-19 inch scale steel string solid-body electric Monkey Wrench, I bought this from Doc_J some time ago and have only played it a handful of times. It’s a fantastic instrument, I just don’t have a good place to play plugged in without disturbing family. $550 + shipping with gig bag, $25 more to include (baritone size) polyfoam case which fits it quite well. Spare set of strings included but the ones o it still sound great. SOLD

-Vintage Regal NO LONGER AVAILABLE

-Bruko Ukulele No. 6F Mahogany Maple flat S006F SOLD

8CB321BA-DD18-4ADB-B661-6FF6FE5D6CA2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Kanilea photos

Here are some photos of the Kanilea, including the one and only scratch/ dent/ imperfection; the scratch on the headstock.
 

Attachments

  • C08DA979-A2FF-40E0-9EDC-039C24E249C3.jpg
    C08DA979-A2FF-40E0-9EDC-039C24E249C3.jpg
    20.9 KB · Views: 33
  • 11BB0A51-157D-47D4-91B8-A5B70C17DB98.jpg
    11BB0A51-157D-47D4-91B8-A5B70C17DB98.jpg
    19.9 KB · Views: 32
  • 042200BF-09CA-4EA5-AA9E-175EBD7DD024.jpg
    042200BF-09CA-4EA5-AA9E-175EBD7DD024.jpg
    12.4 KB · Views: 27
  • 4E541915-3790-4615-A69A-9C10940012E0.jpg
    4E541915-3790-4615-A69A-9C10940012E0.jpg
    18.7 KB · Views: 35
  • 13BF895D-3D55-4983-B695-514A0D910745.jpg
    13BF895D-3D55-4983-B695-514A0D910745.jpg
    7.2 KB · Views: 28
Photos of the Bruko soprano, note that it is a thinbody

An ideal travel uke, it is used, but Ii can’t find the slightest scratch.

A6C7BCD3-C3BF-4902-8D18-CD2D61DBA569.jpg1FA37BF6-0220-402B-BCEF-128449DAC5D0.jpgFD21D2EE-3425-4394-83CB-21C48103B47A.jpgD7A682EE-B090-4DCA-AC16-34D6EE797724.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 2DBAB682-18ED-45F8-B8C4-0B0C7E45D7A7.jpg
    2DBAB682-18ED-45F8-B8C4-0B0C7E45D7A7.jpg
    8.5 KB · Views: 28
  • A6BF3158-10CA-4FD0-A132-300EABE5C2D4.jpg
    A6BF3158-10CA-4FD0-A132-300EABE5C2D4.jpg
    21.1 KB · Views: 19
  • F9CB4457-ED34-474D-9FF2-6EC15A1450F3.jpg
    F9CB4457-ED34-474D-9FF2-6EC15A1450F3.jpg
    20.4 KB · Views: 20
Kiwaya KCU-1 laminate concert

Brand new in box with Kiwaya gig bag. As I understand it they use thinner layers in their laminate ukes that gets closer to the sound of solid wood than most laminates. This one has a bright ukulele-sounding sound and is set up to play well.

These Ukuleles are made in Japan to very exacting standards. High-end Kiwaya and other Japanese ukuleles are rated on par with high-end American made ukuleles by most reviewers. In tgeukulelesite.com they have compared some laminate Kiwayas as comparable quality with sold wood Martins. Not to over promise as I think my Martin C1K sounds better than this. But these Kiwayas definitely achieve a more consistently high level of quality and playable setup than the average Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. made ukulele.

This ukulele represents a very good value for the money in terms of quality build, sound quality, durability and in resell, if you decide to part with it down the road.

This ukulele has been set up for easy playability with low action. The strings are pre-stretched so you won’t have to wait two weeks for them to settle down.

* Setup at 12th fret: is 2.5mm/ .in (I find it fast, easy, comfortable playing)
* Nut width: 36mm/ 1.41in wide,
* Neck is fairly shallow measured at the 1st fret: 17mm/ .65in
* Neck is straight, buzz free, intonation is good
* Strung with Clear Japanese fluorocarbon high G (gCEA)

Someone asked me how this neck compares with Martin.
Here are similar specs to my Martin C1K:

* Setup at 12th fret: is 2.75mm/ .in (I find it fast, easy, comfortable playing)
* Nut width: 35mm/ 1.39in wide,
* Neck is fairly shallow measured at the first fret: 15mm/ .59in
* Neck is straight, buzz free, intonation is good

Kiwaya Concert B - 3.jpgKiwaya Concert B - 1.jpgKiwaya Concert B - 4.jpgKiwaya Concert B - 2.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'd love to have Santa get that Bruko for me ... I may have to write the North Pole, stat!
 
Here are more photos of the concert Kiwaya KCU-1

This is the laminate Concert. Includes the gig bag in the photo.

View attachment 114104Kiwaya Concert B - 15.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Kiwaya Concert B - 5.jpg
    Kiwaya Concert B - 5.jpg
    101.4 KB · Views: 3
Last edited:
I'm fairly certain these are made in China. I'd love to see one in person!

Brand new in box with Kiwaya gig bag. As I understand it they use thinner layers in their laminate ukes that gets closer to the sound of solid wood than most laminates. This one has a bright ukulele-sounding sound and is set up to play well.

These Ukuleles are made in Japan to very exacting standards. High-end Kiwaya and other Japanese ukuleles are rated on par with high-end American made ukuleles by most reviewers. In tgeukulelesite.com they have compared some laminate Kiwayas as comparable quality with sold wood Martins. Not to over promise as I think my Martin C1K sounds better than this. But these Kiwayas definitely achieve a more consistently high level of quality and playable setup than the average Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. made ukulele.

This ukulele represents a very good value for the money in terms of quality build, sound quality, durability and in resell, if you decide to part with it down the road.

This ukulele has been set up for easy playability with low action. The strings are pre-stretched so you won’t have to wait two weeks for them to settle down.

* Setup at 12th fret: is 2.5mm/ .in (I find it fast, easy, comfortable playing)
* Nut width: 36mm/ 1.41in wide,
* Neck is fairly shallow measured at the 1st fret: 17mm/ .65in
* Neck is straight, buzz free, intonation is good
* Strung with Clear Japanese fluorocarbon high G (gCEA)

Someone asked me how this neck compares with Martin.
Here are similar specs to my Martin C1K:

* Setup at 12th fret: is 2.75mm/ .in (I find it fast, easy, comfortable playing)
* Nut width: 35mm/ 1.39in wide,
* Neck is fairly shallow measured at the first fret: 15mm/ .59in
* Neck is straight, buzz free, intonation is good

View attachment 114118View attachment 114116View attachment 114119View attachment 114117
 
I appreciate the healthy scepticism, but nope. Made in Japan. If you examine the box, it says “From Asukusa in Tokyo”. If you visit kiwayaukuleles.com, it says “Kiwaya Ukuleles are built as light as possible for tone and projection. Our craftsmen pay close attention to details such as intonation, action, playability and cosmetic appearance. Kiwaya Ukuleles are all made in Japan and are the only Japanese-built ukuleles available in the U.S. market.”

Frankly, I don’t understand the economics, how it is possible, but these are made by Japanese craftspeople to very exacting standards. For reals.



I'm fairly certain these are made in China. I'd love to see one in person!
 
I have sold all but the Kanilea so I am closing this thread and may make another post with just the Kani. As for trades, I am open and mulling over a Godin Multiuke, MAYBE a Seagull, or a very nice concert with radiused fretboard. A Clara, perhaps? Maui Music? I also have a nice-sounding Martin C1K (that’s a koa concert).I’ll probably post that as well. Ok, hast la bye-bye!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom