Ko'olau 20 Year Anniversary Tenor "Kalo"
In 1996, after 20 years as a gold warranty repair center for all major guitar makers, John Kitakis and Noa Bonk started building ukuleles at the foothills of the Ko'olau mountain range. From the very beginning they built the highest quality custom ukulele both excelling in tone and precision craftsmanship. But ever since then it's only gotten better.
Noa has always been a talented craftsman, but he's continued to study his art and refine his skills. This 20 year anniversary model tenor was completely designed and built at Ko'olau's custom shop in Wahiawa, Oahu. It features master grade koa with amazing dimensional figuring, a mother of pearl taro plant inlay only the radius ebony fretboard, a slotted headstock, and a perfect nitrocellulose gloss finish. A real treat to the eyes.
This custom koa tenor has an incredible tone with excellent clarity, sustain, and a full warm projection. On top of that it plays like a dream all the way up the neck. The sound, look, and feel are among the absolute best we've ever experienced and it's now available here in our auction format. Take a listen as Corey samples this unique anniversary model Ko'olau tenor.
This ukulele is from earlier this year. The person that bought it really loved it but regretfully had to let it go. It originally sold for over $4500 so now you can get it at a reduced price. It's in new condition and will retain the same original warranty. Don't miss out on this chance for a very special instrument.
In 1996, after 20 years as a gold warranty repair center for all major guitar makers, John Kitakis and Noa Bonk started building ukuleles at the foothills of the Ko'olau mountain range. From the very beginning they built the highest quality custom ukuleles excelling in both tone and precision craftsmanship. Ever since then it's only gotten better.
Noa has always been a talented craftsman, but he's continued over many years to study his art and refine his skills daily. This 20 year anniversary model tenor was completely designed and built at Ko'olau's custom shop in Wahiawa, Oahu. It features master grade koa with amazing dimensional figuring, a mother of pearl taro plant inlay only the radius ebony fretboard, a slotted headstock, and a perfect nitrocellulose gloss finish. A real treat to the eyes.
This custom koa tenor has an incredible tone with excellent clarity, sustain, and a full warm projection. On top of that it plays like a dream all the way up the neck. The sound, look, and feel are among the absolute best we've ever experienced and it's now available here. Take a listen as Corey samples this unique anniversary model Ko'olau tenor.
These videos are done using transparent recording equipment and we are dedicated to showing true tone, as much as possible, so use quality speakers or headphones for the most accurate listening experience.
"By ancient Hawaiian custom, fighting is not allowed when a bowl of poi is open. An open poi bowl is connected to this concept because Hāloa (taro) is the name of the first-born son of the parents who begat the human race. Hawaiians identify strongly with kalo, so much so that the Hawaiian term for family, ʻohana, is derived from the word ʻohā, the shoot or sucker which grows from the kalo corm. As young shoots grow from the corm, so people, too, grow from their family."
A classic taro shoot is the inspiration for the mother of pearl inlay on this 20 year anniversary Ko'olau. It makes for a natural and unique custom tenor that commemorates what Ko'olau has done for the last two decades. The sound, feel, and look is the culmination of many years of dedication to making the finest quality ukuleles.
Includes Ko'olau arch top hardshell case, and Oasis humidifier.
| Specs | *Master Grade Koa body
|
|---|---|
| Options | Includes a Ko'olau arched top hardshell case and an Oasis Humidifier. This instrument will qualify for free shipping. Within the US will receive free FedEx 2-day shipping. Two days is the time in transit. For international orders, we include USPS Express shipping and can possibly upgrade that to Fedex international for you (subject to approval). Before it is shipped, your instrument will go through our setup department so that you get the best instrument for your money. For more information on our setup process, turnaround time, shipping, and return policies, refer to the links below "Helpful Links" at the bottom of the page. Aloha! |
| Brand | Ko'olau |
Shipping Information
For more even more details and FAQ visit our Shipping Page under the Company Info tab at the header menu.
SHIPPING CARRIER OPTIONS:
FedEx is our primary shipping carrier, all orders that qualify for free domestic shipping will be sent using FedEx. UPS and DHL can also be chosen as alternative options upon checkout, USPS is only used for smaller accessory orders.
As soon as the shipping label is created you will be automatically notified via email with tracking information. All packages will be shipped with a signature requirement by default. If you do not wish to have a signature requirement you will need to notify us, either by leaving a note in the “special instructions” when adding the item(s) to your shopping cart or by emailing our shipping department directly. Any shipping related requests (hold/delay/address change) should also be directed to our shipping department ( [email protected]).
NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: You may also be required to pay import duties/taxes, this will vary depending on your location and the value of the item(s). To estimate these taxes, you can contact your local customs office. Fedex also offers a helpful estimation tool: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/international.html
UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE PERMIT: If your ukulele contains any amount of shell inlay (abalone or pearl) it will require a permit to be shipped internationally. The cost of this permit is $93.00 USD. We will handle the paperwork and file the permit for you, but the cost of all duties and fees are the responsibility of the customer.
SHIPPING COST will vary depending on the size dimensions and weight of the package as well as the destination. To get a quote, use the “Calculate Shipping Cost” link located next to the “Add to Cart button” on each listing.
This is made even easier when you are already logged in to your customer account. Follow this link to create an account if you don’t already have one go HERE.
FREE SHIPPING: All orders within the USA with a total over $500 will qualify for free FedEx 2-day air shipping.
SHIPMENT AND TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS are sent automatically via email as soon as the shipping label is created so please make sure your email address is accurate when placing the order. Outgoing shipments are picked up by our shipping carriers Monday through Friday.
ACCESSORY AND CASE ORDERS: While non-instrument orders for cases and accessories do not require the same processing time needed for instruments, they do require time for processing and packing. The typical processing time for accessory/case orders is (1-4 business days) depending on current order volume.
CURRENT SETUP PROCESSING TIMES AND DETAILS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE “SETUP OPTIONS” TAB.*
*If you would like to receive your instrument as soon as possible you can forego the full setup process by selecting the “Basic QC Only” option or by selecting the “Full Setup RUSH” option when adding instruments to your shopping cart. More details are available under the “Setup Options” tab.
Setup Options
Current Turnaround Time: Amount of time it takes before shipment-
Full Setup: 10-14 Business Days
Basic Quality Control: 2-3 Days
BASIC QUALITY CONTROL covers inspecting the instrument for any major defects that would have been missed by the factory and any faults in construction that could potentially damage or limit the functionality of the instrument over time. Any defective instruments are rejected and replaced. We make sure that each Ukulele meets the basic standard for a brand new instrument and will be ready to play once you receive it. A final cleanup is also included after inspection before packing and shipment.
Full Setup - FREE for all Ukuleles $399 and over / $20.00 for Ukuleles from $300-399 / $30.00 for Ukuleles Under $300
Includes:
-Overall QC evaluation: To find defects in construction as well as to get an overall view of the instrument and note the areas that need extra attention and adjustment during the setup.
-Saddle Adjustment: The height of the saddle is lowered to reduce the distance between the strings and the fretboard, making it easier to play than the factory setup, especially higher up the fretboard.
-Nut Slot Adjustment: The depth, width, and angle of the nut slots are adjusted to create a more comfortable playing experience especially on the lower frets.
-Fret Dressing: After adjusting the nut and saddle heights, high spots in the fretboard or uneven frets will potentially cause fret buzz, dead spots, or other unwanted problems. The frets are filed to create a more consistent level across the fretboard. We then crown the frets to return their rounded curvature back to the top of each fret creating a clear contact point for each string. We then smooth and polish the frets and condition the fingerboard to bring them back to new condition.
-Final Cleanup: We always do a final overall cleanup of the instrument to make sure it is in new condition and ready to play before it is prepared for shipment.
Rush Setup & Delivery - Additional $50.00
The RUSH SETUP AND DELIVERY service is for customers who would still like to receive everything included in the full setup but on a shorter time frame. One of our setup technicians will work overtime outside of normal business hours to complete the setup within 2-3 days of the order being placed and immediately hand it over to the shipping department for packing and shipment. The $50.00 rush charge is in addition to the cost of the full setup.
Additional services (see individual product listings to add these services to your order)
Re-stringing: We will replace the factory installed stock string set with a new set of your choosing. Select the “replace stock strings” option when adding your desired string set to the shopping cart.
Strap Button Installation: 1-2 buttons are installed to allow the use of a strap. Color options available.
Pickup installation: for players who would like the option to play or record with amplification.
Friction Tuner Upgrade (friction tuners only): We offer upgrade options for select instruments with friction tuners to be retrofitted with new geared tuners for better precision and comfort when tuning.
Left-handed Setup: Left-handed setups are also available upon request. Occasionally an additional charge may be added for compensated saddles on select models.