Lanikai Tenor Mahogany Ukulele With Gigbag

The Lanikai Mahogany Tenor Ukulele with Gigbag (model number MA-T) is a popular and well-regarded instrument, especially for beginners and those on a budget. It's known for its traditional look, warm tone, and a focus on player comfort, making it a great entry point into the world of tenor ukuleles.

Here is a detailed breakdown of its features:

Key Features & Specifications:

• Size: Tenor. This is a highly popular and versatile ukulele size, larger than a concert and soprano. It offers more fret space, which is comfortable for players with larger hands and ideal for more complex chord voicings and soloing. The larger body produces a fuller, louder sound with great projection and sustain.

  • Scale Length: 17 inches (432 mm).

  • Number of Frets: 17.

• Body Wood: Laminated Mahogany Top, Back, and Sides.

  • Mahogany as a Tonewood: Mahogany is an industry standard for ukuleles, known for producing a warm, mellow, and rich tone with a balanced midrange. It's a classic ukulele sound.

  • Laminated Construction: The body is made from layers of mahogany veneer. This is a key feature that helps keep the cost down while providing excellent durability and stability. Laminated instruments are more resistant to changes in humidity and temperature, making them a great choice for travel or less-than-ideal environmental conditions.

• Finish: Satin. The smooth satin finish gives the ukulele a natural, organic feel and allows the wood to resonate freely, contributing to an open sound. It's comfortable to play and doesn't get "sticky" like some gloss finishes.

• Neck Material: Okoume or Mahogany. Both are similar in density and tonal properties, providing a stable and comfortable neck.

• Fingerboard Material: Walnut or Rosewood. Both are durable woods that provide a smooth playing surface. It often features a single-ply white ABS binding along the fingerboard with black dots for position markers.

• Nut & Saddle: NuBone XB. This is a high-quality synthetic material by Graph Tech that is designed to enhance sustain and tone, providing a significant upgrade from generic plastic components.

• Tuners: Chrome Open-Back Geared Tuners. These tuners provide smooth, precise, and reliable tuning stability. The open-back design also keeps the headstock light, which can be more comfortable for players.

• Strings: Comes factory-strung with D'Addario EJ88 strings. These are a popular choice known for their balanced tone and reliability.

• Other Features:

  • Wider Nut: Lanikai specifically features a wider nut and neck profile (typically 37.4mm) on their instruments for player comfort.

  • 8-Hole "No Tie" Bridge: This bridge design makes string changes faster and easier than traditional tied-on bridges.

  • Chrome Strap Buttons: The ukulele comes with two pre-installed strap buttons for convenience and safety.

• Electronics: None. This is an acoustic-only ukulele.

Included Accessory:

• Gig Bag: The ukulele typically comes with a 5mm padded Lanikai gig bag, which provides basic protection for transport and storage.

Overall Impression:

The Lanikai Mahogany Tenor Ukulele with Gigbag is an excellent choice for:

• Beginners: It offers a great balance of features, including a comfortable tenor size, a pleasing tone, quality components like a NuBone nut and saddle, and reliable tuners, all at a very accessible price point.

• Players seeking comfort: The wider nut and neck profile are a major selling point for those who find standard ukulele necks too cramped.

• Anyone on a budget: It's a fantastic value-for-money package that includes a padded gig bag, making it a complete solution for getting started.