There are two options here, the acoustic version and one fitted with a Mi-Si pickup (which is well worth the upgrade).

This is a larger than normal baritone body and scale, tuned DGBE with steel strings. The sound is big and bold, with a fine chiming quality. With the addition of the Mi-Si, all that lovely tone can be amplified or used, to great effect, with effects.

The UL4-1 is an all solid instrument, with cedar on the top and acacia on the back and sides. It is supplied with a very good gig bag.

Acoustic Option: There’s a great volume, a big, rich warm sound and a frankly amazing sustain. Just before taking the photos, I gave it a strum. I retrieved my camera, changed the settings and then when I went to take the shots, it was still ringing out - epic sustain.

Electro Option: The Mi-Si is the pickup I use on my main uke, a brilliant bit of kit that sounds great and is nice and simple - no plastic panels with tone controls, just a jack input that doubles as a strap button. It has a supercapacitor, not a battery, so you can charge it with the supplied adaptor for a minute and get 8 hours of active play.

I first tried one of these Mi-Si / Pono combinations when fitting the pickup to the UL4-1 for a customer order. I fell in love with it so much that I immediately repeated that exercise in order to have one for me. As I write, I am resisting, but we’ll see how long I last!

For a video demo of the Pono UL4-1, click additional info below. There’s a video of it played with the Mi-Si pickup, and a separate one of this model just acoustically played. (Note - I’ve since added a third video, with some improvisation and multi-tracking - I think you may be able to tell that I like this one!)

For common accessories and customisations (like strap buttons / low G fitting) scroll down to the bottom of the page where you'll be able to add these common items to your basket.

Just for info, the strings on these are D’Addario light gauge (.052 to .012).