aNueNue UC5K AAAAA Grade Solid Koa Bird Concert Ukulele
This aNueNue ANN-UC5K is the premium concert uke in the company’s range. ‘Premium’ is the right word, as such a fine instrument attracts a significant price. You can look at this in different ways (and, not in a million years is a fair response), but if you are looking for a very special ukulele, with the finest materials - handmade by one individual luthier, then at least for the money you will be getting one of the finest ukuleles available in the world today. I suppose, sad though it is that you can’t pick one up for 50p, that means a price tag to match.
For this ukulele, aNueNue teamed up with a celebrated Japanese luthier, who has come up with an innovative bracing system (the Mount Fuji) system, that allows fantastic resonance - which in turn delivers wonderful volume, amazing projection and tone so full you'd wonder if it was going through a boutique amplifier. I have never had the courage to slice one of these instruments option to see exactly what this means - but there’s a real signature sound to these instruments that extends across their bird series, so there’s definitely something in it.
The body is made from Hawaiian koa (all koa is Hawaiian, but some companies use acacia and call it koa, or Asian koa), of the finest grade. I’ve checked how much a set of AAAAA grade koa costs and when you discover it can be around £750, you can start to see where the cost builds up. Whatever, it is fantastic to look at.
The soundhole rosette is a lovely shape, made from spalted maple and very pretty abalone. This sits well with the off centre cutaway shape that aNueNue's Moon Bird series is becoming famous for. With a slotted headstock, the UC5K featured Gotoh's excellent SXB510 tuners, finished in shiny gun metal grey. Again, a £70 set of tuners and you can see nothing but the best is being used.
Of course, while the looks are amazing, you need a sound to match, and the incredible depth of tone, coupled with the koa brightness and percussive qualities means it delivers in spades. There’s a lovely shimmer to the sound, full of pretty harmonics, but always against a deep warmth that is simply gorgeous.
The aNueNue UCK5 concert is also supplied in a blue hard case that only goes out with the Moon Bird series. It is great quality and looks fab too.
For a video demo of the aNueNue UC5K concert ukulele, click additional info below.
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.