Big Island KSR-CTG All Solid Koa Concert Ukulele
Unfortunately this model is discontinued and no longer available.
Big Island make some lovely ukuleles and this KSR-CTG is no exception. Made from all solid koa from Hawaii, this concert ukulele has a slotted headstock - which isn't all that common in a concert size uke, but it certainly looks good. That headstock has good quality open geared tuners with hardwood buttons, and a sleek, minimalist look with its ebony faceplate. On the back of the head is a triangular design, which looks really classy. My first thought was this might add a bit of weight, but possibly it is there by design, rather than for decoration, as it is perfectly balanced.
The koa used for the body is golden in colour, with a nice grain, which is accented by rope style binding and very attractive maple binding. Ebony is used for the supersmooth fingerboard and for the bridge, which houses a compensated saddle. The 35mm bone nut, paired with a relatively shallow profile is exactly what I play myself, so I certainly can't complain.
The koa rings out really nicely, with a lovely sweetness, plenty of volume and more depth than I had expected. It has a complex tone, with lots of harmonics in the mix - certainly a uke that sounds as good as it looks.
The Big Island KSR-CTG is sold with a branded hard case, in black.