Our review
aNueNue's Kyas Whale is the best of the best. It is an exquisite, highly considered instrument that stands head and shoulders above its peers.
Made from private reserve Hawaiian Koa, the Kyas Whale is the epitome of luxury and high-end luthiery. You simply will not find Koa of a higher grade, and never with as much rippling and intricacy as seen here. The tonewood is incredibly rich and honey-hued, breath-taking to look at let alone pick up and play.
The stand out feature of this instrument is the elaborate ornamentation that adorns the body, fretboard, and headstock. aNueNue have chosen the whale as a wisened, majestic creature of the sea to compliment the instrument's grace, intuition, and charm. A collection of humpback whales are inset with mother of pearl. Also of note is the the offset soundhole rosette, which depicts the barrelling and breaking of the ocean surface, gently refracting sunlight, made with a striking combination of maple, rosewood, and azure turquoise stone. Every inch of this instrument is overflowing with detail.
But the beauty of the Kyas Whale goes well below the surface. This ukulele sounds and plays like no other. In classic aNueNue style, it sounds extremely bright and clear, with complex midtones and delicate overtones. The tone is versatile and suited to all styles and types of playing, be it fingerpicking, strumming, or riffing. The intonation is precise, the action masterfully-considered. Plus, the Air Air pick up ensures that it sounds as just as good amplified as it does acoustically.
The name "Kyas" refers to the talented and award-winning Japanese ukulele player, Kyas Ryo, who has toured many ukulele festivals worldwide. He is a jack of all trades, and flaunts his expertise in Jazz, Rock, and Pop. This instrument honours his professionalism and creativity and hopes to inspire similar attributes in its patrons. What more can be said? The Kyas Whale Hawaiian Koa Tenor Electric Ukulele is the best of the best.
Joel Carr
Owner, UkuleleMate
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Specifications
Description
Included add ons
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TunersGOTOH UPT
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StringsaNueNue Black Water Fluorocarbons
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ElectronicsaNueNue Air Air Pickup
Colours & Materials
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TopPrivate Reserve Solid Hawaiian Koa
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Back/SidesPrivate Reserve Solid Hawaiian Koa
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SoundholeOcean Rosette Inlay with Mother of Pearl, Curly Maple, Turquoise Stone & Rosewood
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Body BindingRosewood and Flame Maple
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FretboardEbony
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BridgeEbony
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Nut & SaddleBuffalo Bone
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FinishHigh Gloss
What you get with your ukulele:
Your choice of ukulele bag between 10 options
A complete set of spare strings to back you up
Tuner with LCD display to always give you that sweet sweet sound
Adjustable soft cotton ukulele strap for perfect balance and comfort
68 page ukulele book to guide you through your practice
6-pack of custom designed ukulele felt picks for the classic mellow tone
Foldable A3 chart with 156+ chords to give you quick reminders
A set of fretboard "learn to play" stickers to guide you in your first days
Self-inking ukulele chord stamp
Gold plated ukulele bookmark so your uke’s always on your mind
Ultra-soft microfiber cleaning cloth so your uke is always stunning
Organic cotton bag for your accessories to take them all with you
30-min lesson over skype with a pro to point you in the right direction
Plus 16 tips & tricks emails to keep you motivated and learning with over the shoulders video tutorials.