• Not bad... Could be better!

  
  As reviewed by Klee C. Dobra on 7/12/2012

  First of all, I'm a beginner at the baritone ukulele and just received this instrument package yesterday. I am, however, a guitarist of fifty plus years, so I'm not without some knowledge. The three stars I gave this product is, perhaps, somewhat harsh. The instrument itself seems well made, has good tonal qualities, is comfortable to play and attractive. The "out-of-the-box" set up is good and (at least on this instrument) no additional adjustments are necessary. The frets seem well placed in the fret board and well finished; there is no discomfort fingering the instrument. Were I rating just the KP-B alone, I would have no problem giving it five stars, but this is a package including accessories (Lanikai KP-B Kanikapila Baritone Ukulele) and as such rates but three. First, the retailer... Easily five stars, they were easy to deal with, fast and friendly; I will be back. Next, the Baritone Ukulele... As I indicated, well made with excellent tonal qualities for what it is. This is an entry-level instrument and should not be considered as anything else; it is not an intermediate or professional model. When viewed as such, it cannot but get good reviews. It has a well-constructed mahogany body with what appears to be a rosewood bridge and fret board. I cannot tell what the neck is made of, and Lanikai doesn't tell you; all I can say is that it appears well made. It has open geared tuners; I've seen better and I've seen much worse... they are passable. The other items in the package are: 1.) An electronic tuner; 2.) A Lanikai Ululele Instruction Book; and 3.) A gig bag. The electronic tuner is OK and works fine, however, for a few dollars a far better one can be had. The gig bag, if your intent is to lug the uke around, is totally unsatisfactory. It is "cheesy" and totally unpadded, providing little (if any) protection to the instrument. The Lanikai Instruction book is a joke. According to Lanikai, it includes 8 pages (but that includes front and back covers). The booklet measures 4.25" wide x 5.5" high and is written in what Lanikai seems to consider a hip "native" dialect, which basically gives you no constructive information at all. There are a total of sixteen chords provided to get you going, but they are not chords for a baritone ukulele tuned to the standard D-G-B-E, they are for a Soprano, Concert, or Tenor uke. Lanikai seems to have a nice, well-made and good sounding entry-level baritone ukulele in the KP-B. I do not think they do themselves any favor by packaging it with inadequate and inferior accessories. Better to sell the instrument alone and let the buyer select his own accessories than to create a sour after taste with the kind of accessories that shipped in this package.

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