Kanile’a Platinum Limited Edition Super Concert Ukulele – Hawaii 2017

Here is a 2017 Kanile’a Platinum Series Super Concert ukulele, a premium limited-edition instrument that showcases master luthier Joe Souza’s ongoing innovation in modern ukulele design. The Platinum Series was introduced to push Kanile’a’s design language further, refining tone, intonation, resonance, and aesthetics while still maintaining the core principles of their established production models. This limited edition represents a more experimental and forward-thinking approach within the Kanile’a range, resulting in an instrument with enhanced responsiveness, sustain, and visual appeal.

This example features a torrefied spruce top paired with Claro Walnut back and sides, a combination chosen for both tonal balance and dynamic range. The spruce top provides clarity, projection, and articulation, while the Claro Walnut contributes warmth and depth, sitting sonically between rosewood and mahogany in character. Together, these tonewoods create a rich, expressive voice with strong harmonic complexity and a natural, open response.

A key innovation in this model is Kanile’a’s redesigned bracing system, developed to improve structural strength while reducing overall weight. This results in greater resonance and efficiency of vibration, contributing to the instrument’s enhanced sustain and tonal openness. The internal construction reflects Kanile’a’s continued evolution in modern ukulele design, with careful attention paid to both stability and acoustic performance.

This Super Concert model combines a concert-sized body with a tenor-scale neck, offering the comfort and familiarity of a smaller body while retaining the extended scale length for improved clarity, note separation, and sustain. It is also fitted with an LR Baggs pickup system, delivering a clear and natural amplified tone that complements the instrument’s acoustic voice effectively.

Condition is near new, with only minor superficial marks on the top that are barely visible. Overall, it presents in excellent condition and comes with its original case.

Specifications:

Instrument: 4-string Super Concert ukulele
Back & Sides: Claro walnut
Top: Torrefied spruce
Rosette: Koa wood with black trim
Sound Port: Side sound port trimmed with koa
Bracing: TRU Bracing – Triangles
Top Binding: Black binding
Armrest: Koa wood armrest
Fretboard: Ebony with koa binding
Bridge: Ebony
Headplate: Ebony
Headstock: Kanile’a Crown Stealth, koa bound ebony
Fret Markers: Sand fret markers and logo
Finish: Gloss body / satin neck
Tuners: Black stealth tuners
Case: Kanile’a original hardshell case included