Kala Elite - RSWD-ST-T All Solid Spruce and Indian Rosewood Tenor Ukulele w/Deluxe Hard Case

The Kala Elite tenor ukulele appears on the surface to be rather understated and there-in lies part of what makes this instrument special. The tonewoods are good, well put together and the complex sound it creates is dripping with sustain and rich harmonic undertones...

It's been nearly 100 years since Martin introduced the D28 Guitar and Gibson experimented with the advanced jumbo. In a time before the internet and way before you could google 'best tonewood' - people were out there experimenting with woods. That magic combination of solid spruce tops and rosewood back and sides was one of the first to really capture the imagination of musicians... Fast forward to 2020 and Kala's Californian Petaluma facility decided it was time to really put the spruce/rosewood combination back on the ukulele map.

It hasn't been easy the past four years to export/import rosewood but thankfully at the tail end of 2019 the rules on using and moving this wood around the world have relaxed. Kala launched the RSWD-ST-T at NAMM 2020 along with a series of gorgeous regionally sourced wood combination instruments. This spruce and rosewood tenor ukulele really stood out to Phil and I as being the pick of the bunch. It has just the strongest voice, unmistakable clarity between notes and projection that is extremely hard to match on any ukulele at any price we have seen previously.

Kala chose to fit this instrument with Worth Browns and a wound low G and I applaud this decision. Even with a remarkable sustain and volume, the instrument retains a sweetness in tone. The wound bass is also perfect for the Kala Elite's slightly chunkier neck profile and 38mm nut width.

People think I am mad but I'm convinced there is a coloration between the extra wood in a chunky neck and the way an instrument sustains throughout the body. Kala Elites may not have the reputation of the Hawaiian K brands but we have never held and played one that felt anything other than great value and high end. When the right person comes along and tries one, we get to feel like the ultimate match-maker pairing the right uke with the right person. I guess that all these decades on, spruce and rosewood is still where it's at!

Check out our NAMM 2020 video of this ukulele here:

Specification:
Solid spruce top
Solid Indian rosewood back and sides
Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge
Ivoroid front binding
Indian rosewood headplate
Bone nut and saddle
38mm nut width
Kala machine heads with ebony buttons
Indian rosewood sound hole rosette
Kala deluxe hard case included
Built in Petaluma, California 30th Jan 2020