The Kawili, which means a blend of two things, is neither a concert or a tenor, but a blend of the two. A concert uke would have a scale normally around 15 inches long. And a tenor? 17 inches. This one is 16 inches. So it’s like a long scale concert or a short scale tenor, but with its body size fitting between the two as well. This is a size that’s designed for people who might feel a little cramped on a concert, but not that comfortable on a full size tenor. It’s a conundrum for me too, wondering whether to put it in the concert or tenor category! Maybe the new size will catch on and I’ll have to create a new category for Kawilis?

When labelling my photographs I saved them as ‘Oli L-KMG-S big concert small tenor ukulele’, which isn’t that snappy a name, but sort of sums it up!

This one is a satin finish mango model. It sounds rich and yet playful, with high G tuning and very nice Uke Logic fluorocarbon strings. It’s articulate, but always maintains some nice warmth. There’s a softness to the edges of the sound, if that makes any sense.

It has a 37mm nut width and geared Grover tuners, with lattice bracing - in an overall light and tidy build that’s nice and resonant. Whether the new size catches on because it is practical, or because people who thought they had one of every size and now have a new one to contend with, remains to be seen!

The ‘Oli L-KMG-S comes with a very nice gig bag. There are some other options at the bottom of the page, like strap buttons and low G fitting, that you can add if desired.