This is a really lovely all solid lacewood Kiwaya KPS-1LW from Japan, which is neatly made, looks classy and sounds like a dream. The lacewood body is richly patterned and gives an almost 3D effect in the grain, shining as it does under the excellent, thin gloss finish.

The KPS-1LW is part of Kiwaya’s ‘Strummer Series’, which is my favourite of theirs despite the name - which implies they’re fun to strum. And they are, but they’re sweet-sounding, melodic, lively and full, and are capable of so much more as well.

This Kiwaya soprano ukulele has Gotoh tuners, excellent Japanese-made units of real quality, and is strung with Worth Brown high G fluorocarbon strings. The nut width is a spacious 37mm, making it more manageable for those who need a little extra space on the fingerboard.

As I write this I have a bad cold so I am not at my most inspired - and therefore my attempts at a poetic description to match what really is a fantastic uke might fall short of the mark… But the way the sound from this KPS-1LW dances with a sparkling delicate nature, before making way for a blush of warmth is really lovely. Well, I tried my best. Now to dispel the image by reaching for the hankies for another sneeze!

I am not sure why it is Kiwaya that is particularly singled out by people who are angered when an expensive uke doesn’t come with a ‘free’ gig bag or hard case. You can add one at the bottom of the page, amongst other easy-to-add extras. You will have to pay for it. But then again, you can choose what you want. Had it had a hard case, it would have been even more expensive. So it’s not really free!