The Kiwaya KTS-5 is a Japanese made all solid mahogany ukulele, a soprano made in the style of vintage Martin instruments.

Not that I have anything against it, but I am not a player of old time music and it's not what I'd listen to at home. I know lots of players who specialise in this type of music and respect their skills and admire their work, but it's not the kind of music that grabs me... So, when I pick up a Kiwaya KTS-5 and instantly completely understand the appeal of a vintage style, lightly built instrument like this... then it's all the more impressive and testament to the quality of its construction and tone.

The fitted Fremont black lines emphasise the smooth rich sound of this Kiwaya, which gives a lovely traditional bark that then ebbs away in mahogany warmth.

This satin finish soprano has Gotoh UPT tuners fitted... really excellent units that are compact and light, fit the vintage aesthetic but contain gears that are smooth and effective. The ebony fingerboard is so smooth it's almost like stone, making it pleasurable to explore the 17 fret, 36mm nut-width neck - which has a relatively thin profile (which I always find helps my fingers come down more vertically onto the fretboard, making it feel more spacious).

So, despite being a player of more modern music myself, this soprano really makes me 'get' while people would love and appreciate a fine quality instrument like the Kiwaya KTS-5.

For a video demo of the Kiwaya KTS-5 soprano ukulele, click additional info below.

For common accessories and customisations (like strap buttons / low G fitting) scroll down to the bottom of the page where you'll be able to add these common items to your basket.