The Sight, The Science, The Sound – Kala Brand Music Co.™

The Sight

The Kala Elite USA captures the eye with its striking beauty

We are using Solid Hawaiian Koa for all of our current offerings. We are using a modern UV finishing process that brings out the unique appearance of each instrument with incredible clarity. The UV finish is sprayed on in thin coats and uses far less material than a typical lacquered instrument. In essence, a UV finish is far less impactful to our environment than other finishes. It also keeps the instrument lightweight while providing a very hard durable finish. The Kala Elite USA instruments range from understated beauty to graceful appointments.

The Wood

Solid Hawaiian Koa, long associated with the ukulele, is the primary wood that we are using to launch the Kala Elite USA ukulele line. We offer 3 levels of Hawaiian Koa, each showing an increasing amount of flame and figuring.

Headplates

Koa and Ebony headplates are used to top the necks of our ukulele. The logo and inlay are CNC'd for a perfect match of parts.

FINGERBOARDS

Using Ebony and Pau Ferro the Kala Elite USA fingerboards are also cut on CNC machines ensuring that each ukulele looks and plays beautifully.

Finish

With each wood we use a different style of UV finishing. The finish is hard and light, protecting the instrument and also bringing out the Chatoyancy of the Koa. Chatoyancy, a term from the French words for “Cat's Eye Effect" describes how the wood grain with certain finishes can achieve a striking three-dimensional appearance similar to a cat's eye.

The Science

The Kala Elite USA is designed and engineered to feel amazing and play easily

The fret spacing, nut placement, and saddle positioning are all calculated to give the Kala Elite USA ukulele the best intonation possible on any ukulele on the planet. This in combination with the Kala 16:1 and 14:1 ratio tuners and fluorocarbon strings allow these ukes the freedom to play tunes...in tune. The concert and tenor feature a 1.5” fingerboard width and custom string spacing that gives your fingers extra room to navigate comfortably on the fretboard. The Honduran Mahogany neck has been contoured and tapered to fit in your hand smoothly and comfortably with plenty of access to low and high notes.

Intonation

Fret spacing, string diameter, string deflection, and several other key variables were taken into account when calculating fret spacing and location to give the Kala Elite USA ukulele line the best intonation of any ukulele on the market.

Neck & Headstock

The Kala Elite USA is designed to give extra space for the hand to come up into the headstock so that fingers can be positioned easily in the first position.

UV FINISHING

Kala has invested heavily into its finish process. We consulted with several key individuals with many years of hands-on experience in finishing instruments using UV-cured finish materials. We are able to apply a thin, stable, and beautiful finish on every instrument.

STRING SPACING

Designed with a wider string spacing than most ukulele, the Kala Elite USA is comfortable and easy to play.

THE SOUND

The Kala Elite USA is created to produce the fullest, richest, and warmest sound

The tops are built to resonate in symphony with the entire instrument. The braces are designed to reduce weight while giving the instrument proper strength and stability. The back is slightly arched to focus the sound up and out of the instrument. The fluorocarbon strings provide a clear, bell-like sound. We are using the string-through bridge string tying method. Instead of the string being tied on top of the bridge, the string is knotted at the end. This makes contact with the underside of the bridge, transferring the string vibration more effectively to the top. This vibration transfer is key to allowing maximum resonance. In essence, a Kala Elite USA ukulele is created to act like an audio speaker cabinet—projecting sound, tone, and musical nuance to the listener.

BRIDGE & STRING ATTACHMENT

The visual elegance of the top is paired with a string-through bridge method, creating a sleek waterfall like effect. Passing the strings through the bridge so they contact directly to the bridge ensures the energy passes directly to the resonating top. This gives a clean look and comfortable feel with no string ends to brush against as you strum.

INDIVIDUALLY BUILT AT KALA, BY KALA

Every instrument is completely built, set up, and inspected at Kala ensuring that you get an instrument that we know was built to be one of the finest ukulele on the planet through the way it looks, the way it is designed, and the way it sounds. The Sight. The Science. The Sound.