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If it seems to good to be true, it probably is!!
What I have invited is a hand made, all solid koa, made in Hawaii, Concert scale Supersoprano with paua inlay "honu" from a maker called Koa Kolane. Well this is what the maker claims but the price is, even with shipping and import tax, less than a tenth what something like this should cost! I'm more than a little suspicious but it doesn't look like the standard mass produced Ukulele from China so I'm feeling optimistic, (and I'm off my meds).
The proverb has proved true again!! The Ukulele hasn't arrived yet, but in researching something else I have found that is is actually made by Yiwu Skyline Musical instrument Co.,Ltd at no.1 Catfish Creek Village, Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, China. Now I have not checked the atlas but I'm fairly certain that Zhejiang Province doesn't count as part of Hawaii? Also whilst ultimately the end product will have been produced by a person, or persons, it was mass produced in a factory! As I was hoping for a modern "Made in Hawaii" Ukulele and, despite assurances, this clearly isn't, I have said that I don't want it and want my money back. However it is in transit somewhere, and truth to tell as I think it look quite nice, (what I really want is a good reduction in the price), so I'll have to wait and see what happens...
Well officially the seller says he will give me a refund if I sent it back; and if I didn't pay the import tax then it should be returned to sender, but from the picture it looks quite nice and the tax was less than I thought, (so I haven't overpaid as much as I thought I would), so I have paid the tax an will see what it's like before I send it back, (if I do? Though if I keep it, I still think I have overpaid a bit for it and I don't like being lied to).
OK it's here now and it is nice so I think I will keep it. As far as I can see the body is solid koa, (or maybe acacia?) the neck is solid mahogany and the three little turtles are sweet so the only issue apart from the sellers bullshit is the frets are a little sharp.
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