Tanglewood TWT8 Tiare Koa Concert Ukulele, Natural Satin Finish

Koa, the classic ukulele wood, in a concert body

Koa and the ukulele go back a long way, and the Tanglewood TWT8 puts that wood into a modern concert body. The top, back and sides are all koa. If you have always wanted a koa ukulele but did not want to pay a premium, this is the one to look at.

What koa sounds like

Koa is bright but not harsh. You get sparkle on top and a sweet midrange, and the character tends to warm up as the instrument is played. The concert size is the middle option between soprano and tenor, so there is a good amount of volume without losing the lively feel. The back is arched.

Playing it

The neck is mahogany and the Eboncore fingerboard is smooth. Chrome die-cast tuners stay accurate. It works for fast strumming, but it also rewards fingerpicking, where the clear notes stand out.

Appearance

Koa has a shimmering grain, and the natural satin finish keeps it visible. A maple and mahogany rosette adds a neat detail around the soundhole.

Who it suits

The TWT8 is for players who have outgrown their first ukulele and want a proper tonewood. It is also a fine gift for anyone who loves Hawaiian music. If you play fingerstyle or melody lines, the clear voice of the koa will repay the extra spend over the entry level models.

• Koa top, arched back and sides
• Concert body size
• Eboncore fingerboard
• No electronics, acoustic only

Want to plug in? The TWT8 E has the same koa body with TEQ-TUT electronics, at £199. For a darker sound at the same £129, try the flame mahogany TWT6. The TWT8 is for players who care about tradition and tone more than extras.