Lanikai MA-CET

I am always happy when I get the chance to try both the acoustic and electro-acoustic versions of the same model. It lets me compare two ukuleles that are roughly 90% identical and see whether there is any difference in playing feel or sound. That is what happened with Lanikai's mahogany tenor as well. Not long ago I tested the acoustic version (Lanikai MA-T), and this time its electro-acoustic sibling, the MA-CET, came into my hands.

A simple white binding runs around the laminated mahogany body and nicely emphasizes the instrument's outline. As with Lanikai's other mahogany models, the color itself is something you can admire and almost get lost in; looking at it gives the impression that the wood has real depth. I do not think the factory photographs are particularly good, because they fail to capture the beauty of the mahogany. In the video below, however, you will see how beautiful the instrument really is.

So let us look at the differences between the acoustic and electro-acoustic tenor members of the Lanikai MA family. Both differences are obvious. One is the body shape: the acoustic model has a symmetrical body, while the electro-acoustic version has a cutaway. I would be impressed by anyone who, listening with their eyes closed, could reliably tell these two Lanikais apart by sound. In my opinion there is practically no difference at all. The second difference is obviously the built-in electronics, which include a tuner plus volume and tone controls on the upper side of the ukulele, with the output jack on the lower side. I have read comments claiming that electronics serve no purpose other than allowing manufacturers to install a HUF 2,000 component and sell the same ukulele for HUF 15,000 more. I disagree for several reasons. First, we do not actually know the material and production cost of the component — the electronics — but it is certainly more than HUF 2,000. Installation at the factory is not free either, so labor has a cost. If we bought electronics separately and took an instrument somewhere to have them installed, including labor we would probably end up paying roughly the same as buying the ukulele with factory-installed electronics in the first place. The other reason I trust factory-installed electronics more is that the manufacturer knows exactly how and where to install, drill and cut into that specific model, and if they make a mistake, that instrument does not leave the factory. But what happens if we take our beloved acoustic ukulele in for conversion and, heaven forbid, an "accident" occurs during the work? Do not misunderstand me: there are excellent workshops and highly skilled specialists, but even with the greatest care something can happen that we would rather avoid. I, for example, would never have my ten-year-old koa concert Lanikai converted into an electro-acoustic instrument...

For this MA-CET I made the sort of test video I rarely film because the process is a little lengthy and not especially exciting. This time I did it so that you could see that good-quality instruments leave the Lanikai factory only after strict quality control. The test was simple: with the help of a separate "independent expert", namely a clip-on tuner, I checked each string one by one at selected frets to see how accurately the instrument intonated. It was not entirely easy because, being a new instrument, the strings went out of tune very quickly, so I had to retune almost continuously and check the pitch several times while fretting at different positions. Unsurprisingly, this ukulele was extremely accurate too. In the recording you will see that at most frets the instrument is dead on, and perhaps at only one or two did the tuner's needle move by about a tenth — comfortably within acceptable tolerance. So it is no exaggeration to say that this level of accuracy is excellent for a mass-produced instrument. Take a look:

This instrument was also available from the Ukulele.hu webshop.

The webshop also included a short guide to choosing a ukulele, and I was happy to help personally by email or Facebook direct message as well .