Lanikai model SPS-S soprano ukulele, introduced by Lanikai (and purchased) in 2017. The top of the ukulele body is made of two-piece solid spruce, whereas the bottom and sides are made of two-piece laminated rosewood. The uke came with D’Addario strings, which sounded wonderful. However, I prefer the sound and feel of Martin fluorocarbons, so that’s what I currently have it strung with. When I was testing this ukulele in the shop, with its background hustle-and-bustle, I was immediately struck by its clarity and ability to punch through the ambient noise. It rings like a bell, has very nice sustain, and sounds equally good picked or strummed. The ukulele was signed by James Hill after a show in Omaha. James and his wife, Anne Janelle, are an absolutely phenomenal duo.
Label for the Lanikai SPS-S soprano ukulele.
Sound sample for the Lanikai ukulele (.m4a format). It’s an amateurish (both playing and editing) mash-up of gCEA tuning, a portion of Pachelbel’s Canon in D (transposed to C), and a portion of the intro to Iz Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of Over the Rainbow. Recorded on a Blue Snowball USB microphone connected to an iMac and edited using Apple’s GarageBand.