23/08/2026
This post might be a bit long but its packed with information!
Back in the olden days (2016-2019), I would look forward to seeing what the KALA USA custom shop came out with for the NAMM show. They had and continue to have some really talented luthiers working there but NAMM would give them a bit more freedom to make one-off and special instruments to get people talking.
In a post Revelator world; Kala have retooled and put all of the focus on the USA custom shop on the Revelator shape and build style so many of these cool 'heritage' designs that Kala championed all those decades ago (literally less than 10 years!).
The 3 Cord strand is the ukulele pictured with a cutaway and it has lots of gorgeous accents and nods to the concept that two strands together are strong but a third strand strengthens the bond further. It was originally launched as a custom ukulele for the band Twenty One Pilots in 2016 (Phil set this uke up once when they were on a UK tour but thats a story for another time).
The Poi Pounder is another really cool concept Elite Ukulele Kala made with detail based around the traditional pestle that Hawaiians used to mash taro into Poi. If you're not familiar with Poi, it is a staple part of the Hawaiian diet and has been for centuries.
Why am I talking about these? Well, Kala have spent the last few years working with a team of luthiers in China to produce faithful reproductions of the old Elite Ukuleles starting with these. As someone who owned and played half a dozen different Elite Ukuleles I am astounded at how similar these are. I think I would struggle to tell them apart.
It's another branch on the big tree for Kala. These are serious Ukuleles that are going to be very serious alternatives to the Rebels, Opios, Flights, L.Luthiers of this world. I have individually listed them because they all look quite unique with really lovely high grade Acacia.
https://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/index/?construction=11&q=3+cord+poi&top_wood=18
