PICKAPICK Concert Ukulele K2, 23 Inch Solid Top Acacia Koa Ukulele with Gig Bag, Strap & Heart Pick – Bright, Balanced Tone, Stylish & Easy to Play

The K2 model is solid Koa top with laminate back and sides. This model has exceptionable sound and construction for a $138 instrument. The top is indeed solid koa, though of lowest grade, with virtually no figuring, rare flame grain, and some evident filled pores. The gloss finish is well done and essentially obscures the filled pores. The laminate back and sides are attractive "select" grade koa with color banding. The construction is excellent: the frets are very nicely dressed, interior seams are tight and free of excess glue, the back has a gentle arch, and the side port gives the player 'ear'. The instrument, with the original equipment strings, has the bright , clear, and colorful sound with good volume, resonance, and sustain that would be expected in a much more expensive koa ukulele. I had purchased earlier versions of the PickAPick UC23 laminate khaya African mahogany concert ukuleles and found them to be acoustically warm and wonderful after minimal modification. My 2022 UC23 instrument [$63] has nicely dressed frets but came with 'throwaway' strings; the blond maple fretboard is uncoated and easily stained. 2025 UC23 model [at $40, I bought two for my grandchildren] has acceptable, but not great, strings, but has poorly dressed sharp edged frets (immediately filed), and the same uncoated fretboard. The K2 has many quality improvements relative to UC23 concert ukuleles. As stated above the fretwork is excellent and the fretboard is nicely finished, with wraparound fret markers. The fluorocarbon strings are of good quality having a nice feel and sound - I have not felt the need to replace them with my usually preferred strings. The tuning machines on the older models were good; on the K2 model they are more firm yet smoother to turn, and also attractive. These concert ukuleles have the same body dimensions. I took a chance on the solid koa topped $138 PickAPick K2 concert uke because I was very pleased with my experience with the all laminate Khaya UC23. The K2 exceeded all expectations. I have no experience with additional PickAPick models which include laminate or solid top spruce and khaya mahogany, and all solid wood spruce, khaya, and koa models, priced up to $298. I have not read any reviews of these offerings.