Mele Ukulele

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Mele Ukulele - the web's best source of quality hand-made solid wood ukuleles

Mele Ukulele builds and sells fine ENTIRELY HAND MADE ukuleles at lower prices than ANY of our competitors. Our ukuleles feature outstanding tone and intonation, top quality Hawaiian koa and other fine SOLID tonewoods, and detailed inlay work. We offer a level of quality found elsewhere only in far more expensive "boutique" ukuleles, plus consistency and long-term playability that many of Hawaii's top musicians rely on! Collectors and investors know that a Mele will sound better and better with age, and will not only hold its value, but will appreciate in value as the years go by.
Shop for ukuleles and uke accessories online
Browse through our shopping section, and enjoy choosing from a wide variety of ukulele models sizes as well as uke accessories of all types, from the comfort of your own home!. We carry a wide selection of:

Mele Ukuleles - designed for great sound!
Each Mele ukulele is designed to produce the clear, ringing tones, superb playability and precise intonation that we are famous for. Mele Ukuleles are the ukulele of choice for top Hawaiian entertainers because of these qualities. See what some of Hawaii's top talents say about Mele ukuleles.
Choice hardwoods for clear tone and lasting beauty
We use choice tropical tonewoods such as koa and mahogany, to provide the resonance and beauty that makes Mele ukuleles so special. The most valuable and sought after Hawaiian-built ukuleles have always been made of koa wood, once known as "Hawaiian mahogany". (Koa and mahogany are both hardwoods and members of the acacia family.) Genuine koa is found only in Hawaii and is becoming rare and expensive, so any genuine solid koa uke is an investment in the future.
Our koa ukuleles, as well as having excellent sound qualities, are living works of nature's art, each unique, with its beautiful ripples of color in the koa's grain.
Mahogany, when properly selected and cured, makes for excellent ukuleles with great sound. The great Mainland ukulele makers of times past, such as Martin, Gibson, Washburn, Regal, etc., used mahogany for most of their production. Our mahogany ukuleles are great sellers, combining outstanding performance with great value.
We also use Sitka spruce and Western red cedar tops on some of our ukuleles. These are the most popular woods for guitar tops and they also are excellent for ukes. Cedar imparts a warm, mellow, rich tone and spruce is the choice of many professional virtuoso ukulele players because of its volume, punch and brilliance. Cedar and spruce tops are valued for the distinctive tone qualities and beautiful and distinctive appearance they can impart to a quality hand-built instrument.
Quality construction for years of satisfaction
Mele ukuleles are built to stringent quality standards to provide you with the utmost in satisfaction and value. Each Mele ukulele is a beautiful example of the craftman's work, and will provide you with a lifetime of fun and music.
Hula Ukes; quality at affordable prices!
Not everyone can afford a handmade Mele Ukulele, so we've introduced Hula Ukes for beginners and those on a budget. Hula Ukes are built overseas to Mele's demanding specifications, then each one is individually set up for superb intonation and playability by Michael Rock and his crew at the Mele factory. Hula Ukes student models are constructed of quality mahogany laminates, and the more deluxe models are of solid mahogany and solid Hawaiian koa wood.
Care & Feeding of your Mele
Your Mele Ukulele is a handmade solid wood instrument, just like guitars, violins and other fine stringed instruments costing many thousands! Sometimes our customers don't realize that such instruments should be kept humidified. Please keep your Mele in its case when it's not being played, and use a humidifier (we offer some inexpensive ones for sale) if you live in a very dry climate or heat your home. Aside from this, upkeep is very simple; wipe with a soft cloth occasionally, and slightly loosen the strings when traveling. Enjoy!
Here are 2 videos (from our friends at Taylor Guitars) about the effects that humidity (or lack thereof) can have on your handmade solid wood instrument.

Do you have any questions or comments about ukuleles, music, Hawaii, or whatever? Let us know!

WE LOVE TALKING TO OUR CUSTOMERS!
Also, we have specials, closeouts, seconds, "dents 'n' dings", and other one-of-a-kind items that we can tell you about on the phone but don't always get around to posting on the website.
If you have any questions about our products, if you're having any trouble placing your order, if you feel safer ordering by phone, or if you'd just like to say "Hello!", please feel free to give us a call at (808)244-3938, Mon-Sat 10-5 Hawaii time (4-11pm Eastern).
You can also e-mail us with your phone number and we'll call you; OR; you can fax us your order. Download our order form, fill it out and fax it to (808)242-7625.

Mele Koa Top Tenor
This beautiful handmade professional-quality instrument has a solid Big Island koa top and solid mahogany back and sides. Sounds as great as it looks! Ebony bridge, fingerboard, and binding, 19 nickel frets, 18-to-1 precision diecast nickel-plated Mele tuning machines.
Need a case?

Mele Koa Tenor-4 String
The tenor is the size you'll see the pros playing at luau shows & recording sessions. This one is entirely handmade of choice Big Island Koa wood (aged 2 to 5 years on Maui) with ebony fingerboard, binding & bridge. This is our most popular koa tenor because of its full, rich tone, good looks, and GREAT price! 19 nickel-silver medium frets, geared die-cast 18:1 tuners, D'addario strings. Slim, comfortable mahogany neck (for stability) with non-adjustable steel truss rod.

Mele Koa Top Tenor-6 String
Just like our fabulous mahogany 6-string tenor, except for the beautiful solid Big Island koa top. 19 frets, geared tuners, ebony binding, bridge & fingerboard.

Mele Koa Tenor-6 String
The 6-string tenor uke is a very versatile performer; full, ringing tone for strumming but also great for picking. Entirely handmade of genuine Big Island koa wood. Steel-reinforced mahogany neck. Same great features as the tenor 4, but with 2 extra strings; the "C" (in octaves) and the "A" strings are doubled.
Note the beautiful genuine ebony binding, fingerboard and bridge!

Mele Koa Guitarlele
Our koa baritone with the neck widened and two bass strings added, making it into a miniature nylon-string guitar! The perfect travel companion for the classical guitarist; or any guitarist, for that matter! A unique and wonderful instrument!

Slotted Peghead Koa Tenor 4 w/ Abalone Inlay Purfling
Another one-of-a-kind collector's item from Mele! Our awesome-sounding custom slotted peghead koa tenor with ebony fretboard, bridge and binding, now with hand-inlaid abalone inlay purfling! Great sound, incredible looks. An unbeatable present for a special musician.