Pono Guitars & 'Ukuleles:

Pono Guitar & ‘Ukulele Retail Price
January 2008

   Our goal throughout the years has been to provide the highest quality stringed instruments available. In addition to our custom Ko’olau line of guitars and ‘ukuleles, we produce our more affordable “Pono” line, yet strictly retaining the same high standard of craftsmanship. With the flood of “imported” stringed instruments, some no doubt feel that Pono guitars and ‘ukuleles are yet another cheap import. I would like all of our customers to know that we personally spend much time and effort in our Indonesian factory, on the island of Java, instructing in Ko’olau techniques of instrument making, and teaching our high level of craftsmanship and strict quality control. And besides methods of construction to optimize tone and volume, we stress the importance of cosmetic beauty. It is of interest to note that only the finest grades of quartersawn hardwoods, such as Mahogany, Rosewood, and Ebony are selected for Pono instruments. And even more noteworthy is the fact that cedar and spruce for our tops is imported from Canada and Alaska, however only 20% pass our stringent requirements of density, grain patterns, flexibility, and cosmetic aesthetics. This is virtually unknown, especially in the Asian import market. We could cut corners, as they say, but our goal for Pono instruments is the same as it has been for Ko’olau, to produce the highest quality regardless of costs incurred. Obviously the increased cost factor is passed on to our customers. But our customer base is discriminating and selective, not simply “shopping” around for the least expensive instrument on the market. So we have enjoyed this liberty to “go out on a limb” you might say, to push the possibilities and potential, especially in the world of ‘ukuleles. We are proud of the fact that all of our instruments are made of solid woods. We could sell far more guitars and ‘ukuleles by lowering our prices, using laminate woods, but again, we choose to provide another level to a different customer. Along with this philosophy we have incurred some problems, namely wood related issues. Plywood guitars and ‘ukuleles are easy to both build, and to maintain. Solid woods, though sounding better, and aging like good wine, are more sensitive to humidity (or the lack of it) and subsequent warpage, cracking, and separation. But we are willing to accept this responsibility, provided our instruments are cared for and maintained properly. Again, the only way to avoid these problems is to use plywood laminates, or plastics. We have chosen to stay “solid.” We assure our customers a guarantee of satisfaction with a limited warranty. The term limited is used to protect against deliberate neglect and abuse.
  We appreciate any suggestions and feedback. Much of your input has been incorporated into the continued refinement and success of both our Ko’olau and Pono line of instruments.

  In Hawaiian, “pono” is defined as goodness and excellence. Using a variety of woods, our Pono instruments have the classic warm tone and projecting volume of guitars and ‘ukuleles of yesteryear.

  As mentioned, we use the finest grade of solid woods for body, neck, binding, purflings and bridges, bone for nut and saddle, mother of pearl for our logo and fingerboard position markers, and high quality Grover tuning machines. Finishes are not merely minimal coatings to produce sheen, but instead we perform the same professional procedure as our Ko’olau line, with applications of pore filler, sealer, finish coats, final wet sanding and buffing, all resulting in a stunningly beautiful instrument.
  All guitars and ‘ukuleles include a Ko’olau hardshell case.

  Electronic amplification is available on most Pono models. On our Ko’olau line we offer a variety of pickup options, however for Pono instruments we have decided to offer a high quality “passive” saddle transducer pickup. Although excellent as a “stand alone” pickup, a more enhanced amplification is possible by “activation” easily accomplished by adding a battery powered preamp to the already existing system. A Pono brand Outboard Preamp is available.

  Pono instruments are professionally designed and handcrafted by the Ko’olau Guitar & ‘Ukulele Company. Manufacturing is on the island of Java, with final adjustments and set-up on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

Pono ‘Ukuleles:
“O” Series: Solid Mahogany wood top, back, and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, “rope” rosette inlay, bone nut and saddle, pearl fingerboard dots, Grover tuners, Ko’olau Gold Strings. Gloss or Satin finish. Includes a Ko’olau Hardshell Case.
Model:	Retail List:
PSO Soprano Gloss	369.95
PSO-E Soprano w/pickup Gloss	464.95
PSO Soprano Satin	359.95
PSO Soprano w/pickup Satin	454.95
PCO Concert Gloss	389.95
PCO-E Concert w/pickup Gloss	484.95
PCO Concert Satin	379.95
PCO-E Concert w/pickup Satin	474.95
PTO Tenor Gloss	399.95
PTO-E Tenor w/pickup Gloss	494.95
PTO Tenor Satin	389.95
PTO-E Tenor w/pickup Satin	484.95
PTO-CE Tenor cutaway w/pickup Gloss	584.95
PTO-CE Tenor cutaway w/pickup Satin	574.95
PBO Baritone Gloss	449.95
PBO-E Baritone Gloss	544.95
PBO Baritone Satin	439.95
PBO-E Baritone Satin	534.95

Mahogany Delux Series: Solid Mahogany or Solid Spruce top, solid Mahogany back, and sides, ebony binding, abalone rosette inlay, ebony faceplate, fingerboard, and bridge, bone nut and saddle, pearl logo and fingerboard position dots. Grover Mini-Rotomatic tuners with ebony buttons on 4-String models, and Grover Open-Gear on 6-String and 8-String models. Ko'olau Gold Strings, gloss finish, and includes a Ko'olau Hardshell Case.
PT Tenor 4-String Gloss	499.95
PT-E Tenor 4-String w/pickup Gloss	594.95
PTS Tenor with Spruce top Gloss	549.95
PTS-E Tenor with Spruce top and pickup Gloss	644.95
PT6 Tenor 6-String Gloss	499.95
PT6-E Tenor 6-String w/pickup Gloss	594.95
PT8 Tenor 8-String Gloss	529.95
PT8-E Tenor 8-String w/pickup Gloss	624.95
PB Baritone Gloss	549.95
PB-E Baritone w/pickup Gloss	644.95

Exotic Island Series: Beautiful and sustainable woods from south pacific islands. Tenor and Baritone size, top and back binding, abalone rosette, ebony fingerboards and bridges, bone nut and saddle, and Grover mini-rotomatic tuners. Selected models have a cutaway body and factory installed Pono pickup. Custom hardshell case.
Mango Delux: Solid curly and spalted Mango back and sides, solid Spruce top, ebony binding.
PTMS (abalone top purfling)	659.95
PTMS-E (abalone top purfling) with pickup	754.95
PTMS-CE Tenor cutaway with pickup	749.95
PBMS-CE Baritone cutaway with pickup	799.95
Rosewood Delux: Solid Rosewood back and sides, solid Cedar top, Maple binding.
PTRC-CE Tenor cutaway with pickup	689.95
PBRC-CE Baritone cutaway with pickup	729.95
Ebony Delux: Solid Macassar Ebony back and sides, solid Spruce top, Maple binding.
PTES-CE Tenor cutaway with pickup	729.95
PBES-CE Baritone cutaway with pickup	769.95

Hawaiian Stencil Art Series: 'Ukuleles with Hawaiian tropical island scenes stencil painted on top, retro of the 1930's using original stenciling techniques along with high quality solid woods and professional craftsmanship. Designs are similar to early Hawaiian and Tahitian wood cuts, and incorporate both artistic designs of Susan Kitakis and graphic computer art talents of Ajita White. The first in our series is a young man on the beach, leaning against a palm tree, playing his 'ukulele with the beauty of the setting sun, named "'ukulele mele" The second model is named "hoe wa'a" (paddler) depicting a canoe paddler on a serene moonlit evening. Model number three is named "Lawai'a" (fisherman), a common scene in Hawaii, with his beautiful wife on the beach. This model has rosewood top and back binding. And the fourth is simply named "I'a" (pronounced ee-ah, which in Hawaiian is fish), from an awesome and beautiful woodcut of fish from the Polynesian islands. Currently, all will be available in a Soprano size 'ukulele, and possibly other sizes in the future. Although retro of 'ukuleles long ago, these are not toys or cheap souveniers. Construction is solid mahogany back and sides, and solid spruce top, bone nut and saddle, and Grover friction tuners. PSO-H Lawai'a includes Rosewood top and back binding. Satin Finish. As with all Pono 'ukuleles, includes a hardshell case.
PSO-H Soprano "Ukulele Mele"	399.95
PSO-H Soprano "Hoe Wa'a"	399.95
PSO-H Soprano "Lawai'a"	449.95
PSO-H Soprano "I'a"	399.95

Hawaiian Koa Series: Solid Hawaiian Koa top, back, and sides. Koa faceplate, ebony fingerboard and bridge, pearl logo and fingerboard position dots. Style #1 has select figured Koa with rope rosette inlay, Grover open geared tuners. Style #2 is figured and curly Koa with abalone rosette inlay and top and back ebony binding, Grover mini-rotomatic tuners with ebony buttons. Two very special new models are the PKC-500 Concert and PKT-500 Tenor 'ukulele, using our finest quality curly Koa, top and back abalone purfling, and faceplate/fingerboard pearl and abalone inlay of Pikake (Jasmine) flowers and vine. Ko'olau Gold Strings, gloss finish, and all models include a Ko'olau Hardshell Case. NOTE: The beauty of Koa wood is due to its extreme variety of colors and grain patterns. Various shades of brown and red color, along with many different figures of grain are normal for Acacia Koa. Because of this inherant property, no two instruments will be perfectly alike in appearance. Thus, all photos are samples of models and in most cases will not be the actual instrument available.
PKS 1 Soprano	499.95
PKS 1-E Soprano	594.95
PKS 2 Soprano	759.95
PKS 2-E Soprano w/pickup	854.95
PKC 1 Concert	534.95
PKC 1-E Concert w/pickup	629.95
PKC 2 Concert	789.95
PKC-500 “Pikake” Concert Solid curly Koa top, back, and sides, curly maple fingerboard, headstock, flame maple top and back binding. Top and back abalone purfling, abalone rosette. Koa faceplate and ebony fingerboard with pearl/abalone Pikake (Jasmine) vine and flower inlay. Ebony bridge, bone nut and saddle. Grover mini-rotomatic tuners with ebony buttons. Includes a Ko'olau Hardshell Case.	1399.95
PKC 2-E Concert w/pickup	884.95
PKT 1 Tenor	599.95
PKT 1-E Tenor w/pickup	694.95
PKT 1-CE Tenor cutaway w/pickup	774.95
PKT 2 Tenor	859.95
PKT 2-E Tenor w/pickup	954.95
PKT-500 "Pikake" Tenor	1579.95
PKT6 1 Tenor 6-String	629.95
PKT6 1-E Tenor 6-String w/pickup	724.95
PKT8 1 Tenor 8-String	659.95
PKT8 1-E Tenor 8-String w/pickup	754.95
PKB 1 Baritone	649.95
PKB 1-E Baritone w/pickup	744.95
PKB 2 Baritone	899.95
PKB 2-E Baritone w/pickup	994.95

Mango Series: Solid curly Mango top, back, and sides. Mango faceplate, ebony fingerboard and bridge, pearl logo and fingerboard postion dots, rope rosette inlay, Grover tuners, gloss finish.
PSM Soprano	439.95
PSM-E Soprano with pickup	534.95
PCM Concert	459.95
PCM-E Concert with pickup	554.95
PTM Tenor	489.95
PTM-E Tenor with pickup	584.95
PTM-CE Tenor cutaway with pickup	664.95
PTM6-E Tenor 6-String with pickup	569.95
PTM8-E Tenor 8-String with pickup	599.95
PBM-E Baritone with pickup	634.95

Pono Guitars: All Pono steel string guitars are made of high quality, solid woods. Ebony fingerboards, bridges, and bridge pins (with pearl inlay). Bone nut and saddles, and include a Ko’olau custom Hardshell Case. Currently we are making four "OO" size acoustic parlor models, both Koa and Mango, and both available with a cutaway body. In addition to acoustic guitars, two semi-hollow thin body electric models are available, patterned after our Ko'olau 'IO model, with one single soundhole in the upper bass side, and an active saddle transducer amplification system with volume, bass, and treble controls. Both are made of solid mahogany, ebony fingerboard and bridge, ebony top binding, bone nut and saddle, and Grover mini-rotomatic tuners with ebony buttons. Model PG 'IOM has a beautiful curly and spalted Mango top wood. Model PG 'IOB is similar with a solid spruce top and the entire instrument finished in gloss black. All acoustic models have an ebony fingerboard and bridge, ebony top and back binding, rope marquetry purfling, abalone rosette inlay, vintage style ebony bridge, and Grover mini-rotomatic tuners with ebony buttons. Gloss finish. Scale length: 24 3/4" (628mm) Body width: 13 13/16" (352mm) Acoustic Body depth: 4" (102mm) Semi-Hollow Body depth: 2" (52mm) Fingerboard width at nut: 1 3/4" (45mm)
PG 'IOB - Solid Spruce top semi-hollow body electric	999.00
PG 'IOM - Mango top semi-hollow body electric	959.00
PGK - Solid curly Koa top, back, and sides.	1749.00
PGKC – Cutaway body.	1795.00
PGM - Solid curly Mango top, back, and sides.	1249.00
PGMC - Cutaway body	1329.00

Cases: Hardshell Case, plush velvet interior, durable black vinyl cover, nickel plated latches and hinges.
Soprano	79.95
Concert	81.95
Tenor	84.95
Baritone	96.95
Guitar	126.95

.:New, Oahu "Universal" fit 'Ukulele Cases:.

Your new Ko'olau or Pono is warranted to the original retail purchaser to be free from defect materials and workmanship. All Ko'olau Guitars and 'Ukuleles are warranted for the life of the instrument, to the original owner. All Pono brand instruments are warranted for five years from the date of purchase.

Warranty Conditions, Exclusions, and Limitations:

1. Any signs of alteration, absence of serial numbers, abuse, misuse neglect, improper storage, exposure to extreme heat, cold, or accident shall void this warranty. Shipping damages are not covered under this warranty.

2. Electronics: if your Ko'olau or Pono is equipped with an electronic pickup, with or without an EQ system these components shall be warranted to be free of defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year. Batteries if required are not covered under this warranty.

3. Normal wear and tear, with respect to frets, strings, plating, pick guards and tuning machines are not covered under this warranty. Wood discoloration and finish changes due to natural aging process are not covered under this warranty.

4. Any warranty claim must be accompanied by retail purchase documentation, proof of purchase from an authorized Ko'olau and Pono dealership, and warranty will be limited to original purchaser only.

5. In the event that an instrument is determined by Ko'olau Guitar and 'Ukulele Company to be defective beyond repair due to defects in material or workmanship, Ko'olau Guitar and 'Ukulele Company reserves the right to replace the instrument with the same model or an existing model that would be considered comparable in features and value.

 For further questions and inquiries: