- Pro-Classic Series Rosewood: gloss

- Pro-Classic Series Acacia: gloss

- Pro-Classic Series Mahogany: gloss

Q - Are Pono Guitars and ‘Ukuleles made by the Ko’olau Guitar and ‘Ukulele Company? What's the difference?

A - Yes, Ko'olau makes Pono, but not in Wahiawa. We actually spend much of the year working in our other factories. We personally manage and oversee all of our Pono manufacturing. All designs and styles are patterned after our Ko'olau instruments, and manufacturing techniques are supervised on a daily basis by our staff in Hawaii.

Ko'olau models have become our "custom" line of instruments. They are only available on special order, and normally take several months to complete. So several years ago we decided to retain our very limited production of Ko'olau instruments, but to accomodate a larger customer base with a duplicate line of guitars and ukuleles named Pono.
Of course with any manufactured product that is "mass" produced, there will be more problems. As much as we enforce strict quality control measures our Pono models will still have more issues than Ko'olau. But for an all solid wood instrument, very closely duplicating Ko'olau (we use our same molds, tooling, and dimensions), most of our customers feel they have a well constructed, professional, and asthetically beautiful instrument at a very affordable price.

In the past, stringed instruments made in Asian countries were thought of as cheap and of poor quality. But times have changed. Actually, much of the problem was due to European and American contractors (large production guitar manufacturers) who commissioned Asian manufacturers to make cheap guitars, ukuleles, and violins. So they accomodated our needs. But things have changed. You can still buy inexpensive products from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam (actually about everything we own). But those countries also manufacture some of the finest quality stringed instruments in the world. Most high end instruments remain in their own country, bought and played by their own middle and upper class musicians.

Although we proudly hate to admit it, Asian craftsmanship sometimes surpasses the quality of our own domestic products. Not always ... but what used to be the slogan "if it's made in America, it's the best" is not always true these days. Yes, some fine quality workmanship is still available in the US, but various factors such as costs of operation and pride in craftsmanship (or a lack of it) have caused a shift of manufacturing to other countries.

But aside from where our Pono instruments are made, we are personally involved in each phase of production, spending considerable time overseeing operations. In fact we daily monitor manufacturing, and then conduct a thorough inspection of every Pono instrument first at our overseas factories, and then again perform a similar inspection and set-up at our factory in Hawaii. So, with that being said, yes, Ko'olau makes Pono.

Q - The fret ends on my Pono ukulele are sharp, and I read that other customers have experienced the same problem. Why is this a problem on an instrument that's considered high quality?

A - On occasion we hear a customer question how a flaw or defect could have passed through so many levels of quality control. No matter where anything is made there will be problems, and defects slip by. But what's important is that a manufacturer stand behind what they make. Whenever there are defects due to faulty craftsmanship we will repair or replace the instrument. Our record of quality customer service speaks for itself.

As for sharp fret ends, be assured that Pono ukuleles NEVER leave our factory (or follow-up inspection stations) with sharp fret ends. In fact, all final end fret work must pass what we call the "baby butt" inspection. Frets are meticulously filed, sanded, and buffed until they are as smooth as a babies little behind, or as we say in Hawaii "okole."

Regardless, your fret ends are sharp. Again, they were not sharp here, and the reason they became sharp is that your instrument is now in a new climate. Your fretboard is made of wood, and your frets are metal, and and wood and metal expand and contract differently.

Actually, since the fret is metal is does not really expand or contract, because it does not transpire moisture. Again, the fret stays the same. But woods change, and in this case, they shrink when they get dry. We build all Ko'olau and Pono guitars and ukuleles in a controlled atmosphere of 40% to 50% humidity. Luthiers have to find a balanced environment to build, knowing their instruments will be going to either dry or moist environments.

Regardless of the weather outside, our factories are controlled, always at the same 40% to 50% humidity level. If your instrument remains in Hawaii, or goes anywhere on the earth where humidity levels are higher than 50% then the fingerboard wood will expand. Which is not as bad as when your humidity levels are far below 40% which will cause shrinkage. Taking in moisture and expanding is ok, but shrinking is not.

As for the fretboard, and sharp fret ends, if there is too much humidity the frets can possibly become dislodged from the slot, thus needing to be reset. And due to the fingerboard becoming wider (expanding), there will be a slight gap between the end of the fret and the edge of the fingerboard. This looks bad and may need a little adjustment, but not a big problem.

However when humidity is low, woods shrink. And this can cause severe problems. Complaints come in, and we hear of negative chat line discussions about sharp fret ends. This occurs, not because the instrument left our shop with sharp ends, but instead because the fretboard has shrunk. Remember, the fret does not shrink, but instead it protrudes off the edge and feels sharp.

Most of our customers say "but I take good care of my instrument, I even have dehumidifiers in my case." And that's good, but when your humidity is naturally 20% to 40% or less (such as in most of the western US states), or becomes low due to heating and air conditioning (which is the rest of the country), then regardless of how many humidifiers you have your instrument woods will shrink. The good news is that eventually your instrument will acclimate to your environment, but in the meantime it will expand and contract. Back to the fingerboard, whether it's a $200 guitar or ukulele, or $4000, fret ends will protrude and be sharp if the fingerboard has shrunk.

To illustrate and readily show the above explanation, you could turn on your bathroom shower (hot water). Leave it on for as long as you feel comfortable wasting hot water. Set your guitar or ukulele in the bathroom and close the door (not in the shower, but somewhere in the bathroom). After turning off the water in about 10 or 15 minutes, continue to leave the instrument in the bathroom for an hour or so to fully absorb any left over moisture. In most cases you will immediately feel your frets less sharp because your fingerboard has now expanded.

Obviously this is not the solution to maintaining your instrument every day. But this will allow you to see what happens when your fingerboard has now expanded due to humidity.

After your instrument is again back in its natural environment, and after a few days the fret ends are sharp again you will need to have your frets "dressed" as they say. A qualified luthier repairperson will not only level and crown the top of the frets, but more importantly trim the edges to match the new width of your fingerboard. This may be necessary a few times over the next couple of years, but eventually the fingerboard will settle in and stop what is termed transpiration, or the release of moisture and resins.

Q - The bridge came off. I bought my ukulele three years ago and the bridge came off. I thought this was a high quality instrument?

A - This may sound like a lame excuse, but the bridge is supposed to come off, especially under adverse conditions. If you noticed, it's glued on, not screwed on. We could screw them down, but believe it or not, we want the bridge to come off when the instrument has experienced traumatic circumstances. Again, this may sound like a dumb excuse, but it's true.

Your instrument is under a lot of stress, many pounds of tension (35 lbs to 55 lbs depending on size of ukulele, and a guitar up to 100 lbs) when all strings are tuned up. Because of that tension, when your guitar or ukulele is subjected to some sort of damage (being dropped, thrown, banged against the wall, left in hot or cold weather, left in a hot car or trunk, and a multitude of other adverse circumstances) ... something has to give. If your bridge is screwed down, either the neck will crack or come loose, or the top will pull up and not only crack but also break loose all internal bracing. So, a bridge is designed to come off. You might call it the "pressure" valve. Rather than the whole thing blowing up, only the bridge comes off. As long as you are not in it's path when it comes off, everything will be ok ..... it can easily be repaired.

When this happens, be assured it happens to guitars and ukuleles worth many thousands of dollars. Again, it's ok, it can be fixed. But it should be repaired by a qualified luthier repair person. Although it's a relatively simple repair, it still must be done right or the instrument can be ruined.

Q - Pono instruments are made in China and Indonesia.

A - This is not really a question, but a comment we sometimes hear or seen written. And it deserves clarification.

Ko'olau and Pono luthiers have many years of experience in the construction of very high end classical and steel string guitars. Pono instruments are not simply a cheap “import” but instead, made with the same pride and integrity as our Ko'olau models. Times have changed, and so has the quality of production throughout the world. So as mentioned above, it's not so much an issue as to where something is made, but instead, who made it. One of the major US guitar manufacturers now has higher quality guitars made in Asia than their US factory. Why? It appears to make no sense, since the US worker is paid 30 times more than the Asian worker. Could it be a work ethic? Attitude?

Asian, Central, and South American work forces, at least for now, appear to be similar to western countries a hundred years ago, back when people appreciated just having a job. They worked long hard hours, took few breaks, and never just took the day off with frivolous excuses. As good and fair as it is to have benefits, they knew nothing of paid vacations, sick leave, workman's compensation, health insurance, temporary disability insurance, and whatever other incentives are now available to western workers. So, without going any deeper into the politics and history of labor, finding anything made in the US that is high quality (and affordable) may soon be a thing of the past. We can continue to provide technological design and cultural liaison services, but to actually put a product together we need willing workers. Sadly, our new generation of children are certainly not going to get dirty cutting and gluing wood all day, no matter how much you pay them. So yes, like most of everything we own, some of our instruments are made in other countries.

But there are still manufactured products from the US and Hawaii. We are proud of our Ko'olau line of instruments. The popularity and success of our Pono instruments is not simply a clever marketing ploy, but in fact due to our many years of experience at building Ko'olau instruments and working to maintain our high standards of excellence. We do not just buy instruments from someone and put our name on it. All Pono ukuleles are patterned after our Ko'olau models. Our Hawaii operations provide engineering design and on site supervisory liaison assistance to accomplish the manufacture of a high quality musical instrument.

And our Pono workers have the same meticulous and conscientious attitude that we have in Hawaii. We consider our Pono and Ko'olau ukuleles similar to the duo level auto makers such as Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infinity, and Honda/Acura. Both are made by the same manufacturer, but made in various locations around the world, and both are very high quality.

Here is an interesting quote that we read recently. "I have a dream ..... that one day 'ukulele players will not judge an 'ukulele by the location of its fabrication, but they will judge the 'ukulele by the content of its voice"

So, whether it's a Ko'olau made here on Oahu, or a Pono from our other factories, the goal remains the same, high quality.

Q - Do you make “Pono” guitars?

A - Yes, a new line of Pono guitars will be complete and available early 2012. See "Pono Updates" for more information. They will be available directly from Ko'olau Guitar and 'Ukulele, on a custom order basis only.

    Pono Guitars 2012 Spec Preview

Q – What amplification do you offer for guitars and ukuleles?

A - All Pono ‘ukuleles are available with our “Pono” brand undersaddle transducer passive pickup. We have them custom made for us by a reputable guitar pickup manufacturer in Korea. These days it seems that Korea is on the cutting edge of stringed instrument amplification. We install what is known as "passive" pickups. They are designed for a direct conductance of tone and vibration, and thus have no internal pre-amp or battery. This decision was not only to keep costs down, but our passive system is actually the finest quality “stand alone“ pickup we have tested (stand alone meaning without a preamp). In certain settings, at high level professional amplification, an external outboard preamp may be used in combination with a passive pickup, creating an improved tone and volume. A variety of outboard Pre-Amps are available at any music store. As a custom order we will install an L.R.Baggs Element pickup.

Q - Do Pono instruments have a warranty?

A - Yes, warranty is extended to the original retail purchaser for one year from the date of purchase. Warranty covers defects in materials and/or workmanship. Upon initial receipt of your new instrument, if you are not satisfied you may return it within three days, in original condition to the Authorized Dealer you purchased it from, for a full refund, no questions asked. Afterward, our limited warranty is valid for one year from the date of purchase. A “limited” warranty is designed to cover manufacturer defects. Warranty does not include shipping costs, neglect (including improper climate control and humidity regulation), abuse, strings, finishes, fret wear, or machine head tuners. Pickups and all electronic components have a one year warranty. Proof of original purchase will be necessary for any claims. All return shipping costs will be the responsibility of owner.

Q - What should I do if there is a problem with my instrument?

A - We suggest that you retain your original sales receipt, and also make a copy. This must be included when returning your instrument for a repair covered under warranty.

If you experience a problem with your instrument it is best to contact the Authorized Dealer where you bought the instrument. They may be able to resolve the problem without the need to return your instrument to our factory, which will save you the expense of return shipping. However, you may contact us personally anytime with any questions about your instrument.

If it is determined that your instrument should be returned to our factory here on Oahu we will issue you a Return Authorization file number. This number must be legibly written on the box. Please include a short note of explanation of what you feel is the problem. Also include your contact information, including name, address, phone number, and email address. Again, please include a copy of your original sales receipt.

Please note: You, the purchaser are responsible for shipping costs. Upon receipt we will examine your instrument, and determine if the problems you have noted are due to faulty craftsmanship on our part, or possibly due to environmental factors such as humidity or lack of it, or other possible issues of misuse. If it is determined that problems are due to faulty craftsmanship, we will repair your instrument (usually within 30 days) and return it to you, and we will cover the cost of repairs and return shipping (if covered under warranty).

Note: If upon examination of your instrument we determine that issues are NOT related to faulty craftsmanship on our part, but instead due to either misuse or adverse environmental climate control of your instrument, we will notify you immediately of the cost of repairs and the cost of return shipping. Upon receipt of payment for repairs and return shipping costs, we will proceed with repairs, and return your repaired instrument to you within 30 days.

If you choose not to have your instrument repaired, upon receipt of return shipping costs we will have your instrument shipped back to you.

Q - Where are Pono Guitars and ’Ukuleles be available?

A – We have a network of domestic and foreign dealers throughout North America, Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan. Please see our website under “Authorized Dealers” for each listing. They offer all Pono 'Ukulele models.