Kamaka HB-2 Bell Shape Concert Ukulele – New

Here at Gryphon, Kamaka’s Concert Ukuleles are more popular than the “original” ukulele, the soprano. For many players this size offers some of the clarity of the soprano with a touch of the warm, round tones of its big tenor sibling. The HB-2, also known as the Ohta-San Model, is an intriguing variation on the standard concert ukulele. This bell-shaped ukulele was designed by Sam Kamaka, Jr. and Herbert Ohta in 1965 and was designed primarily for fingerpicking. The scale length is 16”, an inch longer than the standard concert, and it comes from Kamaka set up with low G string. It has a crisp, clear treble response with a strong, focused bass.

Like all new Kamaka instruments, the HB-2 is impeccably crafted. The top, back and sides are nicely figured Hawaiian koa and they have a thin satin-sheen finish. This shows the koa grain and color to advantage and is yet another example of how the Kamaka crew keeps raising the bar and making their ukuleles even better. It’s fitted with Gotoh UPT gears which make tuning a breeze. Includes a Kamaka hardshell case.