Lanikai QM-BLCEC Quilted Cutaway Electric Acoustic Concert Ukulele in Maple Blue

The Lanikai QM-BLCEC is a beautifully crafted cutaway concert ukulele made from gorgeous quilted maple that delivers classic concert uke tone. The QM-BLCEC features a wide nut for a slightly wider neck that makes playing the QM-BLCEC more comfortable. A gorgeous walnut fingerboard offers great response as well, whether you're chording or playing lead. A NuBone nut and saddle also provide tonal support to the already tone-rich maple body. This concert uke is ideal for living room jams or warm nights on the beach around a fire with friends. When you are ready to plug in, the QM-BLCEC Kula electronics deliver stellar amplified tone.

Body & Neck

The first thing we need to address is the gorgeous color and grain that immediately draws the eye to this uke. It sports beautifully figured quilted maple on the top, back and sides, all finished with a distinctive glossy translucent blue stain – aka, the ‘Surf’ finish. Note that a red (Sun) and natural version (Sand) are also available. The attention-to-detail is lovely, with an abalone soundhole rosette and black multi-ply binding giving the uke a protective edge.It’s a concert-sized ukulele, with a single cutaway giving ample access to the highest of the 18 frets that sit on the rosewood fretboard. The generous width of the neck makes this concert uke very playable indeed. 

Hardware

We’ve mentioned that the QM-BLCEC is an electro-acoustic model. It’s loaded with a quality pickup and versatile preamp system in the Fishman Kula, with volume controls, 3-band EQ (bass, middle and treble), and a built-in digital tuner.

It’s pretty hard to fault the rest of the hardware either, which impresses even at this higher-end price point. On the slotted headstock (which matches the body paintwork) is a set of Grover chrome open-gear tuners. The rosewood bridge features a ‘no-tie’ system, allowing for super-fast string changes. You’ll also find a Nubone XB nut and saddle, chrome strap buttons, and D’Addario strings, while it all comes packed in a protective Lanikai foam case. Top marks!

Sound

As far as sound goes, the QM-BLCEC once again impresses. While the woods are laminated, there’s a robust acoustic tone which is bright and clear – exactly what you want from a concert uke, while the bass response is enhanced thanks to the nut and saddle material. Through the Fishman system, this uke’s amplified tone is even and naturally replicated, with the 3-band EQ perfect for shaping the tone as you want it.

Features

• All-maple ukulele features warm and mellow sound
• Kula electronics deliver stellar amplified tone
• Walnut fingerboard is responsive and playable
• Comfortable neck for a variety of hand sizes
• ABS binding provides a beautiful contrast to the maple body
• Chrome die-cast tuning machines provide solid support for staying in tune
• Deluxe Grover® chrome open back tuners for tuning accuracy and keeping the headstock light for player comfort
• Nubone XB® nut and saddle for sustain and tone
• Wide nut and neck profile for player comfort
• Chrome Strap Buttons for safety and comfort
• Cutaway with a Fishman® Kula preamp and tuner
• Single-Ply Black ABS fingerboard binding / White dots
• D'Addario® EJ88 strings for tone and reliability
• Walnut fingerboard and bridge
• 8 hole no tie bridge for easy string changes
• Rosette Abalone single band inlay
• Lanikai black nylon foam case