I just got an AST-4 and it became one of my favorite ukes. I changed the bridge pins for wooden ones, the tuners for graphtech ratio tuners. Put on worth brown Low-G. It has a very warm and cozy sound. It`s a great uke to play while relaxing. It just brings the feeling "I wanna play it laying down on a hammock at the beach".

As always a really great and informative video. Thanks as always Alex. Danny

Have had my Super Tenor for a few months now. I love the rich deep sound and the details to its construction.

Not really heard the full compliment available. Really nice quality and I agree with comments about the super tenor. Thanks a lot for taking the time to showcase the instruments, have a great day. Thanks Mike

I've been watching your videos for over a year. I just realized I'm not subscribed. I fixed that. I'm happily subscribed. Nice to know about this brand. Thank you!

Great demo, thanks have subscribed. 🎼🎼🎼🎼

Thanks for the useful video, which breaks things down nicely. I’m going to have to try an Islander at some point, and see how the wider neck feels to play.

Doesn't take much thinking about. I would have to say that the super tenor would be the one to steal my heart. Yes with that satin finish and that grain pattern and matching it does look remarkably like Walnut. Thank the lord I don't have room for anymore Ukuleles or I would be wanting to buy that one. Because it's not the price tag that's holding me back. £ 159 inc vat, are you sure that's not a typo ? 🙂

Very helpful!

Thanks for presenting this Islander line, Alex! You do so much to stay tuned with the uke biz - great job!!! As I am a player who does look out for more string space on the fret board, Islander is a uke which is always on my radar. I own two laminate ukes of the brand, the AC4 and the MOT4, both sound wonderful (for what they are) - and I reckon the ones presented in your video keep that standard - BUT: there is another truth bout the Islanders rareley a salesman talk about. The pin bridge ALWAYS makes trouble when I change strings - I prefer flourcarbon strings, which are thinner/more sensitive than the Aquila stock strings, and they like to snap. The problem is the scruffy pin bridge hole and the sharp edged "washer" that is supposed to keep the string from sliding through the pins. I know that quite a few of people report that problem with Islanders, and I think it needs to be mentioned. It's a shame that Islander/Kanilea people not seem to care about that problem - the rest of the uke is almost perfectly crafted, but the "signature feature pin bridge" is not, and it is NOT THE SAME SYSTEM like on the proper Kanilea ukes. Pity, I think. Another gripe I had with both of my Islanders: the (open) tuners did not run smooth - they did hold the tone, yes, but the sound and feel they made when turning them caused goose bumps. Didn't feel right. When one "broke" for good, I decided to put Grover tuners on - and I experienced an upgrade on the sound I didn't expect! Maybe I was unlucky with the specific instruments I bought, concerning the tuners, but I own a Flight and a Uma "under 200 quitt" uke, and both have tuners that are of better quality than the Islander ones. BUT: the sound of the Islander laminate, is the one of best "laminate sounds" I could find so far. And the playability, the 38mm nut / 30mm string space and the neck shape, is top nodge anyway!

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback. I can't comment on the machineheads really although if they are not running smoothly they might need an oil... when they arrive to us they are often covered in grease which we clean off for dispatch but that's not to say they don't benefit from a little bit of lube to work properly long term. Is that something you have tried? The pin bridge one is interesting too as I've only ever had a handful of people comment they don't like it. My tip for a Kanile'a pin bridge is to ignore that bead and just tye a really thick triple knot in the string. Then if you have problems with a particular combination of strings turn the bridge pin round on those so that the groove is pointing away from the string. That's what I do with my own Kanile'as and the other 3 ukes I have with bridge pins.

Hi Alex, This was another great video. My favorite is the MST-4. My first ukulele was an MST-4. It is still one of my favorites to this day. I really like the Islander line. I tell people they can get 80% of the Kanilea sound and playability in the Islander line at a much lower price. I also own an MAC-4. Good luck at getting to 10,000 subscribers. I believe you will achieve that goal soon.🙂

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

Great comment Daniel. I have always been quite happy with Islanders understated and simple cosmetic designs because it meant they were kind of an alternative hit that not everyone knew about. It sounds like you're the one who has been telling people how good they are all these years!!!

They all have a crisp sound to them. Not terribly resonant but pleasant. Like the super tenor.

My first proper uke was an Islander and I've just bought my second. I think I might have to get a soprano next to add to the tenor and super tenor. Then there is only one way to go and that's Kanile'a!

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

Go for it!

Looking forward for Alex's dance number ;)

Just subscribed

I have the super concert and love it. Sounds great for a laminate uke. Is there a particular string you’d recommend? Not sure what came on it.

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

Tight clear Fluorocarbon strings like romero us1 or uke logic h-hg-c would be good choices

I've got hobbit hands short fingers so even when I play th F chord sometimes my finger touches the C string maybe the 38 mm nut would help- cheers Alex very useful video ❤❤❤

Am happy with both my MST-4 (early release version which had the Islander logo on the headstock) and my AT-4-EQ acoustic-electric with the Fishman Kula pickup. Interesting that your A-ST-4 has a BLACK nut and a BLACK saddle. This is different from the image on their website. I assume that they are now using Graph Tech's Black Tusq instead of NuBone?

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

Every one we have ever had came with the black Tusq parts... we accidentally received our first batch before they unveiled it at NAMM and the prototype had white parts. That was probably the one photographed.

If islander ever comes out with a sold top electric concert I'd be a happy camper.

Great videos 🤟🏼

Wide nut, chunky neck, satin finish---I'm in! But I think that the abalone rosette looks a bit out of place though.

i shall endeavour to make you dance on camera, thanks for the video!

Super Concert

Hi Alex which is better to buy, Ohana TK50ME solid cedar top or an Islander AST4?

@SouthernUkuleleStore

10 ай бұрын

They are totally different ukes... we haven't done the tk50me, I suspect that the Cedar top uke is the better option

I have a MSS4 solid mahogany soprano. It is my current favorite soprano despite my having much more expensive sopranos in my collection. It is increasing in volume and richness as I play it, and I do so every day. I installed the geared graph tech tuners on it. Don't think I can ever go back to a 35mm nut width. Thanks for the vid.

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

I like the MSS-4... it's a genuinely charming instrument. Good addition with the geared friction tuners too.

@edwardpetersen4309

2 жыл бұрын

@@SouthernUkuleleStore yeah, I like the "earless" look on sopranos . . . concerts as well.

I love the sound of the Islander super tenor, but I have small hands. My main ukulele is a Koaloha. How will this compare as far as the feel of the neck? Thank you.

@SouthernUkuleleStore

Жыл бұрын

Similar nut width but a wider string spacing. If you have a KoAloha Tenor then it shouldn't be that difficult to adjust

@janeeleanor4849

Жыл бұрын

@@SouthernUkuleleStore thank you for your response. I have a concert so I’m not sure.

I need a capo for an Islander AS-4, that will accommodate the rounded back of the fretboard. Can you help me?

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 ай бұрын

Any clamp wooden capo seems to work fine from where I'm sat. Just tried one in store on an old islander in my spares pile.

Was just wondering if there any information

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

I don't know how to reply to this. Please watch the video and check the description, if you have a specific question I'm more than happy to help.

My understanding is that Islander isn't the only brand that carries wide nut widths. Admittedly, there are very few such brands. Perhaps you could do a video focusing on all the wide-nut tenors that you offer?

@SouthernUkuleleStore

2 жыл бұрын

I have done this video in various formats over the years... select Flight models and Cordoba are the more well known affordable options.