New Gear: The Resonant and Versatile ‘Oli L-CMG-S Mango Concert Uke
BY EDDIE SCHER | FROM THE SPRING 2026 ISSUE OF UKULELE
I really can’t remember the last time I picked up a new ukulele and got caught up in the pure fun of playing. But after I grabbed this ‘Oli mango concert uke out of the case and tuned it up, I just lost myself for about 20 minutes. I didn’t even properly look at the thing. I finally returned to reality when I started wondering, “What am I playing?” Turns out I was enjoying a straightforward, old-school approach to lutherie that was executed brilliantly.
‘Oli is a new ukulele company started by Andrew Kitakis of the Hawaii-based music store The Ukulele Site. These instruments are designed by Kitakis and built in conjunction with master luthier Ryan Condon at a long established ukulele factory on the island of Java in Indonesia. ‘Oli launched in 2024, offering more than 60 different models, including soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone sizes with a wide variety of tonewoods, including acacia, mango, myrtle, and cedar.
The ‘Oli Mango Concert Satin (L-CMG-S) I received for this review is among its most basic, and therefore affordable, models. There are L1, L2, and L3 models as well, and the higher tier models have options like arm bevels, radiused fretboards, ornate binding, purfling, carbon fiber truss rods, side soundports, and exotic wood options like ebony, rosewood, cocobolo, and sinker cypress.
The Look
This uke is a relatively unadorned affair with an all-solid body and neck in a satin finish that shows off the wild roiling curl of the mango wood. There is something downright chaotic looking about the grain, flame, and bearclaw in the bookmatched top and back. The visual effect, given the light blonde color, however, is surprisingly subtle, especially against the unadorned dark rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
The neck has black binding with mango side-slot fret markers at the 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, and 15th frets, which appear as small blocks that are highly visible from the top and front. The fretboard stretches 20 frets and ends in an asymmetric “open book” end to the fretboard extension, which stretches over the unbound soundhole. The unbound headstock features a rosewood faceplate with inlayed ‘Oli nameplate and Grover tuners.
The Sound
The sound of mango is similar to mahogany or koa, producing a balanced, warm tone with great projection just like those traditional ukulele tonewoods. It’s also sustainable, as mature trees are harvested only after they stop producing fruit. But there’s something else going on here under the hood that brings out the best in the tone characteristics of the mango.
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‘Oli has developed an original lattice bracing design, inspired by classical guitars, which uses thin struts of wood diagonally crisscrossing and supporting the top. (The company also offers a line of X-braced ukuleles.) With the support of the lattice bracing, the top can be thinner and lighter. The result is a livelier, more responsive and resonant instrument that delivers a dry, quick, midrange-forward attack with a fast decay. In this ukulele the voice is balanced by the warmth and dynamics of the mango tonewood.
The result is a tone that I believe would work for just about any style of playing. In fact, I had trouble putting it down to write this review.
The Vibe
The quality of the build and setup was impeccable on my review instrument. The ‘Oli had the liveliness that I look for and expect only in lightly built, high-quality vintage instruments. This ukulele sang softly but with clear articulation when strummed or gently picked. But it also woke up and cut musically when I really dug in. It’s not screaming loud, but it doesn’t need to be. I imagine it would also pick up volume and even more personality as it opens up with the vibrations and bumps that enrich the sound of a musical instrument with time.
‘OLI L-CMG-S SPECS
BODY Solid mango; satin finish; lattice bracing
NECK Mahogany; satin finish; 15-1/4” scale length; bound rosewood fingerboard and bridge; bone nut and saddle; 1-7/16” nut width; geared Grover tuners; rosewood faceplate with maple logo inlay
OTHER Uke Logic fluorocarbon high-G string set; deluxe gig bag included
MADE IN Indonesia
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PRICE $495 street
