Hohner

Hohner
Founded by Matthias Hohner in 1857, in Trossingen, Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. are a German Musical Instrument Manufacturer. They started in 1857 and are famous for Harmonicas, Guitars and Accordions amongst other instruments.

Historically, the range included some post war Ukuleles sold as Hohner, (possibly made in the Far East rather than Germany?), plus a children's range of instruments dating from the 1980s called Musikland that included a Ukulele, (made in China by I think, the National Light Industrial Products Import and Export Corporation). I have not seen anything to suggest they made Ukuleles before WWII though?

Their catalogue today does include Ukuleles but these are not usually branded Hohner except the one found in their 6+ Kids Instrument range, (that replaced Musikland) The main names they use for branding are Lanikai and Kohala



Lanikai
In 2000 Hohner launched a subsidiary they called Lanikai. The name was chosen to make the Ukuleles sound Hawaiian and this is now the main Ukulele brand name used by Hohner, (it is also where Mike Upton started). The Ukuleles are definitely made in the Far East now, (some from China - and a lot of Chinese makers claim to be the OEM for Lanikai? And I have seen some made in Indonesia too).

Lanikai Ukuleles are mainly laminate and come in a number of woods or wood veneers. They have quite a good reputation but they do look very similar to a number of other popular Chinese made Ukuleles brands. The range itself is very extensive, though mainly Concerts and Tenors, they do include a few Sopranos and Baritones too, along with Pineapples, Lili'us, Guitaleles, Taropatchs and Banjoleles. In 2019 Double G 5 string Tenors were added to the catalogue.

In 2013 Lanikai developed, (in conjunction with the pick up maker Fishman), a range of electro-acoustic Ukuleles with a USB port that can be plugged directly into a computer; they called this the UkeSB range. Along with this they started using a compensated nut and a bridge with independently adjustable saddles they call the TunaUke and though they were not the first with either innovation they were the first major maker to bring it to market. They have discontinued both of these innovations, (to be honest the TunaUke bridge didn't really make a difference), and have gone back to standard saddles and nuts now.

In 2014 Lanikai introduced a new branding they call Makau. These are all solid koa, manufactured in Oahu, Hawaii and come as Soprano, Concert or Tenor.



Kohala
After introducing the Lanikai range Hohner introduced a budget range of Ukuleles branded as Kohala. The range is all laminate and come in a natural(ish) finish and are Soprano to Baritone scales, plus a Soprano Pineapple. Kohala also do a colourful range, (in Soprano and Concert only), called Tiki and has a special tiki shaped bridge.

In 2018 they introduced acoustic Guitars to the Kohala range (but not Guitaleles)