What Is an Acoustic-Electric Ukulele?
An acoustic-electric ukulele is a ukulele fitted with a pickup or an onboard EQ (preamp). The pickup sends the instrument's sound through a cable to a mixer and then to an amplifier or PA system, so the audience can hear the ukulele clearly. For outdoor gigs or stage performances, players almost always use this type, since miking an acoustic ukulele picks up too much interference.
The German Shadow Pickup Used in KOYAMA Ukuleles
Many ukuleles use the German-made Shadow SH JW 1-UK pickup. Built on Shadow's Nanoflex technology, it reproduces a natural, true-to-life acoustic tone. In my experience handling many ukulele pickups, it's one of the most reliable, which is why KOYAMA's 12 Series (23" KYM-C12CE and 26" KYM-T12CE) is equipped with it.
This pickup system has three parts: the control cover (mounted on the side, with volume and tone knobs and a 3V battery compartment), the sensor bar (under the saddle), and the endpin jack (at the base of the body).
A Common Issue: A Loose Endpin Jack
The pickup needs a cable plugged into the endpin jack to amplify the sound. Because the jack sits at the bottom of the body, repeated plugging and unplugging can loosen it over time.
How to tell: Pick up the ukulele and shake it gently. A rattling metallic sound usually means the two nuts on the jack have worked loose.
The jack is held in place by an inside nut and an outer hexagon nut that clamp the body between them. First try tightening the outer nut. If the rattle remains, the inside nut has loosened and you'll need to remove the jack to readjust it.
Tools You'll Need
1. Screwdriver (a long, magnetic one is ideal — it can fish out parts that fall inside the body)
2. Wrenches: one 17mm and one 12mm
3. A small hook (a thin, rod-like tool)
Repair Steps
1. Remove the outer nuts. Loosen the outermost nut with the 17mm wrench, then the inner one with the 12mm wrench, and finally take off the washer by hand. Lay the parts out in order so reassembly is easy.
2. Take out the center shaft. Push the center shaft inward using a long screwdriver, then retrieve it through the soundhole. If the toothed washer is missing, it may be stuck at the bottom of the body — tap gently and shake it out through the soundhole.
3. Turn the inside nut forward. A loose jack is usually caused by the inside nut sliding backward. Turn it forward by hand until about 8mm of the shaft is exposed. Too much, and the shaft sticks out after reassembly; too little, and the cable plug won't seat fully.
4. Reassemble the nuts in order. The shaft isn't fixed yet and can slip back into the body, so use the small hook through the shaft's hole to hold it steady. As you tighten the nuts, make sure the shaft doesn't spin along with them, or it won't tighten properly.
5. Check again. Once tightened, shake the ukulele gently. No metallic rattle means you're done! If it still rattles, the inside-nut position from Step 3 is likely off — push it out a little more. If several attempts don't fix it, take it back to the shop where you bought it.
A Quick Tip
When unplugging the cable, pull it straight back without twisting. This greatly reduces the chance of the endpin jack working loose.
- Recommended Ukulele -
Heading on stage? You'll want a ukulele you can plug into an amp. KOYAMA's 12 Series — the 23" KYM-C12CE and 26" KYM-T12CE — are great choices. With an elegant two-tone headstock of mahogany inlaid with maple and a German Shadow pickup, they'll make you stand out on stage, in both look and sound.
Buy Online
An acoustic-electric ukulele is a ukulele fitted with a pickup or an onboard EQ (preamp). The pickup sends the instrument's sound through a cable to a mixer and then to an amplifier or PA system, so the audience can hear the ukulele clearly. For outdoor gigs or stage performances, players almost always use this type, since miking an acoustic ukulele picks up too much interference.
The German Shadow Pickup Used in KOYAMA Ukuleles
Many ukuleles use the German-made Shadow SH JW 1-UK pickup. Built on Shadow's Nanoflex technology, it reproduces a natural, true-to-life acoustic tone. In my experience handling many ukulele pickups, it's one of the most reliable, which is why KOYAMA's 12 Series (23" KYM-C12CE and 26" KYM-T12CE) is equipped with it.
A Common Issue: A Loose Endpin Jack
The pickup needs a cable plugged into the endpin jack to amplify the sound. Because the jack sits at the bottom of the body, repeated plugging and unplugging can loosen it over time.
How to tell: Pick up the ukulele and shake it gently. A rattling metallic sound usually means the two nuts on the jack have worked loose.
The jack is held in place by an inside nut and an outer hexagon nut that clamp the body between them. First try tightening the outer nut. If the rattle remains, the inside nut has loosened and you'll need to remove the jack to readjust it.
Tools You'll Need
1. Screwdriver (a long, magnetic one is ideal — it can fish out parts that fall inside the body)
2. Wrenches: one 17mm and one 12mm
3. A small hook (a thin, rod-like tool)
Repair Steps
1. Remove the outer nuts. Loosen the outermost nut with the 17mm wrench, then the inner one with the 12mm wrench, and finally take off the washer by hand. Lay the parts out in order so reassembly is easy.
2. Take out the center shaft. Push the center shaft inward using a long screwdriver, then retrieve it through the soundhole. If the toothed washer is missing, it may be stuck at the bottom of the body — tap gently and shake it out through the soundhole.
A Quick Tip
When unplugging the cable, pull it straight back without twisting. This greatly reduces the chance of the endpin jack working loose.
- Recommended Ukulele -
Heading on stage? You'll want a ukulele you can plug into an amp. KOYAMA's 12 Series — the 23" KYM-C12CE and 26" KYM-T12CE — are great choices. With an elegant two-tone headstock of mahogany inlaid with maple and a German Shadow pickup, they'll make you stand out on stage, in both look and sound.
KOYAMA KYM-T12CE
Buy Online