It's time to grow out your thumb nails! This is an exceptional kalimba at any price — easily one of the nicest gifts I've ever given myself. The fact that it can be had for less than $30 makes it even better.
The Unokki 17-Key Kalimba has beautiful tone and resonance. Its sound is somewhere between a music box and a heavenly harp — extremely pleasant, calming and soothing. My Unokki kalimba has absolutely no dead tines. (A "dead tine" is a key that sounds "thunky" and doesn't resonate. The actual problem with many people who complain about dead tines is poor picking technique. In one Amazon demo video, I saw a clueless player hammering on the keys. The hammer is for tuning, NOT playing.) Even the outer, higher notes ring out clearly and sweetly. However, the two outer, higher keys do not resonate as long as the lower notes. That's normal and to be expected; they're shorter keys. Also, many older adults don't hear higher pitches as well as lower tones.
This lovely instrument is made out of quality tonewood that produces a warm sound and is pleasing to hold. The satin matte finish and rounded edges make it very comfortable. I play mine for long stretches of time, without any pain or discomfort. The soundbox is decorated with an attractive wood-burned design that gives it a touch of elegance. If you're not sure how to play the kalimba properly, watch some how-to videos on YouTube and/or buy a book on kalimba. Both can make a huge difference for a beginning player and lead to a much more satisfying experience.
This 17-key kalimba comes bundled with a number of accessories, including: a tuning hammer, small instruction booklet with songs, pair of silicone thumb protectors (not the best way to play; use your thumb nails if possible), a note name and number soundbox sticker (use optional), magenta and turquoise tine stickers (use optional), black velveteen storage bag and tine-wiping cloth. The product box is such that it can be saved and used as a storage case. However, I recommend buying a proper kalimba case that is constructed nicely and has pockets and/or slots for everything. (You don't want the tuning hammer knocking around into your instrument.)
Also, I've noticed that many buyers of this kalimba have stated that it's ready to play, straight out of the box. That has NOT been my experience with ANY adjustable, musical instrument. I suspect those reviewers might be beginners and/or slightly tone-deaf. After being bounced around during shipping travel, just about every musical instrument needs tuning and the kalimba is no exception. With mine, I even had to re-space some of the tines.
The Unokki booklet recommends the free chromatic tuning apps gStrings for Android and insTuner for iOS. I used the free Pano Tuner app which worked very well and is available for both Android and iOS. However, I'm considering buying an all-instrument clip-on tuner. They're affordable and remind me of the extremely accurate and fast Snark brand tuners that I use on my guitars and ukuleles. Don't be freaked-out about tuning your kalimba. Read the instruction booklet, watch a few videos, use an app or tuning device and tap gently. It's not hard and makes all the difference in the world with the sound.
Many musicians, articles, videos and websites recommend the Unokki 17-Key Kalimba over the extremely popular Gecko brand. While I have not tried the latter, I think the Unokki kalimba is exceptional. I'm extremely pleased with my Unokki kalimba's sound, performance and quality. I think it's comparable to many of the more expensive kalimbas I've seen and heard played by professional thumb pianists on YouTube. This gem is definitely a keeper. I'm so delighted with my Unokki kalimba, I don't want to put it down.
UNOKKI Kalimba 17 Key Thumb Piano, Portable Mahogany Mbira Finger Piano with Instruction, Carrying Bag, Tune Hammer, Reduce S
4.8 | 9,523 ratings
Price: 15.99
Last update: 07-17-2024
About this item
A GIFT OF SYMPHONY: The 17-key Thumb Piano is a cool and useful music gift for musicians or beginners for the holiday season such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. Compact and portable, it's the perfect tool to explore the joy of music
FINEST MATERIALS: The Kalimba thumb piano is handcrafted with solid mahogany and ore steel bars making it premium, lightweight & durable. Natural air-dried wood provides an ethereal timbre, which creates a distinct melody
ALL-INCLUSIVE SET: This Kalimba thumb piano includes everything you need - a tune hammer, an instruction book, stickers, a cloth bag, a polishing cloth, and finger covers
MUSIC ON THE GO: The 17-key thumb piano is a compact, portable musical instrument designed for music lovers, be it your grandsons, teens, or adults. With dimensions of 7.4” tall x 5.2” wide, it easily fits in your bag
EASY TO LEARN: Discover the joy of music with the mahogany thumb piano. Easy to learn with the included instruction book, excellent for budding musicians
FINEST MATERIALS: The Kalimba thumb piano is handcrafted with solid mahogany and ore steel bars making it premium, lightweight & durable. Natural air-dried wood provides an ethereal timbre, which creates a distinct melody
ALL-INCLUSIVE SET: This Kalimba thumb piano includes everything you need - a tune hammer, an instruction book, stickers, a cloth bag, a polishing cloth, and finger covers
MUSIC ON THE GO: The 17-key thumb piano is a compact, portable musical instrument designed for music lovers, be it your grandsons, teens, or adults. With dimensions of 7.4” tall x 5.2” wide, it easily fits in your bag
EASY TO LEARN: Discover the joy of music with the mahogany thumb piano. Easy to learn with the included instruction book, excellent for budding musicians
Product information
| Body Material | Mahogany Wood |
|---|---|
| Included Components | with-bag |
| Finish Type | Metal |
| Manufacturer | UNOKKI |
| Item Weight | 15.8 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 7.4 x 5.2 x 1.34 inches |
| ASIN | B09F5T2FGT |
| Item model number | CHERRYEVABAG |
| Customer Reviews |
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars
9,485 ratings
4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,101 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments) #3 in Thumb Pianos |
| Date First Available | December 12, 2021 |
| Color Name | Cherry |
| Material Type | Alloy Steel, Mahogany Wood |
| Musical Style | Folk |
| Instrument Key | C |
| Number of Keyboard Keys | 17 |
| Size | Carrying Bag |
| Proficiency Level | Beginner |
Top reviews from the United States
Lens, Paper & String
A Superb Kalimba — Professional Quality At An Affordable Price
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2020
Azairyia Burkhart
Reasonably Priced and Good Quality!! My Boyfriend Loves It and So Do I!
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023
Azairyia Burkhart
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023
My only grievence is that it came uncovered in its box instead of an Amazon bag or Amazon box. So, thanks for that. ???? It ruined the surprise
Other than that its super cute, and super easy to learn songs. He's only had it for two days and has learned to play bohemian rhapsody. I too enjoy playing with it from time to time.
The kalimba in general (not this particular brand or product) is not very loud. don't worry about it being overstimulating or being driven nuts with somebody playing it (like I was.) It's not bad even when someone is playing it poorly. You can barely hear it at all if you're in the next room over and it's easy to tune out. The instrument in general is calming and soothing in my opinion.
Images in this review
vicky
Very nice product
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024Mika
I love this thing
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024D. R.
Lovely Gift, but...
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024