Our review of Gecko kalimbas

Are you planning to buy a kalimba in the next few days (or even hours)? Have you heard of the Gecko brand while searching for your future thumb piano? Want to know whether this brand is worth considering in terms of build quality and tone? Looking for a reliable review of this musical instrument company?

As someone who’s been playing the kalimba for about 10 years, I’ve watched the Gecko brand emerge and quickly become a go-to name in the small world of this percussion instrument. So I can share my perspective as an experienced player on this instrument maker.

Gecko kalimbas are among the best lamellophones currently on the market. The models are beautiful, reliable, and, above all, produce gorgeous tones. They’re clearly a great choice for beginners and experienced players alike.

After reading this article, you will know everything there is to know about:

• The origins of the Gecko brand
• The overall quality of its kalimbas

This will give you all the information you need to determine whether Gecko instruments are right for your needs and will meet all your expectations.

Now, let's take a look at everything there is to know about the Gecko company.

Learn more about Gecko, the famous kalimba brand

Gecko makes several musical instruments, including, of course, the kalimba, but also ukuleles, electric guitars, drumsticks, and cajons, a South American percussion instrument that looks like a box you play with your hands. Gecko is therefore far from being limited to kalimbas alone and offers its craftsmanship across a wide range of instruments.

Gecko is officially known as Gecko Musical Instrument Co., Ltd. Founded in 2009 in Guangzhou, China, the company later settled in Qiuchang in 2014, operating out of facilities totalling about 3,000 m² (32,300 sq ft). It employs just under 100 artisans to build all the instruments mentioned above. Its logo features a gecko seen in profile, with the brand name underneath. You can see it below:

The brand emphasizes that all its musical instruments are true gems of craftsmanship with an elegant design and a unique tone. In addition, Gecko claims to use high-quality, eco-friendly materials and accessories. The brand holds dozens of patents worldwide to protect the many model designs that have taken years of research and development. Its motto, "Quality first – Clients the best," is something you can quickly see reflected in the construction of their kalimbas.

Read our review of Gecko instruments

My opinion on the matter is very clear: Gecko is a very good brand of kalimbas. The brand has a wide range of models available, from 8 to 21 tines, with and without a sound box, and in different types of wood. You will therefore find models at very competitive prices, around $50, and others exceeding $200. The huge advantage is that no matter which model you choose, the excellent build quality remains the same. The price difference is mainly due to the type of wood used and the presence or absence of certain accessories. It should also be noted that models with a sound box are noticeably more expensive, but this is the case for all kalimba brands.

With this pricing strategy, Gecko can appeal to both beginners on a tight budget with affordable thumb pianos and experienced players who are interested in a luxury model made of sandalwood, for example. But don't just take my word for it—listen to what the Gecko K17MAP thumb piano, a simple and very accessible mahogany model, can express sonically in this video:

Or the K17CAP model in solid camphor wood, which was once the favourite model of professional musician April Yang, who has racked up hundreds of millions of views on YouTube thanks to her artistic performances:

These two fairly modest models come with accessories such as a tuning hammer, note stickers, and a soft storage pouch. For a hard carrying case, you'll need to look at slightly more expensive models such as the K17SD with its two-tone soundboard made of red sandalwood and solid maple.

As you can see, I have a very positive opinion of Gecko kalimbas. In my view, they are far superior to those made by Hluru and a step above the LingTing brand. However, Gecko still has a few shortcomings. You won't find any acrylic glass models, which may be a deliberate choice, and, more importantly, there are no models in a chromatic range. This is a shame for musicians who want to play every note without having to retune their kalimba. However, if you've decided on a 17- or 21-tine kalimba, Gecko will certainly meet your expectations. Take a look at this latest video showcasing the acoustic capabilities of the K17SD model mentioned above:

Get yourself a Gecko thumb piano

The kalimba world is still relatively niche compared to instruments like the guitar or piano, so reliable reviews of different brands can be hard to come by. With Gecko, there’s no doubt about the level of craftsmanship that goes into their thumb pianos. You’ll be holding a high-end kalimba made by professionals who are passionate about music. It’s the kind of purchase you can feel confident about.

However, it’s important to be particularly vigilant about the many counterfeits you can find online. This review concerns only kalimbas genuinely designed by Gecko, not those that attempt to imitate their craftsmanship. To help you avoid disappointment, the Instruments du Monde store works directly with the real Gecko company to offer you authentic kalimbas from this brand, such as the K17MAP model shown in the video above.

Ready to step up a level? Choose a Gecko kalimba for your next instrument by clicking the image below:

Choose quality and treat yourself to a Gecko kalimba

4.6/5 — 500+ Reviews

View the Gecko kalimba

If you’re interested in thumb piano brands, you may also have heard of the German brand Meinl, which also sells some of these percussion instruments. Read our review of Meinl kalimbas to compare them with Gecko’s. These are two major kalimbas brands, and one clearly comes out on top.