The musician in Joe set him out on a journey to build an instrument that was designed from the ground up to be the best sounding 'ukulele ever made. While developing this new instrument, Joe realized that the bracing for the 'ukulele had not changed very much for over 70 years. For most of these years, Luthier’s were under the impression that the sound board of an instrument moves primarily X and Y (forward, back, left and right). The traditional bracing style was designed to allow this X and Y movement to occur. Joe's continuing research discovered that an instruments' sound board moves X, Y and Z (forward, back, left, right, up and down) in a continues motion. He realized that the heart of this new instrument started with the bracing.

As his research continued, Joe found that there are two alternative methods used in the guitar and 'ukulele industry to allow for proper sound board vibration. One is to remove all the tonal bars on the sound board except for two transverse (perpendicular to the center line) braces located just below and above the sound-hole. Although very simple to do, this method has proven to limit the full potential of the sound board by "cutting off" the transfer of vibration from the energy source, the bridge, by placing a solid piece of wood across the sound board. Combining this with the long term effects of the lack of tonal bars to protect the sound board from its string tension. This lack of tonal bars would ultimately result in a sound board that would creep or belly over the life of the instrument.

The second method is to utilize the sound board to its fullest potential by strategically placing tonal bars on its underside that would allow the vibration created at the bridge to be carried through the waist, to the upper bout and ultimately out of the sound-hole. To allow these tonal bars to vibrate, the transverse brace is designed similar to an architectural truss. This will allow the tonal bar to pass underneath the brace yet still provide the structural integrity that is needed to handle the pressure of the string tension. This method of bracing is typically reserved for custom guitars costing over $10,000.00 and had never been used on a 'ukulele until now.

Joe went to work on designing this suspension style bracing for his new 'ukulele. He developed this symmetrical "touch and release" system that captures the true potential of the whole sound board yet allowing for the proper overall stability. Although, this bracing system requires more work, each additional step is well worth it when the ultimate goal is to achieve the best sound. Joe has named this revolutionary style of bracing for the 'ukulele TRU (Total Resonating 'Ukulele) bracing. This TRU Bracing system has allowed for total resonance (projection, volume, and sustain) on all new Kanile'a 'Ukuleles