Resurrecting this thread as this instrument has now made it's way into my hands in Portland, Oregon. This is more just praise for this piece of work than review, because frankly I love everything about it. Looks--this is a gorgeous instrument. I actually think it's a bit heavier than my other tenors (Kala Elite mahgony, Martin T1K), but I would not call the instrument heavy. It feels sturdy and very solid.
I changed this instrument to re-entrant Seagur Pink strings with gauges similar to Ukelogic hard tension strings. For a harder tension string like this I actually think this instrument is perfect in Bb tuning and that's how I have it tuned currently.
Every single part of this instrument feels great. The setup and action, the feel and shape of the neck (D shaped), the radiused glass smooth ebony fretboard with really remarkable fretwork (it's totally perfect). Extremely playable and extremely responsive instrument. The tension at this 18" scale feel perfect. Normally I don't like wider frets, but these are super low and with the extra room it feels great. I feel like all of my instruments have sweet spots for playing and the sweet spot on this instrument is huge. You can play it really differently and expressively. I've never had an instrument with this much sustain either, so that is making me more aware of when I should start muting notes as it usually just tapered off before. The feeling of playing this instrument is just fantastic and I think you feel really connected to the sound the instrument produces.
Seriously wild looking Bastogne Walnut.
Cantilevered fretboard, the soundboard is not perfectly parallel to the back (by design) and comes up to meet the strings at the bridge.
Really gorgeous Port Orford Cedar on top. I read one maybe this forum or another that Port Orford Cedar isn't really a cedar and is closer to Spruce than something like Red Cedar. Not sure if that's really true, but the notes from this beautiful instrument are very clear and distinct. The entire instrument sounds like a bell or a big pan. I really think it's equally beautiful strummed or picked.
Looks like the back bracing is mahogany and soundboard bracing maybe spruce? Wondering if this uke has a build # as there is not one written inside.
I may be able to post a sound sample tonight, but I tried recording one today and this instrument is so much LOUDER than any other my others that I ended up blowing the mic the whole time.