18-inch tenor scale

13down

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2012
Messages
307
Reaction score
2
Location
New York, NY
Looking for recommendations on a seller/builder who makes good tenors with an 18-inch scale, among other things....

My ultimate ideal would be an ultra-mellow 1940s-50s Martin tenor, BUT with a thicker neck and a longer scale (I like to tune it dGBE with all-nylon strings, which is easier on a longer scale. Though I should also emphasize that I definitely don't want a baritone - I have played and owned many baritones, including the shorter-scaled Hora, and am looking for something a bit different.)

So I'm looking for something that resembles that. I'd appreciate any advice as well as video and audio clips.

Relatedly, I'm wondering if anyone here has an 18-inch-scale Ono and plays it low G GCEA or dGBE, and would be able to send me a recording? I know that's a long shot but I figured it was worth asking!
 
Ono makes a 18" tenor as you know, that is the only one I am aware of. Google search Ono 18" tenor and it should show "Ukulelesite" as they were the one that sold it. That tenor was Port Orford cedar and Claro walnut and as always they have an excellent video sound sample of it.
 
Last edited:
Jim - I did ask Covered Bridge, thanks for that suggestion. He said that they do not do eighteen-inch scales.
 
Kanile'a makes a lovely 19-inch super tenor. It is not a baritone, but not a standard tenor either, as the lower bout is extra wide. The neck issn't crazy thick, but it's substantial, and 1.5 inches wide at the nut.

Nothing about it reminds me of a Martin, but it's a fine instrument, and definitely qualifies as "something a bit different." :)

They make 'em in a couple flavors:

http://www.theukulelesite.com/kanilea-k1-st-hawaiian-koa-gloss-tenor-kani-case-3.html

http://www.theukulelesite.com/kanilea-se-st-19-uvsilk-tenor-long-neck-s-3.html
 
Jim - I did ask Covered Bridge, thanks for that suggestion. He said that they do not do eighteen-inch scales.

Bummer. You might try this guy as well: http://www.kimoukulele.com/. I talked with him a while back and was almost ready to commission a build but finances prevented it at the time. Not sure if there would be fit between you two but can't hurt to ask.
 
My two bobs worth is that for something as specialised as an 18" scale ukulele that you need to go with someone who has already made one. In this case, Ono. A custom builder is not going to be interested in doing it because its expensive to make the first one and the market is small. On top of that you will likely have high expectations of what will be an experimental build.

Its not somewhere most builders want to go.

Anthony
 
Ono is the first one who came to mind for me as well. And David's work is top notch. Your comment around a 40s-50s Martin tenor also made me think of Dave Talsma (http://davetalsma.com). The style 3 concert he made me has an excellent vintage sound. I do not know if he does an 18" scale or not, but he does some extremely custom pieces, so it wouldn't surprise me if he was up for the challenge.
 
Last edited:
My two bobs worth is that for something as specialised as an 18" scale ukulele that you need to go with someone who has already made one.

That's exactly how I'd been thinking and thank you for confirming!
 
I took delivery of my Ono custom 18" scale tenor a few months ago. I could not be happier. David is very capable and willing to do a custom neck to your taste. In my case, I went with a beefier neck and a 1 7/16" nut width. Having owned a 1950's Martin, I would say you probably could go with either all mahogany or all Mango for the mellow tone your after. By the way, I recently transitioned from fluorocarbon to nylon strings for my trebles and they sound fantastic on the Ono.
 
Mezcalero,

Thanks so much for your helpful response.

I recently got into nylon over fluorocarbon myself. I'm going to recommend this one custom string maker, Gamut Music.

I initially just got into Gamut strings because they have gauges that d'addario, labella, et al don't. But as I continued to play them (on an Ohana sk28, for the record), I began to suspect that the strings themselves are actually made from a different type of nylon than most strings.

After attempting to research the subject, it seems like they are made out of an older type of nylon - the type that the first nylon strings were made of - and that Oasis nylon strings are also made of the same material!

https://shop.gamutmusic.com/strings/custom-gauged-strings/nylon-strings/
 
Top Bottom