New James Hill Signature Model Tenor!

rclifford13 · Sep 16, 2009

The uke of my dreams has arrived! I was lucky enough to pick up my new James Hill JH-SM1 today, bought from Shawn at Ukulelefriend.com. What can I say... it's a gorgeous instrument.

Specs:
- Tenor scale (436mm)
- AAA Spruce soundboard
- Master grade koa back and sides
- Honduras mahogany neck, Ebony fretboard
- Koa pickguards
- Fishman Prefix ProBlend pickup
- Slotted headstock
- Gotoh geared tuners

I haven't much time to play it properly as the strings are still settling in, but what I have heard is simply breathtaking. The whole instrument seems to vibrate as one, and the tone is gorgeous.

Here are some pics.

keithy351 · Sep 16, 2009

HOLY s**, MATE THAT IS THE MOST GEORGOUS UKE, wow can you make a sound file, that thing looks fantastic, what did it set you back?

buddhuu · Sep 16, 2009

Ooh, pretty.

Congratulations.

Is it a trick of the pic, my cr@ppy eyesight, or is that a fairly marked fretboard radius?

rclifford13 · Sep 16, 2009

You're correct, buddhu.

The fretboard is radiused. It's the first of my ukes to have a radiused fretboard, and it really increases playability, for me anyway (Barre chords are far easier).
Interestingly, this is serial number 000044. I know James Hill himself owns 0000001 and Curt Sheller owns 0000003, but that must mean there are at least 41 other JH-SM1 'ukuleles out there. I couldn't seem to find many videos/reviews on them at all when I was researching this uke!

rclifford13 · Sep 16, 2009

keithy351 said:
HOLY s**, MATE THAT IS THE MOST GEORGOUS UKE, wow can you make a sound file, that thing looks fantastic, what did it set you back?

I'm working on getting a sound file/video as soon as the strings settle. And trust me, this thing looks even better in real life.
As for the price... A custom made instrument + weak Australian dollar + shipping to Australia + customs import fees + goods and services tax = an uneventful Christmas/birthday + no more UAS.

grappler · Sep 16, 2009

rclifford13 said:
I'm working on getting a sound file/video as soon as the strings settle. And trust me, this thing looks even better in real life.
As for the price... A custom made instrument + weak Australian dollar + shipping to Australia + customs import fees + goods and services tax = an uneventful Christmas/birthday + no more UAS.

Rob you must be stoked man. Cant wait to jam with you and see the next axe mate.
cheers

HaileISela · Sep 16, 2009

wow, what more should I say?

a Koa pickguard??? wow...

Kanaka916 · Sep 16, 2009

Curt's selling his JH-SM1. He also posted it here in the Marketplace. FYI, the cutaway is an upgrade option. I wonder if Derek Shimizu (G String) is still making these?

Link · Sep 16, 2009

I've always wanted one. You have the coolest looking uke ever imo!

Bluke · Sep 16, 2009

I wonder how many different signature ukes Mr. Hill has. I've seen two or three builders do that for him.

deach · Sep 16, 2009

Bluke said:
I wonder how many different signature ukes Mr. Hill has. I've seen two or three builders do that for him.

Really? Who? I'd be interested to see them.

veep · Sep 16, 2009

Congratulations.

HaileISela · Sep 16, 2009

Bluke said:
I wonder how many different signature ukes Mr. Hill has. I've seen two or three builders do that for him.

maybe he's using those 41 Ukes^^

vahn · Sep 16, 2009

i love that its got a spruce soundboard but those sweet koa pickgaurds... almost styled like coutry gibson pickgaurds but also very reminiscent of the pickgaurd setup on cuatros- the ukes puerto rican cousin... That thing is gorgeous!!!!

I'd put my desire for that uke up there with my desire for a moore bettah or compass rose...

Kanaka916 · Sep 16, 2009

Bluke said:
I wonder how many different signature ukes Mr. Hill has. I've seen two or three builders do that for him.

I don't know about signature ukes, but he has several custom builds. One is a GString Koa which was what the signature models were based on. He has a Mya Moe Slide, a Beltona, and a DaSilva. All of these are custom custom built and I believe have not been reproduced or selected to be a production model.

Bluke · Sep 16, 2009

Mike DaSilva produces a James Hill Signature model, which I've played and is outstanding.

http://www.ukemaker.com/DaSilva-InstrumentGallery.html

scroll down to #205

UkuleleHill · Sep 16, 2009

Its always weird to see James Hill Signature Ukes written out... Cause I am Andrew James Hill... But thats a beaute!

Andybeans · Sep 17, 2009

Wow, that thing looks amazing. can't wait for a sound sample, lol.

sukie · Sep 17, 2009

buddhuu said:
Ooh, pretty.

or is that a fairly marked fretboard radius?

Would someone please tell me what that means? Thanks

rclifford13 · Sep 17, 2009

sukie said:
Would someone please tell me what that means? Thanks

A radiused fretboard is one that is sanded into a curve, i.e. the middle bulges out. It's done to make things more comfortable for the fretting hand. Classical guitars tend to have little to no radius but guitars like Fender Stratocasters have pronounced radii. As far as I know, they're not very common on ukes.

New James Hill Signature Model Tenor!

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