I like Mele's and have had a number of them. Cheryl Rock totally rocks if you're buying one directly from them - they'll set up the uke however you want, and take good care of you!
Anyway, I'm selling off my longer scale instruments, so if anyone's interested in a Mele 8 string tenor with cutaway, I have one for sale or trade - $435 with canvas-covered hardshell case, and that includes free shipping within the continental USA.
It's a Solid Mahogany and Sitka Spruce Mele 8 string Tenor Ukulele with Cutaway in excellent condition. Ebony fretboard, bridge, and peghead overlay. Ebony binding on top and back with rope purfling on the sides. Approximately 17" scale, with 14 frets to the body and 19 frets total. Pearl position markers at 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14th frets. High quality geared tuners. Bone nut and saddle. Satin finish.
Very cool and versatile intrument which sounds beautiful tuned to GCEA or EAC#F#. The paired strings give it a very full and lush sound. The G and C paired strings are tuned in ocatves, and the A and E strings are tuned in unison.
You can also play this as a 4-string instrument - the 4 unstrung tuners do not cause any buzzing or problems. But the instrument shines as a rich-toned 8-stringer. If you do use it as a 4-string instrument, you should use regular tenor strings, not just 1/2 the 8-string strings - you'll want the heavier gauge of regular tenor strings to give you a full tone.
Nice sustain and resonance and excellent volume.
Currently strung with 8 strings to GCEA, using Aquila 8-string Tenor strings.
Note that the photos show the back as being rather light-colored - the real color of the mahogany is the same as in the photo of the uke's side!
Anyway, let me know if you're interested!