Vide Choir Guy, "It turns out that it is an HPL ukulele"
It's good to have that confirmed. I now own three ukes made from this material, and I am most impressed with the stuff. I genuinely believe this is the future of inexpensive, high volume, factory made ukes. It is thin, stiff, split and crack proof, consistent, attractively finished, and has a convincingly wooden appearance.
I called it split proof. This is based on personal experience. I bought one of these cheap ukes in order to cannibalize it for parts - for a project. It was extremely difficult to break the body apart. I used pruning shears to cut the body into pieces, and it fought me all the way. I cannot imagine an HPL uke developing cracks and splits, even under extremes of temperature and humidity. It is tough stuff.
I recommend any doubters to check one out (not with pruning shears!). This is not a "cheap and nasty" alternative to regular three-ply, laminated wood. I think it is much better.
John Colter
ps. The surface does look like a natural open pore wooden finish. It is most convincing.