Custom Toshifumi Usaka Tenor Ukulele
Beautiful custom tenor ukulele handcrafted by luthier Toshifumi Usaka of Shikoku, Japan. One of Japan’s renowned luthiers, Toshifumi handcrafts his instruments in the quiet countryside of the Tokushima mountains on the island of Shikoku. Being both a musician and a luthier, he incorporates his knowledge of building and experiences in playing in subtle subtle ways to fine tune his instruments, increasing comfort, playability, and the tone of his ukuleles.
This wonderful Custom Toshifumi Usaka Tenor Ukulele is crafted from a gorgeous master grade set of Brazilian Rosewood back and sides with a Hawaiian Koa wood soundboard. The neck has been handcrafted from Honduran mahogany wood with a curly Maple wood center strip and two elegant African Blackwood stringers which add stiffness to the neck, transferring the vibrations back toward the body of the instrument. Gabon Ebony wood fretboard and bridge. Beautiful Japanese ‘Kaki’ or persimmon wood rosette and scoop cutaway, testifying to the beauty of the Japanese woods and his background as one of Japan’s top luthiers.
The instrument also incorporates a top and back Maple wood binding and turquoise top purfling with matching turquoise purfling line on the rosette as well. In keeping with the theme of the instrument a stylish Brazilian Rosewood headstock plate was also used on the headstock with a classy ‘Usaka’ custom logo inlay in ‘paua’ or abalone shell. Paua shell diamond position marker inlay on the fretboard for quick reference on positions 5, 7, 10, 12, and 15. Bone nut and saddle and a high gloss finish. The instrument also boasts Grover open-geared tuners for smooth and precise tuning.
A beautiful sound that settles between a low G sound and a high G or ‘re-entrant’ tuning sound, giving this instrument a wonderful and nicely balanced tone, tremendous clarity and excellent projection. The instrument is also easy to play all the way up the neck. Highly recommended player piece from one of Japan’s hidden treasures.
Price: SOLD