Custom David Gomes Tenor Ukulele
Gorgeous custom Kolohala wood and cedar wood tenor ukulele handcrafted by master luthier David Gomes of the North Kohala district of the Big Island of Hawaii. David strongly believes that the aesthetic of the instrument must be paralleled by the craftsmanship and the constant focus on the tone itself and as a musician and luthier of over forty years, he understands the approach of luthier work from the perspective of being a player himself as well. This has allowed him the opportunity to make fine adjustments to his instruments over the years that have come from his own understanding of comfort, balance, playability and tone of the ukulele.
This wonderful custom Gomes tenor ukulele is handcrafted with a back and sides of rare Hawaiian Kolohala wood, otherwise known as pheasant wood, which is not known to grow anywhere outside of Hawaii. Kolohala wood is a prized wood in Hawaii and is very rare, valuable, and stunningly beautiful as well. The wood produces shades of light to dark brown with fine black grain, which very much resembles the feathers of our local Hawaiian pheasant. It is often badly stained from minerals in the soil and so only a few ‘clean’ sets are typically available from a tree that is instrument grade wood and quartersawn. This is a wonderful example of a mineral stained set of Kolohala wood. The circular patterns on the back of the instrument are the natural appeal of the minerals in the wood itself. Kolohala is a relatively heavy and dense wood and is an excellent tone wood for ukuleles. It is less common to see ukuleles handcrafted from Kolohala due to the rarity of the wood and the difficulty in obtaining pieces large enough for an ukulele. Only some of the most skilled luthiers in Hawaii utilize this wood on ukuleles due to its value and difficulty in acquiring instrument grade sets.
This beautiful custom Gomes ukulele is handcrafted of Kolohala wood back and sides, with an amazing cedar wood soundboard. The fretboard is crafted of musicians grade ebony wood and the bridge is carved from cocobolo wood. The neck is carved from solid Honduras mahogany for added stability. Gorgeous hand cut paua shell rosette and single top and side purfling for aesthetic appeal. Very elegant and complimentary to the hue of the Kolohala wood. Top and back binding of curly Hawaiian Koa in keeping with the theme and colors of the piece. The fretboard markers have been inlaid with mother-of-pearl on positions 3, 5, 7, 10, and 12 for quick reference. Slotted headstock for added sustain with a high gloss lacquer finish for added appeal.
Absolutely amazing overtones and a true joy to play. Excellent projection, sustain, and presence. The set up is nice as well and is easy to play all the way up the neck. Great for picking or strumming.
Price: SOLD