Custom Kinnard “Thinline” Tenor Ukulele
New. Beautiful John Kinnard “Thinline” Tenor Ukulele handcrafted in Fallbrook, California with the utmost attention to detail and tone. This instrument has a remarkable sound and is perfect for both the recording artist or the recreational musician.
John Kinnard Biography
Nestled in the foothills of northern San Diego County just inland from the coast, sits the small village of Fallbrook, California. Known for its mild climate and laid back lifestyles, artisans of different genres cultivate their craft inspired by the beauty of the valleys and mountains that surround the town.
One such artist is John S. Kinnard, an “old school” luthier who has established himself as a master of his trade in a day when CNC machines cough out “cookie cutter” parts to be assembled like a child’s puzzle.
Working out of his one man shop, John arguably builds some of the finest stringed instruments in the world by hand. He does them one by one – molding and shaping the parts and assembling them to create instruments that not only look stunning when completed, but also possess something that the mass produced instruments lack – the soul of the luthier.
John has been building guitars, mandolins and ukuleles in a career that has spanned more than forty five years and is best known as the luthier behind the Dell’ Arte brand of gypsy style guitars played around the world. Like many artists, his creativity spills over into other mediums including oil and watercolor painting and also jewelery making – talents that have served him well in making him the luthier he is today.
From painting he developed an eye for proportion and style. From designing and making jewelry it trained him to look for the smallest flaws and build with an attention to detail that has become the hallmark of his work as a luthier. When people talk about the construction of his instruments the one word you hear more than any other is the word “clean”. Building with superior materials together with top shelf construction and attention to detail, you end up with a beautiful instrument. Add in the soul of the luthier and you end up with an instrument that is something organic and very special. That is what John strives for in every instrument he builds…
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This Custom Kinnard “Thinline” Tenor Ukulele was handcrafted with an earthy feel in mind. The soundboard was crafted of Western Red Cedar with the back and sides being California Sycamore wood. California Sycamore grows to a height of 40′ – 100′ with an average height increase of more than 24″ per year. It is a choice wood by many luthiers of premium guitars and ukuleles for its structural integrity and beautiful wood grain. It is also known for its excellent strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for instrument construction. In the hands of a master luthier such as John Kinnard, the result is an instrument that is both aesthetically pleasing and exceptional in sound. Paired with a tight grain Western Red Cedar, this wood combination offers wonderful articulation and dynamic range. The fretboard and bridge was carved from musicians grade Gabon Ebony wood and offer a slight radius on the fretboard for ease of play in the higher positions on the neck and feather light playing on bar chords. Matching Gabon ebony wood top headstock veneer with a Z-stock headstock.
A side sound port was also incorporated – giving the player the benefit of hearing each note as well as forward projection of sound toward the audience. The instrument also utilizes a simple black top and back binding, adding a balanced contrast with the Sycamore wood body and mahogany wood neck. Double b-w-b concentric circle rosette design and matching b-w-b center back strip adding to the simple but elegant feel of this instrument. Black Gotoh UPT tuners for smooth and precise tuning along with a bone nut and saddle. The instrument has a high gloss finish on the body with a satin neck, making the instrument easy to play up and down the fingerboard.
The tone of this instrument is absolutely wonderful. The thinner body profile allows for greater comfort for the player in search for a less intrusive feel when cradling the ukulele against the body. Warm and very articulate with quick note response due to the shallower body. Great sustain with nice balance across the strings. Very melodic tone with great dynamics. This tenor will truly make a wonderful addition for the professional musician, recreational player, or collector. A beautifully handcrafted custom ukulele with great ease of play, comfort, and tone. Excellent projection, sustain, and clarity with great note separation as well. A wonderful instrument handcrafted by a skilled luthier who finds excellent balance between aesthetics, tone, and exceptional art. ID#220048.
Price: SOLD