Custom Kinnard “Luthier’s Reserve V” Baritone Ukulele
Preowned. 2020. Beautiful John Kinnard “Stealth” Baritone Ukulele handcrafted in Fallbrook, California with the utmost attention to detail and tone. This beautiful Custom John Kinnard “Stealth” Baritone is the coveted Luthier’s Reserve V. Luthier’s Reserve instruments are not commissioned pieces but rather are the result of the John Kinnard, in his most creative design elements, creating one special build for the year. The ukulele is an absolute masterpiece in fit, finish, playability and tone and is unique for its thinline profile with 5 string set up and octave tuning on the ‘D’ string – dDGCEA.
The instrument has tremendous range, sustain, and versatility. It is a remarkable instrument that offers a full and rich tone. This is a unique piece that would be treasured among even the most renowned professional ukulele musicians and the recreational player alike.
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…
Beautiful Luthier’s Reserve V – Custom John Kinnard “Stealth” Baritone Ukulele. Master grade spalted Maple wood back and sides with a German spruce soundboard, at first glance you would think this instrument has a bright sound with this wood combination. In the hands of John Kinnard, however, this ukulele is on contrary exactly the opposite. It has tremendous warmth and clarity with great note separation and excellent balance. The ukulele boasts a 19 3/4 inch scale with a 13 fret joint to the body and 19 overall frets to the sound hole, keeping the bridge in the optimum location of the body and yielding the fullest sound.
The fingerboard was hand carved from Gabon Ebony wood with a 12”-20”compound radius fingerboard from the nut to the sound hole for ease of play higher up on the neck, and an ebony wood bridge and headstock veneer in keeping with the theme of the instrument. Matching ebony wood top and back binding and tail strip in Z motif with a Luthier’s Reserve four point rosette are a few more amenities that add to the beauty of this custom Kinnard “stealth” baritone ukulele. Maple wood neck with custom floating inlay and ebony heel plate, custom center ebony back strip with shell inlay for aesthetic appeal. 5-String set up and octave tuning on the ‘D’ string – dDGCEA, giving the instrument a greater dynamic range. Custom cascade side sound ports for a monitor like effect by which the sound fires both upward toward the player as well as outward toward the audience. Classic Z-slotted headstock design with professional Gotoh UPT tuners for smooth and precise tuning. High gloss finish on the body with a satin neck finish. K&K Twin pick up for quick plug and play.
With a hand-tuned German spruce soundboard, this ukulele has a wonderful and sweet tone with the added benefit of a thinner body profile in contrast to a deeper profiled body of a standard baritone. A beautifully handcrafted custom ukulele with great ease of play, comfort, and tone. Excellent projection, sustain, and clarity. A wonderful instrument handcrafted by a skilled luthier who finds excellent balance between aesthetics, function, and tone. ID#220059
Price: SOLD