Custom Leonard Young 8-String Ukulele

Absolutely stunning Custom Leonard Young 8-String (steel string) Tenor Ukulele. A very rare find but one of the best sounding uke builders I’ve ever come across. Sustain and projection that just goes and goes and goes…

This beautiful Custom Leonard Young 8-String Tenor Ukulele comes complete with gorgeous maple wood back and sides with rosewood top and back binding and center seam on back. Spruce sound board for added clarity and sustain with an ebony fretboard and classic hand-carved bridge.

This instrument was previously owned by a local musician who gigged regularly here in Hawaii. Excellent string set up and playability. Clean highs and nice balanced mid-range and low tones as well. No cracks. No repairs. No needed repairs. Various playwear on soundboard and fretboard. The build itself is quite crude although the instrument is well balanced. The joints are clean, neck straight and there is no sign of lifting at the bridge either. The steel strings make the uke a unique sound (similar to a steel string guitar) but almost symphonic in nature. I’ve also had the privilege of playing Leonard Young’s custom ukes with a nylon string set-up and those sound absolutely amazing as well. You could potentially have your local luthier raise the nut and saddle and swap out the strings to nylon strings if you would prefer and I’m sure it’ll be absolutely phenomenal with that set-up as well. Play it with a 4-string set-up or as an 8-string accompanying instrument. Lots of options with this rare piece but you be in heaven with the tones this beauty produces.

Unfortunately, Leonard Young has since passed away but his love of music, the Hawaiian culture and people, and the art of fine luthiery lives on through his legacy of beautifully handcrafted instruments.

Price: SOLD