Custom Ken Franklin Tenor Ukulele

C.2024. Preowned. Gorgeous custom ukulele handcrafted by luthier Ken Franklin in Ukiah, California. Ken has been building guitars for over 50 years and has also added an ukulele to the list of handcrafted instrument out of his shop since 2012.

This beautiful custom Ken Franklin tenor ukulele was handcrafted of two exotic woods that lends itself to its beautiful aesthetic and full tone. The soundboard was cut from a set of Northern Californian Mendocino cypress. Among guitar and ukulele luthiers, this wood is often described as possessing the stiffness of Adirondack spruce with the warmth that you would typically get from cedar. The back and sides are cut from Marblewood, a hardwood from Northeastern South America that is prized for its beautiful marbling in the wood but high density, giving the instrument a quick response with accentuated lows as well. Primavera wood neck for added stability and transference of the vibrations back into the body of the instrument.  Side sound port by which the sound projects upward toward the player for a monitor-like effect and outward toward the audience. Art deco multiwood rosette wiht a Granadillo wood bridge, top and back binding, and headstock veneer complements the dark vertical streaking in the marblewood body and keep with the theme of the instrument. Matching Marblewood fretboard with 20″ radius for ease of play in the higher positions on the neck. Professional Gotoh UPT geared tuners for smooth and precise tuning. Semi-gloss oil varnish finish. A clear pick guard has been installed on the upper bout of the ‘A’ string side of the body as well as integrated strap buttons on the neck and butt of the instrument.

The combination of Northern Californian Mendocino cypress with the stiffness and density of South American Marblewood gives this instrument tremendous volume and warmth with a balanced midrange , pronounced low end, and a slight shimmer on the top. Excellent projection and clarity. A highly recommended custom build from Ken Franklin, a luthier who has been handcrafting masterful pieces of functional art for over 50 years. #260008

Price: $4,500.00