Custom Kinnard “Thinline” Baritone Ukulele
Preowned. Beautiful John Kinnard “Thinline” Baritone Ukulele handcrafted in Fallbrook, California with the utmost attention to detail and tone. This beautiful Custom John Kinnard “Thinline” Baritone ukulele was meticulously crafted by master luthier John Kinnard of Kinnard Ukuleles in Fallbrook, CA.
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 Style 3 Custom John Kinnard “Thinline” Baritone Ukulele. Master grade Palo Escrito wood back and sides with a Sinker redwood soundboard. Palo Escrito, otherwise known as Mexican Rosewood, differs from Indian rosewood as it is visually lighter in color and has a slightly wider grain structure. Sinker redwood are redwood trees that were harvested and sent downriver to processing mills but sank at some point along the way. They are extremely difficult to recover and are often buried under silt that has accumulated over the years. Nonetheless, these logs are highly sought after by luthiers for their structural and tonal characteristics, having been subjected to low oxygen levels at extreme cold temperatures at the bottom of the river floor. Aesthetically, the darker-colored streaking is characteristic of a sinker redwood. It is very stiff and lightweight, making it ideal for soundboards and uniquely distinct in its structural properties when compared to a typical redwood.
This custom Kinnard baritone ukulele also boasts a 13-fret joint to the body and 20 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 a Gabon Ebony wood bridge and headstock veneer in keeping with the theme of the instrument. East-Indian Rosewood top and back binding and ebony wood end graph with a series 3 motif accent in rosewood that add to the beauty of this custom Kinnard thinline baritone ukulele. A double carbon fiber reinforced Honduras mahogany wood neck with wooden stringer has also been employed to match the back and sides of the instrument and stiffen up the neck and transfer the vibrations back into the body of the ukulele. Professional Gotoh UPT tuners for smooth and precise tuning. Z-slotted headstock and side sound port for monitor like experience. High gloss finish on the body with a satin neck finish.
A beautifully handcrafted custom ukulele with great ease of play, comfort, and tone. With a hand-tuned sinker redwood soundboard and a Palo Escrito back and sides, this ukulele has a wonderful, full, and sweet tone with punch, even with the thinner body profile. Excellent projection and sustain. A wonderful instrument handcrafted by a skilled luthier who finds excellent balance between aesthetics, function, and tone. ID#240048
Price: $4,500.00