Custom Kinnard Tenor Ukulele
Preowned. Beautiful John Kinnard Tenor Ukulele handcrafted in Fallbrook, California with the utmost attention to detail and tone.
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…
———————————-
Preowned. Excellent original condition. This beautiful custom John Kinnard tenor ukulele is a Series 3 model and was handcrafted of a gorgeous set of California Sycamore wood back and sides with a Sitka spruce soundboard. It boasts a dark reddish-brown Cocobolo wood fingerboard and bridge with a Padauk wood top and back binding, and matching end graft. Four-piece segmented Sycamore wood rosette. The instrument also incorporates a double carbon fiber reinforced Honduras mahogany wood neck for added stability while transferring the vibrations back in to the sound box of the ukulele for a great tone. The custom cutaway allows for ease of play in higher position on the neck and a side sound port provide a monitor-like effect for the player with the sound firing upwards towards your ear as well as outward from the sound hole itself. Slotted headstock model with Stealth geared tuners for smooth and precise tuning. Rosewood headstock top and back veneer with classic ‘John S. Kinnard’ logo of mother-of-pearl. Strap buttons have been installed on the neck and butt of the instrument for those of you who love a nice uke strap when playing.
A beautifully handcrafted custom ukulele with great ease of play, comfort, and tone. Excellent projecting, sustain, and clarity with crystal highs and a very sweet tone. A wonderful instrument handcrafted by a skilled luthier who finds excellent balance between aesthetics, function, and tone. ID#190072
Price: SOLD