This was a one off instrument, which has now been sold.

This is Martin van Humbeck’s handmade tenor ukulele, number 180, made from solid Engelmann Spruce and Indian Rosewood. There’s a list of decorations as long as your arm but I’m going to skip straight to the best and most important point - the sound. It has everything - with its perfect, singing trebles and rounded, warm undertones. With the thin tonewood primed to allow the volume to burst forth the moment your fingertips make contact with strings, it oozes class. When I played this for the first time three things stuck in my mind. Play individual notes and the ring out like a piano. Strum and it’s clear like a chiming bell. Run your thumb over the strings and it shimmers like a harp. When I first started selling ukuleles over a decade ago, I don’t think I imagined it was possible to make an instrument this complex, versatile and frankly, stunning.

Martin makes his ukuleles on Vancouver Island in Canada, and as well as the spruce and rosewood used here, he has featured Pomelle bubinga binding, with a burled Pacific yew for the tail graft, headplate and soundhole inlay (the latter featuring more bubinga and Paua abalone). He has incorporated his signature side soundport too, and supplies his ukes with a quality tweed hard case. This tenor uke is finished with tru-oil, allowing the wood to breathe and resonate and provide a little shine under the light.

Playing-wise, the 36.5mm nut width is neither too wide for a player like me used to 35mm, or a challenge for those who find my neck width preference a little tight on space. If feels balanced and pleasant to play, with Worth Clears used, high G in this instance.

Of course, there’s a drawback - this instrument is not inexpensive. But when you factor in the sound and the thought process, design time and quality materials - plus the countless hours one man has spent making it, you can understand why it costs what it does. It’s a higher end price for a truly spectacular instrument. When you look what else you can get for this money, actually, it stacks up very well. And I suppose, if you get one of these, you’ll never need anything else!

For a video demo of this Martin Beck tenor ukulele, click additional info below.

For common accessories and customisations (like strap buttons / low G fitting) scroll down to the bottom of the page where you'll be able to add these common items to your basket.