Bonham Design Tenor Resonator Ukulele "The Queen" with woodshell hard case

Wow, wow, wow. Completely unexpectedly, the lovely Ben Bonham of Bonham Designs (ex Mya Moe) strolled in with this beauty in a case, and asked if we wanted to sell it. I thought about this for all of a second, before biting his hand off at the wrist. Turns out that Aaron Keim of the Quiet American (and ex Mya Moe) who has visited here a couple of times for instore gigs and workshops recommended that Ben pop in whilst visiting his folks in Christchurch. It is one of those times when you thank the universe for being such a jolly good egg.

Anyway, enough back story. This tenor resonator is unlike any other that I have seen, or heard, on account of the outsized soundhole. This is not a cosmetic gimmick - it has the effect of rounding out the sound, smoothing out the harsh edges and as Ben said, "de-compressing" the sound. This thing sounds like a hybrid between a standard ukulele and a resonator; you still have that dark and dirty Delta quack at the start of the envelope, but it is smoothed out a bit. Very much like a splash of water in your Scotch, or a dash or lemonade in your Southern Comfort.

I'm totally smitten with it. It would make such an unusual addition to any collection. But the build quality is so obviously good you could use it daily and it would give years of service. Ben is one to watch as he does more and more solo stuff - get in at the beginning!

There are a few stickers on the Road worn, expertly distressed (used, basically!) woodshell hard case, which are from bands local to Ben's home of Oregon. This case has had the uke in it, on Ben's shoulder, on the journey over so has a few marks, but has lots of legs left in it, and good mojo!

Spec:

Tenor ‘Queen’ resonator uke
Myrtle back and sides (from the bottom of a huge, very old, tree that died in California about 5 years ago, cut from the crazy wood around the base of the hollowed out trunk)
Redwood top - salvaged from a 100yr old wine tank (inside of uke still has wine smell, that’s what the dark streaking is)
Walnut and myrtle 3 piece neck
Set neck stick thru body design (like vintage and modern Nationals)
National ukulele cone and biscuit bridge
17 inch tenor scale
35mm nut width
South American rosewood fingerboard - myrtle dot inlays
Custom walnut and maple rope binding
Myrtle headplate
Bone nut
High G Fluorocarbon strings
Grover open back machine heads
"Road worn" woodshell hard case, with stickers!