OulCraft Custom - Englemann Spruce/Quilted Maple Tenor Ukulele w/Orange Stain #59

The absolutely unique, pristine and inspiring uke you are looking at right now is an Oulcraft Ukulele, remember the name because these Ukuleles offer something at the high end that really pushes the boundaries of what you can expect from the Ukulele. Using modern production methods these Ukuleles compete and learn from all of the hard work many of the very best Japanese and US builders have been producing throughout the last decade. When I hold these instruments I am reminded of Kanile'a, AnueNue and TODA whilst also getting a fair amount of the flavours and sensibilities of the best smaller workshop outfits like Sumi, Barron River and Pete Howlett.

Oulcraft comprise of a husband and wife dream team duo builder and designer; Jungtae set up the Oul studio in 2011 having worked previously in Japan building custom acoustic guitars for T's Guitars. He trained under the extremely talented Shinji Takahashi known for Seilen Ukuleles. The unique design element of the Oulcraft Ukuleles is down to Jungtae's wife Seoyoon who has an extensive design history in various industries. The synergy that this team create is extremely refreshing, a family approach with a mixing bowl of excellent design ideas, a wealth of craftsmanship experience and modern techniques. We are delighted to be Europes first Oulcraft dealer and to be able to join them on a new voyage of Ukulele design as the company hits it's second decade.
If you were scrolling the website for Tenors and saw the front of this, I can almost guarantee you stopped what you were doing and clicked - it just has something completely captivating about it. We worked with Oulcraft on a run of custom ukuleles at the tail end of 2019 and were so excited to be at the top of the waiting list again. Number #59's colour is partly inspired by the Gretsch Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Guitar and based on a previous Tenor we had in stock. Jungtae has created a Ukulele that on first looks has all the mojo and flair of a Mike Da Silva - The top is Englemann Spruce and it's the perfect launching point for the Quilted Maple back and sides and front wrap/rosette. It sounds great, it's honest, open, big and beautiful. This custom Tenor sounds like a piano and would be absolutely perfect for anyone wanting to hear the subtle changes in string pressure or tone in their playing and it's a joy to even listen to the open notes ring out trusty and true. Quilted maple doesn't get enough credit in my book for just how tenderly it shapes the tone of the Ukulele... If you like the bubblyness of Koa but also want just a little bit of bite and attack to your single picked notes then this Ukulele is as good as anything that has come before it. A world class instrument by Oulcraft that will no doubt turn heads every time you take it out of the case.

Spec:

Solid Engelmann Spruce top
Solid Quilted Maple back and sides, Orange stain
Spanish Cedar/Ebony 3 ply neck
36mm nut width
17" scale length
Bone nut and saddle
Urethane Gloss finish
Gotoh Stealth tuners
Side Soundport
Ebony fretboard and bridge
MOP fretboard dots
Worth CT High G strings
Blue Quilted Maple Soundhole Rosette and binding