Pete Howlett 'Gemini' - AAA Hawaiian Koa Twin Soundport Tenor Ukulele

There is something just so intriguing about a faceless instrument with a sexy top like this... What could it possibly sound like without the soundhole? How does it work? It's all so exciting... This uke defies all logic with its depth, character and directional tone which points all the sound out of the twin side sound holes. It feels better calling them sound holes as they are too big to be considered a 'side port'

Pete is now in a very experimental phase, now that he has divested his Revelator business to Kala. He has long wanted to try a twin side soundport design with a completely solid, unpunctured top to see what the resulting sound would be like. I am glad that he did, as this sounds brilliant. Smooth and rich, with a nice zing on the attack, volume and sustain for days, and a wonderful complex tone.

The action on this uke has been set nice and low and easy to play, and this really works with the wound C and G strings. We have experimented with unwound C and G strings, and it really did not like it as the sound became a lot thinner and the strings started to rattle on the fretboard. So, be aware that you will probably have to stick with the wound strings, as they are the best choice for this insrument. It's a cannon! So loud when you dig in and play with expression, it's the ukulele equivelant of listening to music with a £1000 pair of headphones. You simply won't experience another uke like it.

Specification:

AAA Hawaiian Koa body
Twin side soundports
Mahogany neck
Santos Rosewood (Pau Ferro) faceplate, fingerboard and bridge (CITES friendly)
V form bracing pattern to top
Traditional slot bridge
Wooden endpin strap button
Bone nut
Corian saddle
37mm nut width, with 30mm G to A string spacing
433mm scale length
Open gear Der Jung tuners
Silverwound low G, aluminium wound C, Worth Brown trebles (Low G GCEA)
TGI ABS case included