Pono MBD All Solid Mahogany Deluxe Baritone Ukulele Gloss

The first thing you notice about Pono's mahogany ukuleles is the lack of stain. The natural mahogany looks sensational, with the grain showing beautifully and highlighted by the gloss finish, and every nuance in the wood showing through. Ponos are always impeccably well made, and this model is no exception.

The attention to detail in the finish on this baritone ukulele is very high, which fills you with confidence as you pick it up to play. And when you do play it, you hear such a warm, rich, loud voice which would grace any purpose.

The bone nut and saddles, the very tightly grained solid wood, and the very tight build quality mean that the Pono MBD sustains very well. It allows chords in the first few positions and notes plucked nearer the top of the fretboard to ring for a long time.

This model differs from the Pono MB (the cheaper satin version) in that it has a gloss finish. This is not just a cosmetic trick designed to part you with extra cash. It actually hardens the wood and tightens the response, so you get a crisper treble and a generally brighter tone. You can still tell it is a mahogany ukulele, but there is just a little more vavavoom in the sound than the MB has.

Please be aware that the pictures show a typical example.

Specification:
Solid Mahogany top, back, and sides
Ebony faceplate, fingerboard and bridge
Rope marquetry rosette
Pearl logo and position dots
Bone nut and saddle
35mm nut width with 27mm D to E string spacing
512mm scale length
Mahogany neck, matte finish
Gloss finish
Ko'olau Clear Nylon strings (EBGD) with two wound bass

About the Pono line: The “Pono” line is made by Ko’olau one of the oldest and most traditional Hawaiian ukulele manufacturers. Ko’olau’s goal throughout the years has been to provide the highest quality stringed instruments available with a high standard of craftsmanship. And besides methods of construction to optimize tone and volume, they stress the importance of cosmetic beauty.

It is of interest to note that only the finest grades of quartersawn hardwoods, such as mahogany, rosewood, and ebony are selected for Pono instruments. However, only 20% pass the stringent requirements of density, grain patterns, flexibility, and cosmetic aesthetics. This is virtually unknown, especially in the Asian import market. We are proud of the fact that all of the Pono instruments are made of solid woods.