USED 2017 KoAloha Special Issue Tenor Ukulele Port Orford Cedar/Purple Heart - Super rare!

Wow, wow, wow. Stunning on the ears and the eyes, this special Issue KoAloha has looks and sound unlike anything else I have come across. The port orford cedar (cypress family) on the top is very tight and straight grained, which is why indigenous Americans used it to make bows and arrows. It has a very unique tonal response, simultaneously clean and clear, and full and smooth at the same time. Very clever stuff! The tight, close and straight grain here is key - this beauty sounds so marvellous for the same reason that Stradivarius violins do.

The purple heart on the back and sides doesn't just look sensational, but adds to the depth of the tone and projection of the sound as it is a hard wood. Honestly, we've tried to get this uke to sound bad and we just can't. Low down, high up, it has the perfect presence; strummed, picked or simply gawped at it never disappoints. The purple heart wood is not stained at all - this is its natural colour.

So, enough of my enthusiastic ramblings. This is one of a very limited run of 12 long neck concerts and 12 tenors that were made in 2017, and we were lucky enough to snag one of each back then.

You simply won't find another uke which looks and sounds quite like this one - and which will retain its value over the years owing to its uniqueness and character. Condition wise, it is a 9/10. On the back, there are two small patches which look a little glossier than the surroundings, but you really have to look closely to find them. It looks like two small blemishes in the finish which have been polished, and shined up as a result. Some very small streaks of creamy grain filler are visible under the finish on the back as well (see pic). It also has a little discolouration around the edge, where natural oil from the Koa binding has leached into the grain (see pic). This was present when it was new, it has not worsened at all, and is not a cause for concern!

The top and sides, if you really scrutinise, show the slightest signs of use but nothing visible from more than 6 inches away. A solid 9/10!

Specification:
Port orford cedar top
Purple heart back and sides (no stain is used - this is the natural colour)
Satin finish
Koa binding to body and fretboard
Macassar ebony fretboard and bridge
Abalone fret markers and inlay
Worth CT-LG strings
Geared machine heads
20 fret neck, 15 to body
NuBone nut and saddle
Ebony endpin fitted
Original TGI ABS case included