USED Bonham Design Tenor Resonator Ukulele "The Queen" with hard case #027

An almost new Ben Bonham Queen Resonator - purchased new about a year ago, this instrument has found it's way back to the shop as part of a collection being traded in. The original owner loved everything about this instrument but found it to be a bit too loud for their needs. This is what we said when it arrived new.

I cannot tell you how much we look forward to Ben walking into the shop with a hard case in his hands. I remember the first time he did being one of the most serendipitous moments in the life of SUS - after all, it's not every day a world class luthier like Ben walks in asking if you want to sell one of his instruments. So this time, we knew he was coming and the anticipation, excitement and expectation was all the greater.

And boy, has he delivered, in every sense. This astonishing instrument is made of Flamed Koa which is achingly pretty. But the reason that you are going to want to play this instrument endlessly is the sound, which is quite simply the best of any resonator I have ever 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. The first one we had was made of Redwood and Myrtle and had a darker, more complex sound whereas the Koa on this one brightens the sound dramatically - man, this thing just sings! The sheer volume and sustain are so deeply impressive. Once again, this instrument was sold new to a collector a year ago who found it to be a bit too loud for their needs and so here we are! Condition is excellent with only small scuffs on the brasswork.

It comes with the same used hard case that Ben hand delivered this instrument to us from his home in Oregon, so expect a few marks on the case. 

Spec:

Flamed Koa top, back and sides
Mahogany and Maple 3 piece neck
Set neck stick thru body design (like National Resonators)
National Resonator ukulele cone
17 inch scale length
35mm nut width
East Indian Rosewood Fingerboard with maple dot inlays
Flame maple binding
Koa headplate
Bone nut
East Indian Rosewood tailpiece and handrest
Low G Fluorocarbon strings with wound Low G
Grover open backed tuners