Mele Curly Koa Top & Quilted Maple Back and Sides Tenor 4 (***Limited Edition Call to Inquire***)

This is of the most beautiful and deluxe tenor ukuleles we have ever built. The quilted maple back and sides are not only gorgeous, but very rich and resonant-sounding, while the impressive curly koa top with eye-catching paua shell inlays lends full-sounding lows and sweet, crystalline highs. It is not only the best-looking but one of the best-sounding instruments in our store! (It lives in a glass display case to show it off and to minimize the possibility of scratches or dings.)

Because of the ebony binding and the over-sized, securely attached bridge, we are able to confidently offer the fully transferable Mele limited lifetime warranty. The bridge design also makes it possible to install any of the best-sounding guitar transducers on the market. (We offer the MiSi Acoustic Trio for $199 including FREE installation, but feel free to inquire about other options.)

The ebony fingerboard features offset MOP dot markers, and is not dyed, displaying some very attractive natural figurations. Nut and bridge saddle are of Corian, offering excellent tone and sustain without the density anomalies inherent in bone. With “Slot” headstock .  Tuners are the highly regarded Mele 18-to-1 open-geared precision die-cast machines, specifically designed for the ukulele.

In addition to the Paua inlays around the top and soundhole, this model features a Mele first; herringbone inlays entirely around the sides, both top and bottom, entirely done by hand in contrasting ebony and maple tones. The headstock of the hand-carved mahogany neck is capped with elegant variegated ebony veneer. The book-matched quilted maple back is just as visually striking as the full-curl koa top. This is an instrument that must be seen and played to be believed, at a fraction of the price that one of the “boutique” ukulele builders would offer it for!