Tiger Myrtle
This strikingly beautiful low G tenor has Tasmanian tiger myrtle for the back and sides. I've used this wood with good results on several guitars but this is the first time for me on an ukulele. It's the same wood as other myrtle from Tasmania and Australia with the exception of the uniquely spalted figure reminiscent of exotic animal fur. And as often is the case it's not botanically a true myrtle. Nevertheless, tiger myrtle promotes a wide tonal response. There's a nice shimmer to the trebles and beautiful sustain. The bass is warm and present.
The white spruce top might have a lot to do with that though. It's a little more dense than Engelmann spruce with sensitivity for fingerstyle play and headroom for aggressive strumming. The grain is tight with even silking.
The rosette is made of birch, Mun ebony, African ebony and tiger myrtle. The bindings are ebony with birch and black purfling. Position markers are aluminum and brass. The head plate and back plate are tiger myrtle.
The neck is Honduran mahogany. The fingerboard is ebony with nickel silver frets that have rounded ends. It has a 16 to 20 inch compound radius for easy playability. The polished aluminum strap button on the neck heel is part of a two bolt neck attachment system. And there is another strap button on the tail.
The ebony bridge is a string through style. The strings are PHDs which have the power of flurocarbons and the feel of nylon. There is a GHS winter silver wound low G for balanced power.
The black tuners are American made open-backed Sperzels with custom snakewood buttons and a retro vibe.
What isn't so easily noticeable are the laminated maple linings that are hand carved in place after gluing. They are are notched into the laminated neck and tail blocks for stability and rigidity.
The nut and intonated saddle are unbleached bone. The finish is a penetrating oil based urethane semigloss with extra protective coats of polyurethane on the white spruce top which is also protected with a clear pick guard.
Like all of my instruments, this tiger wood tenor is built with tone, playability, beauty and longevity in mind. It comes with a lightweight hard shell case. Available at The Ukulele Site. $4400
