This is a fantastic luthier-made concert ukulele, made by hand on Vancouver Island by Martin van Humbeck. Martin has worked with wood his whole life and the skills he’s picked up, and the contacts he’s built to source the best materials, both show through in this concert ukulele, #183. It is made from master grade Engelmann spruce for the top, and figured Indian laurel on the back and sides. This lovely wood on the back looks like it belongs on the dashboard of an old Rolls Royce - it’s beautiful.

Martin has fitted this one with a low G (Fremont) and it gives it a luscious, rich resonance that you can feel vibrating into your body as you play. The spruce brightness and clarity perfectly matches the low G’s depth, for a crisp, yet deep tone. Plenty of volume, sustain and projection too. Yes, it’s an expensive instrument, but the tone matches the price and, to be honest when you consider the vast amount of work, from the design, scalloped sitka spruce X-bracing through to the exhaustive list of decorative touches… well, you can understand the hours and hours than have gone into making this concert uke.

The binding on the body is made from flamed Hawaiian koa, with a neck made from mahogany (with a carbon fibre reinforcing rod). with ebony fingerboard, bridge and bridge pins. The soundhole decoration is made from burled spalted flamed maple, and inlaid with Paua abalone. While the headplate is made from the heartwood of the Indian laurel used for the back. There’s a tru-oil finish, hand applied - giving a super-thin, satin feel, with a little shine too. There’s an intricately made side sound port, and a tweed finish hard case too.

This instrument is strung with Worth clear strings, with lightweight, top-of-the-line Gotoh 510i super mini geared tuners. These particular ones, with ebony buttons, cost north of £150 - so he’s not skimping on quality parts when constructing this amazing uke!

Being a really nice, friendly, modest man doesn’t make the instrument any better, but it’s nice to know that the builder is down to earth, supremely talented and yet humble at the same time. He really knows how to make a great uke!

For a video demo of this Martin Beck concert ukulele, click additional info below.

For common accessories and customisations (like strap buttons / low G fitting) scroll down to the bottom of the page where you'll be able to add these common items to your basket.