This is a one-off ukulele that has now sold.

This is a creation of Canadian luthier Martin van Humbeck, who makes his instruments by hand on Vancouver Island. This particular example, number 194, is made from solid red cedar, specially selected for its colour, a wood that is paired with master grade Indian rosewood on the back and sides. It’s a beautiful sounding instrument from someone with real mastery fo their craft - a unique piece that reflects the countless hours over the years that Martin has spent working, developing, learning and tweaking all aspects of the art of ukulele making.

This model, which features sitka spruce X-bracing, produces an incrediblly warm, full and powerful sound. This is warmth with punch, richness with an articulate clarity. While its tapestry of sound is woven with that full-sounding depth, the trebles sing and rise above that depth, shining, sparkling and carrying melodies.

This tenor ukulele, features pomelle bubinga binding, an Amazonian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tintul bridge pins and a fantastic sound hole inlay made from camphor buril, bubinga and abaolone. I love the camphor burl, which is also used as a veneer on the headstock - a wood that looks like it belongs on the dashboard of a vintage Jaguar or Bentley. It also has Martin’s signature side soundport.

Looking into the specifications further, there’s a bone nut and saddle, the former 36.5mm in width, with generous string spacing. It is supplied in a dark green tweed-style hard case and has a mahogany neck, reinforced with carbon fibre. Worth clear strings are fitted, with high G as standard - although a handy Fremont low G is included in the case, should you need it. On the headstock, superb, top drawer Gotoh 510i super mini geared tuenrs are fitted - a touch of class for a top class uke.

Martin’s work is amongst that produced by the world’s top ukulele makers and while it is a lot of money, you can feel the knowledge and the craft with every strum.

This ukulele comes with an (unfitted) low G, and a strap button fitted and a hard case provided. For a video demo of this Martin Beck ukulele, click additional info below.