This is a one-off instrument, made by Millar’s chief luthier in their custom shop. It’s made from sinker red cedar - so wood that has been submerged in a river for many years, taking on elements from the silt, then recovered and dried out. This has been paired with a dark hardwood, ziricote.

The theory with sinker tonewoods is that they have a mature, interesting tone as a result of that ageing and taking on of different minerals. I can’t say how much this is true as it’s impossible to make a direct comparison. But what I can say is this ukulele has good volume, projection and a lovely shimmer. I write a lot of words about the sound of ukuleles… so it can be hard to know what to say that makes this different from other ukes. I want to say the sound is ‘three dimensional’… that shimmer and harmonic quality just seems to sound beautifully complex. Whether I’ve made any sense or not, I don’t know. But I certainly like it!

The Millar custom tenor has a standard 35mm nut width, a satin finish and Worth Clear, high G fluorocarbon strings. It has a really beautiful inlaid wooden soundhole rosette - plus an intricate whale shell inlay on the fingerboard. By which I mean it’s made from shell and depicts a whale. Not that it’s made from ‘whale shell’. As you know, whales don’t have shells. Millar custom models usually have a laser cut wooden label inside, and this one does, in the shape of a whale. Not that that improves the sound or anything. But it does look cool!

There are a number of optional extras at the bottom of the page that you might consider, including low G fitting, bags and cases and strap buttons.