This is an OCS model, a ukulele made in Ohana’s Custom Shop by Brad, their in-house luthier. Their ST Line is designed to make luthier-made ukuleles a little more affordable - and that is where things get a little complicated! Because this is still expensive. But, by using less decoration and bling, things that take a luthier a long time to do… then it’s not bad for a tenor ukulele that’s made in California from premium tonewoods.

The series has a number of different variants, with the ST-Walnut having a solid redwood top, paired with solid claro walnut on the back and sides. The top has a tight grin and a rich orangey-red colour, with the back and sides adding a cooler colour to the palette, along with some attractive grain. These instruments have a very well applied gloss finish.

And, just because some of the features are stripped back, there’s still plenty to go for in a visual sense, including abalone soundhole decoration alongside the luthier’s interesting twist, the unusually shaped soundhole. There’s also rosewood binding and a walnut faceplace on the headstock, where you’ll find excellent Gotoh UK-700 geared tuners. Gotoh are really my go-to when it comes to great quality tuner. (Sorry for my sense of ‘humour’ there).

The OCS ST-Walnut comes with D’addario Titanium strings (that’s the brand name, they’re not metal!), paired with a Fremont Low G. The strings accentuate the warmer tones of the wood to deliver a rich, mellow, relaxed tone that is very pretty indeed. It has a nut width of 38mm.

This instrument also comes with an excellent off-white hard case which is well made. Not the most practical colour perhaps, but it does scream quality!

At the bottom of the page there are a number of optional extras including low G fitting and hard cases, both of which you can skip as this Ohana tenor has both already.