Gladstone Luthiers Camphor Laurel Tenor

A distinctive tenor model exhibited at the Tokyo Handcraft Guitar Fes, featuring Australian camphor laurel

This is a handcrafted tenor ukulele by Graham Long (Gladstone Guitars), a luthier from Queensland, Australia.

This instrument was a show model exhibited at the Tokyo Handcraft Guitar Fes 2026, and Graham Long, the craftsman, delivered it directly to Ukulele Bird after the show.

Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) is used for the back and sides. This hardwood is characterized by a rich grain that transitions from honey-colored to deep brown, and a unique aroma. Although native to East Asia, including China and Japan, it grows widely as an exotic species in Australia. It is highly valued in furniture and woodworking for its durability and workability, while also being an eco-friendly tree species. Due to its vigorous growth, large mature trees are often harvested. In recent years, it has gained attention as an instrument wood, appreciated for its distinctive aroma, beautiful stripes, and unique tone with rich mid-low frequencies.

The top is made of Sitka spruce, a classic choice known for its bright, clear sound.

The internal structure features a high-impedance double lining, reinforcing the joints between the sides, soundboard, and back. This enhances overtone richness, sound complexity, and texture.

The soundboard is equipped with a Falcate bracing system. This low-mass, high-rigidity bracing is made by laminating thin strips of King Billy pine and shaping them into a falcate (sickle-like) form, assembled with a 20-foot radius.

Live bracing is used for the back bracing, allowing the back to vibrate in conjunction with the soundboard during play, resulting in a fuller and more complex sound.

The neck is a robust structure combining Queensland maple and Emu apple, with a double carbon fiber truss rod built-in.

Curly Emu apple is used for the binding and back center. This material is sourced from an extremely rare tree that exhibits tight curl throughout, creating a unique decorative accent.

Purple Bauhinia (Queensland Ebony) is used for the headstock, fingerboard, and bridge. It is a distinctive precious wood characterized by a dark cross-section with a pale outer edge and a dark center, possessing oiliness and a grain pattern similar to Cocobolo.

Rosewood burl is placed on the back of the headstock, adding a subtle accent with its beautiful grain.

The rosette features a New Guinea rosewood burl ring. The natural texture of the wood adds a warm and unique accent.

The tuning pegs are Gotoh SG510 Baby (18:1) in black with Ziricote buttons, known for their outstanding precision and operability.

The nut and saddle are precisely hand-crafted from Northern Territory water buffalo horn. A zero fret is also adopted, enhancing the uniformity of tone between open and fretted strings.

The strings are Worth brown fluorocarbon with a Low G setup, providing a warm, mellow, classical guitar-like sound.

The finish is a durable and beautiful coating of approximately 20 coats of hand-polished high-gloss precatalyzed lacquer, which is then manually leveled, cut, and mirror-polished after curing.

This instrument is pre-processed for pickup installation (with a jack compensation block in the lower bout and a hole for a piezo element in the bridge saddle slot), but no pickup is installed. If you desire a pickup, please add it to your cart at the time of purchase.

While it has a substantial feel due to the luxurious use of precious woods, it boasts excellent body balance and outstanding stability when held. Additionally, two strap pins are installed, allowing for playing with a strap.

This is a unique instrument filled with deep respect for Australia's nature and wood culture.

Specs

• Size: Tenor
• Scale: 432mm (14th fret joint)
• Back & Sides: Camphor Laurel
• Top: Sitka Spruce
• Neck: Queensland Maple × Emu Apple / Double carbon fiber truss rod built-in
• Fingerboard, Headstock, Bridge: Purple Bauhinia (Queensland Ebony)
• Back of Headstock: Rosewood Burl
• Binding: Curly Emu Apple
• Body Structure: High-impedance double lining
• Back Bracing: Live bracing (20-foot radius)
• Soundboard Bracing: Falcate (King Billy pine laminate, 20-foot radius)
• Rosette: New Guinea Rosewood Burl Ring
• Tuners: Gotoh SG510 Baby Black / Ziricote buttons (18:1)
• Nut & Saddle: Water Buffalo Horn (hand-fitted)
• Strings: Worth Brown Fluorocarbon Low G
• Finish: High-gloss precatalyzed lacquer (hand-polished finish)
• End Pins: Two locations
• Pickup: Pre-processed for pickup (not installed)
• Hard case included

New, one-year warranty

※As the instrument was brought directly after the exhibition, it has not undergone final adjustment and setup by the craftsman upon returning home. The price has been set more affordably as a result.