Gladstone Luthiers Tasmanian Blackwood Tenor

A dignified tenor model exhibited at the Tokyo Handcraft Guitar Fes, featuring magnificent curly Tasmanian Blackwood.

This is a handmade 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 was delivered directly to Ukulele Bird by the luthier, Graham Long, after the show.

The back and sides are made of Tasmanian Blackwood, a species of acacia in the same family as Hawaiian Koa. It is a representative Australian tonewood widely used by many luthiers. The back of this instrument exhibits a deep fiddleback grain, making it a particularly beautiful appearance for this species.

The soundboard is made of Engelmann spruce, known as a high-end instrument top wood characterized by its light color, tight grain, and lightness.

The rich bass and lustrous midrange of Blackwood, combined with the delicate response and clarity of Engelmann spruce, create an expressive and profound sound.

The internal structure features a high-impedance double-lining construction, with the joints between the sides, soundboard, and back double-reinforced with kerfed lining and internal rim bands. This enhances the richness of overtones and the complexity and texture of the sound.

The back bracing employs live bracing, allowing the back to vibrate in conjunction with the soundboard during play, resulting in a fuller and more complex sound. The soundboard features a falcate bracing system, formed by laminating thin strips of King Billy Pine into a sickle shape. This is a 20-foot radius structure with low mass and high rigidity.

The headstock, fingerboard, bridge, and binding are made of Indian ebony. Its jet black color, hardness, and dense grain make it an ideal material for these applications.

The fingerboard features a zero fret and a compound radius, adorned with maple purfling and ebony binding. The bridge adopts Gladstone Ukuleles' unique "string-through design."

The back of the headstock uses Ringed Gidgee. It is the hardest wood in Australia, and the "ringed" type, which exhibits curly grain, is particularly rare and visually stunning.

The rosette features an open segment design. Five rare woods—Black Gidgee, Birdseye Huon Pine, Conkerberry, New Guinea Rosewood Burl, and Ringed Gidgee—are arranged in 7 segments across two rings of different diameters. Black maple accent lines tighten the overall look, making for a very elaborate finish.

The tuners are Gotoh SG510 Baby Black (18:1, sealed gear). These are renowned tuners known for their top-class precision and smooth operation. The nut and saddle are precisely hand-fitted from Northern Territory water buffalo horn. A zero-fret design is also employed, enhancing the uniformity of tone between open and fretted notes.

The strings are Worth Brown Fluorocarbon Low G set. The finish is a high-gloss pre-catalyzed lacquer, applied in approximately 20 coats, then hand-leveled, cut, and mirror-polished after curing, resulting in a durable and beautiful surface.

The strings are Worth Brown Fluorocarbon Low G specification.

This instrument is pre-cut for pickup installation (jack compensation block in the lower bout, and holes for piezo elements in the bridge saddle slot), but a pickup is not installed. If you desire a pickup, please add it to your cart at the time of purchase.

Although it has a substantial weight due to the generous use of precious woods, it has excellent body balance and feels stable when held. Additionally, two strap pins are installed, allowing for playing with a strap.

This is an uncompromising instrument in terms of both materials and craftsmanship, lavishly utilizing rare and precious woods from both Australia and beyond, including Tasmanian Blackwood, American Curly Maple, Indian Ebony, and Ringed Gidgee.

Specifications

• Size: Tenor
• Back & Sides: Tasmanian Blackwood
• Top: Engelmann Spruce
• Neck: American Curly Maple 3-piece / Black and White accent lines / Double carbon fiber truss rods embedded
• Headstock, Fingerboard, Bridge, Binding: Indian Ebony
• Fingerboard: Zero fret / Compound radius / Maple purfling & Ebony binding
• Bridge: String-through design
• Back of Headstock: Ringed Gidgee
• Rosette: Open segment design (Black Gidgee, Birdseye Huon Pine, Conkerberry, New Guinea Rosewood Burl, Ringed Gidgee - 7 segments in total / Black Maple accent line)
• Tuners: Gotoh SG510 Baby Black (18:1, sealed gear)
• Nut & Saddle: Water Buffalo Horn (from Northern Territory / hand-fitted) / Zero fret specification
• Body Structure: High impedance double lining
• Back Bracing: Live bracing (20-foot radius)
• Soundboard Bracing: Falcate (King Billy Pine laminated, 20-foot radius)
• Strings: Worth Brown Fluorocarbon Low G
• Finish: High-gloss pre-catalyzed lacquer (hand-polished finish)
• End Pins: Two locations
• Pickup: Pickup-ready (not installed)
• Hard case included

New, one-year warranty

*As it was brought directly after the exhibition, it has not undergone final adjustment and setup by the craftsman after his return to Japan. The price has been set to reflect this.