A 17” scale length tenor inspired by the mainstream US West Coast stringed instruments of the early/mid 20th century.

Our California Style Tenors are reminiscent of a miniature Martin OM guitar and have a ‘softwood’ soundboard (Spruce, Cedar or Redwood) that delivers an unexpected punch and great resonance and sustain. We build these instruments with a variety of different wood options but with an increasing focus on the use of native UK species. Usually strung with a low G but available with a high G if desired.

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California Style Tenor

I currently build California Style Tenors at three levels of embellishment to suit different budgets:

  • The ‘Constellation’ - a star constellation of your choice inlaid on the rear lower bout, the planets of the solar system inlaid as fretboard markers, a custom ‘heart’ rosette in Thuya burl, Ebano binding with fine white/black coachlines and crowsfoot purfling an Ebony bridge, fretboard and headstock veneer and gorgeous Gotoh UK700 tuning machines in Gold with Ivoroid buttons.

  • The ‘Diamond’ - tasteful but understated diamond fretboard markers, an oval ‘offset’ Elm burr rosette, Ebano binding with fine white/black coachlines, Ebony bridge, fretboard and headstock veneer and Gotoh UK700 tuning machines in Nickel with white buttons

  • The ‘CST’ - a more basic specification with mother-of-pearl dot markers, rosewood bindings and Rosewood or Leadwood bridge, fretboard and headstock veneer

Soundboard wood options include:

  • Spruce (Alpine, Engelmann, Sitka and Adirondack)

  • Giant Redwood (Wellingtonia)

  • Pencil Cedar

Back and Sides wood options include:

  • Oregon Myrtle

  • UK Walnut

  • European walnut

  • Indian Rosewood

  • Padauk

  • Cypress

  • Khaya (‘African Mahogany’)

  • Mahogany

  • Coalbrookdale (Shropshire) Yew

  • Koa

  • Indian Laurel

  • Nigerian Cedar

Alex from the Southern Ukulele Store plays two of our California Style Tenors: a ‘Diamond’ and the ‘Constellation of Aries’.

A late inclusion in the SUS ‘Top 10 Ukuleles of 2025’ (Chapter 6).

A California Style Tenor in Oregon Myrtle back and sides, Alpine Spruce soundboard, Shropshire Alder neck, Ebony bridge, fretboard & headstock with Gotoh UK700 tuners in Gold & Ivoroid. This instrument is ‘Capricorn’ from the Constellation series and is decorated with the constellation in Gold Mother-of-Pearl on the rear lower bout, a custom Thuya burl ‘heart’ rosette and the planets of the solar system as fretboard markers. A stunningly beautiful instrument!

The pricing for California Style Tenors starts at £1,250 (incl. TGI Extreme gig bag) and depends upon wood selection and level of embellishment