A Hawaiian-style Tenor with a Guitar-friendly Tuning
Inspired by Martin’s historic 20th-century ukuleles, the Martin O’ahu TKE represents the perfect crossover instrument for guitarists looking to add a top-level uke to their collection. In contrast to typical ukulele tuning, where the first string is the highest, this tenor uke features a set of Martin’s low-G strings, offering a more familiar tuning to guitarists where each string ascends in pitch. As for the tone, the O’ahu TKE’s all-solid design pairs a spruce top with a koa back and sides to deliver a bright, warm-sounding, and midrange-forward voice. Plus, the tenor body size — Martin’s largest uke model — grants superior projection and depth while remaining far smaller than a standard guitar. The O’ahu TKE’s select hardwood neck and East Indian rosewood fingerboard are joined to the body via a dovetail neck joint to transfer all the resonance of the strings to the tonewoods. Finally, Martin’s MiSi Simple Jack allows for plug-and-play acoustic-electric performance. Whether you’re a longtime ukulele pro or a guitarist first stepping into the world of the 4-string, the Martin O’ahu TKE adds a distinctly Hawaiian flavor to your acoustic toolbox.
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Traditional tonewoods from the heart of Hawaii
The Martin O’ahu TKE ukulele wields one of the most classic tonewood combinations in the Martin repertoire, pairing a solid spruce top with Hawaiian koa for the back and sides. Wrapped up in a large tenor-sized body with a 17-inch scale length, the O’ahu TKE sings with a sweet, bright, and punchy voice. In addition, the O’ahu TKE comes out of the box with a low-G tuning that offers a deeper, more guitar-like flavor compared to traditional ukulele tuning.
MiSi Simple Jack for plugged-in tone
The Martin TKE tenor ukulele offers players the capability for plugged-in gigs and splendid recording sessions thanks to the MiSi Simple Jack. The Simple Jack active preamp system utilizes a unique design that requires no batteries. Simply charge through the output jack for 60 seconds, and you’ll have 16 total hours of plugged-in playing time.
The CF Martin legacy
What hasn’t been said about the CF Martin company? Martin — a name virtually synonymous with the acoustic guitar — took root in the United States in 1833 with a small shop in lower Manhattan. Five years later, Christian Frederick Martin moved his business and family to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, where Martin has been located ever since. From the Dreadnought body shape to the 14-fret neck, Martin innovations paralleled (and indeed, drove) the development of the acoustic guitar itself. When you play any Martin guitar, you’re holding a piece of music history.
Martin O'ahu TKE Features:
- A tenor ukulele addition to Martin’s Hawaiian-inspired O’ahu line
- Strung with low-G tuning out of the box to offer guitarists a more familiar playing experience
- All-solid build pairs a spruce top with a koa body for a bright, punchy, and resonant tone
- Tenor size is perfect for beginners and ukulele pros alike
- Select hardwood neck joined to the body via a dovetail neck joint for maximum vibrational transfer
- East Indian rosewood fingerboard feels great under the fingers
- TUSQ nut and nickel open-gear tuners
- MiSi Simple Jack provides a stunning plugged-in tone
- Simply charge through the input jack for 16 hrs. of operation
