Design & Custom Order Kinnard Series 2 Soprano (an HMS Exclusive!) - Starting @

Design & Custom Kinnard Soprano
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Design & Custom Kinnard Soprano
$2,650.00 |or$241/month*

Your Own Kinnard Custom Soprano Build

Choose your woods, add the extra features you would like, and order your own custom Kinnard soprano ukulele!

These are immaculately built and finished by John S. Kinnard. 

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Design Your Own Kinnard Series 2 Custom Soprano 

** For Series 1 or Series 3 Orders, Contact Andrew **

It's a treat to showcase the fantastic musical quality and craftsmanship California-luthier John Kinnard offers in every one of his instruments. We were so impressed when we checked out our very first Kinnard soprano that we secured an exclusive on them. Andrew bought that first one and enjoys playing it daily. He called it his “Holy Grail for a soprano… the best soprano I’ve ever played and I’ve wanted something like this for a long time.” 

John can only supply us with a limited number of these very special sopranos each year. If you’re looking for a soprano with some serious tone, don’t delay! The wait time on these is typically 6-8 months, which is quite reasonable for a word-class instrument.

Working out of his one-man shop, John builds and finishes every detail on his ukuleles. They not only look stunning when completed, they also possess something that mass produced instruments lack: the soul of the luthier. And it really shines through in the tone. The body is a little deeper and the lower bout is a little wider than the average soprano but it fits perfectly into a Crossrock Fiberglass soprano case, so it travels really well. It sustains like a tenor and has such wonderful balance and articulation all over the neck.

John has been building guitars, mandolins and ukuleles in a career that has spanned more than 40 years. Like many artists, his creativity spills over into other mediums including painting and jewelry making. These talents have helped make him themaster luthier he is today. From painting he developed an eye for proportion and style. From designing and making jewelry it trained him to look for the smallest flaws. In fact, while building John wears 5x magnification goggles which help him build with an incredible attention to detail that has become the hallmark of his work as a luthier.   

With the options here you can put together your own custom just how you want it! Selecting options is fun for most folks but can also be overwhelming for others. That is why we make some options, well, optional. You can simply select "Luthier’s Choice." 

Below are several examples of previously delivered Series 2 Custom sopranos. They are examples for your reference as you put together a custom order. Choose your woods, choose from the upgrade options, and then pay the deposit. Now the hard part.... waiting! But rest assured, you will soon have a very special soprano ukulele!

Remember, the video sound samples here are recorded for true reference and have no alteration or enhancement. Use quality speakers or headphones to best hear the differences.

(Pictures 1-6) Western Red Cedar Top ~ Claro Walnut Body ~ Sound Port (upgrade) ~ Faux Tortoise Binding ~ Ebony Fretboard (1 1/2"), Bridge, & Faceplate ~ Shaped Fretboard End (upgrade) ~ Herringbone Rosette ~ Herringbone Rear Center Strip ~ Walnut Satin Neck ~ Gotoh UPT's in Black


(Pics 7-12) Western Red Cedar Top ~ Claro Walnut Body & Faceplate ~ Koa Binding (upgrade) ~ Rosewood Fretboard & Bridge ~ Walnut Neck ~ Gotoh UPT's in Black

 

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 (Pics 13-18) Sinker Redwood Top ~ Palo Escrito Body & Faceplate with Embossed Logo (upgrade)  ~ Custom Abalone Rosette (upgrade) ~ Sound Port (upgrade) Rosewood Fretboard, Bridge & Tailistrip ~ Mahogany Neck ~ Gotoh UPT's in Black

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What you get with a John S. Kinnard ukulele is a world-class instrument made and finished by one master luthier. You will enjoy this special instrument for life!

Essential Accessories & Popular Customizations
One-Year Ukulele Site Membership
One-Year Ukulele Site Membership
Rating:
100%
$50.00
UKE LOGIC SINGLE LOW G (5 options)
UKE LOGIC SINGLE LOW G (5 options)
Rating:
97%
$4.50
Ko'olau Aho Fluorocarbon Strings (5 Options)
Ko'olau Aho Fluorocarbon Strings (5 Options)
Rating:
100%
As low as $8.00
Oahu Clip-On Tuner
Oahu Clip-On Tuner
Rating:
85%
$19.99
More Information
Specs

While you upgrade certain features, all Series 2 customer ukes feature:

  • Choice wood selection
  • High gloss, two-part lacquer finish
  • Full body ivoroid or faux tortoise binding and matching purfling
  • Rosewood bound fingerboard and bridge
  • Rosewood tail strip
  • Ebony or matching wood faceplate
  • Herringbone or three ring sound hole rosette
  • Gotoh UPT tuning machines in black
  • Side markers
  • Fretboard markers
  • ​Deluxe wooden hardcase
Options

This ukulele comes with a deluxe wooden hardcase but you can upgrade to the Crossrock 1000 for the ultimate in lightweight, portable protection!

Extra Options

* This uke includes the more expensive Oasis Ukulele Humidifier (OH-18). This is required if you live in a low humidity area (parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, etc.) or areas with winter seasons, especially if you heat the air in your home. For more info see our Ukulele Care page. 

* Put a note in the Special Instructions if you would like to let our setup or shipping department know anything (e.g., “Please setup low G”). 

* Under the Accessories tab you can also customize this instrument by adding strap button(s) or your choice of pickup for plugging in. We recommend either the MiSi or the LR Baggs pickup for this ukulele. 

* After adding this instrument to your cart, you can shop further to take advantage of great deals on Ukulele Accessories.

* With the purchase of this ukulele you won't pay shipping! Before it is shipped, your instrument will go through our setup department so that you get the best instrument for your money. For more information on our setup process, turnaround time, shipping, and return policies, refer to the links below in our footer.

Aloha!

Brand Kinnard

Shipping Information

 

For more even more details and FAQ visit our Shipping Page under the Company Info tab at the header menu.

SHIPPING CARRIER OPTIONS:
FedEx is our primary shipping carrier, all orders that qualify for free domestic shipping will be sent using FedEx. UPS and DHL can also be chosen as alternative options upon checkout, USPS is only used for smaller accessory orders. 

As soon as the shipping label is created you will be automatically notified via email with tracking information. All packages will be shipped with a signature requirement by default. If you do not wish to have a signature requirement you will need to notify us, either by leaving a note in the “special instructions” when adding the item(s) to your shopping cart or by emailing our shipping department directly. Any shipping related requests (hold/delay/address change) should also be directed to our shipping department ( [email protected]). 

NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: You may also be required to pay import duties/taxes, this will vary depending on your location and the value of the item(s). To estimate these taxes, you can contact your local customs office. Fedex also offers a helpful estimation tool: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/international.html

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE PERMIT: If your ukulele contains any amount of shell inlay (abalone or pearl) it will require a permit to be shipped internationally. The cost of this permit is $93.00 USD. We will handle the paperwork and file the permit for you, but the cost of all duties and fees are the responsibility of the customer.

SHIPPING COST will vary depending on the size dimensions and weight of the package as well as the destination. To get a quote, use the “Calculate Shipping Cost” link located next to the “Add to Cart button” on each listing.

This is made even easier when you are already logged in to your customer account. Follow this link to create an account if you don’t already have one go HERE.

FREE SHIPPING: All orders within the USA with a total over $500 will qualify for free FedEx 2-day air shipping.

SHIPMENT AND TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS are sent automatically via email as soon as the shipping label is created so please make sure your email address is accurate when placing the order. Outgoing shipments are picked up by our shipping carriers Monday through Friday. 

ACCESSORY AND CASE ORDERS: While non-instrument orders for cases and accessories do not require the same processing time needed for instruments, they do require time for processing and packing. The typical processing time for accessory/case orders is (1-4 business days) depending on current order volume. 

CURRENT SETUP PROCESSING TIMES AND DETAILS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE “SETUP OPTIONS” TAB.* 

*If you would like to receive your instrument as soon as possible you can forego the full setup process by selecting the “Basic QC Only” option or by selecting the “Full Setup RUSH” option when adding instruments to your shopping cart. More details are available under the “Setup Options” tab.

Setup Options

 

Current Turnaround Time: Amount of time it takes before shipment-

Full Setup: 10-14 Business Days

Basic Quality Control: 2-3 Days

BASIC QUALITY CONTROL covers inspecting the instrument for any major defects that would have been missed by the factory and any faults in construction that could potentially damage or limit the functionality of the instrument over time. Any defective instruments are rejected and replaced.  We make sure that each Ukulele meets the basic standard for a brand new instrument and will be ready to play once you receive it. A final cleanup is also included after inspection before packing and shipment.

Full Setup - FREE for all Ukuleles $399 and over / $20.00 for Ukuleles from $300-399 / $30.00 for Ukuleles Under $300


Includes:


-Overall QC evaluation: To find defects in construction as well as to get an overall view of the instrument and note the areas that need extra attention and adjustment during the setup.

-Saddle Adjustment: The height of the saddle is lowered to reduce the distance between the strings and the fretboard, making it easier to play than the factory setup, especially higher up the fretboard.

-Nut Slot Adjustment: The depth, width, and angle of the nut slots are adjusted to create a more comfortable playing experience especially on the lower frets.

-Fret Dressing: After adjusting the nut and saddle heights, high spots in the fretboard or uneven frets will potentially cause fret buzz, dead spots, or other unwanted problems. The frets are filed to create a more consistent level across the fretboard. We then crown the frets to return their rounded curvature back to the top of each fret creating a clear contact point for each string. We then smooth and polish the frets and condition the fingerboard to bring them back to new condition.

-Final Cleanup: We always do a final overall cleanup of the instrument to make sure it is in new condition and ready to play before it is prepared for shipment.

Rush Setup & Delivery - Additional $50.00
The RUSH SETUP AND DELIVERY service is for customers who would still like to receive everything included in the full setup but on a shorter time frame. One of our setup technicians will work overtime outside of normal business hours to complete the setup within 2-3 days of the order being placed and immediately hand it over to the shipping department for packing and shipment. The $50.00 rush charge is in addition to the cost of the full setup. 

Additional services (see individual product listings to add these services to your order)
Re-stringing: We will replace the factory installed stock string set with a new set of your choosing. Select the “replace stock strings” option when adding your desired string set to the shopping cart.

Strap Button Installation: 1-2 buttons are installed to allow the use of a strap. Color options available. 

Pickup installation: for players who would like the option to play or record with amplification.

Friction Tuner Upgrade (friction tuners only): We offer upgrade options for select instruments with friction tuners to be retrofitted with new geared tuners for better precision and comfort when tuning.

Left-handed Setup: Left-handed setups are also available upon request. Occasionally an additional charge may be added for compensated saddles on select models. 

 

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