Martin OXK Koa Ukulele (with Gig Bag)

No longer available at zZounds
Get brilliant Martin sound at an affordable price, thanks to an HPL body with Sitka spruce bracing, mahogany end blocks, and a Morado bridge.

Martin has long been renowned for its ukuleles, but this is the first uke they've offered in the X-Series. The Soprano-size body is fashioned from HPL (high pressure wood laminate) in a Koa-like finish as is the one-piece top. Features include Sitka spruce bracing, Mahogany end blocks and bridgeplate, cedar ribbons, Morado bridge, bone nut and saddle, Grover tuning machines, and a dove tail joint similar to that used in traditional Martin uke construction. With its strong Stratabond neck and durable HPL body, the OXK-Uke is perfect for moonlight serenading on the beach. Comes with a handy carrying bag, too. Aloha.

Model: 0XK Uke
Construction: Mahogany Blocks/Applied Dovetail Neck Joint
Body Size: Soprano Ukulele
Top: Koa pattern HPL Textured Finish
Rosette: Single Ring
Top Bracing Pattern: O-Uke
Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back Material: Koa pattern HPL Textured Finish
Back Purfling: none
Side Material: Koa pattern HPL Textured Finish
Endpiece: none
Endpiece Inlay: none
Binding: none
Top Inlay Style: none
Side Inlay: none
Back Inlay: none
Neck Material: Brown Stratabond
Neck Shape: Soprano Uke Shape
Nut Material: White Tusq
Headstock: Solid
Headplate: Koa pattern HPL Textured Finish
Heelcap: none
Fingerboard Material: Morado or Rosewood
Scale Length: 13.614''
Number Of Frets Clear: 12
Number Of Frets Total: 17
Fingerboard Width At Nut: 1-13/32''
Fingerboard Width At 12th Fret: 1-13/16''
Fingerboard Position Inlays: One @5th, Two @7th, One @10th
Fingerboard Binding: none
Finish Back & Sides: none
Finish Top: none
Finish Neck: none
Bridge Material: Morado or Rosewood
Bridge Style: O-Uke
Bridge String Spacing: 1-41/64''
Saddle: White Tusq
Tuning Machines: Grover Nickel w/ White Buttons
Recommended Strings: Martin Ukulele (M600)
Bridge & End Pins: none
Pickguard: none
Case: Padded Bag
Interior Label: Gold Foil Label
Electronics: not available as an option

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 610-759-2837

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. (6 ratings)
Submitted November 4, 2013 by Edward Petersen in Doylestown, PA

"Surprisingly Good Uke "

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Didn't think I was a fan of High Pressure Laminate, but I played one at the 1833 Shop at Martin Guitar and was amazed at the tone and timbre. So I ordered one from zZounds.com. I have a 1930's vintage Style 1 mahogany soprano ukulele and the OXK sounds every bit as fine. Of course the HPL instrument does not have the lan of the vintage bauble and man does not live by tone alone. It is as solid a feeling instrument as I've ever cradled. You have to hold one yourself to experience of which I speak. It's certainly not a delicate uke. It's heavy as well and that perhaps is a bit of a negative as far as I'm concerned. I like a featherweight uke. It's also slightly unbalanced toward the peghead which does not make for maximum comfort while playing. On the other hand, it doesn't sound like an overbuilt ukulele. The tone is rich, deep and sustaining. And it smells like a wooden instrument thanks to the actual wood linings, blocks and braces inside. I acquired it to play outside, cart it around in my back pack and on my bike. I get a soul filling pause that refreshes perched atop a high cliff fingerpicking a ditty. The OXK fits this purpose well. The tuners are high quality friction Grovers and the included gig bag is more than decent. I don't understand though, if the finish is a picture anyway, why Martin couldn't apply an image of the curliest, most flamey Koa they could find? Verily, it does't have to resemble wood at all and this aspect adds a slightly dishonest look at their read more toes to an instrument that otherwise is what it is. Think of the fun colors and designs they could employ. All in all. The Martin OXK sounds and works superlatively. You'll have to decide whether it's worth the money. It does strike me as expensive for formica assembled in Mexico. On the other hand the build is fastidious and top notch. There are no glue drips or excess, the sound hole, inlays and tuners are dead centered, the intonation as right on as a uke gets and the Stratabond neck is perfectly carved. If the whole idea of a synthetic ukulele does not offend and you want a fine sounding, durable soprano, I don't think you'd be disappointed with the martin OXK.

Musical Background:
Producer and co host of the Bleecker Street Cafe on WDVR FM

Musical Style:
Love all music
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No longer available at zZounds

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