As a multi-instrumentalist, Peghead Nation ukulele instructor Marcy Marxer owns many instruments, including several ukuleles. But when she had a chance to collaborate with the California-based Kala Brand Music Co. on a signature model ukulele, she jumped at the chance. Founded a decade ago, Kala is now one of the largest manufacturers of ukuleles, and it even created a whole new type of instrument with its innovative U-Bass (check out Peghead Nation’s demo). Besides ukuleles of all sizes, Kala also offers other stringed instruments, including a line of acoustic-electric guitars.

The Marcy Marxer signature model (the official model name is KA-ASAC-T-C-SP/MM) is a limited-edition instrument: a tenor-size ukulele built with a solid spruce top and solid acacia back and sides. The instrument has a cutaway for easy access to the highest frets, and its built-in pickup with onboard preamp allows for easy amplification.

In this video, Marcy talks about the instrument and demonstrates it by playing some of her arrangement of the pop classic “Under the Boardwalk,” which she teaches in her Peghead Nation Ukulele course.

To study with Marcy, enroll in her Ukulele course now!

SPECS: Cutaway tenor ukulele. Solid spruce top. Solid acacia back and sides. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. 17-inch scale. 1⅜-inch nut width. Rosewood binding with herringbone purfling. Grover tuners. Kala pickup and preamp with EQ. Aquila strings. Made in China. $450 street. Kalabrand.com

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