aNueNue Alan Gogoll model, natural gloss, made in China 2017. Launching in 2008, aNueNue are one of the biggest makers of mid-high end ukuleles in the world. The name is the Hawaiian word for rainbow; they're based out of Taiwan with a sister division in Honolulu. The brand diversified from ukes into guitars in 2015, launching their Bird Guitar design, and doing some work with legendary Tasmanian fingerstyle guitarist Alan Gogoll in the early days of promoting their new offerings. Alan has clocked up millions of streams and views of his gorgeous, intricate instrumental fingerstyle originals. He is known for inventing the Bell's Harmonic technique, which involves using the left hand to fret a note and create an artificial harmonic... it's clever stuff, and he can literally deliver 1000 harmonics in a minute (search the vid!). When Johnson and August Liao set out to build Alan a signature model, they took their excellent Bird Guitar shape, based on the plump curves of a red robin, and maxed out the details and wood selection. It's got an African mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard, paired with a headstock sporting matching ebony and Hawaiian koa veneers. The body is made from all solid Swiss moon spruce on the top and some outrageously beautiful solid cocobolo on the back and sides. Moon spruce grows in the alpine regions of central Europe, and it's lighter but stronger than sitka and delivers a more rounded, warmer and earthier tone with more complex harmonics. Cocobolo is a rosewood genus timber from Central America, and it's very rare and valuable... if you want a Martin made with the stuff, you're up for A$10k+ new. The rosette and binding are carved from similarly rare Hawaiian koa. The sound is magnificent: fat. generous low end, sweet and snappy treble, super wide and warm mids brimming with harmonic content. Alan's playing relies on detail and sustain, and the strength and balance of this brings out the nuance of every little note. It's a classical-style neck with a 48mm nut: if you've waiting for a nice steel string with that bit of extra string spacing, this is a great option. The onboard pickup has a piezo and a mic with a balance control, it translates the unplugged sound very nicely. This guitar is hand numbered at #6, it's fair to guess there's less than twenty in existence. We scored this one as an ex-demo example, so it's been played for a handful of hours but presents pretty close to new. If you're an Alan fan, or just looking for a quirky guitar with incredible specs, this is a super cool option.

Model: aNueNue #5 Alan Gogoll
Made: China, 2017
Serial: AG72282
Finish: natural, thin gloss poly
Body: solid Swiss moon spruce top. solid cocobolo back and sides, 'Bird' body shape, parabolic brace structure, ebony bridge with buffalo bone saddle, Hawaiian koa binding and rosette, 402mm across, 114mm deep
Neck: African mahogany, ebony fretboard, 25.5" scale, 16" radius, 48mm nut, medium C shape carve
Weight: 2.225kg
Mods: none
Pickup: aNueNue Air Air under saddle + omni direction mic, with preamp
Accessories: aNueNue hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has very minor scuffs on the end. The is clean and smooth in the hands, very minor rub wear on the back only. The back has minor scuffs in the middle of the body, near the neck join and on the bottom edge. The sides have minor scuffs on both shoulders and the bottom corner The front has minor play wear on the shoulders.
Overall: excellent condition (9/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with 12/54 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 9.5/10, minor wear only