Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today released the Dhani Harrison Ukulele, marking the artist’s first collaboration with the iconic musical instrument brand. Designed for live performance, the Dhani Harrison Ukulele is built with eye-catching aesthetics from custom inlay work and unique stained finishes, to Fender® electronics with a tone knob allowing players to EQ their sound.
“We’re thrilled to launch the Dhani Harrison Signature Ukulele, the latest addition to our expanding line of Fender® ukuleles,” said Billy Martinez, Vice President Category Manager – Acoustic and Squier Divisions. “Dhani is a world-leading talent and we are seeing more demand for ukulele instruments than ever – so this collaboration made total sense to us. Dhani worked hand-in-hand with us to create his ideal ukulele, incorporating design elements that are deeply personal to him, which we hope will encourage people all over the world to express their own individuality and creativity.”
“The ukulele was created to bring the player and listeners joy, and that’s one thing about it I love, when you play it, you’ll realize it’s a higher quality of ukulele than the majority of ukuleles you’ve probably played that are not custom Hawaiian ones. You might notice the accent is better. The tone is nice, you’ve got an EQ, and you’ve got good tuners. It’s an experience” Dhani said.
As he grew more versatile on the instrument, Harrison wielded the ukulele as his entrance into songwriting. Influenced musically by Gabby Pahinui, Bennie Nawahi, and George Formby, the artist is adamant about the unique nature of the instrument as a tool in the creative process.
The ukulele welcomes “the percussive nature of the right hand and certain rhythms that you get.” Harrison clarifies, “There are rhythms that exist in your rhythm, but no one’s playing those particular beats.”
“Having an instrument that’s easy to play encourages you to play it more, and it’s more inviting, and therefore you get more time on it. And therefore, you can get better, which brings you more joy.”
“I knew that if I did a Fender® signature model, it would have to be a ukulele,” said Dhani Harrison. “I’ve always played it and I write a lot of stuff on a uke. I spent a lot of time in Hawaii growing up and it was there that I really fell in love with the uke as a serious instrument. I designed it to be my ideal stage ukulele that also sounds great when you’re not plugged in. The design is very much inspired by my passions and quest to build the ultimate ukulele. I wanted to do a blue finish and I wanted a light and a dark – kind of like a blue sky day and a space black night. The blue sapphire stain finish is my nighttime mode, and the turquoise stain is my daytime mode. I hope this new Signature Series helps inspire others on their own musical journey.”
The Dhani Harrison Ukulele is available in two different finishes, each with its own unique fretboard inlays and engraved designs on the back of the instrument. Designed for live performance, the tenor-sized ukulele features a solid ovangkol wood top, with ovangkol back and sides, providing a warm sound – as well as a ¾ depth, upgraded Fender® electronics, distinctive build and eye-catching aesthetics. With a choice of daytime and nighttime finishes, the stains were developed to maintain the visual grain of the wood. Extremely lightweight yet durable, the Dhani Harrison Ukulele is built to stand the test of time.
Fender