U N DER T H E HOOD
Luna Ukes
By Brian Berk
“Enter the Dragon.” Luna Ukes announced the release of three ukuleles featuring the warmth of mahogany, the power of a builtin preamp and Luna’s own signature laser etchings, showcasing a Henna Dragon on the top. Why the Henna Dragon? “Historically, the symbol of the Dragon is deeply rooted in cultures throughout the world for its spiritual meaning of offering courage to those who need it most. Much like Luna’s Henna Dragon acoustic/electric guitar, Henna Dragon ukuleles are powerful allies to musicians of all skill levels,” stated Luna. “Since the brand’s inception, the Henna Series has been a staple to the Luna line and a movement of artistic expression. As the first two works of art in the series, the Oasis and Paradise were inspired by Medieval Spanish henna patterns of that era, and gently laser-etched across the guitar’s spruce wood top,” Adam Gomes, brand director and artist relations for Luna Guitars, told the Music & Sound Retailer. “The introduction of the Henna Dragon design was a testament to the brand’s growth and expansion over the years. In 2020, we were looking for a design that reflects on a musician’s long journey and embodies those characteristics such as strength and perseverance. For both male and female players alike, the symbol of the dragon resembles that exact feeling. Having a powerful design by your side serves as a pleasant reminder to keep doing what you love, and given the challenges we faced in 2020, the Henna Dragon guitar meant even more.” For ukulele enthusiasts, Luna added a family of Henna Dragon 46
and Luna Percussion Henna Dragon Series
ukes of different sizes and body shapes that feature an all-mahogany body. “Mahogany is a great tonewood used on many ukuleles that produces warm and vibrant sound,” Gomes said. Luna Henna Dragon ukes are available in Concert, Tenor and Baritone models, and feature mahogany tops, bodies and C-shape set necks, which give the instrument a warmer sound overall and higher-pitched tonality, according to the company. In addition, they have pau ferro bridges and fretboards with pearloid moon phase inlays, chrome hardware, slotted headstocks with open-gear chrome button tuners, Luna UK-T2 preamps with built-in EQ and tuners, and open-pore natural finishes. They come equipped with Aquila strings and a gig bag. Luna Percussion, the percussion arm of Luna Guitars, also added the Luna Henna Dragon Cajon featuring birch construction. The cajon’s birch construction provides a wide tonal range with exceptional projection, the company stated. Its built-in snares can be engaged with a quick switch of a steel knob, allowing percussionists to provide the backbeat to go along with the deep rich percussive tones of the instrument. “For percussion fans, we laser-etched the Henna Dragon design around all four sides of the new all-birch cajon,” Gomes said. The delicately laser-etched dragon design is on full display all around the 12- by 12- by 19-inch body. “Regardless of which Henna Series instrument you choose, one can always enjoy running their fingers across the raw wood-burned artwork of each of these designs on a satin-finish instrument of their choice,” Gomes concluded. SEPTEMBER 2021
