Antonio Tsai's workshop is in Vietnam and most of the instruments that make their way to our shores from it are bought on eBay at fairly low prices. He's been selling in this fashion for almost as long as I've been repairing instruments and, thankfully, the quality improves each time I see a newer Tsai creation. They are hit or miss, though, with many Tsai instruments succumbing to humidity/dryness issues after they settle-in for a time in the States.
That said, I've seen a surprising number of these instruments up here in Vermont and the little guys (ukes and mandolins) tend to hold-up a lot better than the pearl-encrusted guitars which is what the maker is known for best. This little tenor uke, for example, is holding-up just fine, sounds a lot like an old Martin tenor (in its way), and plays and handles nicely. It's crack-free and doesn't seem to have suffered much climate shifting at all.
I've given it a quick setup and it's ready to go. The body is solid acacia throughout which gives it a mahogany or koa-like appearance and tone. The fretboard and bridge are rosewood and it has nice abalone appointments inlaid as well as a Martin-style pin bridge.
Condition notes: it's pretty clean save for light scuff marks and light scratching along the edges of the body, back of the headstock, and sides. It has friction tuners which work fine but do need tightening now and then. I could install a set of geared 4:1 GraphTech Tune-A-Lele pegs for a $30 upgrade.
It comes with: no case -- but I do think I have a spare carry bag or gigbag that might work for it in my case pile.
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