Ok, the holidays are over and it’s past time that I get back on the horse. I’m starting off 2016 with an all Koa tenor ukulele. This premium Koa selection was obtained from Allied Lutherie and is salvaged, old growth wood from the Big Island. I think you will agree that the color and curl of […]
I think Psychodelic Mango appropriately describes the look of this Hawaiian Ukulele. I’m still working off the Mango that I brought back from Maui last year, but this is about it. Now I have a reason to go back–as if I needed one. Mango, to me, is as Hawaiian as Koa, especially when used for […]
I don’t want you to get bored with Koa and Myrtle custom ukuleles so I am posting a new CONCERT ukulele with a locally harvested wood which is seldom, if ever, used in ukulele construction–CAROB. I must admit that I know very little about this wood execpt it is pink and it stays pink. I don’t […]
Ukulele builders just want to have fun. Why not! I could have made this custom ukulele into a classic-type instrument but then what would I have done with this beautiful curly Myrtle Wood sound board. In case you didn’t know, this wood is particular to southwest Oregon and northwest California. Not exactly rare but not widely harvested […]
I have a tough time describing the look of some of the exotic woods I use in making custom ukulele. I liked that the Oregon Myrtle Wood used for the back and sides of this instrument should be called “Golden Eye” for the obvious reasons. This Oregon Myrtle Wood is provided by my friend Vince at North Coast Woods […]
Myrtle wood seems to have a greater variety of looks and colors than any other instrument wood. I’m naming this particular look ” Chocolate Heart” since it has such rich and varied browns, some greys and some hints of dark red mahogany all swirled together. The result is a very rich and warm look. Each set I’ve […]
I only wish that I had been able to get better pictures of this tenor ukulele project. The Koa is spectacular, the build, in my opinion, totally Aloha. This Koa wood I obtained from Allied Lutherie–old growth, curly/quilty, air dryed and very old. I added my Humpback whale inlay to celebrate the annual migration to […]
I love the unlimited variation that nature provides. Here is a new custom tenor ukulele that I just delivered to Hale Ukulele in San Diego. Yes, it is another Oregon Myrtle Wood ukulele with black tiger stripe. This particular set was not curly but it has wonderful dark coloration and a very unusual pattern. […]
Hey you all! Here is a just-finished build using some of my new quilty-curly, Hawaiian Koa. I think this may be my favorite appearance in Koa. I did not have a matching top so I made the executive decision to use an Oregon Myrtle sound board which had similar curl and figure but with lighter but complimentary color. The densities […]
Here’s another of my alternative wood combination custom ukuleles. Occasionally I have unmatched book matched sets for tops only. Here is a classic example: the Koa of the sound board is so highly figured that it would be almost impossible to match with another back and side set. So, in order to showcase this spectacular wood, I have used […]
