Viva Villaverde!

Pro musician and ukulele phenom Carl Ray Villaverde just picked up his new ukulele this weekend  (youtube:  carl ray villaverde).  This tenor cut-a-way was co-designed by Carl and I.    Besides the request for particular woods, Carl was…

OMG Suzie!

Suzie ordered a baritone koa ukulele.  Nothing fancy she said, no pick-up, no glitz.  OK, I put strings on  this instrument this weekend and, although I have not finished final adjustment, I have totally fallen in love with this instrument.…

Black is Beautiful Baby!

I just  finished this Black Limba ukulele.  It's a tenor, by the way.   Haven't made one from this wood in awhile since I have not had a reliable source for wood.  This wood has a  really pleasant tap tone and I especially like the varied…

New Black Walnut

Got this Claro Black Walnut from my good friends at Gilmer Woods in Oregon.  I've topped this uke with a 60+ year old Sitka Spruce that was rescued from the Gibson factory.  I left the age stain down the middle just to give it some credibility.…