Blond Curly Koa Tenor Ukulele

Blond Curly Koa

Here’s a new tenor ukulele I just delivered to Hale Ukulele in San Diego.  This is some of my new stash of reclaimed Koa from the Big Island.  I’m partial to all the looks that Koa provides but I think I like Blond Curly Koa the best.

koa tenor ukulele

I’ve accented this build with a new Plumeria Flower Inlay of white and yellow mother-of-pearl.  Previously I have done this type of inlay with thin Abalam Thin Lam which definitely has it’s merits but the solid material looks a little more substantial and exhibits a greater depth of color.

Plumeria Flower Inlay

I think that I have said before that placing the inlays in the upper bout does not seem to affect the sound of the instrument. Placing solid inlays in the lower bout, however, might interfere with sound and would definitely make it almost impossible for me make final thickness and tone adjustments.

Curly koa custom tenor ukulele

The purfling is yellow/black maple, the neck is Honduran Mahogany, the accent wood is Hawaiian Mango, the binding is India Rosewood and the fret board and bridge are Amazon Rosewood. Gold frets, gold Gotoh tuners complete the look. Stylin’ Babe!

Hawaiian Mango accents