Blue Soprano Pineapple Ukulele

I delivered this Blue Soprano Pineapple Ukulele baby to Hale Ukulele the week before last and I think it is still available. Not a lot of bling but a lot of blue in the form of fiber accent to the India Rosewood binding.

Of course, it’s all solid curly Koa, and if my memory serves me correct, this particular set is Big Island salvage via Allied Lutherie. If you’ve followed my news blog for awhile you know that I like these sap wood looks on my instruments in addition to the curl.

The neck is Honduran Mahogany, the accent wood is some of the last of my Vanuatu Maidour burl (not sure that it will be available again) and the finger board and bridge are India Ebony species. I know it is overkill, but I still use the carbon fiber truss rod in the neck. It’s not necessary, but I’m habitual about this part of the construction and I’d like to think that it adds to the tonal quality of the instrument.

For strings on these smaller instruments I am using Pepe Romero’s soprano/concert sets with a smooth, brass wound low “G”. For some reason the the brass wound string is not overly dominant on this sized instrument and definitely gives it a little more punch. In addition, it also helps to have 14 frets to the body instead of the usual 12. Doing so puts the bridge in a more favorable position on the sound board which really enhances the tonal quality in these smaller, short scale instruments.