Tassy Concert Ukulele

This Tassy Concert Ukulele went to Hale Ukulele a couple of weeks ago.

tasmanian blackwood ukulele

Tasmanian Blackwood looks like Hawaiian Koa

Tasmanian Blackwood, until recently, is scarce and difficult to get here in the USA.  There is some currently available at Hearne Hardwoods in Pennsylvania.  My sets were imported by Gilmer Hardwoods in Oregon over 20 years ago.  I do not know if this wood actually came from Tasmania or Australia where it grows freely.  It is the same regardless of the region grown and shows colors and curl that duplicate Hawaiian Koa.  I have often referred to this wood as Koa’s Cousin from down under.  Generally, this wood is a bit more dense than most of the Koa wood that I have on stock.  Regardless, this wood works well and all of the instruments I have built from it, to date, have exhibited very pleasant tonal returns.

Tasmanian Blackwood beautiful

Guitar style back strip

Occasionally I break into my coveted stash of Tasmanian Blackwood and make a new ukulele.  This one is a long neck (17″ tenor scale) concert with solid Tasmanian Blackwood  on all sides.  I embellish the build with curly spalted mango accents, an African Ebony finger board and bridge and Honduran Mahogany neck.

Gotoh UPT tuners

Curly spalted mango accents and Gotoh UPT tuners

A Mi-Si pick-up was also installed.  So many people have been asking for amplification on their instruments lately that I may have to add this feature as a standard in 2020?

Mi-Si amplification

Mi-Si installed

Bonzer mate! Tassy Concert Ukulele.