Birdseye Maple Tenor Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold

The eyes have it! This is a Birdseye Maple Tenor Ukulele.

A unique set of eastern birdseye maple wood.

I know that you’ve seen this sound board material before and you’re going to see it again four more times at least. This is the Pier Piling Douglas Fir from San Diego Bay. One hundred years of salt cure has given this wood a dark patina, stability and a wonderful sound. It is, however, a bit of a chore to work with as I am experiencing. It is a little finicky to glue and finish.

100 years of salt cure for this fir sound board.

Mmmmm Maple! The back and sides are an unusual set of Eastern Birdseye Maple that I obtained locally from Tropical Hardwoods in Carlsbad. This set has both birdseye and curly figure. The last birdseye maple instrument I made was easily over 12 years ago and at that time I was not a happy camper with the movement in this flat sawn wood. I vowed not to do another but broke that promise with this instrument. Right! I’m not going into detail but it was another challenge with some tears. Maybe one more time. I really do like the look of these domestic maple hardwoods.

Silver glows of birdseye maple wood.

Curly Koa binding with black and maple purfling give an elegant look.

Maple burl backstrap and black Gotoh tuners.

The rest of the build: Maple sound hole rosette, Munn ebony finger board and bridge, Honduran neck, Gotoh tuners, Maple burl accents, Romero low “G” strings and a Crossrock Case. Don’t think I left anything out.