Koa and Honu Super Tenor Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold
The Koa and Honu Super Tenor Ukulele has wood purchased and provided by the client. I’d say he has a pretty good eye for that classic Hawaiian look.
Koa with the three C’s.
The Woods
Lately I’ve done a lot of ukes with more traditional tonewoods for the sound board. This uke really features that Koa look we’d all like to have on our ukes with top, back and sides all in fletch matched Koa. This wood has the the three C’s–cut, color and curl. And, in addition, a striking grain pattern.
Fletch matched Koa for top, back and sides.
It was my idea to add the curly Koa Binding.
Curly Koa binding.
For the neck we have a subtle, curly Tasmanian Blackwood. I prefer to have a gloss finish on the instruments to show the true beauty of woods but I’m doing sanded necks now as a standard unless gloss requested. Oh, well!
Tasmaninan Blackwood neck.
All the accent woods are curly Koa as well, while the fret board and bridge are matching Macassar Ebony. The fret board is radiused as well.
The Rest of the Build
Blue Paua Abalone Purfling with turquoise blue/black purfling.
The Soundhole Rosette exhibits a double band of Paua Abalone.
I also added an Abalone Backstrip and lower bout Graft. Why not?
Abalone back strip and lower bout graft.
Larry Robinson “Honu” inlay on the head stock. This cut in various blue and green abalone.
Larry Robinson “Honu”.
Gotoh tuners, Romero strings, and a classy Crossrock fiberglass case.
Oh, I almost forgot, it sounds great. This Koa is big and a bit on the warmish side especially with the string selection. Actually, it is a sound that I prefer in my ukes at the present. This should provide interesting and additional variety to the new owners present collection for sure.
I think I could easily keep the Koa and Honu Super Tenor Ukulele for my own.
