Marble Curl Koa Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold
First, my apologies for these photos–I tried and Google isn’t helping! They just don’t do this instrument justice. And, I haven’t been out-of-action only overwhelmed with builds starting the first of the year. Now, I am finally starting to get them finished so be prepared.
This is the Marble Curl Koa Ukulele with a super tenor shape and florentine cut-a-way.
It’s a look.
The Woods
Body: marble curl Koa. I don’t know how else to describe it. Not compression curl, not stacked curl–marble curl. I’ve actually never had a set of Koa with this kind of figure before. I’m thinking this a very special look for sure and definitely one-of-a-kind. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll have some more later this year? Again, this is a a set overlooked by many in lieu of a more traditional stacked curl and figure.
Da back. Match!
Binding and Rosette: curly Koa with maple/black purfling.
Curly koa binding and rosette.
Accent Woods: curly Koa.
Fingerboard and bridge: ebony species.
Neck: subtle curl Tasmanian Blackwood with carbon truss rod. Sanded finish for ultra smoothness. Was this tough to shape? It’s harder than a rock.
Tasmanian Blackwood neck.
The Rest of the Build
Tuners and Head Stock: Gotoh open backed 15:1 in gold. I’m still working out some of the changes in head stock design. This one is much narrower at the top than the old shape so even this style of tuner needs to be placed asymmetrically to fit. I didn’t have enough left overs for a book matched headstock of the same koa so I added some ebony.
Head stock fun!
Frets: Gold Evo.
Nut and Saddle: unbleached bone.
Fretboard markers: white MOP.
Strings: Pepe Romero flourocarbon with wound low “G”.
Case: Crossrock Fiberglass.
And
Not bad! I don’t often make cut-a-ways except by request and then somewhat reluctantly. I’ll have to admit the look is fun and I do like the finger rest provided (not my recommendation for good technique).
Tonally, I think this uke is very rounded with very good sustain and richness of voice.
Marble rye, marble counter top, marble floor and Marble Curl Koa Ukulele.
