Blue Double Puka Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold

Really, I’ve been hard at it!

Here’s the latest to hit the skids.  This is a Blue Double Puka Ukulele.

It’s All About the Wood

Body:  Eastern curly Ambrosia Maple.  I love this wood–so much color and variety of appearances.  It’s a bit harder than the western Big Leaf Maple and so is a little more tonally reflective.  You’ll notice that there is a side sound port but not in the usual location.  Personally I don’t think it’s necessary on these double puka designs but I’ll have to admit that when the hole is covered you can perceive a difference.  We elected to put it just past the waist in this build (and one other coming) to kinda break up the look and even out the projection.  It works.  This is a “standard” ukulele shape.

Sound Board:  slight bearclaw Swiss Moon Spruce.  A good pairing with the maple back and sides.  Not too bright, not too warm.

Neck:  Western curly Big Leaf Maple.  I actually started this instrument as a 100% maple build.  Carbon fiber truss rod.

Fret Board and Bridge:  African Ebony species.  Radiused.  Blue paua abalone fret markers.

Binding:  curly Big Leaf Maple stained blue with blue Paua Abalone and blue/black fiber purfling.

Accent woods:  Maple Burl.

The Rest of the Build

Tuners:  Gotoh UPT.

Custom client LOGO:  blue Paua Abalone.

Strings:  Pepe Romero, low “G”.

Case:  Crossrock fiberglass.

Amplification:  Mi-Si.

Nut and Saddle:  unbleached bone.

And

Not bad!  I think all these doubles sound pretty good–good volume, good sustain and good note clarity.

I’m really digging the blue binding.  It’s taken me awhile to work this one out.  The blue goes all the way thru and is not just on the surface. Unfortunately, these woods take a stain differently.  On the “Curl and Burl” uke the royal red turned a bit to the brown side.

I’m getting used to the radiused fret board.  It’s a comfortable play but not an absolute necessity.  The radius is a standard for me now.

Well, there you go, a Blue Double Puka Ukulele done and done!