Sapele and Spruce Big Baritone Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold
Here’s the latest instrument to hit the trail. This is the Sapele and Spruce Big Baritone Ukulele the “Texas Curse”.
Your basic big baritone ukulele.
Let The Wood Speak For Itself
Body: Pomelle Sapele with mini-zipper backstrip. This is one of best looking sapele sets that I have worked with yet. The color and chatoyance is for real in these pictures.
One of the best pomelle sapele sets I’ve yet to work with.
Sound Board: Bearclaw Sitka Spruce.
Nice bearclaw figure.
Neck: Honduran Mahogany with carbon truss rod. This is a 21″ scale. The neck is 1.5″ wide by request.
Sanded finish on the neck–super smooth.
Fret Board and Bridge: radiused Ebony.
Binding: Richlite ebony with black/white fiber purfling.
The Rest Of The Build
Tuners: Gotoh super-mini 501 in cosmo black. 15::1.
Fret Board Inlay: “Texas Curse” by Craig Lavin in white MOP. There is a story here. The client is a published musician and her latest album is called “Texas Curse”. I didn’t ask but thought it would be super cool to honor that event with this instrument. So I did it without her asking and tried my best to make it a surprise. Some boots a horse or two maybe an armadillo and a few horseshoes would have be a great addition as well?
Craig Lavin inlay in white MOP.
Nut and Saddle: unbleached bone.
Amplification: Mi-Si.
Combo wood headstock overlay.
Case: Crossrock ABS.
And
We were looking for a look and a big sound. I think we have achieved both. As far as looks, the pomelle sapele can’t be beat. This set has very unusual patterns in the figure. I thought it looked a bit like a prehistoric trilobite? The bearclaw sitka has good figuring as well and fits with a vintage/rustic look. The sound is big and bold. Since I don’t know my clients playing styles it is always hard to produce an instrument that will fit their playing style and their ear.
But, think I might have nailed it! She says: “The word SWEET doesn’t begin to describe the tone of this instrument. It’s robust, sweet and punchy all at the same time. And it’s sweet everywhere, no matter the chord or fret played.” I won’t quote anymore, there might have been some Texas branch water involved. Anyway, I’m still working out the “bugs” of this instrument design but I’d have to say a Sapele and Spruce Big Baritone Ukulele is not necessarily a Texas Curse at all-ya’ll!
