Bubblelicious Baritone Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold
Gee, this month is going by fast. This Bubblelicious Baritone Ukulele just delivered last week right before the Christmas rush. This one sold before I could get it online.
Bubbly figured Sapele and old growth spruce.
Let The Wood Speak For Itself
Body: you can guess all you want but this is another look at figured Sapele. Yup, this time with bubbly, blond figure. I didn’t know what else to call it. This set is a little more dense than the previous pomelle sets that I have shown and obviously much different in appearance. The tap tone of the wood is a bit brighter as well.
Bubbly figured Sapele.
Sound Board: really old Sitka Spruce. This wood, to my knowledge is a reject/rescue from the Gibson factory. I suspect the wood was rejected because of color and grain density. The kicker is that this stuff is really old and possibly harvested somewhere between 1950-60. It’s got a magical tap tone–crisp tones and lingering sustain. Don’t forget those chocolate notes with a hint of cassis, hah! I used Adirondack spruce for the bracing.
Old growth Sitka with super strong medulary rays.
Neck: Honduran Mahogany with passive carbon truss rod.
Fret Board and Bridge: radiused Brazilian Rosewood–tap tone, tap tone, tap tone. 20″ scale with 14 frets to the body.
Brazilian fretboard.
The Rest Of The Build
Tuners: Gotoh super-mini 501 in cosmo black.
Contrasting figured Sapele headstock.
Strings: Oasis baritone linear with flat wound D&G.
Sapele accents and binding.
Nut and Saddle: bone.
Case: Crossrock ABS.
And
No more volume than the previous baritone with 21″ scale. What I did find different was the clarity of notes–not quite as dark/mid-range–and outstanding sustain. This I expected due to the initial tap tone of the top and the light Adirondack “X” bracing. For me with a light touch, playing seemed very easy. The client actually likes short scaled baritone instruments and may tune up to “A” as well. Another factoid is that these instruments like to be played over the sound hole and maybe even a bit south of that unlike a tenor ukulele. This makes for even more precise notes. I’d rather call this a small tenor guitar than a baritone ukulele.
Well, Merry Christmas you all and may a Bubblelicious Baritone Ukulele be bright.
