Koa And Koa Tenor Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold
Here ya’ go gang-a-roony–Never enough Koa! This is the latest custom uke which I’ve named the Koa And Koa Tenor Ukulele. This is a standard size.
Yikes, talk about Koa!
It’s All About The Wood
Body: all Koa exhibiting a variety of curl, color and figure. The client likes to pick out and purchase his own wood from Volcano Guitar Works. Since I’ve used this source many times before I didn’t complain. Honestly, the pictures don’t do it justice. The center of the instrument just positively glows with gold Koa chatoyance.
Oh, you might ask, “why another off-center sound hole”. I think on the last post I said that this was a standard for me about 17 years ago. I’m bringing it back with my current builds since I’m a bit bored and also I’m trying to determine weather it is actually better than the center sound-hole. There are so many variables that I’d have to say that this may be more for appearances than sound. The bracing remains the same but the transverse brace that I use above the sound hole to stabilize that area is deleted. This might make for a more active bracing pattern?
Yikes, more Koa.
Fret Board and Bridge: Too much Koa? I got approval for this project before attempting. I think it works. It’s radiused, 1.5″at the nut and sealed. I’ve done this before with burl woods and it seems to be holding up pretty well now 2 years out. I’ve got more planned but am changing to a stabilized wood process for even more durability.
I’m a big fan of rosewood for fret board and bridge because of their strength, appearances and brilliant tap tones. The koa used here doesn’t have the tap tone but I don’t believe it interfered with the overall sound of the instrument.
Curly Koa fret board and bridge.
Binding: more curly Koa. Purfling all around is blue/black fiber although I added blue paua abalone to the rosette and headstock inlay.
Curly Koa binding with blue/black fiber purfling.
Neck: Honduran Mahogany. Koa would have been nice, of course, but getting matching wood of the right thickness is difficult at least. Not to mention, it’s a “b” to shape. Carbon fiber truss rod.
The Rest Of The Build
Head Stock: here I used a standard hibiscus flower inlayed into black and bound with paua abalone and of course Koa. Paua abalone LOGO–my last.
Hibiscus on black with paua abalone accernts.
Tuners: Gotoh UPT.
Koa backstrap, blue accents and Gotoh UPT tuners on Honduran.
Strings: Pepe Romero tenor with wound low “G”.
Nut and Saddle: unbleached bone.
Fret Board Markers: paua abalone.
Case: Crossrock ABS.
And
Fun, fun, fun. Sounds good with looks that keep you looking–especially that fret board and bridge. I’m loving a Koa And Koa Tenor Ukulele. Might just have to do something like this again?
