New Big Baritone Custom Ukulele - Sold
This is the latest New Big Baritone Custom Ukulele. It started out as a shop custom with the possibility of a bearclaw spruce sound board but was selected early with some requests for major changes. Let’s have some ukulele fun!
Primavera sound board.
It’s All About The Woods
Body: Premium curly Hawaiian Koa. I’m a sucker for crinkle curl, and this one has it in spades.
Crinkle curl Hawaiian Koa.
Sound Board: Central American, figured Primavera. The client loved the look of the last instruments made with this wood and I couldn’t say no.
Everyone loves the primavera.
Neck: figured Primavera. This was my addition. I’ve been looking for alternatives to Honduran Mahogany since that wood is getting more difficult to obtain and more expensive. Luckily, I found a couple of turning blocks at my local wood shop that fit the bill for a few necks. The neck is stabilized with a massive bar of carbon fiber and finished with epoxy sanded to 4000gt for a smooth slide.
Figured primavera neck.
Figured primavera close-up.
Fret Board and Bridge: the client originally wanted stabilized Amboyna Burl but that was not available in this length. The alternative selection is Asian Black and White Ebony. It’s radiused of course. I believe the “white” areas of the fret board will oxidize a bit with age and mimic the color of the primavera for a better color match.
Binding and Accent Woods: curly Hawaiian Koa.
The Rest of the Build
Tuners: Gotoh 501 mini for ukulele.
Koa, primavera and Gotoh 501 tuners.
Strings: Oasis baritone linear.
Case: Crossrock ABS.
Fret Board markers: White MOP.
Nut and Saddle: bone.
And
The instrument started singing when the sound board was glued on. I think that lighter bracing and the larger active sound board make a difference. Here are a few words from the new and experienced owner: “The koa…takes second fiddle to the primavera-especially the neck”, “…The construction and finish are outstanding.”, “…it’s the loudest baritone I own and I’m surprised by how much volume pumps out of the side port…”, “…bold…”.
I’ve always said that each instrument should have a different voice and this instrument surely compliments the collection. Time and playing should only make this New Big Baritone Ukulele even more fun to play.
