Sugi Baritone Custom Ukulele - Sold

Sugi me baby! Or maybe just Sugi Baritone Custom Ukulele.  This is the big baritone shape.

 

It’s All About The Woods

Body:  figured African Bubinga.  Sometimes called the African rosewood–dense and bright…and pretty.

Sound Board:  I just had to try another figured Sugi (Japanese Cryptomeria) sound board.  It’s a tough wood to work with though–somewhat like a curly redwood.  In other words, not that stable and a little soft;  but,…..it sounds and looks great.  This wood is from the Big Island and not Japan.

Neck:  Curly Big Leaf Maple with carbon truss rod.

Binding and Accents:  Curly Big Leaf Maple with maple/black purfling accents.

Fret Board and Bridge:  radiused Brazilian Rosewood.

The Rest Of The Build

Tuners:  Gotoh UPT.  The end of last year wasn’t that great for my building efforts with all sorts of weather, wood and finish issues.  To add to that my order of Gotoh 501 mini for ukulele with short post came in with long posts and a fat tariff.  This build was already underway at the time with my usual thin headstock.  So, back to the UPT.  To be honest they work just fine for the baritone ukulele.  Upcoming baritones will have thicker head stocks to accommodate the longer 501 posts; but, when I’m out, it’s UPT’s all the way again.

Strings:  I tried a new combination of Oasis, Thomastik-infeld and Worth Brown.   One of my clients found this combination to bring new life to his instrument.  I’m not sure better than the straight Oasis combination that I’ve used for the last few years but interesting.  The Worth brown seemed a bit soft to my fingers but very easy to fret.

Nut and Saddle:  unbleached bone.

Fret Markers:  white MOP and black.

Case:  Crossrock ABS.

And

I found this instrument to be warm and inviting.  It’s just one of those instruments that you can sit down and noodle with for a long and relaxing time. Very easy to play and very nahenahe.  So there you go, Sugi baby on a Sugi Baritone Custom Ukulele!