Hopefully, I haven’t gone too far with this new instrument. Or maybe, not far enough. This is the More Koa and More Ukulele. For starters I am using an interesting set of curly Koa. The curl looks a bit like tiger stripes to me. It’s very “woodsy”. I actually used koa in all the visual […]
I guess March Mango Madness is not quite over. Here’s the latest from the shop, the Mango Makau Pineapple Ukulele. A different look in Hawaiian Mango from the last post. This instrument sports a more stacked curl but still presents lots of lovely chocolate hues. This wood probably comes from the same tree as the […]
This build started out as a Koa instrument but turned into the Mango Madness Tenor Ukulele. No complaints here for sure. This Mango Wood I snatched from Kamuela Hardwoods on the Big Island in 2019. Several of the sets showed interesting colors and figure like this set. For purfling accents instead of the usual Paua […]
Here’s the latest instrument to leave the shop. This is a Port Orford Cedar and Claro Walnut Ukulele. A custom Super Tenor shape. This project was proposed with the client researching and purchasing the woods for the ukulele. After a bit of time he settled on this nice curly Claro Walnut set for the back […]
This is the Koa Moon Super Tenor Ukulele. Where’s the Moon you ask. Well, the sound board is Swiss Moon Spruce. Did I mention that it was BearClaw? The back and sides are curly Hawaiian Koa from Hearne Hardwoods. The request was for ebony accents and simplicity so the rosette, binding, bridge, fret board and […]
Here’s the newest instrument to get strings. It is an Earthtone Cedar and Ambrosia Maple Tenor Ukulele. It is a standard tenor shape. This is only the second time I have used Earthtone Cedar from Alaska Specialty Woods. Brent, the owner of ASW, believes that time, water and the elements combined with the oils of […]
Here’s the first spec instrument of 2021. This is another of my Koa Mix Tenor Ukulele. When I started serious building I wanted to concentrate on instrument sound and the beauty of the wood, but I also wanted to keep my builds fun and sometimes a bit frivolous–ukulele fun! This tenor ukulele showcases a few […]
It’s trash day but also posting day. Here’s #4 of the Pier Piling request, a Macassar Pier Piling Tenor Ukulele. This is a standard tenor shape. The goal in this group build was to utilize the special Pier Piling Douglas Fir for each but to make each ukulele unique with a different shape and different […]
This is #3 in the Pier Piling build–a Koa and Pier Piling Fir Ukulele. This one is a super tenor shape like #1. I purchased this lovely set of Koa from Notable Woods in the Pacific Northwest maybe 6 years ago. I know, you’re asking, Koa from the PNW? Well these people have deep roots […]
A Spalted Tamarind and Fir Tenor Ukulele? Yup, that’s what was requested. I think it must be a “dare to be different” thing. This is #2 of the the “Four” 100 year old Pier Piling Douglas Fir instruments–a standard tenor. Tamarind wood exhibits a lot of interesting looks. I really don’t know too much about […]
