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 […]
Off to the races 2021. Here is the first of Four new ukuleles completed this year, the Maple and Mappa Burl Tenor Ukulele. All the instruments have the 100 year old Pier Piling Douglas Fir for sound boards. Hopefully you won’t find this boring? The back and sides are made from some of my very […]
Aloha 2021! First of the year is this Quilt and Curl Super Tenor Ukulele. I’m still exploring different possibilities here using some unusual compression curl Koa wood and some silvery, quilt Maple wood. You know I like them both. The Sound Board Last of this look of compression curl Koa from Hearne Hardwoods. This is […]
I’d like to have called this post “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” but I think we’ll just focus on the Good– 2020 Ukuleles in Review. Color As unique wood supplies become more scarce I am finding new interest in domestic hardwoods like Maple. Curly and quilted stocks are hard to find and becoming […]
Happy New Year Y’all! Here is the Last Ukulele 2020–well, not the last build but the last completed instrument of the year. It is a concert sized uke with a standard concert scale, a standard depth and volume custom build for a special guy. This is a Christmas present for a young player. After seeing […]
