Entries by Kimo Ukulele

Curly Koa and Myrtle Custom Ukulele

Hey you all!  Here is a just-finished build using some of my new quilty-curly, Hawaiian Koa.  I think this may be my favorite appearance in Koa. I did not have a matching top so I made the executive decision to use an Oregon Myrtle sound board which had similar curl and figure but with lighter but complimentary color. The densities […]

September Koa Combo Custom Ukulele

Here’s another of my alternative wood combination custom ukuleles. Occasionally I have unmatched book matched sets for tops only.  Here is a classic example:  the Koa of the sound board is so highly figured that it would be almost impossible to match with another back and side set.   So, in order to showcase this spectacular wood,  I have used […]

September Limba

Done and Done!  Here’s a new  customTenor Ukulele made from African Limba. Tonally this wood is much like Mahogany although much more attractive. Rarely will two pieces of wood look the same and colorwise the wood can be blond to almost totally black.  This build shows a little bit of both looks.  Check out past posts: ” […]

September Mango

Another Spalted, Curly Mango, Tenor Ukulele.  Still working off the same piece of wood as the others, so if you check back for other Mango instruments you will see how much each cut seems to vary.  I used a Black Walnut/Mango/Curly Maple neck on this one.  The Accent wood is Black Walnut Burl so I […]

More New Koa

Here’s a couple of the new Koa sets I just received.  This wood is from a salvage project on the Big Island and has been air dried for many years.  I have matching tops, backs and sides for each.  Pretty nice!  Just waiting for a new ukulele project.

Coming Soon September

Here are three new tenor ukulele that are getting close to completion.  BLACK LIMBA, KOA/BLACK WALNUT and CURLY, SPALTED MANGO.  

Mmmmm! Koa

I‘ve got a  Koa thang goin’ on.  Here’s a new Koa Tenor Ukulele with some nice looking wood.  I think this is the last of the same billet as shown on the “cut, color and curl” blog.  Good thing because I get bored easily.  Fortunately Koa comes in many and varied looks to keep my interest. […]

New Koa Tenor Ukulele, Old Growth Koa

Here’s a new Koa Tenor Ukulele with wood that I snagged from a local vendor.  He’s been stashing this wood for some time and it’s really old and really curly. As usual, I kept my build on the simple side with the focus is on this beautiful wood:  Maidou burl accents, curly maple binding and neck lamination, […]

Curly Redwood Tenor Ukulele

Old Growth Curly Redwood Partridge Wood Finger Board and Bridge Super Curly Maple Back and Sides Black Walnut Burl Accents/Koa Binding Curly Maple Neck

Custom Tenor Ukulele–Myrtle and Walnut

Alternative sound boards of Koa or Oregon Myrtle with a Black Walnut body are still one of my favorite wood combinations for custom tenor ukuleles.   Here I have used curly Oregon Myrtle for the sound board and curly Black Walnut for the back and sides.      The accent woods are Queensland Eucalyptus Burl and India Rosewood.      I used India Rosewood […]