Just put strings on! This custom tenor ukulele is constructed from solid Tasmanian Blackwood. Common to Southern Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania this acacia (acacia melanoxylon) has been called Koa Wood’s Cousin from the southern hemisphere. I’m sure that this wood has been substituted for Koa on occasion but I can’t tell a lie. I also trust […]
This concert ukulele is the first with a new Plumeria Flowers inlay. In the past I have used thin-lam products and laser cuts to accomplish this task but decided to try the same flower design with solid mother-of-pearl. This custom ukulele is built from Oregon Myrtle. I am calling the “look” Lemon Drop Myrtle […]
By request from Ric at Hale Ukulele, I have added a few concert ukuleles to my build schedule and here is the first one for the new year. Ric didn’t make a specific request for woods so I had my way with selecting woods that might be a little different than the usual. If you have […]
Here’s number 2 for this year: a chocolate custom Koa tenor ukulele with a bear claw Sitka Spruce top. This may be the last of some really nice Koa that I obtained on Maui about 5+ years ago. This Koa has decent figure, low density, and really good chocolate browns with a nice sap wood stripe […]
Ok, the holidays are over and it’s past time that I get back on the horse. I’m starting off 2016 with an all Koa tenor ukulele. This premium Koa selection was obtained from Allied Lutherie and is salvaged, old growth wood from the Big Island. I think you will agree that the color and curl of […]
I think Psychodelic Mango appropriately describes the look of this Hawaiian Ukulele. I’m still working off the Mango that I brought back from Maui last year, but this is about it. Now I have a reason to go back–as if I needed one. Mango, to me, is as Hawaiian as Koa, especially when used for […]
I don’t want you to get bored with Koa and Myrtle custom ukuleles so I am posting a new CONCERT ukulele with a locally harvested wood which is seldom, if ever, used in ukulele construction–CAROB. I must admit that I know very little about this wood execpt it is pink and it stays pink. I don’t […]
Ukulele builders just want to have fun. Why not! I could have made this custom ukulele into a classic-type instrument but then what would I have done with this beautiful curly Myrtle Wood sound board. In case you didn’t know, this wood is particular to southwest Oregon and northwest California. Not exactly rare but not widely harvested […]
I have a tough time describing the look of some of the exotic woods I use in making custom ukulele. I liked that the Oregon Myrtle Wood used for the back and sides of this instrument should be called “Golden Eye” for the obvious reasons. This Oregon Myrtle Wood is provided by my friend Vince at North Coast Woods […]
Myrtle wood seems to have a greater variety of looks and colors than any other instrument wood. I’m naming this particular look ” Chocolate Heart” since it has such rich and varied browns, some greys and some hints of dark red mahogany all swirled together. The result is a very rich and warm look. Each set I’ve […]
