Here’s a revitalization of my original Hula Hips tenor pattern now over 12 years old. Based on the original Martin Tenor but with a wider lower bout at 10.25 inches. I have modernized by changing the depth of the instrument and moving sound hole up making for a larger sound board. Kanani wanted something different […]
I am truly stoked! Ocean artist Wade Koniakowsky (www.koniakowsky.com) and I have been brainstorming some new concepts. We now have the ability to laser print any image to the sound board of an ukulele. I have been wanting to do this for over 6 years. Just think, this is the ultimate customization for your new […]
Up and comer Jonah Price gets his hands on his newly strung up cut-a-way koa tenor. Jonah dictated the dimension of this instrument and also designed his fret board logo. He also requested a whale inlay for head stock and accepted my design for a humpback whale in black and white mother-of-pearl. These photos are […]
This tenor ukulele sports one of my favorite wood combinations: Oregon Black Walnut back and sides with Hawaiian Koa Sound board. Skyler asked for an instrument with a mellow, full sound and this combination of wood usually prdovides that result. He also requested Petroglyph style Honu on head stock so I inlayed both head stock […]
It’s almost that time of the year again, and here’s this year’s Olukai “Aloha” award ukulele for the Ho’olaule’a in Maui this coming May. I’ve added a tribal gecko laser cut to the back of the instrument. Accents are India Rosewood binding, rope style purfling, and Mango for heal graft and back of peg head. […]
You know, sometimes it pays to try something different. This tenor uke is made from Carob wood. I’ve never heard of this wood and have never used this wood before and I don’t expect that when my present stock is gone that I will ever use it again. I was suprised at the warm tone […]
One of my latest projects required Peony Flower inlays. I”m not a big fan of sound board inlays because it limits my ability to custom thickness the soundboard ,but who am I to say no–no rules in ukulele. So this is my interpretation of the clients requests. I can’t say that my photography is up […]
This is the first out-of-the-mold jumbo tenor ukulele. This shape is a conglomerate of patterns from my original Hula Hips tenor to a more classic jumbo guitar shape. It is not as thick as my current instruments but is 10 inches in the lower bout. The volume may be about the same but the active […]
Another curly, spalted maple uke but with a Sitka sound board. I used a vintage style back strip and rope purfling to accent. The client also wanted the asymmetric sound hole with side concert sound hole. Additionally, he selected a figured Bubinga and radiused finger board. I put LMI’s “evo” gold frets […]
Here’s a new Maple Tenor: center sound hole, and side concert sound hole. Really nice Maple back and sides with a Sitka top. I did finger board and bridge in a new wood from Mexico called Guanadillo Negro–probably Granadillo but more brown in color. How knows? It’s really hard and I liked the color! Accents […]
