Entries by Kimo Ukulele

Burl and Cedar Concert Ukulele

By request, here is a Burl and Cedar Concert Ukulele.  Let the fun factor never stop!   It’s all about the woods. Back and Sides:  Another set of Australian Brown Mallee Burl. Sound Board:  Western Red Cedar.  To compliment the tone of this wood I used a lower density bracing of Alaskan Sitka Spruce–good choice. […]

Mahogany and Burl Tenor Ukulele

Here’s my latest  instrument, the Mahogany and Burl Tenor Ukulele.  When I started building I really wanted to focus on the woods and the “fun factor” of the instrument.  Building outside the box has been my endeavor.  Over the past 20 years the ukulele has become somewhat serious and maybe too serious.  I’m hoping that […]

Olive Wood Tenor Ukulele

I had to do it.  Someone had to do it.  This is the Olive Wood Tenor Ukulele. It’s all about the wood. I was recently asked if I had a signature build.  I guess the answer is no.  There just are too many good looking and tonally different woods out there to have fun with.  […]

Tree and Bear Tenor Ukulele

Another “the tree” uke.  Guess I’m not tired of it yet!  This is the Tree and Bear Tenor Ukulele.  It’s a standard tenor and was meant to be a “for sale” instrument but got snapped up off the Instagram “first look” post. It’s all about the wood. Back and Sides:  The Tree Honduran Mahogany.  The […]

Honduran and Redwood Baritone Ukulele

Looks like this may be another baritone year.  This is a Honduran and Redwood Baritone Ukulele. It’s all about the wood. Back and sides:  Honduran Rosewood. Sound Board: ’94 Redwood.  I’m calling this ’94 because, according to my supplier, it was cut in that year.  I guess we can say it is well seasoned and […]

Love My New Ukulele

“Love my new ukulele. . .Just everything about it is special!”  That’s music for my ears.  This is a super tenor with woods “by request”. It’s all about the woods. Back and Sides:  Honduran Rosewood with mini-zipper backstrip. I’m not too sure about the use of rosewoods on the smaller body instruments but for some […]

The Tree, Burl and Redwood Ukulele

Here’s the latest The Tree ukulele.  For lack of better terminology I’ll call it The Tree, Burl and Redwood Ukulele.  This is a super tenor shape.   It’s all about the wood. Body:  The Tree Honduran mahogany–tortoise curl.  The sides are doubled with straight quarter-sawn Honduran mahogany.  There’s a whole thing out there now with […]

Willy’s Baritone Ukulele

Here’s another example of my new baritone shape.  This is Willy’s Baritone Ukulele.   It’s all about the wood. Body:  Brazilian Rosewood.  Really old! Sound Board:  Fort Ross Redwood.  This set has some darker material favored by Willy. Fret Board and Bridge:  Ebony species.  15 frets to the body and 21″ scale. 1 7/16″ nut. […]

Plumeria Tenor Ukulele

Finally!  Really moving slow here.  This is the Plumeria Tenor Ukulele in the post yesterday. It’s all about the wood. Body:  Curly Hawaiian Koa. Sound board:  Swiss Moon Spruce with subtle horizontal bearclaw figure. Neck:  Honduran Mahogany with Hawaiian Mango and curly American Maple lamination.  Internal carbon fiber truss rod, of course. Fret Board and Bridge:  […]

Ukulele Woods

I’m working, but with the holidays, the weather and such production has been bit slow.  If you are curious about current projects please check my Instagram page.  Here are a few comments about instrument woods. The Tree Ah, the mystery of “The Tree” wood one of the most revered, expensive and unobtainable woods in all […]