Ron Seno

Ron Seno takes a break from a recent gig in San Diego to show off his Myrtle Ukulele (see blog post "Oh Myrtle").   You go Ron!

Sassy Sassafras

This wood is Tasmanian Black Heart Sassafras.  I've been looking for some to use on an ukulele for some time and scored this piece from an unmatched guitar set.  The spalting (dark colored wood) is created by a fungus, giving very piece…

Tribal Gecko

Here's a Hawaiian Koa tenor ukulele with my "Tribal Gecko" laser cut on the back of the instrument.  The laser cut is pretty subtle since the laser did not burn this particular Koa as much as in other projects.   The instrument is bound…

A Whale of a Good Time

Here I have an African Black Limba tenor ukulele with my subtle tribute to the annual migration of the humpback whale to Maui.  The body is African Black Limba as is the neck.  Binding is Ebony and accents are Hawaiian Mango.  The Mexican…

Kaleidoscope Mango

Actually this is heavily spalted, curly Hawaiian Mango.  This appearance comes with decomposition of the wood.  Spalting can be a highly desirable characteristic because of the unique appearances it can create; but, too much of a good…

Puka Paradise

Just another day in puka paradise!  Not a highly figured koa, but nice.  Double puka's seem to work as well as the side concert sound hole design, although I can only speculate as to why.  I used Hawaiian Mango for binding accented with…

Mini-me Myrtle!

Here's a killer piece of curly  Oregon Myrtle--it really glows!  Of course, my supplier only has one set for top only and only big enough for a soprano or concert. I had to have it!    I have used this wood as the sound board on a concert…

Got Bear!

Here's a new completion:  tenor Koa ukulele (see Cut, Color and Curl post) with a nice bear claw Sitka Spruce top with Paua Abalone purfling.  Accents are Vanuatu Maidou burl--love the burl.  Binding is curly maple and that theme is replicated…

Curly Maple and Curly Redwood

Freshly glued up here's another unusual combination:  Old growth curly redwood sound board, curly spalted maple back and sides.  All accents are curly Hawaiian Koa.  The neck is also curly maple with internal carbon fiber truss rod.  The…

Bonzer!

This amber/golden wood is Narra (a pterocarpus species)  from northern Australia and Southeast Asia.  It is rarely  seen here in the US and even more rare to be used for a musical instrument.  The tap tone is very similar to rosewood…