Combi Concert

Paul, didn't want the same old thing--that is, a tenor.  Instead he opted for a concert, high "G" tuning with a variety of woods.  Per his instructions, I have constructed a concert ukulele with East India Rosewood sides to accent a Koa sound…

Heals, Just Heals

Just some pics of heal features that I have made in the past.  It's all evolving.

I’m a Sap for Sapwood!

Here's a new tenor with a wood that I have built with before.  My client just loved the look and I do too.  Personally, I love variation in the wood such as this sap wood center (click on the pictures for a closer look).  I'm not as fortunate…

Viva Villaverde!

Pro musician and ukulele phenom Carl Ray Villaverde just picked up his new ukulele this weekend  (youtube:  carl ray villaverde).  This tenor cut-a-way was co-designed by Carl and I.    Besides the request for particular woods, Carl was…

OMG Suzie!

Suzie ordered a baritone koa ukulele.  Nothing fancy she said, no pick-up, no glitz.  OK, I put strings on  this instrument this weekend and, although I have not finished final adjustment, I have totally fallen in love with this instrument.…

Black is Beautiful Baby!

I just  finished this Black Limba ukulele.  It's a tenor, by the way.   Haven't made one from this wood in awhile since I have not had a reliable source for wood.  This wood has a  really pleasant tap tone and I especially like the varied…

New Black Walnut

Got this Claro Black Walnut from my good friends at Gilmer Woods in Oregon.  I've topped this uke with a 60+ year old Sitka Spruce that was rescued from the Gibson factory.  I left the age stain down the middle just to give it some credibility.…

Carbon Tone Bar/Neck Reinforcement

If you have been to the website, you might be asking yourself what is a carbon fiber tone bar.  In short it is a piece of pultruded carbon fiber bar that I have inlayed into the neck.  Honestly, this stuff is freaking stiff.  There  really…

My Favorite Wood II

I just purchased some Black Limba lumber and here are a few pictures of book matches from that piece.   Shhhhh! It's a secret so don't tell anyone-- this wood duplicates Koa and Black walnut in density and tonal quality.  The pattern of the…

Hold that Tiger!

Being a sucker for any new and different wood, I couldn't resist this recent offering from Luthier's Mercantile. It is called Tigrillo.  I don't know a whole lot more about the wood other than  LMI reports that it is from Peru and is responsibly…