Jonah and the whale

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…

Honu for Skyler

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…

Olukai Ho’olaule’a 2013 “Aloha” award ukulele

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,…

Pretty in Pink

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…

Health, Wealth, and Happiness

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…

Jumbo Bwana

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…

The Whole Enchilada

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…

Maple Tenor Ukulele

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…

Back in the saddle again–yee haw!

So with multiple moves and all I  haven't been get'in with it lately.  Still been busy though.  Here's a new custom instrument for a client that wanted only California woods.  The back is Monterey cypress, the sides are Sycamore, the sound…

My Favorite Wood???????????

I get this question about what wood is my most favorite.  Answer:  Don't have one.  Every wood and every wood combination provides different flavor to the instrument and it is difficult to get into the ears and eyes of every individual.  Yes,…