Tasmanian Blackwood Tenor Ukulele

      Bonzer!  Tasmanian Blackwood is Koa's cousin from the South Pacific.  Same plant/tree (acacia melanoxylon)  but different growing environment.  We don't see a lot of this wood, but I was fortunate to score on some really tasty and…

Greg’s New Tenor

Hey, ya'll.  Here's a couple of pictures of Greg's custom tenor.  This is actually his third instrument from me.  He sold his first one to a close friend in Washington and has regretted it since that day.  His second was another concert…

Bruce Robinson Plays the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Kimo Uke

Yo, Yo, Yo!  Wouldn't you give your left you-know-what to be able to play the Foyer at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Well Bruce was there this last weekend.  Here he is with his custom, tenor, pineapple ukulele (his design).  Bruce is…

Plumeria Tenor Ukulele

Hey you all!  Here's a custom tenor ukulele that I made last year for Vickie.  She liked the look of the Lacewood and also wanted the mother-of-pearl plumeria inlay on the sound board.  Looks good and plays great-low "G" tuning.  I'm only…

Mango me Baby!

Sometimes I just get tired of looking at "brown" woods. Sooooo, to change up the look, one of the many woods that I have used is Mango. Here, you will see an asymmetric sound hole tenor that I constructed out of figured and fairly colorful Mango.…

KorduroyTV InnerView

The guys at KorduroyTV recently featured me in one of their InnerView shows. Check it out!

How many sound holes: Part 2

Okay, there is no empirical data that supports the design of the modern ukulele or guitar--especially when it comes to sound hole placement, or number of sound holes.  So do you prefer traditional design are can you live with some of the alternative…

new Koa Tenor

Hot off the press, here's a new Koa tenor uke.  I can't resist wood with sap wood.  This Koa is not perfectly quartered--thus the odd curl/figure.  The back features a laser cut petroglyph back strip.   This instrument features x-bracing…

Toes on the nose ukulele

Just in case you are wondering how strong your ukulele or guitar is--here I am showing how strong these delicate instruments can be be standing on one with my dainty 195 pounds.  No, I do not suggest that you take your vintage Martin out into…

How many sound holes: Part 1

If you have followed some of my commentary you will see that I have have posted pictures of many instruments with asymmetric and multiple sound holes.  For those individuals who think that I only make instruments of this configuration, let…