Posts

Blond Gecko

So here's an Hawaiian Tenor Ukulele made with a blond, curly Koa.  To spice it up a bit, I've added my "tribal gecko" laser cut to the back.  The binding is India Rosewood, the accents are Vanuatu Maidou burl, the purfling is red/yellow Maple,…

Bob’s Curly Koa Tenor Ukulele

Yikes!  Never too much curly Koa!  Here is a completed Hawaiian tenor ukulele with the Kauai compression curl Koa that I showed a few posts back. This heavy curl turned out to be a very difficult build but also very rewarding in many ways.…

As Good as Gold

This is still one of my favorite wood combinations for the Hawaiian Ukulele:  curly Hawaiian Koa and curly Black Walnut.  The wood densities are a close match for sound and the color contrast makes for an appealing…

Killer Koa and Bear Claw Sitka

Here's a new instrument with very specific requests.  The Koa is absolutely killer.   The shape is my Hula Hips Tenor with a lower bout at approximately 10.5 inches.   Stephen selected this cool bear claw top wood of Alaskan Sitka Spruce.…

Koa Sitka

Sometimes I wind up with incomplete front/back/side sets and then the mix and match situation occurs.  Here I have a back and side Koa set that needed a top.  Alternative Koa tops are a possibility but usually I place an alternative top on…

Jonah Price Ukulele Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDqYASj_kmY&feature=youtu.be

Koa and Mango

Here's a Hawaiian Ukulele with a Koa/Mango combination.  I've used some of my spalted mango for the back strip and sound hole rosette.  I was going to use mango binding but opted for a curly off-color maple which matched well.  The neck…

Kompression Kurl Koa Kauai

Just in:  premium compression curl Koa from the island of Kauai.   Couldn't wait to clean it up a bit and show ya'll.  It is really interesting to see how this wood grows in the different environments of the islands.  This particular Koa…

New Premium Koa

Two weeks ago I purchased this Koa from a local wood supplier who had been storing this wood for the last 15-20 years.  Who knows how old it was before this individual purchased it.   The billet was a bit pricey but what quality Koa isn't…

Cut, Color and Curl

In the old days (????) this type of Koa might have been common place. Now days it is a rarity to have the privilage to work with this type of wood.   This Hawaiian tenor ukulele  exhibits Koa with perfect Cut--meaning quarter sawn or vertical…