Monday, September 13, 2010

Camp Uke!



Here is my 2nd try at a Camp uke style instrument. I wanted to come up with a way to make an instrument that would be suitable for travel and camping etc...but still is a "real" uke. My camp ukes are:
-solid wood, no laminates or plastic!
-made from recycled, salvaged and re-used old wood. All one of a kind!
-Hand made in USA with pro materials and techniques.

This one is:
-mahogany back and sides
-pine top
-walnut neck
-rosewood fingerboard and bridge
-sycamore headplate and end graft
-aquila strings, bone nut and saddle, friction tuners
-translucent black stain and oil finish

What do you think?

I plan on making a video soon.

$400





Sunday, September 12, 2010

Koa Soprano for Jeff Menzies

Here is a Koa soprano uke I just finished for luthier/artist Jeff Menzies. He built me a tackhead banjo in trade! I really stressed about this one, it is hard to build for another luthier! Overall, this is one of the neatest and cleanest builds I have ever done and I think the photos look great. It is my normal Kumalae shape, but with a 14.2inch scale and a 13 fret body join.
-Koa top, back and sides
-Mahogany neck
-Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, headplate and bridge
-Bone nut and saddle, florocarbon strings and Peghed tuners

It has a nice tone and real sparkle. It isn't as loud as I would want, but is lovely none the less. Its twin brother will be available for sale at the Milwaukee Uke fest. It isn't as pretty but sounds louder.