For many of us, our hands touch almost exclusively machine made items. Modern design generally celebrates the sleek and smooth, with little variation of texture. But handmade items allow the owner to experience many textures, which I think add to their beauty. Our bodies and eyes may sense these small variations, triggering a connection to the handmade item that is different than your smooth iPhone or the plastic fork from the takeout place. This uke only uses a handful of woods, but it does offer the textural experience, for both the the hand and eye, that I love.

The top is Sitka spruce from my dulcimer maker’s stash. The curly maple back and sides were given to me by a retiring violin maker. The maple fretboard, headplate and bridge are from some maple salvaged by Ken from the Carpenter Ant stash from a piece of oat processing equipment. It is over 100 years old, very hard and is the wood I chose to make my workbench from. The neck is made from some hemlock and oak from the Carpenter Ant stash as well.

This uke sounds vibrant and rich, with a depth of sound that I really love. In my opinion, it already looks and sounds old, a fitting instrument to close out 2020!

“What a lovely instrument! It has all sorts of volume, individual notes ring forever (I almost want to say they “chime”) and it has a lot of bass for a baritone (as we might’ve said in choir). About your sense that it seems “old” already, I chose this combination of woods, after watching your wood selection video several times, in which you recommend maple & spruce. Since that’s also what Stradivarius used, I thought, “Well, you can’t beat the old masters”. It’s sweet-sounding, gorgeous to look at, and a classic already. You did well and seem to have a sixth sense about what your customers want. Thank you.
- C. E. ”