#939- Alaskan Yellow Cedar and Curly Walnut Baritone Ukulele

This is the third baritone ukulele I have made this year with a yellow Cedar top and they all have sounded amazing. Crisp, detailed and colorful sounding, with a dry sustain. This wood was harvested by me off the beach at Camp Westwind in 2020 and I have treasured it as a top wood since. The blue streaks are likely mineral staining, probably from soil chemistry of where it sat on the beach after washing up in a big storm. The curly Walnut back and sides are from a local tree, milled by Chris at Yodel Boy Woodworks. We chose a Teak fretboard for this instrument, which was scrap wood from the Carpenter Ant stash in Portland. I wouldn’t buy a tropical wood like this, but I don’t mind salvaging a few pieces. The neck is Spanish Cedar from a retired builder. The headplate and pick guard are scraps from the project, laid out in a random mosaic. I think this instrument has a pleasing unity to it that I enjoy, leaving me with a peaceful heart.