The top or soundboard is Sitka Spruce with a slight "bearclaw" pattern. That is Paua shell in the rosette around the sound hole. The bridge is Indian Rosewood. The fretboard is Indian Rosewood. The fretboard also has Paua shell marker dots. Fourteen frets to the body.
The sides and back are curly Koa. The bindings around the top and bottom are also curly Koa.
This shot of the back shows the high figure of the Koa. The curly Koa sides were difficult to bend without cracking.
I put a label inside. Note the special little touch on the end of the fret board. I stole it from the Martin ukulele design. I put Worth brown strings on it. They are a bit stiff right now, but the feel will improve as she plays it.
Here is a close up of the peghead. I had the curly Koa peghead laser engraved with "Kate".All in all, for my first effort building an instrument all on my own, I think this ukulele looks pretty good and it sounds very good now and the sound will be even better as it is played over the years.
8 comments:
Dad, I love my Ukulele! I love it because YOU made it. I'm trying to play it, but it is hard! (Don't tell Uncle Pat I used the "H" word!) I'm going to keep trying, and I'm looking forward to mom's visit so she can help me. Thank you very much for such a beautiful gift. I love you and feel loved when I look at the "Kate". Oh, by the way, I stuck stickers and glued pink gems to it. The stickers are from Target and the gems are from Walmart and the were applied using a hot glue gun on the low temperature. ;)
I am so pleased that you like your uke. I had a handful of pink gems ready to stick around the Paua shell rostette but I thought "Kate will enjoy adding this bit of finish" so I put a small bag of them and some super glue in the uke case. Think about taking some pink fingernail polish and making the "Kate" on the peghead stand out a bit more. A steady hand can do it. But now, all that aside, strum it, play it. Its not to look at. Play it, sing to it. It wants to love you back. As I love you. Dad
A big chuckle on this dreary morning. I'm sure you're pink gems hot glued on are a real upgrade to a beautiful instrument:):) I love the idea of the pink nailpolish too!!!
It is wonderful and to think your dad build it---what a treasure. I know you're proud.
Enjoy, Enjoy
Elaine on the mountain
What a special gift of love from Dad to his daughter. A part of him that Kate can always have with her and with it the gift of MUSIC.
Enjoy it forever Kate,
Illona
as the saying goes.....the proof is in the pudding.
the playing of the uke, mastery of the instrument, proof of the love.
That is one beautiful uke...
Hope you have years and years of playing pleasure...... baba
It's a beautifully made peice of work that I'm sure your daughter will love and enjoy forever.
Hi Papa!
Love the new blog entry...I am excited to see who will get a uke next and what it will look like HAHA.
I will have to think of something you can make for me out of Koa.
But for my birthday I would just like an original polaroid camera!
-Teila
Teila honey, the Polaroid company has gone out of business and is not making film for their old cameras. Papa
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