Koa Kea ukulele

Here is the brochure I made for my latest tenor ukulele. If you click on the picture it will become big enough to read.

Pictures from the BIUG exhibit in Kona

We really had a great time comparing notes on instrument building. Everybody sharing their knowledge and experience

A view of the exhibit. That is Pat walking on the extreme right


We had about 30 ukes on exhibit


The two 3rd and 4th from the left in the middle are Pats ukes






The historic Kona Inn looking from the sea wall

Pat and Paula and Barbara and me


Me with my 4 ukes right of my hand

Antique ukes

Big Island Ukulele Group Annual Show

Here is the poster of the BIUG November show in Kona Hawaii.

The California Six

Here is a new six string tenor ukulele I finished a month or so ago. The back and sides are California Walnut also known as Claro Walnut. The top is Sinker Redwood. I have described that before, wonderful top wood. The neck is Spanish Cedar. I used my favorite strings, Worth, with a low G. It has a K&K passive pickup installed. I think it turned out well and I am hoping to sell it in our Big Island Ukelele Group annual show in Kona in November.

The Sinker Six

The Sinker Six is my first six string tenor ukulele. The sides and back are Claro Walnut also known as California Walnut. The top is California Redwood. This is called "Sinker Redwood" Why that name you say? Here is why. One hundred fifty years ago (about) Redwood trees were being logged on the slopes of the Mendocino River. As there were very few roads you could not harvest lumber as we do today with big lumber trucks. So the logs were cut, branches removed and the log rolled or dragged down slope and into the river. The logs were floated down river to the mill. Along the way, from time to time, a log would become "waterlogged" and sink to the bottom of the river. It would lie there for a hundred or more years absorbing minerals and salts from the river.The water would rise and fall, the chemicals in the water would vary from season to season. The logs would be stained and discolored. A few years ago several of these logs were raised from the river, dried and cut into lumber. Lutheriers have always regarded Redwood and one of the best materials for guitar tops and now you have a wood that not only has the great sonic qualities of redwood but a very unusual unique look. No two pieces are the same in color and pattern.

It did not take long for the California Department Of Fish And Game to put a stop to salvaging logs from the river bottom. The process badly disturbed the resting grounds for fish eggs and other creatures living on the bottom and in the water. So the sinker wood we have is all we will ever have. I have sinker wood for two more ukes. The price just keeps going up. Soon it will be too expensive for me. Oh well.....





This is a view of the top as I was installing the top bracing. Those sticks you see hold the brace in place as the glue dries. I will shape the braces after they are dry. You can see the grain pattern in the "sinker" wood.

Strange Grandsons

We have very strange Grandsons. After we captured them and disarmed them we discovered that they are (left to right) James Theisen from Surprise AZ and Adrian Cellini from Mountain View HI. It is clear they cannot be left alone together.

The Benny

After I finished Kate’s uke I built one for our friend Don “Benny” Bienvenue. This is a 4 string tenor made with book matched Koa. I had the name “Benny” laser engraved in the peg head. Paua Abalone rosette inlay. He loves it and plays it often.

The White Queen

Our Granddaughter Julia is an amazing artist. She entered this picture of herself as an Alice In Wonderland character in a contest. She made the costume, did her makeup, took the photograph, created the picture using Photoshop.