Ukulele Eddie
Well-known member
I commissioned a tenor ukulele from Joji Yoshida, one of the fine luthiers contributing to our Luthiers for a Cause project. He is working diligently to finish the uke so he can show it at the Hawaii Ukulele Festival (Nov. 17-19), which means I'll be bringing it home with me. ;-)
This uke has some elements of the project ukes in its soul. Joji is using Lucky Strike redwood for the top and The Tree for the bindings and endgraft (the project ukes are Lucky Strike redwood tops with The Tree for back and sides).
The story on the Lucky Strike redwood top is part of this storm-felled tree laid over a small ravine and air dried for many years. As a result, wood from this section of the tree has higher stiffness-to-weight than is typically found in redwood. Those who are very familiar with it say it combines the best attributes of both spruce and redwood.
Continuing to tie in some elements of the Luthiers for a Cause project, I commissioned Harvey Leach to do an inlay and Rob Rodgers to make the tuners. Harvey leach is a world-renowned inlay artist who inlayed the Luthiers for a Cause logo on the project uke fretboards. And Rob Rodgers makes incredible, custom tuners which he contributed for each of the project ukes as well.
I picked BRW for the body wood and then Joji scored some of the craziest, most beautiful quilted maple I have ever seen. Many people know I have a maple addiction. It was hard not to switch the build, but I decided to say the course with the BRW.
Basic specs:
Top: Lucky Strike Redwood
Body: Brazilian rosewood
Bindings: The Tree
Rosette: Maple and The Tree
Endgraft: The Tree
Headstock: Slotted with torch inlay on ebony by Harvey Leach
Fretboard & bridge: Ebony
Tuners: Rodgers
Harvey Leach torch inlay:
Rob Rodgers tuners:
BRW body & sides (and Joji's toes ;-):
Lucky Strike redwood top with rosette of maple & The Tree:
This uke has some elements of the project ukes in its soul. Joji is using Lucky Strike redwood for the top and The Tree for the bindings and endgraft (the project ukes are Lucky Strike redwood tops with The Tree for back and sides).
The story on the Lucky Strike redwood top is part of this storm-felled tree laid over a small ravine and air dried for many years. As a result, wood from this section of the tree has higher stiffness-to-weight than is typically found in redwood. Those who are very familiar with it say it combines the best attributes of both spruce and redwood.
Continuing to tie in some elements of the Luthiers for a Cause project, I commissioned Harvey Leach to do an inlay and Rob Rodgers to make the tuners. Harvey leach is a world-renowned inlay artist who inlayed the Luthiers for a Cause logo on the project uke fretboards. And Rob Rodgers makes incredible, custom tuners which he contributed for each of the project ukes as well.
I picked BRW for the body wood and then Joji scored some of the craziest, most beautiful quilted maple I have ever seen. Many people know I have a maple addiction. It was hard not to switch the build, but I decided to say the course with the BRW.
Basic specs:
Top: Lucky Strike Redwood
Body: Brazilian rosewood
Bindings: The Tree
Rosette: Maple and The Tree
Endgraft: The Tree
Headstock: Slotted with torch inlay on ebony by Harvey Leach
Fretboard & bridge: Ebony
Tuners: Rodgers
Harvey Leach torch inlay:
Rob Rodgers tuners:
BRW body & sides (and Joji's toes ;-):
Lucky Strike redwood top with rosette of maple & The Tree:
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