A unique commission - the Route 66 sign ukulele

tinguitar · Jan 30, 2012

I've just completed this very special electric ukulele for Mary Agnes Krell.

The story behind it: Mary Agnes grew up about half a mile from Route 66, so she wanted this ukulele to be styled on the classic US Highways sign. I was able to download a scale drawing of the sign and I went on to create this body shape.

It is a concert scale, but the body is the same width as a standard soprano, resulting in a 22-fret neck (!) The body and neck are Brazilian cedar, with cocobolo drop-top, fretboard and peghead veneer. The bridge is ebony and is fitted with an Artec passive pickup.

Thank-you Mary Agnes for this unique commission!

itsscottwilder · Jan 30, 2012

That's beautiful. I thought it was going to have the appropriate paint job to go with the name

UkueBass23 · Jan 30, 2012

Beautiful wood. Looks really cool. I was on the opposite end from Scott, I was hoping for just the distinctive shape. Very cool though.

maryagn3s · Jan 30, 2012

I did think about it but that's gonna go on the case.

-maryagn3s

stevepetergal · Jan 30, 2012

Wow!! I've lived right off of the hiway of dreams all my life, and this is beautiful. Congrats to Mary Agnes.

(Hey, maryagn3s, I'm at the east end of 66. Where are you? I wanna see it.)

OldePhart · Jan 30, 2012

Wow...that's beeoootiful. Mary Agnes, I hope you have a Corvette convertible to carry it around in!

wolfybau · Jan 30, 2012

interesting , it looks like that shape works well for an instruent.

dkcrown · Jan 31, 2012

Get your kicks...

YooperUker · Jan 31, 2012

UkueBass23 said:
I was hoping for just the distinctive shape.

How is it "distinctive" when all U.S. federal highways still share that same badge shape?

Still, would have been a crime to paint over that wood. And, even though there's no soundhole to get in the way on the top, using wood inlay and purfling to make the design might have made it appear too busy behind the bridge and fingerboard extension.

itsscottwilder · Jan 31, 2012

YooperUker said:
How is it "distinctive" when all U.S. federal highways still share that same badge shape?

Distinctive shape for a ukulele

A unique commission - the Route 66 sign ukulele

tinguitar

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itsscottwilder

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UkueBass23

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maryagn3s

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stevepetergal

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OldePhart

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wolfybau

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dkcrown

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YooperUker

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itsscottwilder

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