H
Hippie Dribble
Guest
Hey gang, not usually one to show off my ukes but this one is very special to me. It arrived while I was on vacation and was built by the wonderful Duane Heilman of Black Bear Guitars and Ukuleles.
I have kinda been looking for a soprano to end my restless searching, buying and selling for years and this time I have her. It is truly everything and more I ever dreamed of in a soprano ukulele, in terms of tone, playability and beauty.
I gave Duane a pretty detailed but kinda "loose" description of the wood I'd like him to use, and of what I was looking for aesthetically, just enough elbow room for his creative artistry to blossom and man, has he delivered.
Here are the detailed specs as described by Duane:
Body wood and head plate overlay are Macadamia. The neck is Mango reinforced with a graphite truss rod. The neck fingerboar and bridge are a combination of maple, Apricot wood for the center strip bordered by white and rosewood wood strips. The neck dots and side dots are orange wood dust, orange dye and CA glue. The bindings around the body, heel cap and inside edge of the sound hole and peghead are ivoiroid vinyl. Inside top purfling and sound hole rosette are a combination of rosewood, maple, and apricot wood strips. The bear logo is orange colored reconstituted stone inlaid into ebony with a maple ring. The nut and bridge saddle are bone. The tuning pegs are gold colored Grover friction pegs with Apricot wood knobs. The playing scale is 13 3/4" and the nut width is 1 3/8". The finish is gloss nitrocellulose lacquer hand rubbed to a semi-gloss look with a satin feel. The colored is added to the lacquer for only one coat, sprayed on after the sealer is applied, then 5 clear finish coats are sprayed on after that. The strings are Worth BM brand and they sound very nice for this uke. The strings are installed with a string-through the bridge type of arrangement.
Here are some pictures I took this morning:
The neck is smooth as silk and it is a joy to play. It has a warm tone and excellent volume. Duane took my ideas and made them real and I am so grateful. I know I have bought and sold many instruments but this is one that will be with me always. Did I mention how gorgeous it is?
Here is a little demo sound clip I made with the uke yesterday. Strings are still bedding in but you'll maybe get an idea. Macadamia seems to have a very punchy, responsive sound very much like mahogany.
Thanks for looking folks, I'm really excited about this instrument, it will be getting a lot of play time.
I have kinda been looking for a soprano to end my restless searching, buying and selling for years and this time I have her. It is truly everything and more I ever dreamed of in a soprano ukulele, in terms of tone, playability and beauty.
I gave Duane a pretty detailed but kinda "loose" description of the wood I'd like him to use, and of what I was looking for aesthetically, just enough elbow room for his creative artistry to blossom and man, has he delivered.
Here are the detailed specs as described by Duane:
Body wood and head plate overlay are Macadamia. The neck is Mango reinforced with a graphite truss rod. The neck fingerboar and bridge are a combination of maple, Apricot wood for the center strip bordered by white and rosewood wood strips. The neck dots and side dots are orange wood dust, orange dye and CA glue. The bindings around the body, heel cap and inside edge of the sound hole and peghead are ivoiroid vinyl. Inside top purfling and sound hole rosette are a combination of rosewood, maple, and apricot wood strips. The bear logo is orange colored reconstituted stone inlaid into ebony with a maple ring. The nut and bridge saddle are bone. The tuning pegs are gold colored Grover friction pegs with Apricot wood knobs. The playing scale is 13 3/4" and the nut width is 1 3/8". The finish is gloss nitrocellulose lacquer hand rubbed to a semi-gloss look with a satin feel. The colored is added to the lacquer for only one coat, sprayed on after the sealer is applied, then 5 clear finish coats are sprayed on after that. The strings are Worth BM brand and they sound very nice for this uke. The strings are installed with a string-through the bridge type of arrangement.
Here are some pictures I took this morning:
The neck is smooth as silk and it is a joy to play. It has a warm tone and excellent volume. Duane took my ideas and made them real and I am so grateful. I know I have bought and sold many instruments but this is one that will be with me always. Did I mention how gorgeous it is?
Here is a little demo sound clip I made with the uke yesterday. Strings are still bedding in but you'll maybe get an idea. Macadamia seems to have a very punchy, responsive sound very much like mahogany.
Thanks for looking folks, I'm really excited about this instrument, it will be getting a lot of play time.
