tw62862
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On a recent trip to Oahu, I was able to tour the Ko'olau/Pono Ukulele factory. Here are some pictures I took for anyone interested.
Hope you enjoy!
Ko’olau company makes both Ko’olau and Pono ukuleles.
* Ko’olau brand ukes are all custom made-to-order in Hawaii
* Pono brand ukes are the Ko’olau production line. They are handmade in Java and then final setup is done in Hawaii
This is Danny (our tour guide). Danny does the inspection and final setup of all Pono ukuleles.
If you have a Pono uke, then odds are that it passed through his hands.
He is a super cool guy!
These are the plans for a custom, bow back and front ukulele. The designer has planned out the overall shape and bracing locations.
The sound holes on this uke are designed like those on a mandolin
This is a bending gig for creating the “figure 8” sides of a ukulele.
The wood (in this case Koa) is cut and sanded to the desired thickness. Then they wet it and place it on the gig.
Pressure is applied and the wood takes on the shape of the template.
The wood stays in the gig for about 24 hours.
These are bracing gigs. The bent sides are placed in the gigs to be glued together, and for installation of the bindings and side braces.
The gig on the left is a for a “Pineapple” style ukulele.
The one on the right is a traditional “figure 8” style.
Hope you enjoy!
Ko’olau company makes both Ko’olau and Pono ukuleles.
* Ko’olau brand ukes are all custom made-to-order in Hawaii
* Pono brand ukes are the Ko’olau production line. They are handmade in Java and then final setup is done in Hawaii
This is Danny (our tour guide). Danny does the inspection and final setup of all Pono ukuleles.
If you have a Pono uke, then odds are that it passed through his hands.
He is a super cool guy!
These are the plans for a custom, bow back and front ukulele. The designer has planned out the overall shape and bracing locations.
The sound holes on this uke are designed like those on a mandolin
This is a bending gig for creating the “figure 8” sides of a ukulele.
The wood (in this case Koa) is cut and sanded to the desired thickness. Then they wet it and place it on the gig.
Pressure is applied and the wood takes on the shape of the template.
The wood stays in the gig for about 24 hours.
These are bracing gigs. The bent sides are placed in the gigs to be glued together, and for installation of the bindings and side braces.
The gig on the left is a for a “Pineapple” style ukulele.
The one on the right is a traditional “figure 8” style.
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