Your Favorite Sounding Custom Ukulele
- Thread starter Ed1
- Start date
hands_on_lanzon
Well-known member
I just ordered it yesterday, so depends on setup and shipping. Would love to get it this weekend or early next week.
I haven't done a NUD post before! I'll have to try and do this one justice.
Oldscruggsfan
Well-known member
Mike- I hope all is well, sir. I have no pics to post but thank you for posting these handsome ukes. I especially like the varied-diameter fret position inlays in the topmost pic. That's not something I've seen before. Was that a detail you specified and, if so, do you mind sharing the circle diameters from largest to smallest, either in this thread or as a PM?This question made me realize that of the 5 customs I've had done, they were only for look, not at all for sound. I find that my 9 ukes, custom or off the shelf, are so close in sound and playability, that the look is what differentiates them.
The first custom I had done 7 years ago was a gypsy jazz style all solid, flame maple top, Indian rosewood body. When I first played it, I thought it didn't have the projection or sustain I wanted, but after about 18 months, it opened up and now it sounds great.
The most recent custom by the same builder is very different, and like Jim's uke, does not have a top sound hole, but has small sound holes all the way around the bouts plus a larger one in the cutaway. I've been told it has lots of projection. It's all solid, spalted mango top and flame mango body with spalted mango binding.
This is Michael Kohan in Los Angeles, Beverly Grove near the Beverly Center
9 tenor cutaway ukes, 4 acoustic bass ukes, 12 solid body bass ukes, 14 mini electric bass guitars (Total: 39)
Donate to The Ukulele Kids Club, they provide ukuleles to children in hospital music therapy programs. www.theukc.org
Member The CC Strummers: www.youtube.com/user/CCStrummers/video, www.facebook.com/TheCCStrummers
As far as I remember (it's been over 7 years), that's the way Bruce built it, not my spec. Don't know the diameters since I don't have it anymore.
I've got two customs (a Jupiter Sycamore/Redwood Tenor and a Beansprout Walnut/POC Tenor). Both are excellent instruments and I have no regrets about either. Looks-wise, the Jupiter is the sexiest, but sound-wise, the Beansprout is the star of the show. I swear it almost plays itself.
Beansprout Tenor
Here's the Jupiter:
Beansprout Tenor
Here's the Jupiter:
Mike $
Well-known member
I designed and built my own custom/bespoke uke. It's the only one I have or have ever heard (in a live context) or played. So, by default it is my favorite and the best that I've ever heard or played in my entire life. Honduran Mahogany back, sides, top and neck. Ebony fretboard, bridge and tuners. Rosewood saddle and nut.
My favorite custom uke that I have played is my custom Kimo Super Tenor. It has a redwood top and rosewood back and sides. It is warm and powerful, but it is also very clear and articulate.
Hi I know this is from some time ago, but any sound cli[s for your Jupiter? I'm considering his builds. Thanks if you can & understand if you can't
I'll see if I can throw something together in the next couple of days. Jon is a treat to work with and I think you'll enjoy the results.
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