HMI

He wanted Koa, beautiful Koa – figured with mesmerizing color, defined grain patterns, and a jet-black Gabon Ebony fretboard and bridge. I wanted to build his dream with a crystal clear Hawaiian ukulele sound! All the good stuff: Gotoh tuners, PHD low “G” set of strings, bone nut and saddle, a bold contrasting binding to frame the Koa, and a matching cutaway to lead him up to the highest notes in comfort and ease. “Playability is a MUST”, he said, so the final set up needed to be just right. The Mi-Si Charging system coupled with the Baggs 5-0 under saddle pick up was installed for hours of play with a one minute charge. The “Lakota Bison” leather strap will keep him comfortable for long sets on stage; and with his CrossRock Case, he’ll rest easy knowing this timeless beauty will get to the gig safe and sound. Dare to dream, we can help. TYPE OF INSTRUMENT UKULELE Instrument # 00071-T Name: The Yaris Model 1 Size: Tenor Body Type: Figure Eight Type of Build: Elite WOOD Top: Figured Koa Sides: Figured Koa Back: Figured Koa Neck: Mahogany Fretboard: Gabon Ebony Bridge: Gabon Ebony Headstock: Figured Koa Other: Binding, Rosette, Cutaway: Curly MapleHeadstock inlayed: Figured Maple

It was a crowded show at the Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival when I heard:     “I’d like a Koa tenor ukulele. I really love this one you have on display. I love the way it sounds, but it’s way over the top, with all the figured wood and contrasting Ebony fretboard. Can I just get a ‘more normal’ Koa? Not so flashy?” I responded, “Sure, your wish is by command.” About eight months of work and some trial and error in carving the Kanji (Japanese calligraphy), the finished product was delivered to him. When I got home, I saw this e-mail: “Hey Ross, I’m so jazzed by the look of my ukulele! It really came out how I envisioned it! I really like the raw simplicity of its look, the way you inlaid the Kanji was brilliant, you are a real artist! It really fits my personality and my vision! I hope it sounds as good as it looks! THANKS SO MUCH!” Even better than building these instruments, I love knowing how it makes people truly happy to have one. TYPE OF INSTRUMENT UKULELE Instrument # 70-T Name: The Sasai Model 1 Size: Tenor Body Type: Figure Eight Type of Build: Elite WOOD Top: Big Island Koa Sides: Big Island Koa Back: Big Island Koa Neck: Mahogany Fretboard: Madagascar Rosewood Bridge: Madagascar Rosewood Headstock: Madagascar Rosewood Other: Binding: KoaRosette: Mosaic  

The Yamamoto Model 1 TYPE OF INSTRUMENT UKULELE Instrument # 00077-T Name: The Yamamoto Model 1 Size: Tenor Body Type: Figure eight Type of Build: Elite WOOD Top: Figured Koa Sides: Quilted Maple Back: Quilted Maple Neck: Mahogany Fretboard: Gabon Ebony Bridge: Gabon Ebony Headstock: Quilted Maple / Figured Koa Other: Binding, Rosette, Cutaway: Curly Maple,Scrimshaw: Bone

Evening rolls down after a hard day on the ranch – ranch hands and pi-pi alike are resting.  The sun starts to set and light paints the sky with bright colors. The trade winds rustle through the tall grass near the lanai.  The electric kettle whistles and milk is warmed on the stove.  Finely ground cacao and cane sugar all come together to make a warm desert for the cool night approaching. Pick up the Hot Chocolate and relax.  Warm and sweet – coloring the palate of your mind – the sweet tune from the strings completes the mood. This is “The Hot Chocolate”. Drink it. Play it. Embrace its tranquility… TYPE OF INSTRUMENT UKULELE Instrument # 73-T Name: Hot Chocolate Size: Tenor Body Type: Figure Eight Type of Build: Basic WOOD Top: Chocolate Albieza Sides: Chocolate Albieza Back: Chocolate Albieza Neck: Mahogany Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Bridge: Indian Rosewood Headstock: Chocolate Albieza Other: Binding: Figured KoaRosette: N/A

The Takusagawa Model is a tenor ukulele built with warm tones and high resonance.  Rosewood and spruce is the perfect combination for this purpose! The radiused fretboard is also implemented for ease of playing and comfort in barring. Her owner is now enjoying all the aspects of Aloha dressed in this instrument! Feel the Aloha… TYPE OF INSTRUMENT UKULELE Instrument # 69-T  Name: Takusagawa Model Size: Tenor Body Type: Figure Eight Type of Build: Custom WOOD Top: Sitka Spruce Sides: Indian Rosewood Back: Indian Rosewood Neck: Mahogany Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Bridge: Indian Rosewood Headstock: Indian Rosewood Other: Binding: Indian RosewoodRosette: N/A

This customer wanted something in light wood tones and bold, dramatic accents. Quilted maple came to mind and beautiful Santos Rosewood was worked into all the accents. This is an “Elite” type of build.  Enhanced design changes like a mortise and tenon neck connection for better sound conductivity between the neck and the body, a radiused fretboard, “reversed headstock” that was narrower at the top to attend to the string stress caused by the angle the strings made at the back of the nut. The top is a pristine sample on Sitka spruce and all the be beautiful sound and tone came with it. The “violin” style bracing added to the resonance and un paralleled playability. The vision became reality and he now enjoys playing it, as well as just staring at its beauty! TYPE OF INSTRUMENT UKULELE Instrument # 58-T Name: Beverly Model  Size: Tenor Body Type: Figure Eight Type of Build: Elite WOOD Top: Sitka Spruce Sides: Quilted Maple Back: Quilted Maple Neck: Mahogany Fretboard: Santos Rosewood Bridge: Santos Rosewood Headstock: Quilted Maple Other: Binding: Santos Rosewood with Black and White pinlines Rosette: Custom Black and White Chevron and Santos Rosewood

I met UkeKurt and felt a kin-ship right away. He had dreamed about a beautiful ukulele and described it in detail to me. Immediately, I wanted to build it. I wanted a super beautiful looking masterpiece that had even greater resonance and sound quality than anything I had previously built. Enhanced design changes like a mortise and tenon neck connection for better sound conductivity between the neck and the body, a radiused fretboard, “reversed headstock” that was narrower at the top to attend to the string stress caused by the angle the strings made at the back of the nut, a comfort edge at the lower bout that is “hidden” by rounding the top and side yet keeping the glue connection strong by special solid bracing inside. Of course custom neck widths and thicknesses and the scrimshaw name plate to put it over the edge! A masterful player, UkeKurt manages Hawaiian and other Polynesian music masterfully – I believe he makes the Gilman model sound as good as it can! Check out his sound at www.ukekurt.com TYPE OF INSTRUMENT UKULELE Instrument # 62-T Name: The Gilman Model Size: Tenor Body Type: Figure Eight Type of Build: Elite WOOD Top: Figured Tasmanian Blackwood Sides: Figured Tasmanian Blackwood Back: Figured Tasmanian Blackwood Neck: Mahogany Fretboard: Ebony Bridge: Ebony Headstock: Figured Tasmanian Blackwood Other: Cut Away: Figured Tasmanian Blackwood Binding: Figured Tasmanian Blackwood with Black Pinline Rosette: Custom Basic