The Ukuleles
The Ukuleles have been made locally entirely by myself to sound very much better than mass-produced factory instruments. Their appearance, sound-volume, tone & sustain reveal my ideal of design & playability. The instruments are entirely handmade from solid woods sourced from Southern England (Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire and Buckinghamshire). Tropical woods avoided for ethical reasons. A selection of recently used woods below.
Front, Back & Sides: English Elm, English Oak, English Yew, English Walnut, Lacewood: London Plane, Sweet Chestnut
Sound Boards: Cedar of Lebanon, or Western Red Cedar both from Stourhead, Wiltshire is used for the sound boards because they have a wonderful appearance and are “stiff” producing a bright, lively sound that amazes those accustomed to mass-produced laminate Ukuleles.
Binding Trim: (optional, but helps to make the instrument more durable & capable of enduring knocks) English Oak, English Walnut, Beech
Fret Board: Beech, Walnut, Rosewood (not a local source)
Nut & Saddle: Hand-made from local beef-bone sourced from local butchers; bone is superior to plastic, Corian or the now illegal ivory. It transmits the sound from the strings cleanly to the bridge & soundboard without discernible attenuation.
Necks: Hand-fashioned from various matching woods, and reinforced (stiffened) with inlaid carbon-fibre rods to reduce warping.
Front, Back & Sides: English Elm, English Oak, English Yew, English Walnut, Lacewood: London Plane, Sweet Chestnut
Sound Boards: Cedar of Lebanon, or Western Red Cedar both from Stourhead, Wiltshire is used for the sound boards because they have a wonderful appearance and are “stiff” producing a bright, lively sound that amazes those accustomed to mass-produced laminate Ukuleles.
Binding Trim: (optional, but helps to make the instrument more durable & capable of enduring knocks) English Oak, English Walnut, Beech
Fret Board: Beech, Walnut, Rosewood (not a local source)
Nut & Saddle: Hand-made from local beef-bone sourced from local butchers; bone is superior to plastic, Corian or the now illegal ivory. It transmits the sound from the strings cleanly to the bridge & soundboard without discernible attenuation.
Necks: Hand-fashioned from various matching woods, and reinforced (stiffened) with inlaid carbon-fibre rods to reduce warping.