Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

I was conacted by this client a couple of years ago about purchasing an instrument in my website gallery, but it was a custom build for a client in Boston. She was dead set on getting one though, so over the last 2 years has been dreaming and finally pulled the trigger on a commission.

This one is with some earthy looking Ambrosia Maple, Jarrah bindings, Honduran Rosewood fret board and some streaky ebony. Gotoh machine heads, K&K Aloha Twin pickup and Worth Brown low G string set. Finished in high gloss lacquer.

Beautiful Allen, as usual. The "ancient" spruce has an amazing character - absolutely nothing else that looks similar. Is it much different in weight or stiffness from the regular "young spruce" (if you can call a >250 year old sitka tree young)?

It has a completely different feel. Much more like a hardwood than a spruce. All pieces I've used have been extremely stiff and the concistency beteen the winter and summer growth is pretty much the same except for the color.

Another beautiful uke!

Spruce looks great Modern old all in one .