Pomelle Sapele and Red Cedar Tenor
Click on pictures to enlarge.
This ukulele has some truly remarkable wood. The back and sides are a pomelle sapele. Sapele is from Africa and is sometimes uses as a substitute for mahogany. This piece of sapele has a quilted-like pattern that is similar to “The Tree”. If you are not familiar with “The Tree”, Google it. Its an interesting story of the worlds most famous luthier wood.
There is a lot going on on this back. It almost looks like tortoise shell.
Many thanks to Michael at Elite Tonewoods for the two guitar sets that I was able to turn into 4 ukulele sets plus some binding and rosettes.
The accents are big leaf maple burl. Crazy wood calls for some crazy accents.
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The neck is Honduran mahogany with a carbon reinforcement rod.
Top is Western red cedar although it is so light in color, you might it was spruce. This piece has such a tight grain its almost invisible.
The binding, fretboard and bridge are East Indian rosewood and the rosette is the sapele from the back and sides.
The headstock is the same pomelle sapele as the back. I didn’t realize the picture was blurry until after I delivered the ukulele.
The tuners are black Gotoh Interplanetary tuners.
Strings are a Pepe Romero wound low g string with custom high carbon fluorocarbon strings.
This is really a beautiful uke. I only wish there was a way for the store to display it so you could see the front and the back at the same time.
BTW, is sounds as good as it looks.