My most recent Ukulele was built for a girl named Rebel. The concept and construction tested my previous skills and allowed me a canvas to try new things. The inlaid fretboard was made of strips of Yellow Heart and a darker Rosewood.
The rabbit and tulip bridge and tailpiece design, although fun and ornamental, made a solid and durable connection taking the tension of the strings off of the top of the instrument. My first ukulele had the glued bridge pop off in the middle of the night. A lesson for making mechanical connections.
As I made and sold my first banjos, a friend asked me if I could make them a ukulele. That's how it all started. The "Uncle Mello Uke" was the answer to the casual ask. This Uke is made of a combination of Pine and Cherry with Yellow Heart details. For the sides, I experimented by recycling small chunks of Cherry wood leftover from a botched banjo ring. Gluing layers of these chunks together and then getting the final shape with a sander gave it a one-of-a-kind look and a rich sound.
All my ukuleles and banjos are experiments. Can I do this? Will it tune? It tuned! I can do this! Cool, now I can buy more tools! These first ukes were also a blank canvas to experiment with surface, texture, paint, and distressing surfaces. My wife and I have always shared a love for Antiques and Folk art. My goal was never to fake folk art or to fool anyone, but I'm always striving to celebrate the handmade, unpolished object.
