Busiest of times

  With piles of kits ready boxed up for Finland's Extreme Build next month I can now turn my attention to long outstanding orders - nearly 20 of them, yikes! Oh well, trying hard folks and they are coming of the bench... this one for instance:

  I don't make many uklectics but when I do it gives me chance to endulge myself and use wood that just cannot be put into an acoustic ukulele.

  This soprano uklectic has been made for Oliver Taylor who has been patiently waiting for 7 months. It has a Spanish cedar body and neck, Peruvian cocobolo fingerboard, Indian rosewood headplate, Hawaiian koa bridge and best of all, a bookmatched Welsh burr elm top. Ever since I designed and made furniture I have loved this type of burr; the colour variagation, coarseness of the grain and sheer 'abandonment' of uniformity make this one of the most exciting timbers in the United Kingdom.

  As usual, it is fitted with friction tunes and a passive pickup - there really is no room for active electrics in this little beauty.

  Enjoy playing this to your school children Oliver...