Works in progress : Ukulele necks, neck and more neck! : Fretboard inlay

Lots going on this week at DeVine Guitars and Ukuleles!!!

First off, here are a couple more pictures of one of the finished ukes from the last batch. This is a Tenor Muse modle with the signature DeVine fretboard inlay.

 

Now that all the ukuleles from the last batch have been shipped out to their waiting owners, it’s time to get back to work on the next batch of custom ukuleles.

Half of the ukulele bodies are together already with 4 more bodies to go. While the uke bodies are coming together, it’s time to do a little more inlay work. A few of the ukuleles from this next batch will be getting the signature fretboard inlay. Here is the first ukulele fretboard routed out and fitting the bamboo inlay. These pieces are so small that every piece needs to be handled with micro tweezers to keep from breaking them while inlaying.

As you can see here, the custom ukulele inlay is very delicate.

After doing a little inlay work. it’s time to head over to the last of the ukulele tops. Here is a concert Kasha uke top almost ready to join the rest of the body.

This next uke is going to be something very special…

It is a tenor muse model made from some of the most beautiful Cuban Mahogany I’ve ever seen. The curl in this wood is so tight and so deep that it’s almost hard to tell what you are looking at. The top, back and sides, as well as the neck will be Cuban Mahogany. For those of you not familiar with Cuban Mahogany, it is a very rare wood that grows in only a few tropical places. Luckily, Hawaii is one of those.

Here is my stack of necks for the next year or two. About 60 ukulele necks waiting for their time to shine.