It's a Baritone Ukulele! | The case is open and it's a baritone uke. I didn't even know there was such a thing as a baritone ukulele until my wife Jill's aunt Jill asked me to build one for her. A baritone uke is basically the top four strings of a regular guitar. I was on a tight build schedule to get this one done in a little over a week, but I am pleased with the way it turned out and it is a blast to play. May have to make me one...

For the top, aunt Jill picked out bearclaw sitka spruce. It is called bear claw because the wild grain pattern looks like a bear has scratched it up. I have not generally been drawn bearclaw woods, but this one has won me over.

The back is traditional east Indian rosewood which always pairs very nicely with spruce.

The bindings and the arm bevel are flamed koa. This is one of my favorite woods for binding. These pieces were luminous and really popped once finished.I decided to put all the "bells and whistles" on this one, an arm bevel and an adjustable neck action design.

The adjustable action neck design requires a elevated fingerboard extension taken from the world of classical and archtop guitar design. There are two domed head screws in the top of the neck block which serves as the pivot point for the neck. These screws also make it much easier to set the neck to the centerline and make adjustments over time.Looking through the soundhole, you can see the adjustment wheel. You just turn this wheel to raise or lower the action.

I handed the uke off to aunt Jill less that 24 hours after it was finished - I usually like to keep 'em for a couple of days to make sure everything is working right. I think she was pleased with the way it turned out.