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Ukulele Wood
By custom ukulele – we mean a ukulele that is built just for you. That process begins when you select the specific piece of wood that you’d like your instrument to be built from. We have on hand, at all times, a wide selection of premium exotic and domestic woods. Look through our selection and see which set of wood “has your name on it.”
“I look for wood that speaks to me both visually and tonally. What I’m after is wood that has that wow factor – a powerful blend of stop-you-in-your-tracks beauty and a rich tonal quality. Selection of the very best wood is where the joy in building each guitar begins.” – Jay
A few things to note:
- Click on the image of the tonewood gallery name and you will open up a gallery that includes all sets we currently have. Sizes are noted as concert, tenor or baritone as a reference.
- Look to our Guitar Tonewood Page for additional options, though up-charges due occur when selecting a guitar set to be used for your custom ukulele
- For most types of tonewoods you can also click on the instrument gallery to see finished instruments built from that wood
- See the Price Calculator on our Customize Your Own Ukulele page if you are interested in a custom guitar or ukulele and would like to know the additional cost (if any) of a specific kind of wood
- Putting a finish on wood transforms its color and warmth. Images of unfinished wood requires a bit of imagination to picture the vibrancy of the finished instrument
- If you do not see what you are looking for we can contact our premium suppliers and round most anything up
- We do not ship instruments build from Brazilian Rosewood outside the US, given current laws enacted to protect this species
If you are wondering what is the best ukulele tonewood, we invite you to read the following post: Best Acoustic Guitar Tonewood / Best Ukulele Tonewood ?
Here is a sample of our current wood supply
Asian Rosewood Ukulele Tonewood
Very similar to Cocobolo in looks and in tone (one set currently available)
European Beech Ukulele Tonewood
European Beech Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
European Beech Instrument Gallery
Black Limba Ukulele Tonewood
Black Limba, which is the sapwood and heartwood of the White Limba tree is similar in quality to mahogany and yet its distinct figure sets it apart from any other tonewood.
Black Limba Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Black Limba Instrument Gallery
Brazilian Rosewood Ukulele Tonewood
Brazilian Rosewood is a protected species and the wood is therefore becoming increasingly hard to find. We look for old growth and CITES Certified wood. Brazilian Rosewood is considered to be the premier tonewood by luthiers and guitar and ukulele players. It is currently one of our most popular woods for custom order ukes.
Brazilian Rosewood Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
(sizes are indicated when you hover over the image)
Brazilian Rosewood Instrument Gallery
Bubinga Ukulele Tonewood
Bubinga grows in Africa and though not a true rosewood, it is often referred to as African Rosewood, It is as hard as the rosewoods, but has a finer texture. It has great stability and tone and makes a beautiful instrument.
Bubinga Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Chechen Ukulele Tonewood
Chechen is a species of tree that grows in Mexico and Central America. It is often referred to as Caribbean Rosewood, because of its habitat and characteristics, though not a true rosewood. Chechen is a little known tonewood that is hard, dense and tight-grained and that can be found in colors ranging from amber to dark brown with beautiful figure. Given it offers a sustainable alternative to rosewoods, we expect you will be hearing more and more about it.
Chechen Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Cherry Ukulele Tonewood
Cherry is domestic tonewood that is comparable in tone and quality to Walnut and Maple.
Cherry Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Cocobolo Ukulele Tonewood
A true rosewood from Central America that compares with Brazilian Rosewood in terms of tonal quality, warmth and stunning beauty.
Cocobolo Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Granadillo Ukulele Tonewood
Granadillo is often referred to as Black Cocobolo. It is a non-porous dense wood that produces a bright taptone and long sustain.
Granadillo Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Hormigo Ukulele Tonewood
Hormigo is a tree that grows in the humid forest zones in Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras . When struck it produces a beautiful bell-like tone. It is appropriately called “the wood that sings”
Hormigo Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Indian Rosewood Ukulele Tonewood
A favorite among luthiers, Indian Rosewood is one of the most stable rosewoods and has a deep, rich tone and beautiful brown color (and sometimes purple hue).
Indian Rosewood Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Indian Rosewood Instrument Gallery
Koa Ukulele Tonewood
A classic for ukuleles, Koa is one of the most sought after tonewoods given its beautiful figure and rich tone.
Lacewood Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Harvested from the South American rainforests, Lacewood shares similar characteristics with Mahogany and yet is notably stiff and light, producing a big full tone.
Lacewood Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Mango Ukulele Tonewood
Mango is a Hawaiian hardward with a bright tone similar to koa.
Mango Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Maple Ukulele Tonewood
Maple Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Maple Tonewood Instrument Gallery
Mahogany Ukulele Tonewood
Mahogany is one of the most stable tonewoods and is also used for soundboards. It produces a balanced woody tone with a powerful midrange. We typically have a variety of types of Mahogany on hand.
Mahogany Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Milo Ukulele Tonewood
Milo is a Hawaiian wood that grows in coastal regions. Though hard to come by, it is prized for instrument making because of it’s rich colors and tone.
Pau Ferro Ukulele Tonewood
Pau Ferro is denser than Indian and Brazilian Rosewood and has an incredible tap-tone. The color of this wood comes to life under a finish, with chocolates, creams, reds, and golds throughout the grain.
Pau Ferro Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Purple Heart Ukulele Tonewood
One set currently available
Sapele
No sets currently available
Walnut – Claro
Walnut Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Wenge
Wenge is a dense African wood with tight straight grain. It is a heavier wood than Indian Rosewood and Brazilian with excellent projection and sustain.
Wenge Ukulele Tonewood Gallery
Ziricote Ukulele Tonewood
From Mexico this high density wood is often compared to Brazilian Rosewood given its rich deep tones and yet it offers beautiful spider webbed figure unlike any other wood.
Learn more about ziricote
Soundboards
Options include Engelmann Spruce, Adironack Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Carpathian Spruce, Lutz, Sinker Redwood, Curly Redwood, Western Red Cedar, Koa, Mahogany, and hand painted custom tops. Please inquire for sets beyond those featured in the gallery. Too, note Baritone or Tenor size by hovering over image.
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