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Bog Oak is not a specific species, but is rather a term that designates oak that has been buried in a peat bog for hundreds or sometimes thousands of years. The extremely low oxygen conditions of the bog protect the wood from normal decay, while the underlying peat provides acidic conditions where iron salts and other minerals react with the tannins in the wood, gradually giving it a distinct dark brown to almost black color.

Though Bog Oak does not describe a specific tree, it tends to most frequently occur in the United Kingdom, with English Oak being the most commonly salvaged species taken from bogs.

Bog Oak is in the early stages of fossilization.  This wood rings like a bell!!!

Tenor ukulele +$250

(Agathis australis)

Prehistoric Kauri timber is from forests buried at the time of the last Ice Age, which were located on the Northern Island of New  Zealand in the South Pacific.  The wood comes with a Certificate of Authenticity that certifies that this wood was independently Radiocarbon Dated to verify age beyond any doubt. Comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Beautiful curl with an inner glow that will be absolutely stunning.
Tenor Ukulele +$250

(Diospyros malabarica)

Black and White Ebony, also known as Pale Moon Ebony, comes from Laos and southeast Asia.

This beautiful set would make a stunning tenor ukulele.  +$500

Here is the ukulele made with this set

(Terminalia superba)

Black Limba comes from Tropical West Africa.  This light-colored wood tends to darken somewhat with age This beautiful wood has a warm tone.

Concert or Tenor ukulele. Available at no additional charge.

(Cordia Elaeagnoides)

A beautiful dense wood from Mexico.  Has a yellowish brown body with dramatic dark brown to almost black stripes.
These sets are available at no additional charge.

Tenor set

Bocote Billet. Both sides shown.  Tenor or Baritone size.

Here are 2 tenor ukuleles I made using Bocote

SOUND CLIP

Here the incomparable Kimo Hussey performs a short song on the ukulele above on the right.
Recorded with my cell phone, in an auditorium, unplugged and no microphones.
This is an example of the projection of a Scorpio Ukulele.

(Dalbergia decipularis)

Brazilian Tulipwood is a very unique, pink colored wood.  It is a member of the Rosewood family.  It is extremely difficult to find Tulipwood in sizes large enough to make guitars or ukuleles. This piece has a wonderful tap tone and would make a stunning and fantastic sounding ukulele.

This set is more than 30 years old and is very stable.

Tenor Ukulele +$500

(Guibourtia spp.)

Bubinga has a beautiful grain and makes wonderful sounding instruments.
I have several large pieces of Bubinga for ukuleles or guitars of any size.
(the coin in the picture is a US quarter).  These sets are available at no additional charge.

Here is an example of what a Bubinga ukulele would look like (from Kimo Ukuleles)

(Dalbergia retusa)

Cocobolo comes from Central America. Cocobolo is a true rosewood with a striking grain pattern and colors ranging from yellow, orange, red, and shades of brown with streaks of black or purple.  This wood is also very dense like most Ebonys.  This will make a stunning ukulele with a rich, bright sound.

Tenor Ukulele - Available at no extra charge

(Acacia koa)

Hawaiian Koa is the traditional ukulele wood.  However, due to enormous demand from the small islands, Koa has become much more difficult to find, and more expensive as a result.  A coat of shellac has been put on one of the back pieces (not the sides). There is a lot of curl that will glow after a full finish is applied.

This will make a stunningly beautiful tenor ukulele with a KOA TOP!  +$300

Below shows the back and top "wetted" to show color and grain better

(Acacia koa)

Hawaiian Koa is the traditional ukulele wood.  However, due to enormous demand from the small islands, Koa has become much more difficult to find, and more expensive as a result.

This will make a stunning tenor ukulele.
+$200

And here is another shot with the matching sides.  This is the same wood shot at a slightly different angle. Notice the color change.  This is how you will know a ukulele made with this wood will Sparkle!

(Acacia koa)

Hawaiian Koa is the traditional ukulele wood.  However, due to enormous demand from the small islands, Koa has become much more difficult to find; and more expensive as a result.

This will make a stunning tenor ukulele.
+$250

And here is another shot with the matching sides.  This is the same wood shot at a slightly different angle. Notice the color change.  This is how you will know a ukulele made with this wood will Sparkle!

(Dalbergia latifolia)

Ah Rosewood.  The most commonly used wood for high end guitars and ukuleles and for good reason.  The old Martin guitars were made out of rosewood.  Rosewood imparts a warm and complex tone to any instrument.
A small amount of shellac has been added to show the rich color.

Tenor or Baritone ukulele - Available at no additional charge.

I have built several guitars and 2 ukuleles using this wood. It smells wonderful when being worked, hence the name.

(Acacia koa)

Hawaiian Koa is the traditional ukulele wood.  This set may not have fancy grain but it is genuine Koa.  This Top+Back+Sides Tenor ukulele set will make a ukulele that will sound like you are on a Hawaiian beach, if you just close your eyes and listen.

Tenor Ukulele +$125

(Platymiscium spp.)

Macacauba (sometimes given the ambiguous name Granadillo) is a dense wood that comes from Central and South America.  Heartwood color can be highly variable, ranging from a bright red to a darker reddish or purplish brown, frequently with darker stripes. When the wood is referred to as “Hormigo,” various suffixes are used to describe the heartwood color: “Hormigo Negro” for darker pieces or “Hormigo Rojo” for orangish red pieces.

2 sets are available, see below.

Set #20 - Size: Baritone Ukulele (or smaller) -  Available at no additional charge

Set #30 - Size: Baritone Ukulele (or smaller) +$50.

(Macadamia integrifolia)

Macadamia Nut, native to eastern Australia (also cultivated in Hawaii and other tropical areas).  Not normally seen as a wood.  Grown primarily to produce the popular nuts.  Here is a rare chance to have a truly unique ukulele or small guitar.  The wood does not taste as good as the nuts so might as well make a ukulele out of it.

Here is a Baritone ukulele I made using this type of wood.

(Acer macrophyllum)

The piece of Quilted Maple has an explosive amount of curl.  Under a high gloss finish this piece will look very 3 dimensional and have a wonderful radiance sometimes referred to as Chatoyance.

Tenor Ukulele size +$50

(Zygia racemosa)

Marblewood comes from Northeastern South America. It is a very dense wood which would help increase projection.

Tenor ukulele.  +$100

(Albizia saman)

Monkeypod is from Central and South America. It a beautiful wood that frequently has a high level of chatoyance (a glow like an inner light)
This piece has not yet been sliced on the bandsaw, but the wood has been aged and is ready to use.

Any sized ukulele - Available at no additional charge.

(Umbellularia californica)

Myrtle is from Oregon and California. These sets have a subtle curl that will look even better under a finish. This wood makes very nice ukuleles with a slightly warmer sound.

Set #1 - Any sized ukulele - Available at no additional charge.

Set #2 - Any sized ukulele - Available at no additional charge.

(Machaerium scleroxylon)

Pau Ferro (also called Bolivian Rosewood but is not a true rosewood from the Dalbergia genus) comes from Tropical South America.

Soprano ukulele +$50

(Entandrophragma cylindricum)

Sapele comes from Tropical Africa.  "Pomelle" is a type of wood figure that resembles a puddle surface during a light rain: a dense pattern of small rings enveloping one another.

This billet can be cut into most any size of musical ukulele.

Any sized ukulele +$75

(Lagerstroemia spp)

Pyinma, also known as Asian Satinwood or Crepe Myrtle.  The wood from Southeast Asia has a fairly uniform color and the curly grain is very pretty.

Any sized ukulele. - Available at no extra charge.

Here is a Pyinma tenor ukulele, one of the first ukuleles I ever made

(Entandrophragma cylindricum)

Sapele is often confused with Mahogany, but it is more dense.  This wood comes from Tropical Africa.
This was orginally intended to become a dreadnaught sized guitar but there are no sides.  However there is plenty of wood here to make a Tenor ukulele

This would make a stunning ukulele.  Any sized ukulele +$25

Here is a Tenor Ukulele I made from Waterfall Sapele

(Brosimum guianense)

Snakewood is beautiful, very hard and in high demand.  This wood comes from Coastal regions of northeast South America.  When I say it is a HARD wood, I mean it. This wood is harder than Ebony.  In fact there are less than a dozen woods in the world, more dense than Snakewood.  Many violinist seek out bows made of snakewood.

A ukulele made out of Snakewood will likely have a very bright sound and projection like no other.

Tenor ukulele +$500

(Millettia laurentii)

Wenge comes from Central Africa and is usually pronounced WHEN-gii or WHEN-ghay.  This is a very dense wood and will result is a bright sounding instrument.
This large billet can be cut into most any size of musical instrument.

Any sized ukulele - Available at no additional charge

(Cordia dodecandra)

Ziricote comes from Central America and Mexico.  This beautiful wood has an amazing bell-like tone which has been used to make marimbas.

Tenor ukulele +$100