Styles
Keystone
The Keystone ukulele is our signature instrument. It’s kind of like a pineapple but not quite, so we call it a Keystone (Mildly interesting sidenote: Dave is originally from Pennsylvania, the Keystone State). It’s shape creates a lot of interior volume which contributes to its big voice. The wider Keystone shape is very comfortable to hold. It’s the closest thing we have to a standard ukulele.
Semi-Hollow
Our semi-hollow ukuleles have an extremely rigid, semi-hollow body. To make these we use a unique sculptural technique where the back and sides are carved from a single billet of wood. Their shallow bodies and smoothly curved backs are exceptionally comfortable to hold and play. Because the body is sculpted and not bent, we can shape and curve the body in ways that simply can’t be done by bending.
Archtop
Our archtop ukuleles are really an exploration into what’s possible. They are designed to be played primarily amplified and each one is a unique sculptural piece. They use a semi-hollow body with a hand-carved, arched, f-hole top. They also have a cantilevered fretboard, hinged heelplate and a floating bridge. They come standard with a K&K Sound Twin Spot pickup installed.
Sizes
Determining the size of ukuleles is actually a little tricky. Different brands have different standards and many variables influence the “size” of an ukulele. For instance, body shape and depth can make two “concert-sized” instruments handle very differently. When talking sizes of ukuleles, probably the most useful way to measure them is by scale length, the distance from the nut to the saddle. But even this is not foolproof and there is a lot of variation.
We have made ukuleles that could arguably be categorized in the following sizes; sopranino, soprano, super-soprano, sub-concert, concert, super-concert, iDeale, sub-tenor, tenor, bari-tenor and MicroBass. In order to avoid trying to keep these many “sizes” straight we’re experimenting with categorizing our ukuleles by scale length.
Less than 14″ Scale
Sopranino
Overall length: ~20″
Scale length: ~11.7″
Total # frets: 21-23
Frets to the body: 14-15
The Sopranino body is approximately 8.5″ long with a very short 11.8″ scale. We scale the neck down proportionately so the nut is just 1.125″ wide. If you have small hands these can be a dream. We currently offer our soprano only in the HardBody™ semi-hollow. The ultimate travel uke, it can actually fit underneath a airplane seat.
Scale ~14″
Soprano
Overall length: ~23″
Scale length: 13.8″ or 14.2″
Total # frets: 15-17
Frets to the body: 12
The Soprano has a ~10″ Semi-hollow body and uses a ~14″ scale. We use two different scale lengths to fine tune fit. It is what we consider our “standard” soprano. We currently offer our soprano only in the HardBody™ semi-hollow and Archtop styles. These make wonderful travel ukes as they are very compact and the semi-hollow body is very durable.
Sub-Concert
Overall length: ~23″
Scale length: 13.8″ or 14.2″
Total # frets: 16-18
Frets to the body: 12
The Sub-Concert is an unusual instrument in that it has a concert size body with a soprano scale. It’s perfect for someone who likes a compact scale but wants a bit more volume than a soprano provides. These are quite uncommon.
Scale ~15″
Super Soprano
Soprano Body with Extended Scale”
Overall length: ~24″
Scale length: 14.7″ or 15″
Total # frets: 15-17
Frets to the body: 12
The Super Soprano has a ~10″ Semi-hollow body and uses a 14.7″ scale. It is designed for someone who likes the compact size of a soprano but wants a bit more tonal range
Concert
Overall length: ~24″
Scale length: 14.7″ or 15″
Total # frets: 14-16
Frets to the body: 12
This is what we would consider our old ‘standard’ concert and is most comparable to other makers ‘concert’ ukuleles. Our new concerts use the
iDeale Concert
Overall length: ~25″
Scale length: 14.7″ or 15″
Total # frets: 15-17
Frets to the body: 12
This is our new ‘standard’ concert. It uses our
Scale ~16″
The iDeale!
Overall length: ~25″
Scale length: 14.7″ or 14.875
Total # frets: 16-17
Frets to the body: 13
The closet thing to the perfect size for almost everyone!
Super Concert
Overall length: ~25″
Scale length: 15.875″
Total # frets: 16-18
Frets to the body: 14
The Super Concert has an iDeale concert size body but uses a 15.875″ scale which is about 1″ longer than most concerts. This is not a full tenor scale but rather it is our proprietary iDeale scale. It increases the tonal range and opens up the fretboard but is still smaller than a full tenor.
Scale ~17″
iDeale Tenor
Overall length: ~26″
Scale length: 16.8″
Total # frets: 16-18
Frets to the body: 14
The iDeale Tenor uses our iDeale 11″ body but has a 16.8″ scale. Because our Keystone body produces so much volume we found it not necessary to use a full length tenor body. It provides a big tenor sound in a slightly more compact instrument.
Tenor
Overall length: ~28″
Scale length: 16.8″
Total # frets: 16-18
Frets to the body: 14
Our full-size tenor body is only used when we make a bari-tenor. A bari-tenor is an instrument with a tenor length scale but with re-entrant baritone tuning. The full-size tenor size in the keystone shape gives these a big voice but without the bulk of a full-size baritone body.
Micro Bass
Micro Bass Ukulele
Overall length: 30″
Scale length: 20.4375″
Total # frets: 18/19
Frets to the body: 13 – 14
Our Micro Bass Ukuleles are primarily concept instruments at this time. Experiments into what is possible. Each one is utterly unique and a one-of-a-kind instrument.
The current model is a FatBottom, semi-hollow mahogany bass with a K&K Sound Big Twin passive pickup. It has dual Jet-Intake soundholes and features a Mid-Century Modern milk paint finish. It’s our first micro bass with steel strings.
Innovation
We experiment a lot when we have time and we are constantly pushing the boundaries of ukulele design. Different bracing patterns, new body shapes, radical neck profiles…really anything that might improve the sound or playing comfort of our instruments. We particularly focus on the points where you contact your ukulele.