River

Model: Tenor (normally tuned D6)
Back, sides, binding: African Blackwood
Top: Swiss bearclaw moonspruce, 5 fan open harmonic bar
Rosette: paua abalone
Neck: Honduran mahogany
Tuning machines: Gotoh UPTL
Bridge: rosewood, bone saddle
Finish: lacquer, epoxy finishing resin

I built River for James Hill, to whom I’m forever grateful for insight and encouragement stretching back to my 1st ukulele build. In a near mythic alignment, the delivery took place alongside the Salmon River, where he, Anne, and Alder were staying before Melany Berry’s wonderful Tunes in the Dunes festival in 2017.

When I next saw them and River at breakfast in a bustling Eugene cafe, it looked as if he’d put 10,000 hours of playing on it, though that may yet be shy of the mark. In any case THAT’s when you find out if a build is robust, a moment of truth. There was probably an audible sigh of relief when the geometry was still pristine–whew!

River’s name arose from James’ lyrics, “If Wishes Were Horses” the one that comes to mind just now.