This show model uses Sitka spruce for the top, double Hawaiian Koa and maple for the sides, and Hawaiian Koa for the back, producing a voluminous sound despite being a soprano.
The POROPORO HANDMADE GUITAR & UKULELE is made by up-and-coming luthier Inoue Tomoyuki alone in his workshop in Suginami Ward, Tokyo.
Although it is a new brand, founded in October 2023, it produces high-quality ukuleles and mini guitars and has attracted attention at exhibitions.
This instrument is a show model made for the Ukulele Exhibition in December, and is a soprano ukulele that has been meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail.
The top is made of Sitka spruce and features X-bracing, which is rare for a ukulele.
It aims for a delicate sound that is closer to a guitar and is designed to be suitable for fingerpicking.
The side material is laminated with the intention of stiffening the sides that support the top so as not to eliminate the vibrations of the top.
This model is made of luxurious 2mm thick maple and Hawaiian core.
It can be seen through the sound hole and the side sound port.
The body is painstakingly finished with shellac paint, the same coating used on high-end classical guitars, to produce a high-quality, natural sound.
The head is made of stabilized maple burl wood and features a bird of paradise inlay.
The production videos that are occasionally posted on Instagram generously show each step of the process, giving a glimpse into the intricate hand-crafted work that goes into each piece.
Size: Soprano
Top: Sitka spruce (solid wood)
Sides: Hawaiian Koa + Maple (Laminate)
Back: Hawaiian Koa (single board)
Neck: Honduran mahogany
Fingerboard: Indian rosewood
Bridge: Indian rosewood
Head plate: Indian rosewood
Binding: Indian rosewood
Nut/Saddle: Bone
Pegs: GOTOH UPT
Paint: Shellac
Price: 217,000 yen (excluding tax) 238,700 yen (including tax)
Case sold separately
1 year warranty
