A soprano ukulele where the neck, not just the body, is made from oak wood previously used for whiskey barrels!
This is a show model that was exhibited at the Tokyo Handcraft Guitar Fes.
For this instrument, not only the body but also the neck is made from oak wood that was previously used for whiskey barrels, sawn and milled by the craftsman himself.
Its appeal lies in the finish, which intentionally retains the scorch marks and stains unique to barrel wood that nurtured whiskey for many years, highlighting the natural character of the material.
Brass, inspired by the hoops that bind barrels, is used for the rosette and position markers, expressing the whiskey barrel concept down to the finest details.
With an open-pore finish, this instrument allows you to more directly feel the warmth and texture of the wood. Its soft and pleasant resonance, perfectly matching its visual aesthetic, makes this soprano ukulele incredibly charming.
Seilen is a ukulele workshop run by Shinji Takahashi in the Tateshina Central Plateau in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture.
Takahashi began his career in 1980 at an electric guitar manufacturing company, and became independent at the age of 23. In 2006, he won the Grand Prize at an exhibition hosted by the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii, and has also received high praise at the NAMM Show and other events.
He is known for carefully crafting instruments using carefully selected wood from around the world, combining his sensibility, technique and experience, and personally managing every process. He has earned the trust of both Japan and overseas as one of Japan's leading ukulele makers.
