#981- Builder’s Choice Cypress and Quilted Maple Tenor Ukulele

This is a builder’s choice instrument, made from all NW wood! The top is Leyland Cypress, which is a common fence line tree around here. It was cut from a property near here, thought to be planted around 100 years ago. The maple back and sides are scraps from our friend Paul at Arrow Guitars. I really like the black bug holes! The neck is Alder, scrap wood from a cabinet shop. The rest is local Walnut that I milled, with more bug holes! This uke is loud, bright and present. I would love to hear it in a loud jam session, floating above all of those guitars. It has fluorocarbon strings, radiused fretboard, bone nut and saddle, strap buttons and a hardshell case. Low G or a pickup (+$150) is available upon request. Price is $2100 plus shipping.

***** If you are an international customer (outside of the US), please note we may need to charge you additional shipping fees depending on your location. You will also be responsible for any customs fees imposed by your country. Thanks! ******

#983- Fir and Myrtle Kingdom Era Soprano Ukulele

This is one of my instruments inspired by my research into the first ukulele makers in Hawaii. I got a grant from Mortise & Tenon Magazine to allow me to travel to Hawaii to visit museums and collectors and try to recreate these instruments from the 1880’s. This customer wanted all of that tradition, but with a few modern upgrades, which I understand. The top and neck are old growth Douglas Fir, salvaged from an old house and the back and sides are figured Myrtle that I got from my neighbor’s shop when he retired from making flutes. The rest is Walnut from a local tree I milled. This ukulele includes geared tuners, bone nut and saddle, radiused fretboard, strap buttons and a pickup. But, the customer asked for sheep gut strings, like the originals had! It gives a warm and textured sound, with a little built in scratchiness that I like. To say thanks to the generous people of Hawaii, I will give back some of our profits to one of our favorite food/forestry/craft non profits, Ho-oulu ‘Aina.

#985- Curly Port Orford Cedar and Walnut Alto Ukulele

This customer has a Beansprout tenor already, but wanted an alto with a low G as well. We started with a curly Port Orford Cedar top from Kevin at woodfromthewest.com. We paired it with some colorful and rich Walnut from a local tree. To finish, we dressed it up with some beautiful ombre purling. It is resonant and sweet, with a lot of tone for a small ukulele. Thanks Mary!

“I’m really liking my new Alto (not only because it is another beauty hanging on display in my dining room, it clearly is going to be played a lot). It’s a great addition to my Beansprout collection, covering all the bases.
I had no problem adjusting to its fretboard size and I’m so happy with its clear voice and resonance up and down the neck. My fingers much appreciate your expertise and fine set ups in your builds.
Joe and I are both very happy with the whole experience of picking out the woods, waiting “patiently” for updates, making the journey to the shop to pick them up, hear them sing out, and take them home with us. We feel great about the whole experience, especially, supporting a wonderful familiy.
- M.S. ”

#982- Cherry and Walnut Baritone Ukulele

This baritone is for a repeat customer who needed a baritone tuned GCEA. We started with Nicole’ baritone as a starting point, with top, back and sides from local orchard Cherry. It is a medium density wood that is suitable for the whole body, with plenty of visual character. The neck is Mahogany, salvaged from a cabinet shop. The rest of the instrument is local Walnut. It is lightweight but solid, with a cheerful tone that I appreciate.

#960- Port Orford Cedar and Curly Maple Scout Ukulele

Another little friend is rising from the scrap heap to make music for you! Port Orford Cedar top, curly Maple back and sides, salvaged Fir neck and Jatoba fretboard/headplate/bridge. It has fluorocarbon strings, geared tuners, bone nut and saddle and strap buttons. Soprano scale. Comes with a nice gig bag. Message us to get on the Scout list so you know when these are available. info@thebeansprout.com

#984- Bearclaw Spruce and Spalted Maple Tenor Ukulele

This instrument is for our good friend Erin who wanted a bright and clear sound. She chose Spruce for the top, which is always a winner. For the back and sides, we decided to use the spalted Maple that we harvested from another friend’s house last fall. It was from a big leaf Maple tree that was rotting and too close to the house. By the time I got there, most of it was cut up for fire wood, but we split off some good chunks and dried it. It includes curl, color and some spalting, very nice! Erin also dropped off a chunk of Redwood from her parent’s property in California. Unfortunately, it was too far gone to use for a top, so I cut it up to make an abstract endgraft and heel cap. The thin Maple lines are supposed to look like a tree and like the stairs up to her parent’s house. The neck is salvaged Mahogany from a Portland theater and the rest is Pistachio from California orchards. Overall, I like the loud and sweet sound and the pinkish color palette. A special uke for a special and deserving person!

#969- Myrtle Taropatch Ukulele

This is a prototype instrument and I am very pleased with it. A “taropatch” is a nickname for a concert scale ukulele with 8 strings. Martin first did this in 1916, although I believe there was precedence for this in Hawaii before that. If you are interested in my research into historical instruments, follow my Substack blog here: https://substack.com/@aaronkeim768722

This one has a Myrtle body, Port Orford Cedar neck and the rest is Pistachio. It has a carbon fiber rod in the neck for longterm stability. The tuners look like old violin pegs, but are geared Peghed brand tuners. They are light weight, which is important when there are 8 of them, and they work well. Features include a radiused fretboard, bone nut and saddle, fluorocarbon strings and strap buttons.

If you would like me to build you one in the future, please email info@thebeansprout.com.

#977- Curly Cherry, Walnut and Dogwood Mini Five String Banjo

This little banjo is just a charmer. When it sits in my lap, it draws me in and inspires me to play. Before I take notice, a half hour is passed and I am supposed to be writing this instead! After my hands get used to the smaller size, I just love playing these mini banjos. All the wood for this one comes from The Carpenter Ant Stash in Portland. The Cherry and Walnut are cabinet making scraps and the Dogwood was milled by Ken from their front yard! Dogwood is more subtle and muted in appearance than my usual Pistachio, but it is quite hard and well suited for a fretboard. This banjo is tuned to open G, with a goat skin head, arm rest and darkened brass hardware.

#979- Curly Mango Baritone Ukulele

Mango is a great medium density wood, suitable for top, back and sides. It has a similar tone to Koa or Mahogany, but with its own mellow sweetness. It is one of the few tropical woods I use, but only when I salvage it or get it from Hawaii. In the case, the customer (Perry Stauffer) gave me some mid century furniture that they didn’t want. I recognized it as Mango and we sliced it up for ukes! Salvaging wood like this has served me well in the past, but it really is a tremendous amount of labor. I am glad that it yielded some nice wood. Perry is one half of Starlight Ukes and as a duo with Dani Joy. We have known them for a long time and always valued their educational mindset and solid musicianship.

This baritone has a 1/2” nut width and a generous neck shape. It is tuned DGBE and has a K&K pickup installed. Besides the Mango, it has a salvaged Mahogany neck and local Walnut everything else. It has been a lot of fun to play today as I get to know its unique tone. I am happy to make more Mango ukes, don’t hesitate to ask for it when you order.

#978- Mahogany and Walnut Tenor Guitar

This instrument started as a beam of Mahogany that we salvaged from a Tacoma boat shop. It is very similar to the old Mahogany that I see on instruments in the 1920’s-30’s by mainland makers like Martin, Regal and Washburn. It makes for a lightweight and vibrant sound, which goes from mellow and sweet to honking loud with no hesitation. The second wood for this guitar is some local Walnut, harvested by Chris at Yodel Boy Woodworks. The customer asked for a low tuning, GDAD, close to an octave below mandolin tuning. It is simple and attractive, but is not showing off, just the way I like it.

““The guitar arrived yesterday, and I love it. It sounds, looks, and feels just amazing. I so appreciate the care and craftsmanship, and the beautiful woods you used.”
- M.A. ”

#970- Port Orford Cedar and Walnut Scout Ukulele

These Scout ukuleles are little soprano ukes made from scrap wood. They are based off of the old Lyon & Healy Camp Ukes, made in the 1920’s. They go out to an email list of folks waiting for one. (Join up here info@thebeansprout.com). I haven’t made as many in the last year, but I hope I can get back into it. The Walnut back, sides and binding is from a local tree. The Port Orford Cedar top is from the Oregon coast via woodfromthewest.com. The Douglas Fir neck is scrap wood from an old house. The rest of the wood is Jatoba/Brazillian Cherry, a wood that was imported as a tough flooring product. It is great as a fretboard. Happy Summer!

#973- Cherry Baritone Ukulele

I love building instruments that are close copies of what I have already made. In this case, the customer played Nicole’s uke at music camp and wanted one like it. But, I am a little hampered by the fact that the next two slices off the same board are going to look a bit different. Mother Nature just does what she wants and I follow along behind. Also, I need to have a little room for improvisation when it serves the final design. In this case, I chose a Texas ebony bridge because I really wanted a match to the sapwood on the fretboard and headplate. Also, I fell in love with this Mahogany for the neck and I knew it would look and feel great. In the end, it is close to Nicole’s uke but has a few unique features.

The Cherry for this was harvested by Larry and I from a local orchard. It would have been chipped or burned, so it is nice to save it and make something nice from it. I have more, if anyone is interested. I think it is suitable for top/back/sides, just like Koa, Mango or Mahogany would be.

#974- Cherry and Pistachio Four String Banjo

This scale length (20”) and rim size (11”) has proved very flexible for my customers. Guitar players, uke fanatics, mandolin pickers and more have been able to import their tuning and string material to get what they need. In this case, we have steel strings tuned dgbe, like a baritone ukulele. It is a perfect machine for jug band, blues, folk and fingerpicking, I am really pleased with it. I like Cherry for banjos lately because it is almost as loud as Maple, has long sustain and a slightly dusty growl that is pleasing to the ear. The Cherry for this one is all cabinet making scraps from the Carpenter Ant Stash in Portland and the Pistachio is from California orchards.

“The 4-string banjo is beautiful; it sounds terrific and fits comfortably. It is amazing to hear with an amp. I play all sizes of ukulele, a tenor guitar and a five-string banjo. I suspect this 4-string will soon become the favorite. It is so versatile, easy to play and adds such a unique sound. I suspect it will teach me more than I will master it. It’s a beauty and I love it.

Thank you, Aaron, for #974!”
- S.S.
”

#972- Port Orford Cedar and Myrtle Baritone Ukulele

Sometimes I appreciate building something simple, understated and elegant. I like a muted color palette, straight grain wood and a basic design. I think this approach pushes the eye to appreciate smaller details and finer textures; maybe the brain can focus on the music more? This Port Orford Cedar top and Myrtle back and sides are Oregon grown, from woodfromthewest.com. They give a bright, cheerful and resonate tone, all the way up the neck. The neck is Hemlock and the rest of the instrument is Walnut, all from Oregon. The customer asked for GCEA tuning, which takes a special string set. It’s a joy to play, inviting me to keep picking it up and see what music is inside it.

“Aaron and Nicole-
I received my new baritone today and I just tuned it up and I want to thank you again for this very special ukulele! It is light and beautiful with an amazing voice. Aaron you are indeed a master of your craft. On top of that, it has such a beautiful Myrtle wood scent!
- D. F. ”

#975- Walnut and Mesquite Tenor Banjo Ukulele

This is banjo ukulele is a little out of the ordinary, because it has a 10” rim instead of an 8”. Because of the tenor scale length, I think it looks and feels more proportional. It is heavier and more substantial in the lap, but I think it is worth it. The notes don’t seem to be louder than the 8” rim, but do seem to have more air and body behind each note. I really like it. The Mesquite (a N. American native tree) for this build came from a retired banjo builder in Texas. The rest of the instrument is Walnut from my friend on Vashon Island, WA. It has a pickup, an armrest and a goat skin head dyed with homemade walnut shell stain.

#971- Koa and Maple Concert Banjo Ukulele

This one is for me! I wanted something really old timey, that referenced the instruments from 100 years ago, but had modern playability. I started with a thin, laminated Maple rim and added a Koa veneer and some rope binding to it. I made the neck out of Maple, with a Koa fretboard/headplate with a herringbone stripe down the middle. I finished it in amber shellac, added a goat skin head and a K&K pickup, just in time for the first gig of the summer! It is lightweight, cheerful and loud!!!!

#965- Redwood and Walnut Tenor Guitar

These tenor guitars continue to inspire and surprise me. They sound a little bit like a banjo, a guitar, a uke and a dulcimer. One part of me wants to make them more “normal” but the rest of me is embracing this strangeness. The starting point was an old Regal from the 1920’s, but we are on to something else now. The Redwood top was salvaged by Chris Riedl from a beach in Oregon. The Walnut back and sides are from a Parkdale, OR tree that I also got from Chris. The Mahogany neck is a scrap from a cabinet maker’s shop. The Pistachio fretboard and headplate are from California orchards.

It has four steel strings, tuned dgbd, with a floating bridge and a mandolin style brass tailpiece. Geared tuners, bone nut/saddle and a K&K pickup.

#968- Walnut and Pistachio Short Scale Five String Banjo

This model has become very comfortable for me to play, as I think the balance, weight and shorter neck are just more comfortable than my “big” banjos. I don’t know when I’ll find time to make one for myself, but I am looking forward to it. This one sounds rich and dark, with good volume and a round, plunky tone. The Walnut comes from Cath’s shop on Vashon Island and the Pistachio is from California Orchards. It has a synthetic head, non-steel strings and a comfortable brass arm rest. A humble musical companion that I would happily sit on the back porch with, any day.

#967- Clockmaker's Koa Concert Banjo Ukulele

The “normal” wood for a banjo uke is maple, which has a bright and loud sound. Over the years I have experimented with many woods and found success with woods that aren’t as bright as maple but have a cheerful and loud sound. Koa is my favorite of these at the moment. This stash of Koa comes from Lizann’s grandfather, who built clocks with this wood. I was able to find some nice curly stuff for the rim and strong straight grain wood for the neck. I was even able to use Koa for the fretboard, headplate and bridge. I will donate to plant trees in Hawaii through Saving Hawaii’s Forests to show my thanks for the privilege of working with this wood.

#962- Cedar and Myrtle Kingdom Era Tenor Ukulele

As I work on the Kingdom Era instruments, my connection to them grows richer and deeper. I enjoy the process more and I slow down a bit to savor the time spent open the hand tool work. I also think they are sounding better and looking cleaner as I improve. I am very thankful for the customers who have taken a leap by ordering one of these, I really appreciate it. This instrument is a four string tenor ukulele with a body shape based off traditional Hawaiian rajaos from the 1890’s. It is modernized a bit with a radiused fretboard, geared tuners, fluorocarbon strings, bone nut and saddle and wooden strap buttons. The customer added the handmade wooden case, made of Western Red Cedar scrap wood and kapa style cloth. The Myrtle comes from the Oregon coast, via woodfromthewest.com. The Cedar was harvested by luthier Jayson Bowerman near Bend, OR. The Walnut is a local tree I milled. It is wrapped up in shop made Walnut and Maple rope binding. This ukulele is for a very kind customer whose 3 grandparents immigrated from Madeira- such a special connection.

I look forward to more of these this year, thanks for your support!

“Hi Aaron and Nicole,

I’m in love! Thank you!

First, I was genuinely surprised by how much I adore the cedar case and the ukulele in person. My partner thinks they look great too, in particular the uke of course. It’s more special than I even expected, and I am already feeling connected to it. Love the shape, build, lightness, responsiveness, roping, etc. It’s beautiful in every way and feels so special in my hands. I think my grandma Tilly (Matilda Pontes who immigrated from Madeira and who I grew up with) approves! I feel it. And I’ve been playing it looking at the cedar trees in my back yard, feeling connected that way too.

...I’ve never played something so light and responsive. I love what I hear as a more open, woody, folky sound with lots of subtle, pleasing overtones. It’s whole new world for me, and feels quite different to play. It sounds really nice both finger picking and clawhammer: I think it’s great as a high G use.

It’ll be fun to share with my friends at the Bellingham Ukulele Group’s jam next Saturday!

With appreciation and copious gratitude for your art and passion,

-M.G.
”