Today I am sharing a custom Alto Ukulele from Beansprout Ukulele. The body size is somewhere between a soprano and concert size at 23.5 inches in length. To me, it definitely feels like a soprano but the slightly longer fretboard seems to give it a bit of a heftier tone.
I purchased this one after Aaron Keim from Beansprout made me a solid myrtle alto. I felt like it needed a “twin” sister. This one is strung up with a low G which might seem weird for such a small instrument, but it really sounds good… not weird at all.
The top is solid Port Orford Cedar and the back and sides are “Master grade” Black Walnut. The neck is hand carved and looks almost too rounded but it really feels nice to play. I almost wish other ukuleles I own had the more rounded profile. The old-timers and experts often have certain “rules” about what makes an ukulele good. Many frown upon rounded neck profiles which is why you probably don’t see too many. At the end of the day, what feels good for you is all that matters. This one feels great.
Aaron picked out the woods for me. I really wanted a redwood top but he was adamant about not using redwood since he had trouble working with it while he was at Mye-Moe. He said it was too fragile. A few years later, he started using redwood. I think this one would’ve been cool with a the redwood top. It’s one of my favorite tone woods. I try to respect the advice of luthiers when working with them. Maybe Aaron wasn’t confident enough to work with redwood at that time. He might’ve just been starting out with his own company when I ordered this uke.
The cedar top looks pretty sweet and really mellows out the tone of such a small instrument. I’m sure the low G also plays a part. In the end, Cedar was probably a good call. (I am just a simple California gal that loves Redwood.)
OK, Let’s do this. Take a listen.
Recorded with an iPhone 13 Mini. No audio processing.
The details:
- 14.72” fret scale with a body between soprano and concert size. A unique voice, size and shape in the ukulele world.
- 23.5″ total length
- Solid Cedar Top
- Solid Walnut back and sides
- Passive Pickup
- Bone nut and Saddle