Dart Instruments: 2016

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Cherry baritone ukulele demo video

This cherry baritone uke is on the way to its new home -- check out the demo video!

A look inside the upcoming baritone ukuleles

These baritones have been hot this year, so here are three more underway -- South American cedar, black acacia from San Francisco's Presidio, and Australian jarrah eucalyptus.

Note the solid (rather than kerfed) lining -- this gives the rim excellent stability, strength, and sustain, as well as a solid gluing surface.

2/18/17
Dave has been busy finishing these 3 baritone Ukes

1/27/17

1/19/17

Putting in frets

Acacia wood, fitting fret board before frets

Jarrah

1/17/17

Jarrah wood

Cedar Baritone

1/11/17 This week, the three baritone ukuleles had their tops glued to sides! All three ring nicely & feel really solid, too. Note the solid lining & X-bracing on the cedar baritone uke.

David Dart & baritone ukes

Cedar baritone ukulele, top

Cedar baritone ukulele, inside

1/5/17


Baritone uke back inside & braces. L to R: South American cedar, San Fran Presidio black acacia, jarrah

Baritone uke back outside. L to R: South American cedar, San Fran Presidio black acacia, jarrah

Baritone uke rims. L to R: South American cedar, San Fran Presidio black acacia, jarrah


San Fran black acacia sides & solid lining

San Fran black acacia top, inside -- there will be more small waist braces

Bracing glued onto cedar (L/lower) & jarrah (R/upper) tops

Considering six strings on one of these -- any thoughts? Thanks for looking, and check back soon for updates!

Friday, December 23, 2016

Work in Progress

Three Baritone Ukuleles
Black Acacia wood, Jarrah wood, South American Cedar

check back soon for updates

12/29/16

x braces on South American Cedar

sides Black Acacia

12/23/16
Beginning stages of next run of Ukuleles

sides before bending

sides after bending

gluing on lining

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Four new ukuleles -- two concert, two baritone! Plus Three more Baritones

3/7/17

Three Baritones

South American cedar, black acacia from San Francisco's Presidio, and Australian jarrah eucalyptus.

A side-by-side-by-side comparison of Cedar, Jarrah, and Acacia baritone ukes

January 2017

Check out these new ukes! Two cherry baritones (both sold), a mahogany concert, and a koa concert (sold). Each one has an individual blog post with more photos and specs

Koa concert ukulele

Cherry baritone ukulele

Mahogany concert ukulele: more photos & specs here

Koa concert ukulele peghead: more photos & specs here

Cherry baritone ukulele: more photos & specs here

Dart Mahogany Concert Ukulele - #16-246

Material

Solid mahogany top, back, sides, & neck

Ebony fingerboard & bridge
Hand-cut Dart peghead logo
"Rope" soundhole ring inlay

Abalone fingerboard dot inlay

Hand-cut bone nut & saddle
Ladder-braced top
Solid basswood lining

Pegheds 4:1 planetary gear system tuning pegs

D'Addario fluorocarbon strings

Specifications

1-7/16" nut width
15" string length
11" body length
25-5/8" total length
6-1/4" upper bout
8-9/16" lower bout

2-3/8" depth at butt

Dart Koa Concert Ukulele - #15-245

Material

Solid koa top, back, sides, & neck

Ebony fingerboard & bridge
Hand-cut abalone soundhole ring inlay & Dart peghead logo
Abalone fingerboard dot inlay
Hand-cut bone nut & saddle
Ladder-braced top
Solid basswood lining
Pegheds 4:1 planetary gear system tuning pegs
D'Addario fluorocarbon strings

Specifications

1-3/8" nut width
15" string length
11" body length
25-5/8" total length
6-1/4" upper bout
8-9/16" lower bout

2-3/8" depth at butt

Dart Cherry Baritone Ukulele - #4-244

Material
Solid cherry top, back, sides, & neck
Ebony peghead overlay, fingerboard, bridge, & binding
Hand-cut abalone soundhole ring inlay and Dart peghead logo
Abalone fingerboard dot inlay
Hand-cut bone nut & saddle
Modified X-braced top
Pegheds 4:1 planetary gear system tuning pegs
Solid basswood lining

Specifications
1-7/16" nut width
19" string length
13-3/4" body length
29-15/16" total length
7-3/4" upper bout
10-1/2" lower bout
2-11/16" depth at heel
3-1/8" depth at butt