Welcome
Thank you for visiting my website and for your interest in my Ukuleles.
My name is Dave Sigman, and I build custom Ukuleles in Honaunau on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Thank you for visiting my website and for your interest in my Ukuleles.
My name is Dave Sigman, and I build custom Ukuleles in Honaunau on the Big Island of Hawaii.
I have always been passionate about working with wood, and have been a professional woodworker for over 40 years. My woodworking skills have progressed from finish carpentry, doors and cabinetry, furniture building, complex joinery, jewelry making, marquetry and inlay, and have come full circle to lutherie. Making finely crafted ukuleles is the culmination of my art and craft.
An interest in music has been with me all my life, both listening to it and playing it myself. Having been to Hawaii many times since I was very young, my love for the islands, and Hawaiian music, is tremendous.
The traditional wood of choice for ukuleles is Koa. Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, Koa is known for its beautiful deep golden color and its exquisite figure, with some boards showing very curly grain. Koa is a wonderful tone wood, giving a sound that is warm and rich
I also use Rosewood, either East Indian or Amazon, both are very dense, medium to dark brown in color with black streaks, and produce a sound thats very resonant and bright.
Many other wood species work well for ukuleles, such as Mahogany, Mango, Monkeypod and Claro Walnut. These woods and many others, are available. Please inquire.
For sound boards, I usually use Koa or Sitka Spruce. Other options are available, including Western Red Cedar, Mahogany, and old growth sinker Redwood.
For finger boards, Ebony and Rosewood are the two most common choices. Kiawe, Cocobolo, Bamboo and Coconut Palm wood also work well. I will usually match the finger board wood with the bridge.
Bridges are either classical tie block, or pinned.
Necks are Koa, Mahogany or Walnut. I use premium open geared tuners, usually Gotoh. Other options are available.
All instruments feature finger boards inlaid with abalone, white or gold mother of pearl position marks, and side dots. Please inquire about custom inlay options.
All instruments are bound with either celluloid, which comes in black, white, Ivoroid or tortoise. Wood binding is optional.
A case is included with all instruments
| Base Price | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenor or Concert Size | $2000 | ||
| Options and Upgrades | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium to Extra curly Koa | $150 to $250 | ||
| Spruce or Sinker Redwood soundboard | $25 | ||
| Radiused finger board | $100 | ||
| Slotted Peg Head | $250 | ||
| Abalone Purfling on Body | $200 | Wood Binding | $100 | Side Port Sound Hole | $100 | High G or Low G | Please Specify | Custom Inlay | Please Inquire |