Presenting Tickler # 3: "Twitch" Concert Ukulele designed by Amy Crehore, built by Lou Reimuller

You will find more information at the bottom of the photo stream and some links.

(Click on image above to enlarge)

Presenting the Tickler #3- A Concert Ukulele, “Twitch” by Amy Crehore (instrument designer, painter, illustrator) and Lou Reimuller (luthier, sculptor, musician and creator of Teenar): a uniquely designed and painted concert ukulele by artist Amy Crehore, lovingly hand-built to Amy's design with great attention to detail by luthier Lou Reimuller.

Featuring:

1.   Honduras mahogany sides with a beautiful, figured mahogany back

2.   Carbon fiber reinforced mahogany neck with ebony center stripe on back

3.   Maple top hand-painted with original painting by artist Amy Crehore

4.   Hand-carved ebony bridge (Amy’s unique scroll design, sculpted by Lou Reimuller), bone saddle, ebony bridge pins with pearl dots

5.   Bound catwood (a.k.a. ziracote wood) fingerboard

6.   Bindings and back stripe made of boltaron, wood veneer, and fiber

7.   Tiny hand-carved bow tie on headstock sculpted by Lou Reimuller, endgraft inlay, heel cap, top inlay- all are made of stabilized green dyed figured maple

8.   Amy’s uniquely designed headstock is enhanced by an original painting. Painted areas are varnished with polyurethane (hard, abrasion-resistant finish).

9.   “Peghed” brand geared tuners

10. French polished back, sides and neck

11. Interior braces made of Adirondack spruce

12. Ebony nut

13. Bound oval sound hole, Tickler Ukulele label inside

14. Amazingly beautiful harp-like tone

15. Most of the wood has been aged for over 30 years

16. Dimensions: total length 23 ½”, scale length 15”, side depth 2 1/2” -2 7/8” , upper bout across 6 ¼”, lower bout 8”, body length 11 1/8”, waist 5” (Large and deep body)

Twitch was the name of a cat who inspired this one-of-a-kind fine art ukulele. Here's the link to process photos of this ukulele being made. And, here's the link to the only other ukulele that I designed from scratch, a pineapple soprano (Tickler #2, 2009, sold). Huge thanks go to Lou Reimuller (luthier) for his incredible craftsmanship and dedicated, hard work on both of these rare and special instruments. Note: the concert size is larger than a soprano.

Inquire: amy@amycrehore.com
The Art of Amy Crehore

Thanks for posting about this ukulele, BOINGBOING- link boingboing 
And there is a new interview with me about this uke on Architects and Artisans 
and Huff Post  

Twitch Uke Paint Job (Crehore)

I took this photo with my ipad in my new studio. I think the paint job is now complete

on my Tickler #3 Twitch Concert Uke. It is time to hand it back over to the luthier for the final touches. There is a green and black inlay at the bottom. I'll take some better photos later on.

The Art of Amy Crehore



Painting Progress: Tickler Uke #3 (Crehore)

I sketched out my idea on the body of the uke and blocked in some color. I have a general idea of how this will go, but things can always can change as I paint. I will strive for a harmonious design, yet the main image will be very much like one of my oil paintings. I am using the green inlay, the carved bridge and the shape of the headstock as an integral part of my painted design. This photo shows some of the side wood (gorgeous mahogany), black binding and green/black inlay at bottom.

The Art of Amy Crehore

(See previous posts for earlier steps in progress)

Painting Tickler Uke #3 (Crehore)

I sketched this design out for the body of the new "TWITCH" concert ukulele that Lou

Reimuller built. See my earlier post for the headstock design. More to come.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Progress - Painting Tickler Uke #3 (Crehore)

Painting a custom ukulele is a delicate process- especially a uke that I designed and that took more than a few years to realize. I am slowly working my way down from the headstock to the body.

See the tiny green bow tie that Lou carved? It will be mounted under the cat's chin. It is only one of the sculptural details on this very special concert uke. P.S. This cat is far from finished, this is just a progress photo taken with my ipad.

The Art of Amy Crehore

 



Tickler Ukulele #3 progress!

Tickler uke #3 progress showing green inlay and carved bridge, a photo by Amy Crehore on Flickr.

Here is the front of Tickler Uke #3 showing green and black inlay design and carved ebony bridge. Lou Reimuller has constructed this concert uke with amazing attention to detail. It is almost ready for me to paint the front. The back is made of beautiful figured mahogany. (See more progress shots in my Tickler Uke #3 2013 flickr set.)
Design: Amy Crehore, Luthier: Lou Reimuller

Tickler #3 - A Concert Ukulele (Crehore)

Tickler # 3 is getting near the point where I will soon be painting the top and headstock. This is a photo of the bridge being set up. As you can see, the bridge is made of carved ebony (lovingly carved by luthier Lou Reimuller) - it is my original design, as is the uke itself. There will be bridge pins and a saddle, so this is just a glimpse of what it will look like. There are also many other great features that this photo doesn't even begin to show. I will reveal them a little later on. Stay tuned!

The Art of Amy Crehore

Photos of Lou Reimuller's work bench (luthier).
Lou has worked so hard on this and his craftsmanship is near perfection.
Here's the link to a couple more photos of this # 3 uke in progress on flickr.

Also, Link to Tickler #2 which is a soprano pineapple model (that I designed and Lou built).