Mele Ukulele

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QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH: What are the measurements of the different sizes of Mele Ukuleles? Dimensions of our Mele ukes are as follows: (Since we built them from C.F. Martin's blueprints, the dimensions are pretty much identical to Martin's US-made models, which they produced from 1916-1971. The exceptions are the "Jumbo" Soprano and "Jumbo" Tenor, which are unique to Mele). Mahogany soprano: Overall length: 21". Scale length: 13 3/4". Width at upper bout: 4 7/8". Width at lower bout: 6 3/8". Depth: 2 1/2" "Pineapple" soprano: Overall length: 21". Scale length: 13 3/4". Width at upper bout: 5". Width at lower bout: 7". Depth: 2 7/16". Koa "Jumbo" Soprano: Overall length: 21". Scale length: 13 3/4". Width at upper bout: 4 7/8". Width at lower bout: 7 3/16". Depth: 2 1/2" Concert: Overall length: 23". Scale length: 14 3/4". Width at upper bout: 5 7/8" ". Width at lower bout: 7 1/2"". Depth: 2 1/2" "Pineapple" concert: Overall length: 23". Scale length: 14 3/4". Width at upper bout: 5 7/8". Width at lower bout: 7 1/2". Depth: 2 1/2" Tenor: Overall length: 26 1/2" (6 or 8 string-27"). Scale length: 17". Width at upper bout: 7 3/8". Width at lower bout: 8 3/4". Depth: 2 3/4" "Jumbo" Tenor: Overall length: 28 3/8". Scale length: 19". Width at upper bout: 7 3/8". Width at lower bout: 9 1/4". Depth: 2 7/8" Baritone: Overall length: 29 3/4"". Scale length: 20". Width at upper bout: 7 3/8". Width at lower bout: 10". Depth: 3 1/4" Neck (fingerboard) width is typically 1 3/8" to 1 1/2" (at the nut) on 4-string models (all sizes) and 1 1/2" to 1 7/8" on 6- and 8-string ukes. So, tell me about your "two-part production process". What part is done at your facility in the Philippines and what parts do you do at your production shop on Maui? Good question! The work starts out on Maui, where head luthier Michael Rock selects the finest materials including genuine Hawaiian Koa and other choice tonewoods which he "stickers" and air-dries for a minimum of 2 years before cutting and shipping it, along with other materials including top-quality American-made adhesives and finishes, to our shop in the Philippines.These fine tonewoods are then hand-carved, planed and hand-sanded by our staff, some of whom come from many generations of professional luthiers. The top and back are "graduated"; planed and sanded to exactly the right thickness for optimum tonal quality, something that cannot be done on an automated assembly line. The sides are then bent by hand and the parts assembled with traditional Spanish guitar building techniques, in which the sides are permanently glued into slots in the neck block. This makes for superior rigidity, strength and sustain compared to almost all other manufacturers. A lot of very painstaking inlay work is done by hand. The binding, fingerboard and headstock overlays are installed and the instrument is sanded and sprayed with several super- thin coats of nitrocellulose lacquer, just like America's finest guitars.

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