Concert ukulele
Maker
Joel Eckhaus
Date2006
Place MadeSouth Portland, Maine, United States, North America
ModelStradelele
Serial No.2206
SignedPrinted on paper label with double line border, the serial number, date, and maker signature in black ink: 2206 10/06 / Earnest / Uncommon Musical Instruments / Joel Eckhaus / South Portland, MaineDescriptionThis concert ukulele, dubbed the Stradelele model, was inspired by the NMM's own Stradivari guitar, dated 1700, which maker Joel Eckhaus saw in the "Dangerous Curves" exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 2000-2001. It features curled maple, like the back and sides of the original guitar. The model was popularized by John King, who owned an example with a spruce top.Stringing: four nylon strings
Soundboard: two-piece, quarter- cut maple with narrow curl descending slightly from center joint
Back: two-piece, quarter- cut maple with narrow curl
Ribs: two-piece, quarter- cut maple with narrow curl
Head: maple with medium curl; figure-eight shape; integral with neck
Neck: maple with medium curl; integral with head; has truss rod
Heel cap: none; heel set in from back
Binding: ebony on top and back; trim on top only comprised of black-brown-red-brown-black thin wood strips
Fretboard: ebony; 17 nickel-silver T frets; small mother-of-pearl dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th,10th, 15th, and 17th frets; two small mother-of-pearl dots behind 12th fret; very small bone or ivory plastic side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets; red hardwood veneer between fingerboard and neck
Nut: bone
Bridge: ebony; bone saddle; strings fit in notches on lower edge
Endpin: ebony
Tuners: Pegheds black plastic with enclosed planetary gears and ebony heads
Rosette: alternating angled blocks of brown and black hardwood enclosed in black hardwood strips, set in from edge
Finish: medium orange brown violin varnish; plastic guards on upper bout
Linings: kerfed maple
Neck block: mahogany; beveled corners; truss rod adjuster for allen wrench on neck block face
End block: mahogany; beveled corners
Top braces: three scalloped spruce fan braces in below soundhole, extending over bridge platetwo spruce transverse braces with tapered ends above and below soundhole, set into linings; wide mahogany bridge plate
Back braces: two spruce transverse braces with tapered ends set into linings, one each at center and lower bouts; spruce graft along center jointDimensionsTotal concert ukulele length: 592 mm (23-5/16″)
Back length: 280 mm (11-1/32″)
Upper bout width: 138 mm (5-7/16″)
Waist width: 113 mm (4-7/16″)
Lower bout width: 177 mm (6-31/32″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 53 mm (2-3/32″)
Rib height, at waist: 60 mm (2-3/8″)
Rib height, at end block: 63 mm (2-15/32″)
Head length: 127 mm (5″)
Head width, top: 61 mm (2-13/32)
Head width, bottom: 52 mm (2-1/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 189 mm (7-7/16″)
Neck width, nut: 35 mm (1-3/8″)
Neck width, heel: 45 mm (1-25/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 52 mm (2-1/16″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 378 mm (14-7/8″)
Scale length: 376 mm (14-13/16″)ProvenancePurchased new by the donor.
Credit LineGeoffrey Robert Rezek Collection, 2015
Object number14972
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