Tui $15,000

This new Tui model has back and sides of salvaged native NZ Totara from a forest that was burt in the 1970's. Most of the timber is cut into "railway sleepers" for use by landscape gardeners. Ocassionally, I will find some of a quality that I can use for an instrument and this is the first time I have used it on a guitar. This example shows some very nice figure, as well as some dark staining in keeping with its history. This timber is limited and I never really know when I will get may hands on some more, though I am looking, and remain hopeful.

The kauri soundboard is Waingarara kauri that comes from a tree I personally selected for my sound boards. It is the subject of an up-coming documentary "The Song of the Kauri". With a colourful grain, it has plenty of character, but it is for the tone that I use it, adding its own unique qualities of tone, producing a truly exceptional instrument.

This instrument also features NZ Puriri for the fingerboard and bridge and is embellished with New Zealand paua purfling. New Zealand Rewarewa is used for binding, Tuner buttons. A top bevel in the Ryan style adds comfort .

(click on the thumbnails to view a slide show of some larger images)