I'm excited about this new ukulele builder about to launch - Jerry Hoffmann of "Boat Paddle Ukuleles" in Missouri. His design is a bit radical. I just bought one of his prototypes. I wanted to spread the word because I think he is really on to something.

Boat Paddle tenor ukulele #7 arrived beautifully protected by packing plus a very well padded Hohner gig bag.

I love perspective pictures, so here's one with the Boat Paddle uke sitting next to a Flea:

The Boat Paddle uke came strung with Worth clears with a low G. It has a solid spruce top, solid red meranti back and sides and a maple neck. This ukulele has a thin and smooth satin finish. The bridge, body binding, and fingerboard are all ebony. The neck joins the body at the 15th fret.

The headstock overlay looks like something else, perhaps sycamore? Notice in the picture the reverse wood boat paddle shape, and the unusual nut system. The nut has no slots, just small pegs. The string tension keeping the strings in place and prevents them from vibrating.

The Boat Paddle ukulele is equipped with Grover mini guitar-style geared tuners (Sweeeeet!) The neck has gold dot side markers at frets 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, and 19. (double at the 12th fret).

The inside bracing, etc, is beautiful and meticulous - it features a fixed rod bridge truss (JLD Bridge Doctor style) that transfers string tension to the heel block - Breedlove Guitars have also used this method.

The fret work is nice, with medium profile frets. The saddle is compensated, and the intonation is spot on all the way up!

The sound is mellow with the low-G tuning, and very clear and commanding. There is a wonderful balance between the bass and treble strings, so you have that beautiful low mellowness married to the bright ukey trebles.

My Boat Paddle tenor uke is number 7 of his developing prototypes - I think Jerry Hoffman is really onto something. He is getting ready to market these, along with other designs, and I have a feeling they are going to really take off. His newsletter says he has built a soprano, and other tenors in different wood varieties.

I was a little "iffy" at first about low-G tuning, (But I can change that at any time - an advantage to the unique nut system) but I am really enjoying the wonderful mellowness and the way this axe just begs to be fingerpicked...the melodies are just flowing out.

So far, I'm glad I took a chance. The builder even enclosed a build sheet with drawings. The Boat Paddle uke is a sweet and inviting player with a good solid tone. After playing it all afternoon, it sounds very rich, deep and sonorous.