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What better excuse for a little wording about our favourite four stringed friends than the release of an Alex Beds Signature Kala Revelator. Well to be more accurate, two Alex Beds Signature Kala Revelators. That's right, you can get your hands on both a tenor and a baritone version of our fearless leader's new collaboration ukuleles. From a personal standpoint, we are dead proud of our friend. This release marks a significant milestone on the timeline of the Southern Ukulele store's history, but more so a landmark moment for an individual who has poured more than his fair share of blood sweat and tears into the ukulele world, to see karma pay it back is something we are all stoked to see.

I pitched a handful of questions to Alex in the hope of learning little more about this latest Revelator, his reasons for working with Kala on a signature model in his own words.

In His Own Words...

- You’ve helped develop models with Kala, Flight, Big Island and even Kanile’a before, but none bore your name until now. Does it feel significantly different to have your name on the model?

It doesn't feel completely new to me because I have had the joy of working with so many different people on models. This is the first time something has come out specifically with my name attached to it and if anything, it feels quite scary because instinctively you think to yourself 'what if nobody buys it BECAUSE it's my model?

- You could have put your name forward to many other manufacturers for a signature model, why go with the Revelator?

I have worked with Kanile'a previously on half a dozen very cool limited runs and in many ways, the Manu Hu project I had done with them felt like a signature model to me but at £4000, the price was just so high that most of the people who wanted them couldn't really aspire to have one. Kanile'a do such incredible custom work that I don't add any extra value to it... The Revelator however, I was there showing it off to the world on behalf of Pete Howlett, I was advocating for Kala to purchase the idea and our store (SUS) were the very first people to get behind the USA production.

I feel a personal connection to this instrument and I have played a part in it's success in my own small way. Not that it needs me! Being able to have them build the Revelator I would aspire to own is a dream come true.

- How involved were you in the design process?

My involvement with the design process was about as in depth as possible... We had 16 custom revelators made in 2024/2025 where I narrowed down and made notes on the pros/cons of each tonewood. I selected the woods for all of these ukuleles myself by hand in Petaluma and the inlays were designed by Phil from here at SUS. I had regular meetings with the folks at Kala - the most involved I have ever been with a single ukulele project or build.

- How do the Hummingbird and Crow models differ from other Revelators?

Other Revelators have their own place in the ukulele eco-system - regardless of your budget or the tonal preference you have. I just feel like my one looks and sounds the best! (Laughs) Mine is the one built for the players who want something that is old and new all at the same time. Something with an Americana aesthetic and fit to vocally accompany someone who has soul and the blues in them. I'm not the most important or iconic player in the room but I play with feeling and I've spent half my life working with ukuleles so I have strong feelings about the potential an instrument can reach. I'm proud to work with Marcos in Petaluma on these.

- It’s obviously early days, this being the release week for your signature Revelator, but are there plans to expand the range beyond the hummingbird and crow models?

We will be expanding this range for sure. We have a Midnight Owl model coming out as a unique SUS version of the Night Owl and we have a special Raven model coming out of Java Indonesia... When we get behind something, we really throw everything at it to give our customers the best thing possible.

 

You can purchase both the tenor and baritone Alex Beds signature Revelators via the links below.

Hummingbird - Tenor

Crow - Baritone

You can also hear a sound sample of the Hummingbird and Crow Revelators and take a tour of the Kala custom shop from Alex's recent visit via the YouTube links below.