H&L Howlett and Lipson Masterbuilt Pencil Cedar & Californian Myrtle Tenor Ukulele - Constellation of Taurus #009

The term swansong is quite heartbreaking when you really delve into it. One last hurrah and big motion before the curtain goes down on a performance or career. Yet, when I looked into the sound hole of our most recent Howlett ukulele and saw Pete Howlett had labelled it 1/6 swansong; his introduction to Dan Lipson suddenly felt like a lovely way to say goodbye.

 

The Constellation of Taurus ukulele is the second collaboration between Pete and Dan Lipson using Pete's California style ukulele build with a lot of Dan's artistic flair. The top on this unique tenor ukulele is Pencil Cedar, a much prized tonewood in high end classical guitar building and a favourite of ours. We requested this as many folks cite the earliest form of Petes Revelator Ukulele with a Pencil Cedar top as the moment that instrument really found its audience. The back and sides are Oregan Myrtle making for a cannon of a combination. Loud and true, trusty and clean. Full of heart and perfect for every kind of player. This ukulele has all the guts of a small classical guitar and enough expression that the first time I played a HL ukulele on camera I shed a tear. The constellation theme is a lovely touch that can almost get lost behind the stunning tonewoods.

 

Learn about the process and design in this interview below

The fingerboard inlays are the planets of the solar system with a particular impressive Saturn's ring made of the thinnest possible slither of abalone - it's a wonder really that this was even possible. The crow's feet binding gives this ukulele a gorgeous moody look paired with the deep reds and oranges of the cedar top. The Taurus constellation is inlayed into the Myrtle back in gold mother of pearl. A lovely extra touch on a ukulele that does not need any more reasons to be stunningly gorgeous on the eyes and ears.

 

This is one of Dan Lipsons first and one of Pete Howlett's final masterpieces. A meeting of minds and craft that rivals anything I have seen in 20 years of ukulele retail at any price.