Richard Cross

Richard Cross is a British Luthier who make a distinctive set of thin bodied Tenors. He calls his business Richard Cross Instruments, (RCI), or possibly Shapelywood, (but I think that's only his Guitars?)

Anyway I had a go on the standard one they have on sale in SUS and it was very very nice, (and I was tempted). I have since found his website and there was a one off Madrone, (that's a kind of wood), Acoustic...

Which now resides in Ukulele Corner.

The wood reminds me of old school desks from my youth, (perhaps a bit nicer), but it has a good tone, mellower than Spruce, a lightness and strength that really works nicely and whatever the neck wood is, that is a beautiful looking piece of wood. As I have said the tone is quite mellow but little quiet, as can be the case with thin bodied Ukuleles.

I did try it with Martin Strings but they didn't work well - they made the Ukulele even quieter - so I went back to Aquilas