Rajao

This is a reproduction of one of the original instruments brought to the Sandwich Islands, now known as Hawaii. The maker's name was Manuel Nunes, one of three furniture makers who left the Portuguese island of Madeira in 1879 and sailed to Hawaii aboard the Ravenscrag. After fulfilling a three year  indenture in the sugar cane fields, Mr. Nunes set up shop in Honolulu making various stringed instruments including the Rajao. The Rajao is tuned D4-G4-C4-E4-A4., a reentrant tuning with the third string the lowest pitch. In Hawaii, the Rajao was known as a "Taro Pach Fiddle", "Taro Patch Guitar", or simply "Taro Patch". After several years, the D string was removed and the instrument became and is still known as a Tenor Ukulele. The Rajao still exists and is produced in its original configuration on the island of Madeira, the Iberian Peninsula as well as some South American regions.

Specifics

Spanish Style Construction

Scale: 17 (Inches)

Fret Spacing: Rule of 18

OAL: 26.48

Width: 8.76

Height: 2.63

Soundboard: Master Grade Sitka Spruce

Sides, Back, Head Veneer, Fretboard & Bridge: Black Walnut

Neck: Tulip, Black Walnut

Frets: .040 x .080 Stewart MacDonald #0147

Nut: Ebony

Tuners: Generic violin size 4/4

Strings: Aquila Red

Build Gallery