Our choice of wood stems from our desire to use local, sustainable materials which helps keep cost down and avoid any USDA Lacey Act hassles on import/export. We try to stock both maple and walnut necks for all ukes and uke banjos. The larger tenor and 5 string banjo neck as well as bass are only maple due to stiffness requirements (walnut is generally slightly lower density wood). Also the tenor/5 string banjo frame is only available in maple – sourced here in New England from a drum frame manufacturer. Top wood is the exception with the basic ukes made from Australian Hoop Pine – plantation grown in Australia. The bridge on all new instruments is our new “click-lock” molded design in a glass filled polycarbonate that requires no fasteners or glue and a Graphtech saddle. We generally choose uke neck material based on what looks best with the top, however any of these material choices can be specified by the customer