787 - Baritone Ukulele

The Boeing 787 Baritone Ukulele by Steve Przybelinski
The ukulele head stock contains an inlay of my brand (initials SP, which is also my logo) and is made from Pink Ivory. Pink Ivory is a very rare African wood used to make luxury products like a 787 and is the royal tree of the Zulus. Pink Ivory then represents me and the entire artisan team (men and women) who take great pride in building the 787 aircraft. The first inlay is made from mother-of-pearl and abalone shell. Mother-of-pearl is said to attract prosperity...to heighten intuition...and imagination. Abalone stimulates...development and intuition...and promote[s] imagination in a healthy way. This first inlay is of the palmetto tree and the crescent moon to represent the state of South Carolina while the materials used account for the imagination of the people and the economic growth and prosperity for the region.
The remaining inlays are made from mother-of-pearl, beginning with the numbers 7 – 8 – 7. These numbers represent the first commercial aircraft model built in South Carolina. Next is a front profile of the 787 aircraft itself said to be smiling about the many firsts for South Carolina Commercial Aviation: The first roll-out on April 27, 2012; the first flight on May 23, 2012; and the first delivery on October 5, 2012, to Air India from the state of South Carolina. The last, but no less important, inlay is the new Boeing logo representing a new frontier for the Boeing Company and the catalyst for making these firsts possible in commercial aviation and for South Carolina.
The back of the ukulele is made from western quilted maple harvested from Lake Stevens area of Washington State. This wood reaches great heights and has a moderately long life of 300 years. This symbolizes the expansion/movement of Boeing aircraft production from the Pacific Northwest to a new location in the southeast and South Carolina. It also represents the new frontier and longevity of aviation in South Carolina. The side and neck wood are made from true mahogany. This wood was selected because of its ability to produce very deep and warm tones for instrument quality. True mahogany is a genuine species of straight, fine, even grain wood free of voids, and resists rot. This choice represents true heartfelt quality and professionalism for which Boeing and the people of South Carolina stand.