Custom Oceana “Short Scale” Tenor Ukulele

Oceana Ukuleles is owned and operated by Zacchaeus Steimle. In 1995, Zac traveled from his home in the Pacific North West to Ecuador to study Spanish and check out some South American waves (he learned to surf before learning to ride a bike!) While there he worked part time with a luthier in Quito, thus beginning his fantastical journey into musical instrument building.

In 2002 he returned to Ecuador with his wife Melody and their infant daughter to work with a community health project. They volunteered almost 8 years there helping under served people get medical attention as well as access to social support services. Their second daughter was born in the Amazon jungle region in 2005.

That same year, Zac met a master luthier that specialized in small stringed instruments.  Zac continued his luthier training with a 2-year apprenticeship specializing in ukuleles, learning the tradition and art that had been passed down from generation to generation.   With this experience, Zac created a ukulele design based on rich musical tradition.  A tradition that involved meticulously crafting instruments from start to finish with hand tools. This art takes both the skill and the well-trained ear of the luthier, a quality that cannot be extracted from the Internet or reproduced on a production line.

Excited by this passion for crafting instruments, Zac started Oceana Ukuleles in 2008, believing that he had something special to offer musicians and music lovers everywhere. This custom Oceana tenor ukulele was handcrafted of clark Walnut wood back and sides with a spruce soundboard. Beautiful “Giant Octopus” side sound port inlay and Native American totem pole fretboard design paying tribute to some of the beauty of the Puget Sound area. Honduran mahogany wood neck with ebony wood fretboard and bridge consistent with the best in handcrafted custom ukuleles. Hawaiian Koa wood top and back binding, paua shell rosette, and matching abalone shell position markers for quick reference when playing. Short scale tenor from nut to saddle, perfect for those who want a shorter spacing between frets when playing. K&K pick up installed for quick plug and play.