The transition to Ekoa

The transition to Ekoa

Blackbird's lineup is increasingly made up of Ekoa models and now fewer carbon fiber models. Starting earlier this year, with the sabbatical of the Super OM, and the addition of Savoy, Blackbird had equal Ekoa models and carbon fiber models, namely four of each. This is still eight models which is a bit much for a 10 person company. While the carbon models are still popular, starting October 2017, we've decided to put a few of them on ice—the Rider steel string and Lucky 13 are on an extended production vacation! Time permitting, we will bring them back in some form and hopefully soon!

There are still a few rare models on the way and in stock in dealers. The wonderful and popular BTU carbon tenor is still available for the time being as well as the Rider nylon (as we have no replacement in Ekoa just yet. We are very proud of these wonderful and now increasingly rare guitars, and expecting them to be snatched up quickly. Production has its hands full with Ekoa instruments, so we're focusing on fewer models to increase supply. Carbon fiber is still a great material for making instruments and so we use it where needed in our Ekoa instruments and continue to use it to make entire instruments because its great stuff. We think of Ekoa versus carbon as different kinds of tone woods. We're excited for the future and continuing to explore ways to make better instrument through composites!

7 Responses

Nathan

June 23, 2020

Will the Carbon Fiber tenor ukulele be making its way back any time soon?

Sue Martin

June 23, 2020

As for transition, I just picked up a Clara Uke to take to the Amazon Rainforest in Peru in a few weeks. I wished for waterproof, and I found Clara. Love it, love it so far; or should I say “her”. Like my classic Buick, “its a beauty”.