Tenor Ukulele with rope binding
Tenor Ukulele with rope binding
This one just stung up today, and am pretty pleased with it. Been reading David's "Left Brain Lutherie for a few months now, and have implemented just a couple of his ideas to see where things went from where I started.
It's also the first instrument that I've been able to use the new logo that Matt designed. I'm really pleased with how easy it was to cut and inlay. I also think that it's quite recognizable from a reasonable distance with nice strong colors and lines.
On to the instrument.
This is the best part. Everything on this one is just scrap bits lying about except for the bindings, tuners and the fret board was 1 of 4 that I re-sawed from 1 guitar fret board. Total out of pocket expence....bugger all.
And a word about the finish. It's one that Micheal Connor put me on to that is a hand rubbed "Hard Wax". Has the consistency of cream, and a very little goes a long way. I'd estimate that approximately 1 thimble full did 5 coats on this instrument. Very easy to apply, then burnish up. Leaves a nick silky smooth finish that really gives the wood a nice luster.
Body - New Guinea Rosewood 1.8 mm thick
Neck - New Guinea Rosewood
Top - Western Red Cedar 1.9 mm thick
Fret Board - Indian Rosewood
Bridge - Indian Rosewood
Bracing - Engelman Spruce 3 finger braces and spruce bridge patch
Strings - Saverez
Finish - PNZ Hardwax by Whittle
Cat - Tonkanese named Tamika
It's also the first instrument that I've been able to use the new logo that Matt designed. I'm really pleased with how easy it was to cut and inlay. I also think that it's quite recognizable from a reasonable distance with nice strong colors and lines.
On to the instrument.
This is the best part. Everything on this one is just scrap bits lying about except for the bindings, tuners and the fret board was 1 of 4 that I re-sawed from 1 guitar fret board. Total out of pocket expence....bugger all.
And a word about the finish. It's one that Micheal Connor put me on to that is a hand rubbed "Hard Wax". Has the consistency of cream, and a very little goes a long way. I'd estimate that approximately 1 thimble full did 5 coats on this instrument. Very easy to apply, then burnish up. Leaves a nick silky smooth finish that really gives the wood a nice luster.
Body - New Guinea Rosewood 1.8 mm thick
Neck - New Guinea Rosewood
Top - Western Red Cedar 1.9 mm thick
Fret Board - Indian Rosewood
Bridge - Indian Rosewood
Bracing - Engelman Spruce 3 finger braces and spruce bridge patch
Strings - Saverez
Finish - PNZ Hardwax by Whittle
Cat - Tonkanese named Tamika
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Beauty. I started hallucinating on the binding. There must be a cowboy hat & boots to match.
Is she allowed out with older men? I'd like to teach her to rock n roll.
The wax finish looks good. "...then burnish up..." What, by hand?
Cheers Hip.
Is she allowed out with older men? I'd like to teach her to rock n roll.
The wax finish looks good. "...then burnish up..." What, by hand?
Cheers Hip.
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Re: Tenor Ukulele with rope binding
Allen,
Any chance of a recipe or source for that hard wax....it sounds like it might be the thing for the soundboard on my lute.
Cheers Martin
Any chance of a recipe or source for that hard wax....it sounds like it might be the thing for the soundboard on my lute.
Cheers Martin
Allen wrote:
And a word about the finish. It's one that Micheal Connor put me on to that is a hand rubbed "Hard Wax". Has the consistency of cream, and a very little goes a long way. I'd estimate that approximately 1 thimble full did 5 coats on this instrument. Very easy to apply, then burnish up. Leaves a nick silky smooth finish that really gives the wood a nice luster.
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Great job Allen. Sure is a nice uke you put together there, and I'm glad you got that logo inlayed.
I always like seing ukes put together using timber that is just laying around, so I'm looking forward to seeing your next one too. Seems to fit well with the whole uke concept.
How do you find the tone with the bridge lower on the soundboard due to the 12th fret neck connection? I've got two ukes coming along that have the 12th fret connection, one with a Bunya soundboard and the other that's all black walnut.
1.9 mm for the cedar soundboard sounds nice and light, how is it holding up with the high tension strings? I bet it sounds nice and warm.
Matt
I always like seing ukes put together using timber that is just laying around, so I'm looking forward to seeing your next one too. Seems to fit well with the whole uke concept.
How do you find the tone with the bridge lower on the soundboard due to the 12th fret neck connection? I've got two ukes coming along that have the 12th fret connection, one with a Bunya soundboard and the other that's all black walnut.
1.9 mm for the cedar soundboard sounds nice and light, how is it holding up with the high tension strings? I bet it sounds nice and warm.
Matt
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I've not built with 14 frets to the body, so have nothing to compare it to.
The tone is really nice and warm, and seems pretty even up the fret board. The top shows no sign of deformation at all. Still absolutely dead flat. I reckon I could go even a touch lighter, but I was a little leery of doing that on cedar the first go around. I've got another top from the same slice all ready to go, so the next one will push the envelope just a little.
The tone is really nice and warm, and seems pretty even up the fret board. The top shows no sign of deformation at all. Still absolutely dead flat. I reckon I could go even a touch lighter, but I was a little leery of doing that on cedar the first go around. I've got another top from the same slice all ready to go, so the next one will push the envelope just a little.
Re: Tenor Ukulele with rope binding
Hey Allen, thats a sweet looking 4 stringer, nicely made.
the rope binding looks great.
did you make the binding, or purchase it. i need to get hold of some for a future build, so would you be willing to direct me to the source.
Thanks,
Pete
the rope binding looks great.
did you make the binding, or purchase it. i need to get hold of some for a future build, so would you be willing to direct me to the source.
Thanks,
Pete
Re: Tenor Ukulele with rope binding
I sent the design off for that to Micheal Gurian and had a run of it made. It's the way to go if you want a lot of it in stock, but overkill if you only need enough for one instrument. They have a minimum order, and if you get something like this made, you have to take the entire batch.
BTW, this is where most of the suppliers will get their stock.
BTW, this is where most of the suppliers will get their stock.
Re: Tenor Ukulele with rope binding
Thank you very much Allen.
Much Obliged
Much Obliged
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