Just in time for Christmas I finished a four string tenor ukulele for our daughter Kate. Here are some pictures of it.
The top or soundboard is Sitka Spruce with a slight "bearclaw" pattern. That is Paua shell in the rosette around the sound hole. The bridge is Indian Rosewood. The fretboard is Indian Rosewood. The fretboard also has Paua shell marker dots. Fourteen frets to the body.
The sides and back are curly Koa. The bindings around the top and bottom are also curly Koa.
This shot of the back shows the high figure of the Koa. The curly Koa sides were difficult to bend without cracking.
I put a label inside. Note the special little touch on the end of the fret board. I stole it from the Martin ukulele design. I put Worth brown strings on it. They are a bit stiff right now, but the feel will improve as she plays it.
Here is a close up of the peghead. I had the curly Koa peghead laser engraved with "Kate".
All in all, for my first effort building an instrument all on my own, I think this ukulele looks pretty good and it sounds very good now and the sound will be even better as it is played over the years.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
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