Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

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Allen
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Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by Allen » Sun Nov 24, 2013 8:43 am

Here's one I've just finished up. Been working on it off and on for the last 3 months between numerous other instruments. It'll be off to Canada shortly.

First time I've used Dalbergia Granadillo and I'm in love with it. Bent so easy that I was totally amazed, and that ropey figure is just outstanding. Unfortunately that doesn't show up so well in the photo's. I had a lot of difficulty photographing this one. The very dark body against the light background seems to trick the camera's exposure meter. Even bracketing the photo's wasn't all that successful.

Anyway, the specs.

Body - Dalbergia Granadillo
Top - Bear Claw Sitka Spruce
Neck - Spanish Cedar with CF truss rod
Tuners - Grover Sta-Tites
Fret Board - Ebony
Bridge -Ebony
Head Plates - Ebony
Bindings - Curly Maple
Rosette - Paua, Spalted Mango, Granadillo and black/maple/black purling strips
Strings - South Coast Ukes
Finish - Satin Mirotone
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Allen R. McFarlen
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DarwinStrings
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by DarwinStrings » Sun Nov 24, 2013 1:36 pm

The Granadillo does have that nice trad look Allen, I looked it up and from the net it seems to range in colour quite a bit. Not much info on it but one source puts it in the, sold as "Cocobolo", so lumped in with Retusa. Granadillo also comes up as one of the common names for Retsa but is also listed as a different species.

Jim
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Allen
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by Allen » Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:54 pm

This stuff has the very distinctive Rose aroma when you machine it. I saw the same posts as you that it was commonly referred to as Cocobolo, but it's nothing at all like the Coco that I have.
Allen R. McFarlen
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Graham Long
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by Graham Long » Sun Nov 24, 2013 7:25 pm

As usual Allen, elegant and modest, a definite case of "less is more"
Well Done, another Thorough Bred from the McFarlane Stables. :cl :cl :cl :cl

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Graham

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PHANTOM
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by PHANTOM » Sun Nov 24, 2013 9:55 pm

amazing as always :cl :cl :cl
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Nick
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by Nick » Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:58 am

Noice, I like the contrast of the curly maple bindings against the chocolate of the Granadillo and the bearclaw just tops it off. Did the customer choose the timber combo Allen or was that one of your masterful picks?
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needsmorecowbel
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by needsmorecowbel » Mon Nov 25, 2013 3:34 pm

Really dig the bridge and the transition from the back of the headstock into the neck. Great work all round!

Stu

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Allen
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by Allen » Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:41 pm

The entire instrument was my pick Nick. She had no idea what she really wanted, so just gave me some ideas of things that she liked. Mentioned that blue shiny stuff in some rosettes, tree of life, dark colors etc. and said do what inspires you. My favourite type of job. So it was off to the spruce stash to find some bear claw that made me think of the tree of life, had some Paua shell, and well this is what turned out.
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Tod Gilding
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by Tod Gilding » Mon Nov 25, 2013 7:44 pm

well Done Al
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by lauburu » Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:36 am

Another brilliant instrument. Love the proportions, love the wood combinations. Excellent work
Miguel

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H3ytm@n
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by H3ytm@n » Fri Nov 29, 2013 12:25 pm

Man, you sure are making some nice looking ukes :cl :cl :cl
Mike

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Allen
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Re: Tenor Uke in Dalbergia Granadillo and Sitka Spruce

Post by Allen » Fri Nov 29, 2013 4:57 pm

Once again, thank you everyone.
Allen R. McFarlen
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