Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

This ones just had it's photo shoot prior to being shipped out.

Specs;

Black Heart Sassafras Back and Sides
Western Red Cedar Top
Indian Rosewood Trim
12" Radius on fret board
Mirotone Finish
Grover 14:1 Geared Tuners
D'Addario J71 high tension strings

Allen, that is absolutely gorgeous. I love the pick guard.

Beautiful job Allen - another unique instrument for sure.

Great combination of woods - and I sure like that slotted headstock.

Dave

I need to stay seated for a while Allen, spectacbluddyfabby mate!!

(In my best Gomer Pyle/southern style accent) "Well ain't she a puuurdy lil thang" Gorgeous...... as I've come to expect from you Allen & I love the binding/B&S combo, just finishes it off so well. No BRG logo on the headstock though?
I can see another over the moon customer!

I didn't think the logo would look right on it, so it goes without. It doesn't worry me at all if a logo goes on or not. My label is inside. The top is signed and I know that I built it.

The customer has been following along with the build process on my website. He's getting quite anxious to have it in his hands. Just a final tweak to the set up this weekend and it'll be off to Melbourne.

What a beauty! Congratulations (to you and your customer)!

The pickguard looks like spalted maple to me. Did you give it an additional treatment for hardening it or is spalted wood really not a problem regarding uniform hardness (or maybe only sometimes)?

Everything about it, Amazing!

Thanks for sharing.

_Mike

charangohabsburg wrote:What a beauty! Congratulations (to you and your customer)!

The pickguard looks like spalted maple to me. Did you give it an additional treatment for hardening it or is spalted wood really not a problem regarding uniform hardness (or maybe only sometimes)?

I saturated the pic guard with epoxy on both sides to harden and stabilise it. Then a couple coats of lacquer. Rubbed out with P800 and then burnished with some hard wax on the show side before applying pic guard adhesive and sticking it on the instrument.

All class Alan, a superb instrument, I bet it sounds as good as it looks. How do you let them all go???

Thanks a lot for the hints, Allen. Instructive as usual.

That is very flash Allen, beautiful work.

I love the single fine purfling line on the fretboard and headstock - very classy and suits the slotted look. I'm with you too; I think the headstock was better left without the logo in this designs' case. How do you find the weight of those slotted stock tuners compared to traditional units? Does the additional weight make for much difference in practicality? Some company will do well when they finally manufacture a smaller lightweight slotted specific uke tuner.

We are really quite spoilt for timbers in this country aren't we? Stunning.

One thing though, how do you find the time?? What's the secret!

Congrats.

Jeremy.

You got me thinking about the weight Jeremy so I just picked it up and found that the balance point on the instrument is right on the 14th fret, so there is no perception of the head stock being heavy. These tuners are the Grover Sta-Tites for guitars. I've been researching slot head tuners for ukes and there are some options out there. Some really expensive and install easy. Others that are quite affordable but will take some modification.

Finding time is getting to be more and more of a challenge. So many people vying for my time and I work 7 days a week, but commissions take priority over everything. I make sure that I'm delivering on or before the specified completion date.

I am with every one else Allan a wonderful looking instrument.
How do you find those strings? I have not seen ball end uke strings I am assuming that's what they are.
I reckon its time you quit your day job Allan and just make instruments you will do ok and have time for family too. Thanks for posting great photos.

First time I've used these strings and I like them a lot. They are classical guitar strings that D'Addario builds up a uke set. They don't have ball ends. Just make a knot and it pulls up in a properly cut slot. I can pull out all the bridge pins once tension is on the strings.

Lovely work and finish as always Allen.

Regards

That is a great looking instrument mate

Allen...youre banned

All class Allen.

The pick guard is a beautiful feature.

The whole instrument is supurb!

Cheers

Alan

Another absolute beauty Allen !!!
I really love that soft upper bout shape.
The combination of woods, superb detailing and finish is first class.
No wonder the customer is itching to get his hands on it.
Awesome stuff !!!! oh and great photos too mate.

Cheers,

Christian.

You're making me blush guys.

Went into the post today so hopefully it gets through all the bad roads and weather between here and Melbourne.

As always classy Allen, how thick does the headstock end up with those tuners?

Jim

Same as a slot head guitar needs to be. Tuners are 17 mm across the plate so 19 - 20 mm puts you in the sweet spot.

When I have considered ukulele with slotted heads I have thought that the same headstock thickness as a guitar seems to thick but I could not find an alternative. I have considered these though, you have to buy a 6 pack so I guess buying two pack for 3 ukuleles would be the go. Have a look here and yes, as you would expect from me they are Gotoh. If you look down at the options you would need the STP31 capstan option and the SB6 button option but I reckon you could get a 10 - 11mm head as long as you don't mind the quite modern look they give.

Jim

I had considered those too Jim... Sorry for the hijack Allen.

I don't know of anyone stocking them (the STP31) though - do you have an account with them Jim to order directly or...?? I know you have had Gotoh machine heads offered in the past. Any particular reason you suggest needing the SB6 buttons? I don't mind, when they will look quite unique anyhow, going for a different button style such as the SB3.

I know Australian Luthier Supplies do some of the stealth range, but not these as yet. Certainly they would provide the thinnest slotted headstock option available for ukes thus far.

Jeremy.