A Baritone for Renee

[Allen]

This one's off to Byron Bay in a couple of weeks. It's been built for Renee Searles. If you are into the Australian Ukulele scene then you will have heard of her.

As it's a Baritone uke, it's really more a short scale guitar as they are traditionally tuned DGBE just as the first 4 strings on a guitar, though they can be tuned a semi tone down from standard uke in C to Bb. Then they are usually called a Bb tenor, even though the scale length and body are in the Baritone range.

I've always been a fan of the Art Deco style and I'm trying to incorporate more of those themes into my builds lately. As well I'm a huge admirer of Michihiro Matsuda's styling, and the rosette is my first feeble attempt at bringing some of his exceptional talent in design to one of my instruments. They are certainly much more difficult to execute than a standard inlay.

If anyone is interested I covered the build of this one on my web site blog.

Well enough of the preamble. The specs on this one are as follows

Scale Length - 20"
Fret Board - 12" radius
Body - Blackwood
Soundboard - Engelman Spruce
Rosette - Koa
Neck - Spanish Cedar
Fret Board, Bridge, Head Stock veneers - Ebony
Bindings - Curly Silver Ash
Finish - Mirotone 3220 over WEST Systems
Machine Heads - Grover Sta-Tites
Pickup - Pickup of the World Under-saddle

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[ozziebluesman]

Allen that is such a fine instrument.

The rosette is certainly a feature and no doubt would be difficult to execute.

First class again as usual.

Cheers

Alan

[P Bill]

Really nice work Allen the deco styling looks great.

[Mark McLean]

I'm speachless Allen. Just perfect in design and execution. I really love the colours and the art deco design cues in the rosette and headstock. And the heelcap and binding arangement is very classy. Surely, though, it can't sound any good?
Mark

[Paul B]

Wow that one tick all the boxes. Very nice!

The rosette looks great and the finish is outstanding.

[Nick]

I'll say it again.....Stunning! I love the openess of the top's grain it really fits in with the rosette soooo well and the shoulders & proportions look cool. Barron River Rocks!

[DonW]

Wow, that's gorgeous Allen! I've missed seeing your work...just a stunning instrument.

That rates a "Dang."

[Allen]

Hey, welcome to the forum Don. Good to have you here.

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. I'll try to get some Video of Renee playing a little on it when I drop it off, or at the very least insist that she sends me a sound sample.

[jeffhigh]

Looking great Allen, that's a neat detail on the heelcap.
Are you going to Bluesfest at Byron?

[Lillian]

Nice job Allen. I really like all the appointments. It turned out very tasty.

[Tod Gilding]

Magnificent Allen, I wouldn't call the Art deco "a Feeble attempt " That looks spot on.

[nnickusa]

Very nice Allen. Looks fantastic.

If you are coming to the area, and get into good Italian at a reasonable price, I own and do all the cooking at Your Italian Kitchen in Ocean Shores, and would be happy to host you.

Would also like one of you guys to see my first try in person, and give me any advice or constructive criticism that you'd be willing to...

If you are coming outside Easter weekend, we also have a nice holiday let in Brunswick Heads, if you need something...

Cheers,
Nick

[Allen]

Hey Jeff. The closest I'll get to the Blues Fest is a drive by. I'm no fan of big crowds.

Nick, I'm staying with my mate Micheal in Corndale. We may take a drive out to the coast though. It's a rare meal that we don't like. Would like to meet you.

I'll certainly will be at whatever market is on around Corndale the Easter Weekend with a few of my instruments. Micheal attends a couple of them and I'll tag along. I think it's the Channon that weekend.

[H3ytm@n]

Very very nice Uke Allen!!

Be interested to know the dimensions of the baritone's body if your willing to share

[Allen]

Lower bout is 10" across. Body length is a tad over 14". Sides are 3" plus the thickness of the top and back. Scale is 20". Sound-hole is 74mm diameter.

[Bob Connor]

Lovely work Al. The rosette is exceptional.

Regards

[Craig]

Beautiful work and design as per usual Allen .

[woodrat]

+1 on the rosette Allen....Your work is beautiful....

John

[charangohabsburg]

Another gorgeous looking uke from you Allen!

I agree with those who pointed out how unique the rosette design is - and I'd like to learn more about how you made that inlay (the interrupted rosette circle) and what the main difficulties were doing it.

Certainly that rosette is an eye catcher and I like it, but the most striking detail is (for me) the repetition of the subtle colour variations in the ebony veneers of the headstock (front & back) and the fingerboard. This gives the instrument an almost magical touch without the need of too much bling.

Cheers,

[H3ytm@n]

Lower bout is 10" across. Body length is a tad over 14". Sides are 3" plus the thickness of the top and back. Scale is 20". Sound-hole is 74mm diameter.

Thanks mate

[Allen]

The most difficult thing about doing rosettes like this Markus is that my eyes aren't what they use to be

I've tried all kinds of ways on doing these for the last couple of years, and have always ended up tossing the top in the bin if I couldn't salvage it, or just do a different rosette that would cover the stuffed up one.

What I've settled on that is working for the time being is after laying out what I want to do on the top, I take my dremel and use the bit that will fit the purfling lines I want to inlay. I don't want to have to adjust it at all to make it wider. I always end up making a channel that isn't consistent enough to make me happy.

I then make all the cuts in the top for that particular diameter, then I switch over to my inlays. Without adjusting anything I cut all that I will need and some more just in case a piece doesn't work out like I want, with that same setting.

Then I adjust the diameter to cut the next diameter, and repeat the above procedure. What this does is give me a set of inlays that are exactly the correct size to fit into what ever length of slot I choose to make and have the purling fit perfectly.

I use a 1/8" bit usually to rout out the larger cavities once the edges have been defined.

Corners are done very carefully with a scalpel and cleaned up with fine chisels. The really fiddly part is doing those tiny little mitres. They are either spot on, or not. When they aren't you just have to cut another until you get it right.

[charangohabsburg]

Thanks a lot Allen for your detailed answer!

One additional question: when cutting the rosette purfling to its final length (the miters), do you present the purfling (on one end mitered) in its slot, mark the length with the scalpel, take it out, cut it with a chisel and finally glue it in, or do you follow a different approach?

[Allen]

That's pretty much it Markus.

[nnickusa]

Sadly, my only day off is Good Friday. We're open the rest of the weekend. I don't go to the markets round here. There are so bloody many of them, and I don't really enjoy them. I only ever go to the Brunswick Heads markets, but very ocassionally, and only because they are about 100m from my house.

Number for the shop is (02)66802346. Give me a ring if you're coming, and I'll bring in the guitar.

Else, enjoy your stay in the area, and hope to meet you another time....

[charangohabsburg]

Thanks again Allen. Seems that there are no real shortcuts or overly smart tricks for this kind of tasks (not even in down under).