Tenor Ukulele with rope binding

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 4:44 pm

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

liam_fnq · Post by **liam_fnq** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:33 pm

looks pretty good for a bit of scrap

have the pores been filled?

J.F. Custom · Post by **J.F. Custom** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:37 pm

Thanks for that Allen - that is a beautiful cat...

Jeremy.

ozziebluesman · Post by **ozziebluesman** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:52 pm

Sensational Allen. Love the rope style binding! The logo is a winner. It just looks so natural and as you say is recognisable from a short distance. Congratulations on another fine stringed instrument.

Cheers

Alan

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:04 pm

Pores filled with WEST Systems. They're as big as the Grande Canyon otherwise. The instrument was also sealed with a couple of thin coats of blonde de-waxed shellac. I wasn't sure how the oil would be on the cedar top.

And she is a lovely cat, that can't stand not being the center of attention.

John Maddison · Post by **John Maddison** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:33 pm

A nice bit of re-cycling of pieces that might otherwise have been discarded; that to me is the beauty of building ukes - small bits of wood can be a treasure. Logo inlay works very well. What tuning machines, Allen ... StewMac Grovers?

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:22 am

Yes, they're Grovers John. and the strings are the Saverez that David Hurd recommends. They certainly are higher tension than the Aquilla's that I was using. A little harder on the fingers, and something to get use to.

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:33 am

Scraps huh? If you didn't say, no one would have known. Your palette is wonderful. I really like the rope binding and I don't like rope binding, or herringbone for that matter.

Your logo turned out very nice. I like it. Simple and clean.

Well, we now know who really runs your household.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:37 am

Just ask my wife who runs the place. We've got two cats, and they have Karen fully trained.

Stay tuned for the next uke. It's recycled wood from John Maddisons fire wood box, that Micheal Connor and I liberated, but John will tell you that he had great plans for it.

Lillian · Post by **Lillian** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:41 am

You have two of them?

You are so hosed.

There is nothing more dangerous than an intelligent feline.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:01 am

Nice job Allen! As others have remarked already the new Logo looks good & love that bridge, the drop in slots are excellent.

Hippety Hop · Post by **Hippety Hop** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:28 pm

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.

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:22 pm

Yes by hand Hip. Nothing more than wipe on and a vigorous wipe off really. Just like the Karate Kid.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:32 pm

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

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.

kiwigeo · Post by **kiwigeo** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:34 pm

Dur....its ok I went back and read ALL of the original post and found the link to the finish suppliers.

jb2060 · Post by **jb2060** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:28 pm

Very nice Allen ! Makes me want to build a ukulele. I really like the logo too - it's very distinctive.

cheers, jb

Dennis Leahy · Post by **Dennis Leahy** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:13 pm

Nice job Allen!

The rope binding and soundhole rosette looks great against a relatively plain wood - nice marriage of woods.

Dennis

Matt_Blacka · Post by **Matt_Blacka** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:00 am

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

Matt_Blacka · Post by **Matt_Blacka** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:03 am

Beautiful cat by the way. She looks like a real charmer!

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:28 pm

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.

burly · Post by **burly** » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:53 pm

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

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:58 am

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.

burly · Post by **burly** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 8:58 pm

Thank you very much Allen.
Much Obliged

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Tenor Ukulele with rope binding

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