Finally.....

[Nick]

My first Uke!
It's taken me a while to get this one completed & I'd like to thank Allen immensely for his sage advice & answering my really noobie questions.
Back, sides & headplate (with Maple purf strip) - highly figured Blackwood courtesy of John (Woodrat)
Top- Bearclaw spruce from Brent at Alaska Specialty Woods
Neck- Queensland Maple
Bindings- Figured Maple with BWB purfling
Bridge- a beautiful piece of Blackwood with Sapwood from Tim Spittle, I also used the offcut to turn up my own bridge pins to get a good colour match
Fingerboard- Ebony with maple purf strip
Rosette- One of Tim Spittle's beautiful pieces of York gum burl with black purf outline.
Tuners - Grovers

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The neck had a couple of aesthetic flaws that didn't show up until shaping so I went with a burst. Doesn't come up so well in the pictures but looks the part in real life.

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[nnickusa]

Well, just nice. Really nice.

Look forward to trying one of these out of the Qld maple I got off Tim at the last sale

[Gazm]

Fine bit of craftsmanship Nick & great combinations of the good woods, AWESOME!!
Could you tell us what the finish is on this beauty uke ?

Gaz

[68matts]

Beautiful uke Nick
that blackwood is just stunning.

[ozziebluesman]

I think your almost banned for this effort Nick!

Beautiful in every way. The sunburst on the back of the neck looks so good.

Sensational set of Blackwood and I know it is your favourite wood to use. I love to use it too.

Thanks for sharing the pics

Cheers

Alan

[rocket]

Very nice Nick, love that bear claw spruce, and the neck, i like the way you've feathered the colour of the headstock into the neck.
Rod.

[Sergy]

Hey Nick! Excellent work,gorgeous wood, beautiful uke!

[Allen]

Just bloody marvellous Nick. I love your rosette too.

Now tell us, are you hooked?

[Bob Connor]

Lovely work Nick. I too am impressed with the rosette.

Regards

[Nick]

Just bloody marvellous Nick. I love your rosette too.

Now tell us, are you hooked?

Thanks again Allen for your invaluable advice, it is much appreciated I tell you what, I hadn't got a clue on how to play one of these suckers but downloaded a chord chart & it's actually quite fun just plonking away on it. I intonated the saddle as per your technique but still some chords sound wrong to my ear but you know what? It's still fun! I can feel another "build for self" coming on, think I'll do one alongside my next build

Fine bit of craftsmanship Nick & great combinations of the good woods, AWESOME!!
Could you tell us what the finish is on this beauty uke ?

I used my usual two pot Urethane Gaz, that & a little of the Stewmac Colortone stains. Mixes straight into the clear,it doesn't show up too well in the pictures but I 'aged' the Uke slightly by spraying a couple of coats with a bit of vintage amber mixed in, it just warmed things up a bit & took some of the 'whiteness' out of the maple binding.

Sensational set of Blackwood and I know it is your favourite wood to use. I love to use it too.

Yeah, I got two sets (one concert size, this one & one Tenor) off of John a while ago through a forum buy, beautifully figured stuff & again I don't think the pictures do it full justice, it has a wonderful figure & lustre.

[H3ytm@n]

Very nice Nick. Love the timbers you used.

[charangohabsburg]

Wow, this uke looks great!

But what a pity that you Downunder-ers only have this boring wavy blackwood stuff for back and sides!

Oh, and I think I am missing some precision milled aluminium parts on this instrument!

In any case, great craftsmanship Nick.
Good to see you back on the wood track.

Cheers,