Spalted Resonator Uke

[liam_fnq]

I've been very busy lately building a website and learning photo editing but have somehow found time to complete another resonator uke.

This is a tenor scale resonator uke featuring:

Cone: National
Body woods: Spalted white cedar
Neck: Spanish Cedar
Fretboard: Curly Aust. blackwood
Bindings: Curly Aust. Blackwood
Strings: D'Addario J71s
Finish: Satin lacquer

[colburge]

luv it, you will have to upload a recording of it, I bet it has an interesting sound!

Col

[lauburu]

Very cool. That spalted cedar is really dramatic. Did you have time to take any pics of the build? Would be very interested to see them.
Miguel

[DarwinStrings]

Nice wood and work Liam, are they little klusons?

Jim

[Kamusur]

Damned, that looks bloody good and yeah I know that spalting sure doesn't improve the strength of the timber but when it seriously looks that good....

Steve

[charangohabsburg]

Wow, that's a very lovely uke. The ff soundholes in the middle of the spalting figure are a ripper.

[liam_fnq]

Little kluson copies Jim.

The only build pic I could find Miguel

[ozziebluesman]

Love the whole concept of this build.

Looks fantastic Liam.

Congratulations on some fine workmanship and innovation there mate!

I haven't seen too many Resonator ukulele's around.

Cheers

Alan

[Nick]

Very nice build Liam, I like the spalted look and the 'stripey' sides. The bindings are very complimentary too, contrasting bindings without being too contrasting
The cone is a single Tricone? and where did you get a cover that's small enough or do National make these for this sort of purpose? I have a cone purpose made for a cigarbox guitar size but have never found a cover for it, they 'usually' use an exposed cone in those little suckers but I'd like to put a cover over it.

[liam_fnq]

A single tricone, is that the oxymoron for the day?

The cone and biscuit are a national resophonic ukulele cone/biscuit from elderly. The coverplate is from republic guitars, although national sell these too. I added a custom tailpiece/string anchor as I was unhappy with the way the republic ones work.

The cones are pie tin thin. There's no way I'd leave one without a cover.

[Localele]

Shit hot Liam.Knock out some dirty blues on it for a sound check.Get a few beers in first so you loosen up a bit.

[Gerry Coon]

Sexy...! Tailpiece looks suspicious though. How does it work?

[soulman]

Nice one Liam. I bet it sounds as good as it looks.

[liam_fnq]

Sexy...! Tailpiece looks suspicious though. How does it work?

Suspicious? Like it stole something?

There's three holes per string. It works the same as an 18 hole classical guitar bridge.

[lauburu]

The only build pic I could find

Man that hole looks big ! Did the soundboard have a flaw that made it unusable as a "normal" uke or did you have to carve out a huge hole in a perfectly good soundboard?
Brilliant result either way but I'd have sleepless nights doing the latter.
Miguel

[liam_fnq]

Miguel, there's no way I'd use that timber for the top on a regular uke. It has none of the qualities you want from a soundboard, that being light, stiff and even in consistency all the way across. It is light but it hasn't got the other two.

[lauburu]

Tx Liam. Now I understand. Another useful concept to tuck away for future reference
Miguel

[christian]

If I had a blue ribbon on hand I would pin it on this instrument!!!
absolutely beautiful !!! congrats Liam!!

[68matts]

That's a sweet little uke Liam. Another instrument on my must do list.

[Localele]

C'mon Liam it's Friday night and by now you should have loosened up enough stubbies to give us a sound check.

[H3ytm@n]

Nice work mate!!
Love the spalted white cedar