Blackwood - Huon Pine Soprano

[Allen]

This was a recent commision for a woman in the UK that had spent part of her youth working in rural NSW and wanted an instrument made from Aussie Timbers. Just got a email from her this morning.

Hi Allen,

Great news - my new Barron River Soprano has at last arrived safe and sound - and it is stunning !! You have totally surpassed yourself with this one, it's beyond my wildest dreams. A real All-Australian uke, with Aussie timbers, and even the beautiful orchid inlay modelled on a native orchid grown in your own garden - doesn't get any more authentic than that !

The build is superb, nut width is perfect for me, and it looks absolutely beautiful with the mother of pearl rosette - and it sounds tremendous, as though there's a full orchestra hiding inside, the sound is so so good !

[RodC]

Beautiful work as always Allen.
Huon and blackwood go together so well.

[kiwigeo]

LOL...wouldn't be the first time you've surpassed yourself. Nice work Allen.... as always

[asgilbert]

Great looking and the accolades suggest sounding beautiful Uke. Wonderful testimont to your craftsmanship.
Andrew

[Mark McLean]

Lovely instrument Allen.
I really love huon pine when I have used it in various woodworking projects. Lovely colour, nice to work, smells interesting. But I have never tried it in instruments. What are your thoughts of it as a choice for soundboards, and do you have any tips for working with it?

[Allen]

I love it for concert and especially soprano soundboards. I've used it for tenor and a baritone but to my ear it doesn't bring the best out of those size of instruments.

I've not found it at all difficult to work with. Nothing special required.

Here is a sound sample of another one I built for a client in Belgium. Just recorded with an iPhone so not that great but gives you and idea. He said it's the very best instrument he's ever played.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xk8UfPY4-k

[yakka]

Beautiful
I think we need a "like" button or a "thumbs up" button.
What strings do you recommend for tenor size ukes?
regards
yakka

[Allen]

For years now most of my tenors get Worth Browns.

There is a custom set of Thomastik-Infeld and Savarez Alliance available at Strings by Mail that are really nice and balanced that many clients like.

And probably the new favorite that have just recently been released are Hannabach Goldin. Only available right now in a high G set for soprano through tenor. Their president emailed a few days ago after I reached out to them to say that right now the best option for the low G is to use the polished D4 string from their 850 concert series.

[yakka]

thank you