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Thread: A Tenor Ukulele

  1. #1
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    Default A Tenor Ukulele

    Well my Tenor Ukulele has finally arrived, delivered this morning. Although I have 2 guitars, one Fender strat, other a Maton electric acoustic for many years, and play them occasionally to maintain my sanity, I wanted something different, something made from all-Australian woods, from most states, and from woods that I supplied. To admire, to preserve them in a beautiful form and as music for myself and others, and for generations .. I hope.

    The luthier and creator who also makes & repairs guitars is a local (Richard of RNS Guitars) who lives in Buln Buln only a few km from me in Warragul Vic. It was always easy and convienient to deal with him. It includes a quality pickup inside for amplification if required.


    Woods are: Front / top Australian Red Cedar (Tonna ciliata), sides and back (Australian Blackwood, Acacia melanoxylon), fretboard (Western Myall, Acacia papyrocarpa), neck (Satinwood, Phebalium squameum).


    I will admire it in my confinement for a while before attempting a few chords and strums.


    Euge

    Ten uke.JPG

    Ten uke 3.JPG


    Ten uke 1.JPG

    Ten Uke 2.JPG


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  3. #2
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    Absolutely stunning Euge.
    That would be a pleasure to hold, even for a non-player like myself.
    ​Brad.

  4. #3
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    Fantastic, Euge! As soon as I saw your name I knew it wouldn't be made of just any old timber . Am sure it will give you hours and hours of enjoyment - even if just looking at it, and even more enjoyment when you start playing. And it will sure beat looking at the walls or watching the grass grow!

    Cheers, Gary

  5. #4
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    Wow!

  6. #5
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    Beautiful compilation of fine Australian timbers Euge!
    I'm interested too know why you chose Red Cedar for the face board? , do you prefer to strum strings or pick individual note?
    Is the bridge also Western Myall? & the head board veneer from the pic angle, looks much like our quality Blackwood?
    I am also interested in the finish on your instrument?

    Thanks for posting this interesting boom box.

    Gaz ukes

  7. #6
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    Gaz ukes,

    None of these timbers came from you, though quality blackwood is still to be found this is my very old stock. I've always urged Richard to be experimental and he is. I've supplied him with many species for guitars as well as ukes over the years. He tried the red cedar experimentally* and was surprised how good it sounded and I have to agree. He says like (with knives) its often the wood (appearance finish etc) that sells the instruments … ie beauty appears to win over function. As I am not a uke freak I was happy with his choice and combo and approved the choice. I urged a surface finish as they protect and show and retain the original colour best. Wood first (to me) .. all else second. I am delighted with the appearance and tone. With a guitar I strum not pick strings.

    *He did make 2-3 earlier ukes before this one with red cedar soundboards and was impressed by the tone.

    Euge

  8. #7
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    Anticipating questions the luthier Richard provided the following…quoting:

    "In terms of the timbers and workability etc, the full timber spec is:

    Australian Red Cedar. Easy to work but need to be careful not to sand too hard due to its softness. Very resonant tap tone.


    Back and sides: Australian Blackwood. This particular piece was denser than some other pieces of Blackwood I've worked with and was hard on saw blades. However, the sides bent very well and it sanded well.

    Neck: Satinwood with Blackwood strips. Easy to carve and sand

    Fretboard and bridge: Myall. Very hard on saws. Tendency to chip, particularly where the grain had more figuring/varying grain directions. Sanded well. ("this was a figured block I provided so very demanding" Euge)

    Headstock veneer: Australian Blackwood

    Braces and linings: Australian Red Cedar. Softness of the timber required a more delicate approach to carving the braces.

    Endblock (where the jack socket is located): Orange Boxwood. Easy to saw and sand whilst having a reasonably dense grain.

    FINISH: The whole ukulele, apart from the fretboard and bridge were finished with acrylic lacquer. No separate grain filler was used so the grain was filled with the lacquer, retaining the true natural timber colours. The deep pores of the Australian Red Cedar required considerably more filling than the Blackwood or Satinwood, with the Satinwood being the easiest to finish. The finish was applied to protect the timber and bring out the colour, but was not applied so heavy that it would dampen the tone, so it retains a bit of the open grain appearance.

    The fretboard and bridge were given a quick coating of lemon oil."


    Euge

  9. #8
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    wow what selection of Aussie timber.I am in the process of making a concert ukulele [acquired a kit to use parts top and bottom is Mahogony]and am sure to attempt a tenor if this works out . Now for the challenge of bending the sides, fun times begin.

  10. #9
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    That is a quality instrument. Great looking and well made. There could not be a better time to get one either as we all need a pick up. Anyhow should be a few songs there to get you started.
    Ukulele songs and tabs by Richard G - Home - ukulele chords and tabs
    There are some upsides to this shut down.
    Regards
    John

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by mature one View Post
    wow what selection of Aussie timber.I am in the process of making a concert ukulele [acquired a kit to use parts top and bottom is Mahogony]and am sure to attempt a tenor if this works out . Now for the challenge of bending the sides, fun times begin.
    Our red cedar may be questioned as a tone wood by some, but slow grown & quarter sawn its very good IMO. More importantly in Richard;s opinion whose tonal perception is much better than mine. I liked and chose it for its colour and beauty of figure. Its probably of similar density to a slow-grown softwood.

    One point MO, Mahogany is in the same family (Meliaceae) as our Red Cedar. Unlike the strong preference for softwood sound boards used for violins and guitars. Good luck with your bending and building.

    By the way this appears to be uke #48

    Euge

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by orraloon View Post
    That is a quality instrument. Great looking and well made. There could not be a better time to get one either as we all need a pick up. Anyhow should be a few songs there to get you started.
    Ukulele songs and tabs by Richard G - Home - ukulele chords and tabs
    There are some upsides to this shut down.
    Regards
    John
    Thanks John

    As suggested I will definitely have a look at the link provided. Yes, there are always "upsides" to even the worst of events.
    Today, I took some more photographs (close up for teh wood). The originals I posted were by the maker.

    Eugene

  13. #12
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    Wow Eugene, that is a wonderful looking instrument indeed. The timbers all compliment each other, fine choices! I can’t wait to hear a sound sample!
    If only I could come over and sort through your timber stash!
    I will have to make do with what I have for now though.
    Sorry I have not been on the forum much, life gets busy some times.
    Cheers Cal

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cal View Post
    Wow Eugene, that is a wonderful looking instrument indeed. The timbers all compliment each other, fine choices! I can’t wait to hear a sound sample!
    If only I could come over and sort through your timber stash!
    I will have to make do with what I have for now though.
    Sorry I have not been on the forum much, life gets busy some times.
    Cheers Cal
    Thanks Cal, the wood choice was Richards, endorsed by me. I've offered or given him some “wild” woods almost daring him to use them! Some have ended up in ukes, others in electric guitars. If you were to look at my wood pile now, you might be disappointed, the best of the larger figured pieces for musical instruments have gone, most to Richard.

    From what I've seen, your wood and workmanship is excellent. If you'd like, and have time to see some wild wood on other ukes or close up of the one above, just let me know. I can post them here. Keep waiting for that sound, (it won't come from me for a long while. ) but I invite you to play it anytime.

    Keep busy and stay well. Eugene

  15. #14
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    Here a few more selected pics of parts of this tenor Uke ... for the love of wood

    Cheers, Euge

    Uke top RC.jpg


    Uke Head.jpg


    Uke Ketsjpeg.jpg


    Satinwood neck.jpg


    Uke Fretboard.jpg


    Bridge.jpg

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