Griffin Ukuleles
  • Home
  • About
  • Woods
  • Available Instruments
  • Construction
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • testimonials
  • Ukulele Stuff
  • Untitled

A DAY OF GOOD PROGRESS

6/7/2019

4 Comments

 
It had to start with the necks.  They needed to be shaped, the slots cut for the sides, roughed out now so it does not need to be done when the more delicate body is attached.
Picture
This tiny little drawknife is a relic of my carving days,  I had not used it in years and forgotten how handy it was.  
Razor sharp, if used carefully, it very quickly shapes the neck.   It cut this walnut like butter.  What a joy to use good tools with beautiful wood.

Picture
now we must join the necks with the soundboards.  This is a critical time when you must get the instrument straight.  Who would want to play a crooked ukulele?
Picture
Then it is into the assembly jig to receive the sides.  Glue is brushed onto the narrow sides and they are clamped into place.  They will need tentalones to be really secure, but that comes a bit later.  For now, all these clamps will keep it in place.
Picture
'
this complicated picture shows the sides glued to the experimental tenor.  the sides are held down by the clamps, both barrel and commercial,  The tentalones are put in immediately to really secure the sides to the soundboard.
Note the thin veneer glued around each of the sound holes.  The veneer is maple and  its grain opposes the grain of the cedar soundboard as insurance against a split.

Picture
On the lighter side,  As i was waiting for the glue to dry, I finished a few of my little shakers.  Made from scraps of wood that I cannot bear to throw away.  Each one contains 25 dried berries of the Madrona tree.  They sound delightful.  I bend veneer sides into an oval, glue on the scraps of lovely wood, sand them a bit and I think I will offer them for sale.'
How do es $10.00 each sound to you?

4 Comments
George Woodruff
6/7/2019 07:04:22 pm

Some people like a "flat" area running down the bottom of the fretboard...some people. It's a nice touch--have you ever considered that as part of your experiment? As fort 10 bucks for your shaker boxes, seems reasonable. It also seems reasonable that one should be included with any purchase--just sayin'.

Reply
Jim Hanks
6/10/2019 08:16:44 pm

So which wood gives the best tone for the shakers? :-)

Reply
Brian Griffin
6/11/2019 04:37:05 pm

What flavor ice cream do you like best. If you are looking for low and warm, try Bubinga, Redwood. If you want high and bright try Sitka or Maple." Best Tone" your choice. Been fascinating to hear the differences.

Reply
Jim Hanks
6/11/2019 05:38:29 pm

Haha! I was kinda joking. I'm a little surprised that the tonewoods show up distinctly even in shaker form. Neat.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.