This Mahogany tenor is going to have a blonde Alaska Cedar neck to balance with the Englemann Spruce soundboard. The contrast makes a nice looking uke to my taste. Not sure yet about the fretboard, but it will be dark to resonate with the mahogany. With aesthetic decisions made it was time to get to work.
This neck and several others were made and rough cut months ago. Nice to have a stock of them ready to go..
Now, a little refining and band saw work and this neck is ready to begin shaping.
'And once the band saw has done it's work it is time for the spokeshave and the rasp.
By now the hot pipe was up to 260 degrees and it was time to bend the Mahogany sides.
- This pipe is heated by a soldering iron. 260 degrees is the max, temp I can get, but that is enough. Never bent Mahogany before. It does not give up easily, but the bend was successful. I will let it dry and set for a few days in this form while I work on the neck.