I AM DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE---I HAVE AN APPRENTICE. My old friend and partner in a variety of adventures has committed to helping me in the workshop, thereby learning to build ukuleles himself. I guess we can call this an apprenticeship. Rick and I entered the ukulele world together about 12 years ago. We have played together in a small group, weekly for years now. He is an excellent musician and will become an excellent luthier after some months of helping me in my workshop. He has a world of experience with tools, woodworking and many other areas. Rick is seen here sanding the sides for #156 down to .o70, perfect for bending. Orders for my Kasha ukuleles has grown incredibly. With Rick to help me I will be able to deliver ukes to those eager customers much more promptly. We made some excellent progress today.
We are assembling the parts for two new tenors, one for Joe in New York, another for Cindy in Arkansas. We must glue together book matched backs and soundboards, thin all parts down to those very thin dimensions that create good sounding instruments.
This is Cindy's soundboard. A solid piece of Western Red Cedar with incredibly tight grained wood. Wood that I have had for fifty years. I think the tree was 1,400 years old when it was felled.
This is the book matched back for one of the ukes. The difference in color will disappear when sanded. One side was exposed to light and oxidized. This is in roughest form. a few minutes on the sander will perfect it.
These are sides , now cut to size but yet to be thinned to .070 for bending.
We also got the Rozette groove cut in the tops. In the next day or two the groove will be filled with the decorative "rope" purfling.
In the meantime the last back is being joined in the clamp.
A darned good start on a new build for your ukuleles Cindy and Joe. Rick helping in the workshop is going to be a major speed up in my ability to deliver quality ukuleles to you.
