I have just finished Ukulele #104, a pretty little Concert. I built it for a nice guy named David, from the mid-west. He is a lefty and requested I build him a left handed uke.
Now that should not be too hard to do. You simply put the side sound port on the right side, and turn the strings around so the low g is on the right hand side of the fretboard. g.c.e.a. from right to left.
Easier said than done. In error I put the side sound port on the usual side, the left hand side.- Then I put another one on the right hand side. Now I had an ambidextrous ukulele and wondered what two side sound ports would do for volume and tone.
Remarkably, it seems to have made no difference. When I strung it up it seemed to make no difference when I covered one sound port or another. Notice that the thick low "g" string is on the right side and the thin "a" string on the left. The real challenge has been to try to twist my brain to play this backwards, But Dave says he strums with his left hand and makes chord shapes with his right. Ah the world of the lefty!
So what we are left with is a pretty little Concert with lovely tiger stripe maple sides and back and a soundboard of Juniperus maritima, a juniper native to the shores of the Salish Sea. A neck of black Walnut, and a bright and cheery voice. I think Dave will be pleased,
But just in case he doesn't want double side sound ports, I got a bright idea today. I have made a plug that will tightly fit into either sound port. If he chooses to close one up, all he need do is add a little super glue to the larger plate, stick the plug in the undesired sound port, and he will have an interesting decoration in place of the sound port. I will get some finish on this plug tomorrow, and this uke with personality will be ready to ship.
Number 104 ready to go.