To build a ukulele?, Well we are going to find the answer. Ukulele Master Stuart Fuchs has ordered his second Griffin ukulele to be delivered on September 29th at his gig at Anacortes Washington. Stuart, pleased with his Griffin Kasha tenor #111, says he would like to add variety to the tonal color of his gigs with a Sycamore/Cedar tenor that will be my 126th build. What an honor! What a challenge. Can I complete a ukulele in just thirty days. Watch the blog and you will see. This was day #1.
The challenge began this morning by picking the wood. Here are stacks of fine grained Western Red Cedar that I was searching through to find the best tap tone.
I selected both of these pieces of cedar from an ancient tree probably 1500 years old. I have had the wood for more than 50 years. It tap-tones with a clear ring like a bell. I will make two tops, cutting to shape, cutting the sound hole and adding the decorative ring, Then tap toning again to select the best of the two.
Perfectly quarter-sawn, this growth ring count averages 44 years to the inch. Amazing stuff. You count and see what you get.
This will be the back. Sycamore is wild, crazy and beautiful wood. How does nature make such fantastic designs?
The back is now in the clamps being glued together. Got a perfect joint and it will be terrific.
I only had two hours to work on the Stuart Fuchs tenor today, but I got a lot done. I selected two potential peg head plates, Chose and planned the back, Selected the sides and cut them to proper shape, Selected the Cedar tops, and chose a Honduran Mahogany neck from a batch that I had made a month ago. Even have a cut fretboard with a Yin Yang in it. Tomorrow, Day #2 , will see great progress.
