So I picked up some Honduran Mahogany and began the piece work. Being careful to mark each piece so it would match the piece next to it in grain and color I cut each neck piece from the same board. It is very important to sand the basic wood stock perfectly flat on both sides because the glue joints must be almost invisible. A thickness sander is very handy for that.
The "white" neck is "yellow" or Alaska Cedar that I made up a few days ago.
The "white" neck is "yellow" or Alaska Cedar that I made up a few days ago.
After glueing and tightly clamping the three pieces together they are sawn to shape on the band saw. You want to be sure you have a sharp blade and a perfect 90 degree angle, these need to be square. Cutting the angle at the peg head end gives you the piece to scarf onto the end.
And here is the final joint clamped and drying. The next step is simply to scribe the continuation of the head piece on the added block and trim it up on the band saw. When these necks are completed and finished the grain will match and the fact that they were glued up of various pieces will be very difficult to detect. This is a far more efficient use of valuable wood than cutting an entire neck out of one solid piece, and perhaps stronger as well.
I am expecting to receive four sets of Master-grade Koa in the mail today. Two of the next three ukes will have Koa backs and sides and Cedar tops, a combo that produces wonderful tone. The third will be another "Blonde" with Alaskan Cedar neck, Englemann Spruce top and Koa sides and back. With a Honduran Rosewood radiused fretboard and gold frets it should be another stunner and sound great too. It's like waiting for Santa Claus. If the Koa comes today I will post a photo in tomorrow's blog. Stay tuned.
I am expecting to receive four sets of Master-grade Koa in the mail today. Two of the next three ukes will have Koa backs and sides and Cedar tops, a combo that produces wonderful tone. The third will be another "Blonde" with Alaskan Cedar neck, Englemann Spruce top and Koa sides and back. With a Honduran Rosewood radiused fretboard and gold frets it should be another stunner and sound great too. It's like waiting for Santa Claus. If the Koa comes today I will post a photo in tomorrow's blog. Stay tuned.
