I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED by the fact that a new instrument must be played to reach its true potential in sound, volume and warmth of tone. You have read that great violins must be played or they will grow cold. In my experience a new ukulele must be played into maturity. Today I am experiencing that transformation process and it always amazes me. Here is the story
This my recent build #40, one of my "Blonde" series that I think is very pretty. Australian Blackwood sides and back, Englemann Spruce top, Alaska Cedar neck, lacewood fretboard and wonderful wood bindings to snap it all together. I just love the look, but when I strung it up it sounded kinda tinny and hollow. Today I did the final work on it. I leveled and polished the frets, fussed with the action a bit, til I got it where I wanted it and then decided I would use it for my usual daily uke practice. I did scales, and exercises for a half hour, I thought I could hear it improving. I came upstairs and made myself a martini and as my wife cooked dinner I played this little beauty for another hour. Now I was sure it was improving.
After dinner my wife turned on the TV in her cosy office and I stayed in the living room playing this uke softly, then hard, I strummed, I finger picked, I marveled at what I was hearing. This uke was coming to life, getting richer, warmer, the note indications on my electronic tuner became steadier. The miracle was happening again. This instrument was beginning to sound great. I don't know why this experience is always so surprising to me but I find it fascinating. I also find it wonderfully relieving as I was a little disappointed in this uke, one of three I just completed. Two Englemann topped, and one cedar top.
The cedar, #41 sounded good almost from the moment I strung it up. That is a characteristic of cedar. It too has matured very nicely and as I have been playing it for a week, it is really sounding great now, but from past experience I know that spruce needs a longer maturation period, and just like a Stradivarius violin, the longer you play it the better it gets. The more you play it the better it gets.
Part of the experience can be credited to the strings stretching in and settling to their true tone, but I am sure that most of the experience is the wood vibrating and somehow changing the instrument. Some luthiers have vibrating cabinets that they put new instruments in to accomplish this break-in. I would not want to miss the experience of playing them into shape, It is really rewarding. A few months ago I had the same experience with my "blonde" tenor #38. It has become my favorite uke and I am not going to sell it. It is another Englemann top, and it just sounds better and better.
So now I know that this is going to grow up to be a lovely instrument. I am toying with the idea of keeping one of the three concerts. Maybe it will be this one. Tomorrow I will do the final set-up work on #42 and I bet it will be another sweet uke. And I will get to repeat this remarkable experience of bringing a ukulele to life.
I now am comfortable putting a price of $900.00 on these concerts, they are worth it.
I now am comfortable putting a price of $900.00 on these concerts, they are worth it.
