IT IS A TERRIBLE MALADY this wood madness. I am making ukuleles as rapidly as I can but my wood supply just keeps growing. I attribute this imbalance to a problem I have had all my life, I cannot resist a good piece of wood. The other day I ventured into the local wood supply store in search of a piece of fir to be used in a project for my daughter. While there I was looking over their supply and I came across a beautiful thick eight foot plank of Alaska cedar. It was perfectly quarter sawn and fair as a maidens breast. I simply could not resist and so I walked out of the store $103.00 lighter in the pocket book, and with enough Alaska Cedar to make fifteen tenor uke necks.
Today I put together a few of them just to season and dry nicely in my shop.
Today I put together a few of them just to season and dry nicely in my shop.
I am still finishing up this big flock of Pinecone ukes and I really have not decided what my next build will be. I picked up some Brazilian Rosewood the other day and I am toying with building a tenor with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Englemann Spruce top and Alaska Cedar neck. the contrasts would be lovely and I bet the sound would be as well. This Alaska Cedar is not really a cedar at all. It is in the Cypress family, it is aromatic, extremely stable, a very large strength to weight ratio, and when finished takes on a lovely golden yellow tone with just a touch of pink. Wonderful to work, it is one of my very favorite woods.
