Luthier wood recommendations

dirtiestkidever · Mar 12, 2015

Hi all,

A few months ago in a post about wood choices aaron keim mentioned that in a perfect world all ukulele orders would request these woods:

-All myrtle
-All mahogany
-Spruce and maple
or
-Spruce and walnut

I found this really interesting. Obviously luthiers would know better than a lot of us what woods work and sound good, especially luthiers who build customs with all types of wood combinations like mya-moe.

So my question is for luthiers what woods would you recommend and why?

spookelele · Mar 12, 2015

Maybe this should be in the luthiers lounge?

I dunno about a perfect world, but if you were a luthier where those are the trees that grow.... that would be great if that's what your customers wanted.

Hawiian ukes favor hawaiian woods.
Mainland ukes favor mainland woods.
Asian ukes use asian woods.
Etc.

Go figure.

spookelele · Mar 12, 2015

Another way to think of it is... If you've picked your luthier...you should trust their advice. If you don't trust their advice... you should find another luthier.

Coconut Willie · Mar 12, 2015

spookelele said:
Maybe this should be in the luthiers lounge?

Yes...maybe post it in their lounge and get some good answers.

dirtiestkidever · Mar 12, 2015

spookelele said:
Another way to think of it is... If you've picked your luthier...you should trust their advice. If you don't trust their advice... you should find another luthier.

I definitely trust their advice. But I still think it is an interesting question in general. I thought others might be interested in the responses as well.

spookelele · Mar 12, 2015

So... let me re-frame that.

If you go to the best steak house in town then order a steak. Don't order chicken.
If you live in the midwest... don't expect the freshest sushi because the ocean is not very close.

If the luthier you are going to is saying that the best uke he can make you is spruce/walnut, and you ask for Koa... maybe that uke won't be the best uke he can make, and although another luthier might make the most amazing Koa uke in history, if this luthier doesn't have alot of experience with the wood and has to guess on thickness or all the other subtle things that experience teaches you about working a particular wood, then maybe that will not be the best uke you could get from him.

or... maybe not.

If ever mileage was to vary... it would be here.

You could ask aaron, and avoid the speculation.

Hippie Dribble · Mar 12, 2015

Yeah Doug, I sorta agree with spook. Individual builders will inevitably, based on their own experience, have certain wood types they prefer to work with and can generate the best tone from in lieu of their own designs, bracing techniques and so-on. I think if Aaron says those types are the best, they are really a reflection of the above, no more or less than that; he knows how to make em sing. If you asked Chuck Moore he would almost certainly say Koa. Mike Da Silva, Duane Heilman, Peter Hurney, David Ingalls et al - each will have their personal preferences. These guys know how to get the sound a client wants from a wide variety of woods and if they think your choice is unrealistic based on the kind of sound you're after I'm sure they'd tell you from the get-go.

I'm no builder but having played a swag of different ukes for 10 years I really can't say there is one or other wood configuration I prefer, as I've heard amazing tones come from right across the spectrum.

dirtiestkidever · Mar 12, 2015

Hippie Dribble said:
Yeah Doug, I sorta agree with spook. Individual builders will inevitably, based on their own experience, have certain wood types they prefer to work with and can generate the best tone from in lieu of their own designs, bracing techniques and so-on. I think if Aaron says those types are the best, they are really a reflection of the above, no more or less than that; he knows how to make em sing. If you asked Chuck Moore he would almost certainly say Koa. Mike Da Silva, Duane Heilman, Peter Hurney, David Ingalls et al - each will have their personal preferences. These guys know how to get the sound a client wants from a wide variety of woods and if they think your choice is unrealistic based on the kind of sound you're after I'm sure they'd tell you from the get-go.

I'm no builder but having played a swag of different ukes for 10 years I really can't say there is one or other wood configuration I prefer, as I've heard amazing tones come from right across the spectrum.

Right. I totally agree with this and spook's comment. I this is exactly why I was asking the question. Different builders are sure to have different answers. And that is what I am looking for. What does each builder like and why?

Obviously there is no right or wrong answer and there is no absolute best wood or best combination of woods.

I think my mistake may have been to frame it with regard to the custom I ordered. Let's forget about that (i took it out of my OP). Just as a general question, what woods do different builders like and why?

Hippie Dribble · Mar 12, 2015

I'd definitely post this in the lounge. Maybe even worth double-posting this thread. Bound to get more builders reading the thread in the LL than here mate...

mm stan · Mar 12, 2015

Even woods from the same tree from different parts may sound and react different, just as a luthiers style
Of building, I do like the contrasting hardwood back though best. And either a spruce or redwood top
I agree with all above, the luthier will know which materials and woods or wood combination and style that
Works for him/her. If you're putting aesthetics above tone or it is a main factor, you may need to rethink that again
To have a beautiful uke and a nice sounding one, you need to work with a great luthier which is the most important
Factor to me ..

arctangent · Mar 12, 2015

mm stan said:
Even woods from the same tree from different parts may sound and react different, just as a luthiers style
Of building, I do like the contrasting hardwood back though best. And either a spruce or redwood top
I agree with all above, the luthier will know which materials and woods or wood combination and style that
Works for him/her. If you're putting aesthetics above tone or it is a main factor, you may need to rethink that again
To have a beautiful uke and a nice sounding one, you need to work with a great luthier which is the most important
Factor to me ..

True. Just to expand on this a little, successful stringed instruments have been made from a huge range of wood species. Conversely, bad sounding instruments have been made from excellent tonewood (I've made a few stinkers myself). What's more important than the species of wood is the luthier being able to choose an individual piece of wood that will sound good, and then building a superb instrument with it.

chuck in ny · Mar 12, 2015

insofar as the maple/spruce suggestion, in a similar vein and voice there's nothing wrong with collings' rosewood/spruce tenor, a perfectly lovely sounding instrument.

Icelander53 · Mar 13, 2015

From what I keep hearing it's the build (bracing etc. ) that determines the most. However with time I've noticed some slight differences in tonewoods within the same make. So I really don't think it's the best idea to take someone elses word on what wood is best. You might not like it.

warndt · Mar 13, 2015

chuck in ny said:
insofar as the maple/spruce suggestion, in a similar vein and voice there's nothing wrong with collings' rosewood/spruce tenor, a perfectly lovely sounding instrument.

The combination of Spruce/Rosewood has been stellar for generations and with various types of instuments!

Fred Ukestone · Mar 13, 2015

I'm interested in members opinions on 'all solid' rosewood ukuleles. I recently heard a Cole Clark UL3 which was solid rosewood and to my ears it sounded pretty amazing (but very expensive). Are there any other solid rosewood ukes out there? I believe that the Snail company in the UK make an all solid rosewood uke.

equina · Mar 13, 2015

Fred Ukestone said:
I'm interested in members opinions on 'all solid' rosewood ukuleles. I recently heard a Cole Clark UL3 which was solid rosewood and to my ears it sounded pretty amazing (but very expensive). Are there any other solid rosewood ukes out there? I believe that the Snail company in the UK make an all solid rosewood uke.

If you're looking for more affordable rosewood, try East Indian Rosewood. For customs some luthiers don't have upcharge for this wood. It is found in many good quality, mid-range production ukes. Brands like Mainland and Ohana come to mind. Ukes made of this wood are usually heavy as rosewood is a high-density wood. Sustain from rosewood ukes is incredible.

Luthier wood recommendations

dirtiestkidever

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spookelele

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spookelele

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Coconut Willie

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dirtiestkidever

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spookelele

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dirtiestkidever

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Hippie Dribble

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mm stan

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arctangent

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warndt

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equina

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