Lately I have been spending most of my ukulele time with my baritone and my 1920s Washburn soprano in D tuning. I enjoy the contrast that these two instruments offer.
I've been working a bit more on my timing and sense of rhythm in the past few days, which is something I chiefly do on the soprano. It's just much more percussive and responsive. Doing this, I felt once more reminded of what attracted me to the ukulele initially: the "uncomplicatedness" (simplicity, but not quiet), the playfulness, and the absence of negative ambition. I can just flop down on the bed or the couch, sit in whatever position I want, and make noise. Posture doesn't matter much, and it's just a very straight-forward, immediate, pure experience.
So, that got me thinking what my perfect soprano would be like, and whether it exists or what I'd need to consider if someone built it. Below are some aspects that I would want that perfect soprano to combine:
Volume
Not brash or grating, but loud, with a sound that carries. I think this probably comes down to build (thin top?) and wood choice. I've been thinking about spruce for the top, and a hardwood for the sides and back, but I don't know if spruce would work, especially for a thin top- What are woods to look for? I'd want great projection.
D-Tuning
I love this tuning for the soprano size. My perfect soprano would need to be able to handle it without the top bulging or the bridge ripping off. I don't think this is much of a concern, but ideally, the uke should be built for this tuning.
Light weight
I don't want to have to use a strap, though I don't mind it. The Washburn (dried out as it is after nearly a century) is feather light, and that makes it a joy to hold (also very easy to support). I imagine the Kiwayas are like that, but I've never held one and I have no kitchen scale to weigh the Washburn, but it's really very light with a thin neck.
Friction/UPT tuners
The two sopranos I have came with traditional friction tuners (working fine after 90 years) and UPTs. I think the latter are heavier, but they do allow for very precise tuning, which is nice. They have bulky bases, but well, either would be fine. No geared tuners, though.
Intonation and sound
This is probably the biggest challenge. My perfect soprano has a neck that is usable up until at least the 12th fret. It's probably as much a matter of the strings as the construction, but I'd like the 3rd string to not already get thuddy by the 8th fret. I wonder if for the sound it would be better to only have a 12-fret fretboard so that there is more top to vibrate (I understand the difference is small). I'm not sure whether 12 frets would work for me, but I think I could manage if there is a gain in sound quality (vibrancy). I'd also like clear ringing notes. Sustain isn't very important to me in the context of this hypothetical dream uke. Intonation should be as good as possible for a small scale like this.
Sound, part 2
I covered this above, basically. Clear notes, note separation, a bell-like quality, bright and dynamic instead of muddy or warm. I want to say a rich sound, but that may be a contradiction, and I don't know how to describe it more accurately. A full sound that is not muffled, but has a cheerful quality to it?
Bridge
Actually, I don't know which bridge type would harmonize best with the other aspects I listed. I imagine a string-through or pin bridge may be a good choice here. Not a fan of slotted bridges as the strings seem to inevitably cut into and through it.
Does such a soprano exist?
I'd be grateful for ideas on the tone wood, and also the finish. Which finish types lend themselves to good volume? What else is important to achieve the goals I mentioned? If it doesn't exist, what would come close? Or who in Europe would be most suitable to build it?
I've been working a bit more on my timing and sense of rhythm in the past few days, which is something I chiefly do on the soprano. It's just much more percussive and responsive. Doing this, I felt once more reminded of what attracted me to the ukulele initially: the "uncomplicatedness" (simplicity, but not quiet), the playfulness, and the absence of negative ambition. I can just flop down on the bed or the couch, sit in whatever position I want, and make noise. Posture doesn't matter much, and it's just a very straight-forward, immediate, pure experience.
So, that got me thinking what my perfect soprano would be like, and whether it exists or what I'd need to consider if someone built it. Below are some aspects that I would want that perfect soprano to combine:
Volume
Not brash or grating, but loud, with a sound that carries. I think this probably comes down to build (thin top?) and wood choice. I've been thinking about spruce for the top, and a hardwood for the sides and back, but I don't know if spruce would work, especially for a thin top- What are woods to look for? I'd want great projection.
D-Tuning
I love this tuning for the soprano size. My perfect soprano would need to be able to handle it without the top bulging or the bridge ripping off. I don't think this is much of a concern, but ideally, the uke should be built for this tuning.
Light weight
I don't want to have to use a strap, though I don't mind it. The Washburn (dried out as it is after nearly a century) is feather light, and that makes it a joy to hold (also very easy to support). I imagine the Kiwayas are like that, but I've never held one and I have no kitchen scale to weigh the Washburn, but it's really very light with a thin neck.
Friction/UPT tuners
The two sopranos I have came with traditional friction tuners (working fine after 90 years) and UPTs. I think the latter are heavier, but they do allow for very precise tuning, which is nice. They have bulky bases, but well, either would be fine. No geared tuners, though.
Intonation and sound
This is probably the biggest challenge. My perfect soprano has a neck that is usable up until at least the 12th fret. It's probably as much a matter of the strings as the construction, but I'd like the 3rd string to not already get thuddy by the 8th fret. I wonder if for the sound it would be better to only have a 12-fret fretboard so that there is more top to vibrate (I understand the difference is small). I'm not sure whether 12 frets would work for me, but I think I could manage if there is a gain in sound quality (vibrancy). I'd also like clear ringing notes. Sustain isn't very important to me in the context of this hypothetical dream uke. Intonation should be as good as possible for a small scale like this.
Sound, part 2
I covered this above, basically. Clear notes, note separation, a bell-like quality, bright and dynamic instead of muddy or warm. I want to say a rich sound, but that may be a contradiction, and I don't know how to describe it more accurately. A full sound that is not muffled, but has a cheerful quality to it?
Bridge
Actually, I don't know which bridge type would harmonize best with the other aspects I listed. I imagine a string-through or pin bridge may be a good choice here. Not a fan of slotted bridges as the strings seem to inevitably cut into and through it.
Does such a soprano exist?
I'd be grateful for ideas on the tone wood, and also the finish. Which finish types lend themselves to good volume? What else is important to achieve the goals I mentioned? If it doesn't exist, what would come close? Or who in Europe would be most suitable to build it?
