E-Lo Roberts
Well-known member
Is this the first-ever Double Top ukulele? Could be, but that wasn’t the point of the build.
First, what constitutes a double top? The general idea is to make the soundboard (and back) into a composite sandwich that uses standard tone woods and an aerospace composite called Nomex®, (a honeycomb structured material made by Dupont). So you got a wood/Nomex/wood sandwich for the soundboard.
Over the last ten years Double Top classical instruments have been built with apparent & surprising tonal results. The benefits include: clarity of the individual notes, much more sustain, better balance, and an improved projection in front of the instrument. In addition, it is noted that even small-bodied instruments can fill a room with ease.
Small-bodied instruments? hummm?? So I set out to challenge myself (and the tonal ukulele gods) to see if I could harness any of the above attributes. The results were hit and miss for my first DT build, but none-the-less promising and continues to spark my curiosity for future builds.
Special thanks to acoustic guitar luthier Alan Dunwell for the numerous emails that helped walk me thru the Double Top building process. To find out more about the process of Double Top building you can check out Alan’s website: http://www.dunwellguitar.com/DoubleTop/DoubleTop.htm
Here are some specs on the completed Double Top tenor.
African Kiaat “Double” Top (Kiaat/Nomex/Kiaat sandwich)
Kiaat also used for back and sides.
Rosette and soundhole; wood banding.
Tortoise binding; top and back.
Cocobolo/wood banding butt joint & back center strip.
One piece Mahogany bolt-on neck with carbon fiber struss rod.
17” scale joined to the body at the 14th fret.
19 frets total.
Rosewood fretboard with paua abalone/wood banding markers.
Koa peghead overlay with paua abalone "E" logo.
Gotoh Peg Tuners Gold/white.
Rosewood bridge with wood banding tie bar.
Bone nut and saddle.
Top finished in Nitro lacquer.
Back, side, neck finished in Tru-Oil .
First, what constitutes a double top? The general idea is to make the soundboard (and back) into a composite sandwich that uses standard tone woods and an aerospace composite called Nomex®, (a honeycomb structured material made by Dupont). So you got a wood/Nomex/wood sandwich for the soundboard.
Over the last ten years Double Top classical instruments have been built with apparent & surprising tonal results. The benefits include: clarity of the individual notes, much more sustain, better balance, and an improved projection in front of the instrument. In addition, it is noted that even small-bodied instruments can fill a room with ease.
Small-bodied instruments? hummm?? So I set out to challenge myself (and the tonal ukulele gods) to see if I could harness any of the above attributes. The results were hit and miss for my first DT build, but none-the-less promising and continues to spark my curiosity for future builds.
Special thanks to acoustic guitar luthier Alan Dunwell for the numerous emails that helped walk me thru the Double Top building process. To find out more about the process of Double Top building you can check out Alan’s website: http://www.dunwellguitar.com/DoubleTop/DoubleTop.htm
Here are some specs on the completed Double Top tenor.
African Kiaat “Double” Top (Kiaat/Nomex/Kiaat sandwich)
Kiaat also used for back and sides.
Rosette and soundhole; wood banding.
Tortoise binding; top and back.
Cocobolo/wood banding butt joint & back center strip.
One piece Mahogany bolt-on neck with carbon fiber struss rod.
17” scale joined to the body at the 14th fret.
19 frets total.
Rosewood fretboard with paua abalone/wood banding markers.
Koa peghead overlay with paua abalone "E" logo.
Gotoh Peg Tuners Gold/white.
Rosewood bridge with wood banding tie bar.
Bone nut and saddle.
Top finished in Nitro lacquer.
Back, side, neck finished in Tru-Oil .
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