Steiner
Well-known member
Would Oregon Myrtle back and sides go better with a Spruce or Cedar top?
Thanks
Thanks
Myrtle & ???
- Thread starter Steiner
- Start date
Kekani
Well-known member
Depends on not only what sound you're going for, but in large part who's building it, and what they'll do with it.
-Aaron
-Aaron
OP
OP
Steiner
Well-known member
I'm going to try and build one. I have help from someone with woodworking experience, but I'm basically a novice.
My dream uke is Oregon myrtle with Port Orford cedar top, Oregon claro walnut neck and binding, Oregon maple fretboard and bridge...I actually have some of the parts - the myrtle and the Port Orford cedar. Just need someone to build it, because I've realized I don't have the talent to do it myself...
Rick Turner
Well-known member
That all Oregon uke would be a winner if build well. All those woods are just wonderful.
Kekani
Well-known member
If different Spruces have tonal differences, a WRC top will definitely have tonal differences from a Spruce top.
Personally, the Myrtle Spruces I've built have been tonally and sonically great.
Personally, I don't really like working with WRC, so my preference as a builder would lean towards Spruce. However, one of my WRC topped Koa B/S sounds almost Martinish, in a good way.
Just my $.02 - Aaron
Rick
I'll send you the wood I have and let you build it for me...as a favor to you, of course... :biglaugh:
wheelgunner
Well-known member
I probably shouldn't say anything because my experience is practically non-existant but I just built a myrtle/spruce concert uke. I know that how one is built makes more difference to the sound than what it's built from but this myrtle/spruce concert is really "bright" sounding. After playing it for a while anything else I play sounds almost muted. The cedar might tone that down a notch.
ksquine
Well-known member
Either wood is fine. Watch out for cedar though....it dents very easily.
Be sure to keep your bench clean or any spec of dust will dent the top. Keep your clothes iron handy to stem them out
Be sure to keep your bench clean or any spec of dust will dent the top. Keep your clothes iron handy to stem them out
dave g
Well-known member
Bradford
Well-known member
I have recently completed two ukes out of Myrtle with bearclaw Sitka spruce tops. Both have been very bright and loud as well as looking great.
Brad
Brad
OP
OP
Steiner
Well-known member
My plans are to go:
Myrtle back & sides, Spruce top, Koa Bindings, Mahogany Neck, Ebony fretboard,& bridge. Hopefully I can get it together and it actually sounds nice. The thing I'm dreading most is doing the final set-up.
Myrtle back & sides, Spruce top, Koa Bindings, Mahogany Neck, Ebony fretboard,& bridge. Hopefully I can get it together and it actually sounds nice. The thing I'm dreading most is doing the final set-up.
Flyfish57
Well-known member
I'm picking up some spruce tops this week and was thinking of doing my first concert with Myrtle B&S...It sounds like a great combo!
Bradford
Well-known member
myamoe
Active member
Absolutely agree. The instrument is a complex system with a lot of variables. It is impossible to answer the question "spruce vs. cedar" without knowing something about the other variables. For our instruments, there is a large tonal difference between spruce tops and cedar tops. The spruce tops are brighter and the cedar is warmer. For our tenors and smaller, we prefer POC with myrtle (one of our favorite combos). For our baritones, we have build with both cedar and spruce, and while they are quite different (tonally), we like them both depending upon the music and playing style.
