benomatic42
Member
Caveat: I have never built a musical instrument, guitar or otherwise... my thinking comes from what I've read and heard.
I suppose I should introduce myself first. My name is Ben, and despite only playing around with it once, I love the sound and feel of a Uke. It's on my gotta-have-it list now. I am a part-time furniture maker, but never attempted to make an instrument, despite being tempted by guitars multiple times. I've been thinking about making one, versus buying one, and here are a couple stream-of-thought questions for y'all.
One thing I've noticed is that Uke builders seem to prize visual qualities as much as sound qualities, when it comes to soundboards... does this mean that soundboard selection is less important here than it would be with guitars, violins or other strung instruments? I can buy into this argument, to the extent that the 'pluckier' sound of a uke may come more directly from the strings, and is less resonant.
I have some gorgeous woods, particularly a chunk of curly quartersawn Swiss Pear that I love, and would love to use... but don't want to sacrifice sound for looks. At least not too much
So. If I build, need I hunt down some beautiful spruce or mahogany? (I can.) Or am I fine to use whatever suits me? (Swiss pear is like a denser, smoother cherry wood, paler and "creamier" in color. Perhaps somewhere between maple and cherry in texture and density.)
Anywaiz I suppose that's enough rambling. If I do go the building route, any suggestions on where to start for design basics?
ciao
-b
I suppose I should introduce myself first. My name is Ben, and despite only playing around with it once, I love the sound and feel of a Uke. It's on my gotta-have-it list now. I am a part-time furniture maker, but never attempted to make an instrument, despite being tempted by guitars multiple times. I've been thinking about making one, versus buying one, and here are a couple stream-of-thought questions for y'all.
One thing I've noticed is that Uke builders seem to prize visual qualities as much as sound qualities, when it comes to soundboards... does this mean that soundboard selection is less important here than it would be with guitars, violins or other strung instruments? I can buy into this argument, to the extent that the 'pluckier' sound of a uke may come more directly from the strings, and is less resonant.
I have some gorgeous woods, particularly a chunk of curly quartersawn Swiss Pear that I love, and would love to use... but don't want to sacrifice sound for looks. At least not too much
So. If I build, need I hunt down some beautiful spruce or mahogany? (I can.) Or am I fine to use whatever suits me? (Swiss pear is like a denser, smoother cherry wood, paler and "creamier" in color. Perhaps somewhere between maple and cherry in texture and density.)
Anywaiz I suppose that's enough rambling. If I do go the building route, any suggestions on where to start for design basics?
ciao
-b