Spanish Cedar Soprano

I build with whatever I happen to have around the shop, and I keep a fair amount of Spanish Cedar for necks & blocks & linings, but rarely build an entire instrument. I built a small guitar of SC years ago, and it was most successful, so I decided to run up a primitive uke of the stuff with a 1 piece top & back.

SC suits itself for ukes, I think, because it has a fair amount of "dampening", and softens the strident nature (poor thing) of the ukulele.

Too bad it doesn't have a beautiful grain & color. Maybe I could learn the old "graining" technique, that made Birch look like Brazilian Rosewood.

nice looking uke there Dave. did you use an X brace on it like your avatar?. i have a few sets of spanish cedar that has beautiful flame/figure on em'. not to mention the aroma of a freshly cut piece.

I need to change that avatar, I only did 2 ukes with the X-brace. I didn't find any improvement in sound or structure.
I've had some curly Spanish Cedar, and found it very weak. I could twist a neck blank and it would crack easily, so I try not to use it.
I would use it for a back I suppose.

Lance at Terra Tonewoods just imported a big load of figured Spanish Cedar. http://www.terratonewoods.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=4c78d1a919d13d5c85f927317f807b3b&keyword=spanish+cedar

First time I've seen it. Looks very interesting.

Mr. Newton,

I really like the look of the Spanish Cedar on your ukulele. I like straight grain on mahogany family woods. I can't wait to see it finished. Thanks for sharing.

Here it is again, completed. I have to say, the finish came out better than I expected with the plain look of SC, looks like a lighter version of Mahogany, which it in fact is. It sounds very well too.

I think spanish cedar looks great if a bit understated. I like that gap between the body and fingerboard. Cool detail