Have not been on for a while although I have been building.

Just finished number 3 in a series of Tenor teardrop or pear shaped ukes all out of different materials. This one has King Billy pine top and Tasmanian blackwood back and sides with Tassie oak bolt on neck, rosewood fretboard and lace she oak bridge. bracing is hybrid design and very light.

Fitted with preamp and equalizer. Plays really well and easy. Well balanced at the 14th fret. These are adopted almost immediately someone plays one. I usually do not make more than one of a kind so the three are distinctly different in material selection. One is complete Koa with only a side port. The other is Koa and cedar top. They all have different bracing and their own distinctive sound. One thing they have in common is a good level of sustain if you need it.

That is beautiful! I can't imagine how you plan the bracing for inside - or plan the entire uke in general. Excellent!

Thanks Jerry.
You are right about the bracing design and its evolvement. It came from when I started building guitars with only side ports, this allowed for more mechanically efficient bracing designs which were not required to support a gaping hole in the top of the guitar or uke. Most problems in guitars and ukes are caused by the weakness created by the so called "sound" hole. Solves a lot of structural problems in this area. I try to make instruments that are unique, They do not always turn out as expected, but the side port allows me free access to trim and tune bracing. The bolt on necks for ukes are rare, but I find it makes set up and building much easier when the neck can be removed easily and re- set if necessary.