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I've just begun working again after a 6 mos. break to build kitchen cabinets. (Happy wife = more instrument building in the long run.)

My clients are almost as excited as I am that I am working again.

Pictured is a soprano uke in beeswing mahogany. She'll be boxed sometime tomorrow.


I'm also working on a resonator prototype, final touches to a bari uke and a really cool circus themed uke with an elephant inlay.hoosierukes38787.9433449074

Very nice Geoff! Very clean work, and beautiful execution. Can't wait to see if finished!
Tracy

Very clean work Geoff, you must be as happy as your customer to be back in your natural environment!

Serge

I closed her up late last night and got up early this morning.

First photo next to reference instrument...a 1920s Gretsch American.

Second photo shows soundhole and soundbaord close up. This mahagony was the first board I dove on with the new bandsaw.



Last with the fretboard from another project...the Indiana Circus Uke.

VERY NICE WORK! Thanks!

Bound tonight. It's due for deliver one week from tomorrow. I'm about 2 days from beginning the French polish.

Nice Work Geoff! You're really rolling along! The more ukes I see, the more I want one. I don't think it's possible to not smile while playing a uke!

Hey Geoff.   Nice looking work. Can you explain why you use fan braces
on a soprano? I've always done not fan braces on a soprano, and I've
always seen them with no fan's. What do you feel you gain with them?
Just curious! Always looking for new info. Again very clean work and I
love the mahogany!

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

John. thanks for the encouraging words. The fans are an experiment. I went through a period where I was building way too light. Great sound, but not terribly durable.

These ukes developed more bridge buckle than I was comfortable with.

This uke is in response to this. I've domed the top and back and feathered the top towards the edges. I'm hoping that then fans will prevent buckle without too much damage to the sound. The taps, so far, are encouraging.

My friend, Mike DaSilva, often braces his sopranos with no ill effects.

This was a good one to experiment with. I have an unplayed very similar uke for comparison and the client isn't looking for volume.

I found the mahagony at a local woodwrking store..Rockler or Woodcraft.