Official Luthiers Forum!

It's finally done! This one has taken me about 9 months of on and off work. I was working on a mandolin during that time, so that really slowed me down. Also, my new neck templates that I sell was a huge project in web design, so that really slowed me down too. But this one is going to a friend of mine for only the cost of the parts(around $250). I showed it to Edward Dick, one of the local luthiers, and he thought it turned out great. He thought it was worth $2000(Maybe coming from him it would be, but not my first!) I also took it to Scott Baxendale, and he played it for about 30 minutes and couldn't put it down. He loved it so much, he wants me to build him one! So I'm very humbled and extremely lucky since this was my first uke to build. Anyway, it is a solid koa concert uke based off of a Martin 5K, with cocobolo rosette and bindings and laminated neck. Back of the peghead is laminated with Brazilian Rosewood. The inlay was the customers choice, and it is an ancient moon symbol. Nothing fancy, but turned out okay. I'm very pleased with the finish, and both of these Luthiers commented on it. They thought it was one of the best satin finishes they had seen. It was done with Hard Shellac and satined out at the customers request. I'm very lucky it turned out this good. I'm really enjoying playing it. Too bad it goes to its new owner tomorrow You can hear a sound clip of itHERE
Here are the pics:









Thanks for looking!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Tracy,

That's a really lovely instrument, the woods and finish really shine through - looks fabulous and sounds great too. You should be really proud and it's great that you have another potential order.

I'll have to try making one of those - they look fun and cool!!

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Gorgeous Uke, and it really sounds great.  First time I ever heard a classical uke piece.  Very nice.   

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Very nice, Tracy.

How did you apply the hard shellac, and how do you like it?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Very Nice Tracy

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Nice job, Tracy. That is beautiful!!!

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Thanks all! I really appreciate the kind words everyone. My playing is not very good on a uke, as I just made up a little medley from chords that I threw together. Nothing fancy, but gives an idea of the tone in different strumming/picking patterns.

I wonder if you all feel the same after finishing an instrument...just never feel completely happy with it. There always seems to be a feeling of incompleteness. It is always nice to share one's work with others who share the same passion, and I'm happy to have all of you critique my work. Thanks again!

Arnt, I applied the hard shellac with a foam brush...3 coats over 2 1/2 coats of z-poxy. Leveled with wet 600 grit after 2 days, then let sit for 3 weeks, then wet sanded with 1500 grit. Came back over it with super fine artificial steel wool mixed with Renaissance Wax. Let sit another month, and viola! Very easy finish, and is fairly hard, but not even close to lacquer. But the sound is fantastic! I wouldn't use a foam brush again as I had some bubbles that had to be leveled, and was a pain. Just use a cheap brush, I'm sure that will be fine.
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Really nice work, Tracy! Indeed worthy of the "Concert" name.

That's looks great Tracy, and very timely.

There was an item on the BBC radio this morning (The Today programme, Dave) saying that there is a national (UK) shortage of Ukeleles! Apparently schools have decided they are the perfect instrument for children to start on, as they can get simple tunes out very quickly and they can also sing along with them. The traditional school recorder has apparently been replaced by the ukelele. Most of the Ukes over here speak mandarin and China can't keep up.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Man, Tracy, that's a lovely little thing!
Your friend is getting a steal, and I would say
that the $2,000 quote is more in line.

After reading Colin's post, maybe you'll try to
pump them out a little faster now?   

Great job,
Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Tracy-

That is just awesome dude. It is pretty and it sure sounds great too. I have a set of wood for a uke sitting on my night stand - it just heard your mp3 and it's begging to be made into a tenor model now.   

Cool stuff Tracy-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Tracy, where was that uke when I bought one in Hawaii recently. For the money I could only afford the highly elusive imported model from china! I hope your friend enjoys it as much as I am enjoying my cheepy. If he doesn't care for the sound too much, let him know he could trade for my in-demand import model (with much reluctance from me of course)!   Great job.
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Tracy,
Thats a fine looking instrument. How is the neck attached? Bolt? Slotted? Glue? Dovetail?

Thanks everyone! I delivered it yesterday to a very happy customer. He currently owned a little 14 fret soprano uke and he brought that over for comparison. The sound on it was really amazing, and actually sounded better than mine. But it was just a plain jane that cost him $400(no rosette, or binding). But at least it played and sounded really nice. After studying the top, it looked to be ladder braced, and the top was about 1.0 to 1.2mm thick. almost paper thin. Mine was around 1.9-2.0mm. I was following the plans from an original Martin, so I didn't want to deviate from the plans. But if I make another one, I'll go about 1.5mm thick, and maybe even thinner in some areas.

Tom, the neck is a bolt on butt jointed neck. Nothing easier in my book! Plenty strong enough for a uke. Here's a pic of it:

Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com