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Dan Gunderson
 Post subject: one piece top/back ukes?
PostPosted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:44 pm 
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Hi all, just dipping my toes into the uke building world, and was wondering how common it is to do one-piece tops and/or backs?
I've seen a handful of fancy one-piece koa ukes out there, and I can certainly see the benefit of doing a one-piecer if you have a really nice showcase piece of wood...but I'm thinking more along the lines of just a simple piece of unfigured mahogany or rosewood. I can't imagine there is much if any acoustic difference, so maybe it's just a matter of symmetry?
Just curious to hear your opinions. Thanks as always! - Dan

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Daniel Minard
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:18 am 
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There's no reason I can think of, not to use a one piece top & back. Only tradition & aesthetics.
For such a small instrument, it's easy to find good pieces of wood, large enough to do the job.
I'd say Go for it!
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John Mayes
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:51 am 
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very common

Image

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Quine
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:36 pm 
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One piece is fine for sopranos size ukes. I haven't seen concerts or tenors with one piece tops but if you can find wide enough wood that is consistant, it should be fine.
I wouldn't do it if there was a big change in grain from one side to the other though
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John Mayes
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:29 pm 
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Quine wrote:
One piece is fine for sopranos size ukes. I haven't seen concerts or tenors with one piece tops but if you can find wide enough wood that is consistant, it should be fine.
I wouldn't do it if there was a big change in grain from one side to the other though


I've seen and built quite a few concerts with one piece tops as well. It works great.

the uke above with the redwood top was pretty dang different from one side to the other. it is, to date, the best sounding uke I've built in my opinion. It was a tremendous sounding uke that had quite the voice.

Forget pre-concieved notions. Sometimes you need to step outside the box, even if it doesn't look that way from the surface. It may fail, but you'll learn something. Knowledge is wealth.

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Doug Powdrell
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:32 pm 
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One piece redwood tenors here.....and the fun part is losing a sense for centerline of soundboard during build.....
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John Mayes
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:44 pm 
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Doug Powdrell wrote:
One piece redwood tenors here.....and the fun part is losing a sense for centerline of soundboard during build.....


Been there done that!!! lol

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Mike Franks
PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:31 pm 
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John, those are 2 of the prettiest ukes I have ever seen! You Rock!

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