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Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vid
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Author:  Aaron O [ Wed Jul 20, 2016 3:16 am ]
Post subject:  Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vid

I don't normally post builds, but since I VERY rarely do hardwood tops, I thought I'd share one that's following my recent direction of "simple", but not necessarily easy.

And here's a sample vid.
https://vimeo.com/175416845

Author:  Chris Pile [ Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works for ukulele, pics & vid

Lovely golden hues! Well done on the uke, too!

Author:  Quine [ Wed Jul 20, 2016 12:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works for ukulele, pics & vid

Gorgeous ukulele. That Koa is stunning
I'm not sure I'd call anything with a bound headstock "simple". That's just tastefully understated

Author:  Pmaj7 [ Wed Jul 20, 2016 1:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works for ukulele, pics & vid

Nice tone! Do you know how the audio was recorded?

Author:  Aaron O [ Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works for ukulele, pics & vid

Thanks guys.

Pat, Andrew records it "dry", in a room, nothing special other than his mic, which I believe is a good condensor. You may be able to see it if uou search Vimeo for Hawaii Music Supply.

Ukulele Friend also does good audio samples, with the vid shot in the studio.

Author:  Aaron O [ Wed Jul 20, 2016 3:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works for ukulele, pics & vid

Quine wrote:
Gorgeous ukulele. That Koa is stunning
I'm not sure I'd call anything with a bound headstock "simple". That's just tastefully understated

You know, it took me a LONG LONG time to figure out how to effectively, accurately bind the headstock and fretboard, when there is no gap because the nut is in the fretboard.

Suffice to say, besides the bwb purfling miter, I need to "make" the headstock binding go "into" the fretboard binding. I'm getting better at pulling off that joint.

Author:  Aaron O [ Thu Jul 21, 2016 6:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works for ukulele, pics & vid

Update on the recordings: Stereo pair of Shoeps CMC6.

Author:  johnparchem [ Thu Jul 21, 2016 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vi

Wonderful looking ukulele. Inspiring for me; your choice of trim woods, your bridge design, your head stock design and the attention to detail throughout really set your work off.

Author:  Aaron O [ Thu Jul 21, 2016 10:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vi

Thanks John. "Inspiring" is a heavy word, much appreciated.

And I recently redid my bridge to a much simpler design, without negative effects as the footprint is a little larger than what I used to do.

I know Andrew does a good job of showing the wood with his pics, and not highlighting the glare. Oddly enough, in not showing the glare, the images don't show how much work was done to gloss the finish. I think the vid shows it a little, but even then, you can't really tell.

Just realized, and nobody asked, but here are the specs:
Top/back/sides. Koa
Neck Spanish Cedar, Mortise & Tenon bolt on, Carbon Fiber Rod
Binding Rosewood
Bridge. Rosewood
Fretboard. Milo
Markers. Mother of Pearl
Rosette. Paua Abalone
Nut/Saddle. Tusq
Tuning Machines Hipshot closed geared
Finish Cardinal Gloss Lacquer
Strings. Savarez Alliance Normal Tension

Author:  J De Rocher [ Fri Jul 22, 2016 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vi

Beautiful instrument! The rosewood binding looks great with the koa and I like your headstock shape. I've never seen a nut arrangement like that before. Is the piece of milo north of the nut a piece that's separate from the fretboard, or is the nut sitting in a recess in the fretboard?

It sounds great in the video and the audio quality is excellent. I looked up the mics and those are way more than I could justify, but they sure do record a nice sound.

Author:  Aaron O [ Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vi

Jay, you actually have seen a nut like that, more than likely - Fender.

There was a small discussion on the Underground about what this "solves" from a finishing perspective when the nut ends up between the fretboard and headstock veneer.

Truth be told, I didn't want to copy Fender, but oddly enough, most people don't make the connection. And the discussion was small because anyone who finishes an instrument where the nut goes in between the fretboard and headstock immediately knows the pro's of doing it like this.

Yours is the 2nd comment on binding, yet its the first time I've used Rosewood; I usually use Milo, or Koa (mostly). I have more that maybe I'll have to keep using.

Author:  J De Rocher [ Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vi

Aaron O wrote:
Jay, you actually have seen a nut like that, more than likely - Fender.


Ok, you got me there. :oops: I just went and looked at my Strat and sure enough....

I blame my failure to recognize it on the fact that on yours the nut ends are inset from the edges of the fretboard and the binding is visible from the top where it passes the nut. Even on Fender necks that are bound, the nut goes all the way to the edge.

Author:  Aaron O [ Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sometimes Koa just works, New Ukulele Build w/ pics & vi

J De Rocher wrote:
Aaron O wrote:
Jay, you actually have seen a nut like that, more than likely - Fender.


Ok, you got me there. :oops: I just went and looked at my Strat and sure enough....

I blame my failure to recognize it on the fact that on yours the nut ends are inset from the edges of the fretboard and the binding is visible from the top where it passes the nut. Even on Fender necks that are bound, the nut goes all the way to the edge.

I was just about to comment the reason mine may look different because I run the binding on the outside.

If you do the "math", it has standard string spacing. This means the fretboard is actually wider than "standard" by about 1/8" (binding is about 1/16"). Yet, most comments about playability is "easy" and usually never anything about the width. In fact, I've had a few players try to figure out what makes it so easy to play. Fun stuff!

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