This one has been taking up space in my shop for ages, and I finally finished it today. This arguably belongs in "other stringed instruments," but it's really just a little 4-string archtop guitar, so I'm posting it here.
Top is sitka spruce
Back & sides are quilted maple
Ebony fretboard, headstock veneer and bridge
Cocobolo finger rest
Archtop Tenor Uke
-
- Posts: 922
- Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2014 8:26 am
- Location: Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia
Re: Archtop Tenor Uke
OK, that is too cool for school! Now I need an archtop tenor Uke... How does it do with nylon strings? Re-entrant tuning?
-
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:28 pm
Re: Archtop Tenor Uke
That is just sweet!
Nice work.
Nice work.
-
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:08 pm
Re: Archtop Tenor Uke
Thanks. Brian, I think it has a nice, rounded woody sort of sound with the nylon strings. The highs are a little muted compared to a standard ukulele, as you'd expect. It sounds better plucked than strummed. Yes, it has a high G string. I might change that later. No neck reinforcement or bracing on this one - I really don't think it needs it.
- Beate Ritzert
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:20 am
- Location: Germany
Re: Archtop Tenor Uke
Very beautiful!
-
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 5:48 pm
Re: Archtop Tenor Uke
Very nice John. I built one quite a few years ago similar to yours and posted it here. Inspired by the ones Saul Koll builds. It might be in the old archives. A different sound than my flat tops but pleasing.
-
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2017 10:05 pm
- Location: Okotoks, AB, Canada
Re: Archtop Tenor Uke
Very nice, love the maple! Is the top x-braced or?
-
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 3:08 pm
Re: Archtop Tenor Uke
Thanks folks. Rick, I actually didn't use any bracing in this one. I thought the arch would be sufficient for structural support, and I seem to have been correct. Of course, it's hard to say how that choice affected the sound. I've built three other archtop tenor ukes, and put parallel (or V) braces in all of those. They all sound different though (different woods, etc.), so it's hard to tell. I like the way this one sounds.