NUD - First Uke Build

[Craig Wilson]

Just finished build #11, my first ukulele.
It's a baritone uke, all solid walnut, V-braced, cherry/mahog laminated neck.
Maple binding, walnut fingerboard, rosewood bridge, french polish finish.


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[Rukulele]

Really pretty. Good job.

[joejessal]

Wow, that looks really nice! Congratulations. I love my
Ive never seen a walnut one. I’ll bet it sounds great.

[Craig Wilson]

Thanks Rukulele, joejessal.
It was a fun build (except for not being able to get my hand in the tiny soundhole).

I plan to make one more now that I have the body form & templates made.
I picked up a nice set of quilted maple B&S just big enough for a baritone uke that I'll do up with an Engelmann top and rosewood FB and bridge.

... but I've got 2 or 3 guitars that I want to make first.


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[Dave Hicks]

Well, that certainly out looking good!

How does all-walnut sound in a uke?

D.H.

[Craig Wilson]

Originally Posted by Dave Hicks

Well, that certainly out looking good!

How does all-walnut sound in a uke?

D.H.

Thanks, Dave

I don't really have a basis of comparison to determine how it sounds relative to other woods.
It's my first uke build, and I've never played a uke.
I came across a deal on the walnut uke set while shopping for guitar sets and built it on a whim.

[jricc]

Great job Craig! The French polish looks amazing.

[Craig Wilson]

Originally Posted by jricc

Great job Craig! The French polish looks amazing.

Thanks, Joe.

[SColumbusSt]

Originally Posted by Craig Wilson

Just finished build #11, my first ukulele.
It's a baritone uke, all solid walnut, V-braced, cherry/mahog laminated neck.
Maple binding, walnut fingerboard, rosewood bridge, french polish finish.


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Nice looking uke!

[H165]

Beautifil job.

I think you'll like the walnut better than the maple.

And, you might like cedar tops better than spruce

[Craig Wilson]

Originally Posted by H165

Beautifil job.

I think you'll like the walnut better than the maple.

And, you might like cedar tops better than spruce

Thanks, H.
You're probably right about the walnut/cedar, but I gotta listen to the "client" on this one.
My wife spotted the quilted maple (she's a quilter) and convinced me to pick up and build it for her.
I have some cedar tops, but she prefers a light top. This one will be all about the aesthetics.

[difalkner]

Beautiful work, Craig! Building a uke is on my bucket list. Eager to hear how yours sounds, too.

[mrjop1975]

So you better keep that under lock and key or I'll hop a flight up your way and steal it All walnut is a good sound - I have a custom run all walnut 12 fret 00 Martin they did for Manchester Music Mill and it has a nice tone to it IMO. I've noticed though on mountain dulcimers (which I also play besides guitar and ukulele) that they have a darker sound if that makes sense.

As far as playing it, you are more of the way there than someone coming into it for the first time since you already play guitar. Baritone ukulele is the same tuning as the top 4 strings of a standard tuned guitar, where as a tenor, concert or soprano ukulele is the top 4 strings of a guitar, but with a capo slapped on it where a G chord on those sizes of ukulele is a D chord on the guitar when tuned GCEA tuning.

[Craig Wilson]

Thanks SColumbusSt and difalkner.

Originally Posted by mrjop1975

So you better keep that under lock and key or I'll hop a flight up your way and steal it All walnut is a good sound - I have a custom run all walnut 12 fret 00 Martin they did for Manchester Music Mill and it has a nice tone to it IMO. I've noticed though on mountain dulcimers (which I also play besides guitar and ukulele) that they have a darker sound if that makes sense.

As far as playing it, you are more of the way there than someone coming into it for the first time since you already play guitar. Baritone ukulele is the same tuning as the top 4 strings of a standard tuned guitar, where as a tenor, concert or soprano ukulele is the top 4 strings of a guitar, but with a capo slapped on it where a G chord on those sizes of ukulele is a D chord on the guitar when tuned GCEA tuning.

Thanks, mrjop. If I can't find it, I'll know where to look.
I really like building with walnut. I made a Sitka/Curly Walnut OM for my son a few years ago and I have the wood set aside for a Cedar/ Walnut OO-28vs style 12 fret for myself.

Yeah, I don't play uke, but I really don't play guitar much either. I took it up late, and the return of chronic pain issues have kept me from playing more than a few weeks or months at a time. I go for months (or years) and not do much more than tune them and noodle a bit. When I do play it's fingerstyle so I have to go back to the tab for a refresher, but the muscle memory is still there.
I can build and voice them, set 'em up, intonate and evaluate them, but don't consider myself a player.

[markrj]

It's beautiful! Bet it sounds as good as it looks. I recently acquired a new all solid walnut tenor ukulele and just love the sound.