Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Wed Dec 04, 2024 9:16 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Baritone Uke Soundboards
PostPosted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 7:32 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:25 am
Posts: 886
Location: United States
Uke Builders (you know who you are!!)

Are you able to find tonewood for baritones?, everyone has tenor sizes, which is great. I have someone who is interested in a baritone, so I told themI would build one and they get first dibs, if not I have others around who will buy it.

I have an awesome Bubinga back and sides already, and I most likely want to stick with a spruce for the top...

I hate to waste a full steel string soundboard on a baritone...

Thanks
-Paul-

_________________
-Paul-
Image
Patriot Guitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 8:40 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5968
Spruce has gained some popularity for ukulele soundboards recently, but I think most of the old ones use hardwoods - generally mahogany or koa. I think it was in Longworth's book I read that Martin didn't have any luck getting a good sound from their uke's until they switched to mahogany for the soundboard. I have a couple of old baritones and they sound fine with mahogany boards.
If you do go with spruce you could buy a low grade board and cut around the defects. You could buy a dozen low grade boards for the price of 1 premium grade (and you might be surprised how good they can look and sound with some selective trimming).


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jul 07, 2017 9:17 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:25 am
Posts: 886
Location: United States
I thought about using mahogany, I did a soprano that way a number of years ago, it sounded fine to me.

Thanks for the idea, I'll get both since at the moment I'm on a uke kick for some reason...

:)

_________________
-Paul-
Image
Patriot Guitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 12:40 am 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:44 pm
Posts: 471
Location: Australia
First name: Allen
Last Name: McFarlen
City: Mt. Sheridan
State: Qld.
Zip/Postal Code: 4868
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
I build quite a few baritones, and most are spruce soundboards. Western Red works well too. Most recent was some of the Ancient spruce, but that will break the bank for most people.

If it's a dread size soundboard, you can get a couple of uke soundboards out of it. And with carefull planning sometimes 3.

Or go to someone like Alaska Specialty woods and he's got heaps of uke soundboards available. Just tell Brent what you need.

_________________
Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jul 08, 2017 10:06 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:25 am
Posts: 886
Location: United States
Allen...

I just went and looked at their site, talk about tonewood central!

I laughed at the $900 ancient sitka, I wonder how it sounds, I'll never know unless someone REALLY wants one :)

I found a sinker cedar set for a baritone at RC, I've know Bob for a long time and it was a good price.

What I miss the most being in Idaho is that when we lived in California (Bay Area), we could drive to wood shops, and some older luthiers and dig through their tone wood. I remember one who had a shed that was stacked with tops, while I was picking through the wood Harry Fleishman was next to me and mentioned tasting a top. I laughed at first, but if a top has a sour taste then it most likely has something wrong with it. So I tap, feel, and taste my tops now (and smell them) :)

Later I attended a week long class with him, he is a great teacher and taught me so much, I had brought a newly finished guitar and he had nothing but good things to say about my work.

Fun Times :)

_________________
-Paul-
Image
Patriot Guitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 10:19 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 6:08 pm
Posts: 2712
First name: ernest
Last Name: kleinman
City: lee's summit
State: mo
Zip/Postal Code: 64081
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Does Idaho have englemann spruce ? Can you find some at your local lumber supplier ?. I like englemann for low density Baritone tops .WRC works well too!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jul 09, 2017 2:55 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:44 pm
Posts: 471
Location: Australia
First name: Allen
Last Name: McFarlen
City: Mt. Sheridan
State: Qld.
Zip/Postal Code: 4868
Country: Australia
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
Don't also forget that your local timber / big box hardware store might have some Western Red or Sequoia in their racks. I found a 3.4meter long board of Western Red here in Cairns that was dead on the 1/4 and no runout in it's entire length. Growth rings at 30 per inch. I will get 20 soundboards out of that piece. Used 1/2 of it already and have made some fantastic ukes with it.

_________________
Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 68 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com