Official Luthiers Forum!

I have unexpectedly become the owner of a set of Brazilian Rosewood and have a question. I am planning to make a tenor size ukulele from this set. Does anyone think it is a problem to use this for the back, sides, and soundboard? I have seen and heard ukuleles and guitars that used, mahogany, koa, and mango wood for the soundboards and they all sounded great. Do you have thoughts regarding the use of the Brazilian for the soundboard? This set is older stable wood that has been reclaimed from here in the United States

Thanks as always

Philip

_________________
aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

I can see it being used for the back and sides, but would personally be reluctant to use it for a top. The best ukes use koa or mahogany, or even spruce for tops. Craig Sullivan just showed a gorgeous uke he made with an adi top at the last NEL meeting. It sounded great. I'm thinking the sound with a brw top would be very different than anything you've done before, and not at all "traditional" sounding.

You gonna show us a pic?

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Philip,

I don't think it's a problem per se, but it seems likely you'd get a very different sound using RW for the top. It's much denser than other woods commonly used for tops. If it were me, I'd stick with conventional top woods and save the experiment for a back and side set that's not quite so precious. But then I'm not a risk-taker.

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Hey Pat, I also work in that same department too Pat...

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

You can often get a tenor back and sides set just from a guitar sides set.   I've got about 18 Bz tenor sets in the making right now that I'm going to match with Adirondack tops.

Here it is.



Philip

_________________
aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

I'm with Rick...put an adi top on that puppy. Nice looking set!

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

[QUOTE=Don Williams] Hey Pat, I also work in that same department too Pat...[/QUOTE]

Uhh... yuhhh.. me too, also!

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
_________________
http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I know Rodrigo Moreira has built some guitars with BRW all around.  I have not heard them personally but I have it on good authority that they sound great.  He might have some ideas for thickness and bracing if you decide to go that route.

http://www.moreiraguitars.com/

_________________
http://www.chassonguitars.com

I've never built a uke, but I'd be leary of the weight factor of BRW for a top an any instrument.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

[QUOTE=Jim_W]I've never built a uke, but I'd be leary of the weight factor of BRW for a top an any instrument.[/QUOTE]

Me too - what Jim said.