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Just wondering .... in a hardwood top on a Ukulele does the wood need to be quartersawn?
I was thinking about using Imbuia for a top.

No, not from a performance perspective. But, I think the more qs it is, the more stable it will be.

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Pat

Pat is correct... we use quartersawn wood because it usually shrinks and swells about half as much as flatsawn wood with changes in humidity, making it much less likely to split in really dry conditions. Honduran mahogany is a notable exception... it moves about the same in either orientation.

Imbuia is quite stable so you might be able to get away with a flatsawn top, but a qs top would be ideal.

I've wondered about why ukes and some parlor guitars used hardwood for the top. Figured it was just a cheap instrument as that was all I'd seen. But I've learned that Martin has made some guitars with the same top as used on the back.
I was thinking of making maybe a parlor guitar from African mahogany. I like it's rich golden color. Just finished a baritone Uke EIR back and sides western red cedar top. The little girl I made it for given her choose of several different tonewoods chose it because of it's color. I'll be delivering it to her shortly.


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Ukes probably started out with hardwood tops because they were made in Hawaii....not much spruce around there
Mahogany is not uncommon for a top. I've seen koa, walnut and maple tops too. They can sound great but usually don't have the range of spruce.