MIMF

I'm considering making a couple ukuleles. I have some Englemann Spruce & Western Red-cedar for tops. But, I've always thought about making a top with White Pine (Pinus monticola). My back and sides will be Western Yew. Anybody know how white pine might compare to spruce and red-cedar for tone? T...

Super feedback. I suspected my nut shape was incorrect.....now it's confirmed.

Will re-shape and lower nut, lower saddle, then check intonation. I'm hoping to avoid moving saddle - that could be awkward! But will if I have to

Thanks very much!

M

OK, here's formula I used to position the bridge. Measure distance from nut to 12th fret = a Compensation amount = .10" 2a + c = length from nut to saddle at high E string. 2(12.67) + .10 = 25.46" When I take saddle out, it's less out-of-tune, but all strings are about 10cents sharp, when ...

Ugh....I followed your advice....... used capo. And the fretted tones are still sharp. Thus, Mark's suggestion is that the bridge is somehow offset. This is not good news! When installing bridge, I measured and re-measured meticulously, but apparently did something incorrectly. Now I'm wondering wha...

This is the first guitar I've made.

After tuning it to standard with all strings open (EADGBE)....

I apply finger to any fret and the tone is slightly sharp (ca. +20-40 cents).

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Michael

Mt Mahogany...........is a dryland tree, or rather tall woody shrub. It's usually pretty gnarled with twisted trunks and branches. It's not very common. I've seen it on ridgetops in Marble Mtn Wilderness southwest of Ashland, OR. But probably more common in the rainshadow of Eastern Oregon and Calif...

Maybe this is a radical thought. My understanding is that Sugar Maple (A. saccharum ) can be used for both necks and fretboards. So can we simply construct a neck with notches created for frets and the fingerboard portion extending beyond the heel joint? Thus, all carved from a single piece of wood....

Great Question. I was going to write a more in-depth reply, but see that Bob Gramann has the same experience I had. My first was also a Martin Kit, and I'm very happy that's how I started for the points he mentions. I still consider myself a beginner - so my advise is based on fresh experience!

Great tips. I actually live where the great northwest meets the rockies………so rocky mtn woods is good too. Mtn mahogany sounds exciting. I like juniper, but most are probably not tight-grain. (I won’t cut down living old-growth). I had an old-growth yew fall over on my woodlot (about 2ft diam), so lo...

I'm interested in making guitars & ukeles with woods readily available in Pac.Northwest. These should be naturally native trees , or abundantly planted (e.g. in cities). Should also be fairly easy to work with - as I consider myself a beginner still. I am aware of several woods for soundboard (E...