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Machete
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 3:41 pm
by Tom Owen
So this is a machete, the forerunner of the ukulele. Originally made in Hawaii in the late 1800's by three Portuguese luthiers. As they became popular in the islands the shape changed a bit, the tunings changed and well as the scale length and it became the ukulele. This one has Koa back and sides, Sitka spruce top and a cherry neck.
Re: Machete
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 7:56 pm
by Tom Snape
Very nice! A machete is on my list of things to try sometime. Are those steel strings? What is the scale length?
Re: Machete
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 8:22 pm
by Tom Owen
It's a 15" scale, and uses nylon strings.
Re: Machete
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 10:29 am
by Clay Schaeffer
How is it different from a concert uke?
Re: Machete
Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2021 2:31 pm
by Tom Owen
It has a soprano sized body. Here is a comparison shot with a concert banjolele, concert resonator and the machete
Re: Machete
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 5:39 am
by Clay Schaeffer
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the information - does it sound any different than a soprano uke?
Nice looking instrument. I like the rope binding.
Re: Machete
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 4:47 pm
by Tom Owen
A little different... with the longer scale there seems to be more sustain and depth.. I have not used it but the original tuning would probably change things also. It was a non reentrant open G tuning.
Re: Machete
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 8:48 am
by Jo Dusepo
Beautiful work!
Re: Machete
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2021 4:29 pm
by Tom Owen
Mahalo!
Re: Machete
Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2022 8:07 am
by Jo Dusepo
Beautiful work!