Son of Frankenuke Tenor Ukulele
No, not again!!! I had to make another Frankenuke. I’m calling this one the Son of Frankenuke Tenor Ukulele, it being the offspring of the Frankenuke Super Tenor Ukulele.
Bearclaw spruce and earth tone cedar sound board.
Some time ago a luthier-to-the-stars made some guitars with split sound boards of spruce and cedar. I thought this was very cool since the seam was dovetailed. I still can’t figure out how that was so well accomplished. The idea was to have a wood that favored bass notes on one half of the top and treble notes on the other. Makes sense. So why not do the same on an ukulele. Of course, why not on the frankenuke.
Split sound board of bearclaw spruce and earth tone cedar.
Lacewood, koa, mango and zebrawood back and sides.
I used bear claw sitka spruce on the bass side of the top and Alaskan earth tone cedar on the treble side. This cedar is probably some of the most brilliant wood that I have and I figured that it would favor treble notes better than spruce for this instrument.
Gee what else is on this puppy: Asian camphor burl, Hawaiian Koa, African zebra wood, Australian lacewood, American black walnut, Eastern ambrosia maple, Hawaiian mango wood, Asian satin wood burl, India rosewood, Asian munn ebony and African blackwood. I think that’s all. Hmmm, no Oregon myrtle. Maybe next time.
Eastern ambrosia maple backstrap.
Oh yes, the sound. It’s pretty big but unlike some of my tenors much brighter–even with Pepe’s low “G” strings. I guess I would have to attribute this to the top wood selection. Until I have made more, I won’t be able to be any more accurate.
So, this Son of Frankenuke Tenor Ukulele is done! Got one more coming, a pineapple frankenuke. May call that one the Good, bad and ugly Frankenuke? Hope I don’t offend Clint!
