The Tree Tenor Ukulele - Custom Build-Sold
Finally wrapped up this project. This is The Tree Tenor Ukulele. This is a super tenor shape.
Just gotta have fun.
It’s All About The Wood
Body: The Tree Honduran Mahogany. The sides of this instrument are “dual density”–a combination of The Tree and straight grain Honduran mahogany. This is a construction technique used on some of the most expensive guitars in the world. I’ve used this technique before using rosewood as for the guitars but found it to be a little too heavy for my taste. Also, I wanted the sound of the instrument to be consistent with mahogany. Back strip is Australian mallee burl.
The Tree is a pretty cool look.
Sound Board: Swiss Moon Spruce. The photos don’t show the light marbling, bearclaw of this set. The low density spruce is pretty punchy. Bracing is with Sitka. Rosette is The Tree.
Swiss Moon Spruce sound board.
Neck: fiddleback curl Honduran Mahogany with a lamination of The Tree. Carbon fiber truss rod of course. Sanded finish.
Fiddleback Honduran mahogany neck.
Accent Woods: a combination of The Tree and Australian Mallee Burl.
Fret Board and Bridge: a combination of African Ebony and Australian Mallee Burl. Since I am using the live edge of the burl wood I’ve jointed it to the ebony with a blue/green black synthetic black opal. I think it’s kinda like opening up a piece of wood and finding a natural surprise inside; or maybe, just finding an opal vein in the earth. You get the idea I’m sure. This fret board is radiused with gold Evo frets.
Ebony, Australian Mallee Burl and black opal.
Binding: curly Hawaiian Koa with emerald green purfling.
The Rest Of The Build
Tuners: Gotoh 501 mini/uke.
Strings: Pepe Romero tenor low “G”.
Case: Crossrock Fiberglass.
Crosssrock comfort for The Tree uke.
Nut and Saddle: stained unbleached bone.
Fret Board Markers: white MOP.
It’s a mahogany thing.
And
Did I leave anything out? Don’t think so. My first impression is this instrument has some serious punch and the strings are not even fully set yet. The Tree mahogany isn’t the easiest wood to work and the fret board and bridge are another entirely different challenge. Overall, I’m pretty pleased. I’m into the “let’s have some fun” mode and The Tree Tenor Ukulele fills the bill in that category for sure.
