Albizia Tenor.....see details below
Albizia Tenor
A Tenor Ukulele with a scale length of 432mm with 14 frets to the body. The Albizia in this Ukulele came the little Central Queensland Town of Calliope, where in grew on a vacant house block across the road from the Railway Hotel.
Back and Sides - Albizia (Albizia lebbeck)
Albizia ranges from Indomalaya to Northern Australia. Its divergent grain directions impart a unique banded appearance which, coupled with its golden color, makes for a truly unique hardwood. Because of its deeply interlocked grain, it’s difficult to plane or machine.
Back Bracing System - Live Bracing Design
The Live Bracing system has 1 less Traverse Brace than a standard, it has four radial braces that only support the centre of the lowerbout area are not connect to the instrument sides. This allows the back to move more than it would with standard bracing while keeping it stiff. The traverse braces are tuned by reducing their cross section in the centre of the brace. This system increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made to fit a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Sound Board - Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)As a tonewood, Western Red Cedar was "discovered" relatively recently. Over the last 30 years Red Cedar has gained tremendous popularity. Initially, it was taken up by Spanish builders building classical guitars, but in recent years guitar makers have expanded production of Western steel string guitars using Red Cedar soundboards. Well quartered Red Cedar offers exceptional tonal quality. Although the wood is less dense and softer than Sitka Spruce it produces a crisp balance of sound.
Soundboard Bracing - Falcate Bracing
The soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 20ft radius dish, which increases its stiffness and structural integrity. The Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes, the gluing edges are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops have been profiled/tuned. This radiused and curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Bindings, Bridge and Fret Board - Ringed Gidgee (Acacia cambagei)
Gidgee is considered a pest plant by farmers, sometimes referred to as Stinking Wattle, but it is perhaps Australia's hardest wood. It has tight interlocking grain, making it ideal for these applications. “Ringed” Gidgee is the curly grain form, it can be visually stunning and is considerably rarer.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
This is a two-piece neck and is fitted with a double action steel trussrod. Curly Maple is an imported wood; it is one of the most popular woods for instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning.
Headstock, (front) - Ringed Gidgee, (rear) -American Walnut
Rosette - Black Gidgee (Acacia cambagei)
A solid ring with Black/white/black accent lines. This Black Gidgee came from a property near Isisford Central Queensland.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
Water buffalo were imported into the NT in the 19th century as working animals and meat for the remote northern settlements. The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The 6mm saddle is a firm fit into the Bridge but can be removed if needed. It has a line scribed along the soundhole face; this indicates the orientation of the saddle in the bridge. The instruments intonation has been set using the saddle, so it’s important that the saddle goes back with the correct orientation. The Nut has been slotted to suit the as fitted Strings. The Nut is also a firm fit; a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Strings – Worth Brown Fluorocarbon Low G
Strings are an important part of any instruments sound structure. We have tested numerous different string types on our Tenor Ukuleles and found that the ‘Worth’ Brown Fluorocarbon far outperforms any others, giving a warm/mellow Classical Guitar type sound.
Pickup – This Ukulele is Pickup Ready
An output Jack compensation block has been fitted in the lowerbout and the bridge has the required holes drilled in it for an undersaddle Piezo Element.
Tuners - Grover Chrome ‘Sta-tite’
Exceptional High-quality tuners and recognized as such around the world.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied over a 10-day period, after a week curing time, the lacquer is hand levelled using wet/dry sandpaper, micromesh pads and finally buffed to a mirror finish
A Tenor Ukulele with a scale length of 432mm with 14 frets to the body. The Albizia in this Ukulele came the little Central Queensland Town of Calliope, where in grew on a vacant house block across the road from the Railway Hotel.
Back and Sides - Albizia (Albizia lebbeck)
Albizia ranges from Indomalaya to Northern Australia. Its divergent grain directions impart a unique banded appearance which, coupled with its golden color, makes for a truly unique hardwood. Because of its deeply interlocked grain, it’s difficult to plane or machine.
Back Bracing System - Live Bracing Design
The Live Bracing system has 1 less Traverse Brace than a standard, it has four radial braces that only support the centre of the lowerbout area are not connect to the instrument sides. This allows the back to move more than it would with standard bracing while keeping it stiff. The traverse braces are tuned by reducing their cross section in the centre of the brace. This system increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made to fit a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Sound Board - Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)As a tonewood, Western Red Cedar was "discovered" relatively recently. Over the last 30 years Red Cedar has gained tremendous popularity. Initially, it was taken up by Spanish builders building classical guitars, but in recent years guitar makers have expanded production of Western steel string guitars using Red Cedar soundboards. Well quartered Red Cedar offers exceptional tonal quality. Although the wood is less dense and softer than Sitka Spruce it produces a crisp balance of sound.
Soundboard Bracing - Falcate Bracing
The soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 20ft radius dish, which increases its stiffness and structural integrity. The Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes, the gluing edges are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops have been profiled/tuned. This radiused and curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Bindings, Bridge and Fret Board - Ringed Gidgee (Acacia cambagei)
Gidgee is considered a pest plant by farmers, sometimes referred to as Stinking Wattle, but it is perhaps Australia's hardest wood. It has tight interlocking grain, making it ideal for these applications. “Ringed” Gidgee is the curly grain form, it can be visually stunning and is considerably rarer.
Neck - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
This is a two-piece neck and is fitted with a double action steel trussrod. Curly Maple is an imported wood; it is one of the most popular woods for instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning.
Headstock, (front) - Ringed Gidgee, (rear) -American Walnut
Rosette - Black Gidgee (Acacia cambagei)
A solid ring with Black/white/black accent lines. This Black Gidgee came from a property near Isisford Central Queensland.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
Water buffalo were imported into the NT in the 19th century as working animals and meat for the remote northern settlements. The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The 6mm saddle is a firm fit into the Bridge but can be removed if needed. It has a line scribed along the soundhole face; this indicates the orientation of the saddle in the bridge. The instruments intonation has been set using the saddle, so it’s important that the saddle goes back with the correct orientation. The Nut has been slotted to suit the as fitted Strings. The Nut is also a firm fit; a small amount of CA glue has been put under it to hold it in place while changing strings.
Strings – Worth Brown Fluorocarbon Low G
Strings are an important part of any instruments sound structure. We have tested numerous different string types on our Tenor Ukuleles and found that the ‘Worth’ Brown Fluorocarbon far outperforms any others, giving a warm/mellow Classical Guitar type sound.
Pickup – This Ukulele is Pickup Ready
An output Jack compensation block has been fitted in the lowerbout and the bridge has the required holes drilled in it for an undersaddle Piezo Element.
Tuners - Grover Chrome ‘Sta-tite’
Exceptional High-quality tuners and recognized as such around the world.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Nitro Cellulous Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied over a 10-day period, after a week curing time, the lacquer is hand levelled using wet/dry sandpaper, micromesh pads and finally buffed to a mirror finish