Camphor Laurel Tenor 003 2026
Camphor Laurel Tenor
A Tenor Ukulele with a scale length of 432mm and 14 Frets to the Body. This Ukulele
S/N - UKE-CL-T003 2026 was built by hand using the materials and methods listed below.
Back and Sides - Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
Camphor Laurel timber is a highly prized, aromatic Australian hardwood known for its rich honey-brown color, dark streaks, and distinct, fresh scent. Often used for furniture, slabs, and carvings, it is an, ironic, "weed" species that is eco-friendly to use. It is durable, workable, and ideal for creating unique pieces.
Body Construction – High Impedance Double Linings
The joints from Sides to the Soundboard and to the Back are double lined (a Kerfed Lining and an internal Rimband) this increases the rigidity/impedance of the joint which in turn improves the overtones and sound complexity/quality.
Back Bracing – Live Bracing
The Back Bracing is a “Live Bracing Design “which increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made with a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Sound Board - Monterey or Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata)
Native to central and southern coastal California, also widely planted throughout the southern hemisphere. This soundboard was reclaimed from a used cable drum, just to demonstrate its not so
much what it is made of, but how it’s made.
Soundboard Bracing System - Falcate
The Falcate 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 Falcate (sickle shaped) Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes that are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops were profiled. This radiused/curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Neck - Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana)Perhaps Australian’s Best Tonewood. Highly sought after by Australian Luthiers. Heartwood ranges from yellow to golden or reddish brown, darkening with age. Narrow white sapwood is differentiated from heartwood. The grain is interlocked and sometimes wavy. Texture medium to coarse with a good natural luster.
Bindings - Curly Emu Apple (Owenia acidula)
Most Emu Apple wood is plain looking/ straight grained. But this tree is one in a thousand, all the timber from it has tight curls. The tree was removed during fencing from a property in central western Queensland.
Headstock, Fretboard and Bridge - Purple Bauhina (Lysiphyllum carronii)
Native to Queensland subtropical and tropical regions, sometimes referred to as Queensland Ebony. The timber in cross-section is pale around the outer with a dark centre, used in wood turning and cabinetry. Has a high oil content and the grain structure/pattern can be like Cocobolo.
Headstock (rear) – Birds Eye Huon Pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii)
The Birds Eye variation is rare and while not suitable for structural use it is highly sort after for its aesthetic appeal. It is critically endangered and no longer harvested.
Rosette – Paua Shell Ring
This Rosette is made from Paua Shell with black/white/black maple accent line around it. The Paua is ethically sourced from New Zealand
Tuners - Gotoh Baby 510, Black with Ziricote buttons
Exceptional High-quality tuners, consistently ranked at the top of the industry by musical instrument makers. The SG510 Baby series 18:1 ratio Tuners are the smallest closed gear tuners on the market and have quickly become one of their Flagship models.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn
(Syncerus caffer)The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The 3mm 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.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied, after curing the lacquer is hand levelled, cut, and polished to a mirror finish.
Pickup – This Ukulele is Pickup Ready
An output Jack compensation block has been fitted in the lowerbout, and the bridge saddle slot has the required holes drilled in it for an undersaddle Piezo Element.
A Tenor Ukulele with a scale length of 432mm and 14 Frets to the Body. This Ukulele
S/N - UKE-CL-T003 2026 was built by hand using the materials and methods listed below.
Back and Sides - Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
Camphor Laurel timber is a highly prized, aromatic Australian hardwood known for its rich honey-brown color, dark streaks, and distinct, fresh scent. Often used for furniture, slabs, and carvings, it is an, ironic, "weed" species that is eco-friendly to use. It is durable, workable, and ideal for creating unique pieces.
Body Construction – High Impedance Double Linings
The joints from Sides to the Soundboard and to the Back are double lined (a Kerfed Lining and an internal Rimband) this increases the rigidity/impedance of the joint which in turn improves the overtones and sound complexity/quality.
Back Bracing – Live Bracing
The Back Bracing is a “Live Bracing Design “which increases the backs interaction with the soundboard during playing, resulting in a fuller more complex sound. The Bracing has been made with a 20ft Radius, which increases the stiffness and structural integrity.
Sound Board - Monterey or Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata)
Native to central and southern coastal California, also widely planted throughout the southern hemisphere. This soundboard was reclaimed from a used cable drum, just to demonstrate its not so
much what it is made of, but how it’s made.
Soundboard Bracing System - Falcate
The Falcate 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 Falcate (sickle shaped) Bracing is made of strips of King Billy Pine, laminated into sickle shapes that are radiused to 20ft. The Bracing tops were profiled. This radiused/curved symmetrical bracing system is of low mass and is incredibly stiff.
Neck - Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana)Perhaps Australian’s Best Tonewood. Highly sought after by Australian Luthiers. Heartwood ranges from yellow to golden or reddish brown, darkening with age. Narrow white sapwood is differentiated from heartwood. The grain is interlocked and sometimes wavy. Texture medium to coarse with a good natural luster.
Bindings - Curly Emu Apple (Owenia acidula)
Most Emu Apple wood is plain looking/ straight grained. But this tree is one in a thousand, all the timber from it has tight curls. The tree was removed during fencing from a property in central western Queensland.
Headstock, Fretboard and Bridge - Purple Bauhina (Lysiphyllum carronii)
Native to Queensland subtropical and tropical regions, sometimes referred to as Queensland Ebony. The timber in cross-section is pale around the outer with a dark centre, used in wood turning and cabinetry. Has a high oil content and the grain structure/pattern can be like Cocobolo.
Headstock (rear) – Birds Eye Huon Pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii)
The Birds Eye variation is rare and while not suitable for structural use it is highly sort after for its aesthetic appeal. It is critically endangered and no longer harvested.
Rosette – Paua Shell Ring
This Rosette is made from Paua Shell with black/white/black maple accent line around it. The Paua is ethically sourced from New Zealand
Tuners - Gotoh Baby 510, Black with Ziricote buttons
Exceptional High-quality tuners, consistently ranked at the top of the industry by musical instrument makers. The SG510 Baby series 18:1 ratio Tuners are the smallest closed gear tuners on the market and have quickly become one of their Flagship models.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn
(Syncerus caffer)The Nut and Saddle are handmade and fitted into their respective locations. The 3mm 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.
Finish - Hand Polished High Gloss Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer
A hardwearing lacquer that is chemical resistant and easily repaired. Approximately 20 coats of Lacquer are applied, after curing the lacquer is hand levelled, cut, and polished to a mirror finish.
Pickup – This Ukulele is Pickup Ready
An output Jack compensation block has been fitted in the lowerbout, and the bridge saddle slot has the required holes drilled in it for an undersaddle Piezo Element.