Tasmanian Blackwood Tenor
Commissioned by Denise Forbes
Tasmanian Blackwood Tenor
Commissioned by Denise Forbes
A Tenor Ukulele with a scale length of 432mm and 14 Frets to the Body. This Ukulele
S/N - UKE-TBW-T004 2024
Back and Sides, Tasmanian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
One of Australia’s best-known Tonewoods, used both nationally and internationally. The curly or fiddle back forms can be visually stunning. 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 – Torrified Adirondack Spruce (Picea rubens)
Adirondack or Red spruce is considered by many to be The Holy Grail of Soundboards. With too many desirable qualities to list all here. This set has been Torrified, which means it’s undergone a roasting/drying process at high temperature in an oxygen depleted kiln. This chemically and structurally changes the wood, improving its mass to stiffness and making it far less susceptible to dimensional changes due to changes in relative humidity. Two things that make it much more desirable for instruments.
Soundboard Bracing System - Falcate
The Falcate soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 40ft 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.
Headstock (front), and Bridge – Ebony (Diospyros spp.)
Jet black, hard-wearing with a tight interlocking grain make this species ideal for these applications.
The bridge is a string through design.
Headstock rear – Birdseye Huon Pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii)
Famous for its durability and extensively used for boat building in Tasmania.The Birds Eye variation is quite 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.
Fretboard - Ebony (Diospyros spp.)
The fretboard will have a Zero Fret and Compound Radius
Neck and Bindings - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Quilted and Curly Maple are different figure types of the same species, it is an imported wood, and one of the most popular woods for stringed instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning.
This is a 3-piece neck, American Curly Maple with a Tasmanian Blackwood Spine. The Neck is fitted with a double action steel trussrod which is accessible through the soundhole with a 4mm Allen Key.
Rosette – Open Design
An Open Composite design, using Ringed Gidgee, Birdseye Huon Pine and Paua Shell.
Tuners - Tuners - Grover Gold ‘Sta-tite’
Exceptional High-quality tuners and recognized as such around the world.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
The Nut and Saddle will be 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.
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, after curing the lacquer is hand levelled, cut, and polished to a mirror finish.
Commissioned by Denise Forbes
A Tenor Ukulele with a scale length of 432mm and 14 Frets to the Body. This Ukulele
S/N - UKE-TBW-T004 2024
Back and Sides, Tasmanian Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
One of Australia’s best-known Tonewoods, used both nationally and internationally. The curly or fiddle back forms can be visually stunning. 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 – Torrified Adirondack Spruce (Picea rubens)
Adirondack or Red spruce is considered by many to be The Holy Grail of Soundboards. With too many desirable qualities to list all here. This set has been Torrified, which means it’s undergone a roasting/drying process at high temperature in an oxygen depleted kiln. This chemically and structurally changes the wood, improving its mass to stiffness and making it far less susceptible to dimensional changes due to changes in relative humidity. Two things that make it much more desirable for instruments.
Soundboard Bracing System - Falcate
The Falcate soundboard bracing system has been made to fit into and was assembled in a 40ft 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.
Headstock (front), and Bridge – Ebony (Diospyros spp.)
Jet black, hard-wearing with a tight interlocking grain make this species ideal for these applications.
The bridge is a string through design.
Headstock rear – Birdseye Huon Pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii)
Famous for its durability and extensively used for boat building in Tasmania.The Birds Eye variation is quite 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.
Fretboard - Ebony (Diospyros spp.)
The fretboard will have a Zero Fret and Compound Radius
Neck and Bindings - American Curly Maple (Acer spp.)
Quilted and Curly Maple are different figure types of the same species, it is an imported wood, and one of the most popular woods for stringed instruments. It is very stable and can be visually stunning.
This is a 3-piece neck, American Curly Maple with a Tasmanian Blackwood Spine. The Neck is fitted with a double action steel trussrod which is accessible through the soundhole with a 4mm Allen Key.
Rosette – Open Design
An Open Composite design, using Ringed Gidgee, Birdseye Huon Pine and Paua Shell.
Tuners - Tuners - Grover Gold ‘Sta-tite’
Exceptional High-quality tuners and recognized as such around the world.
Nut and Saddle - Northern Territory Water Buffalo Horn (Syncerus caffer)
The Nut and Saddle will be 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.
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, after curing the lacquer is hand levelled, cut, and polished to a mirror finish.