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ukelele rosette
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=39024		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Tai Fu [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:  ukelele rosette
I am stuck at a point in the build, and I can't really progress until I have this thought out since it isn't possible to retrofit a uke with rosettes.

I am at a loss as to what to use for rosettes on the uke I am building. I want something simple but effective, as in I really don't need anything elaborate or requiring extensive routing/inlaying but it just needs to be there... was thinking of simply routing a channel and putting purflings inside... what do you think? The top is Western Red Cedar.
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
I'll be interested in the responses you get; I hope to soon start a pair of tenors and am struggling with this question too. One will be a softwood top and the other hardwood. On one hand, I like the inlaid burl or other wood rossettes, but I fear they might be too much or not work on such a small scale. On the other hand, I like the simple venerable line (maybe a narrow pattern line too), but I don't want it to look too much like all the factory ukes you see all over.
Author:  LuthierSupplier [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  ukelele rosette
Tai Fu
The zip flex strips in .047 work amazingly well. Maybe one of the members would be willing to sell you one strip. Look up my latest post for a pic of what it looks like.
Tracy
Author:  LuthierSupplier [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 2:13 pm ]
Post subject:  ukelele rosette
Here is the link: viewtopic.php?t=38975
Author:  unkabob [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
Many of the high end ukuleles have no rosette. Check out the Koaloha ukulele site.

I have never used a rosette on any of my ukuleles, maybe I am just lazy, but I consider them a lot of work to make the instrument look "pretty". "Pretty" may be profitable for the pro's but I am more involved with tone.

Bob :ugeek:
Author:  oval soundhole [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
unkabob wrote:
Many of the high end ukuleles have no rosette. Check out the Koaloha ukulele site.

I have never used a rosette on any of my ukuleles, maybe I am just lazy, but I consider them a lot of work to make the instrument look "pretty". "Pretty" may be profitable for the pro's but I am more involved with tone.

Bob :ugeek:



Rosettes also seal the end grain, which helps to minimize possibilities of cracks.
Author:  LuthierSupplier [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  ukelele rosette
Actually, on a hard wood top like Koa it is not necessary, but on softwoods like cedar and Sitka it is a structural issue. The sound hole could split in dry climates and the rosette is used to add support and stop splitting of the end grain.
Author:  DennisK [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
Zipflex would indeed be great, because it has built in super-fine black purfling, which would probably look great at uke size.

Burl ring bordered by fine black/white/black purfling is my favorite as far as quick and easy rosettes go, but maybe just one line of purfling for uke size. For a koa top, maybe either maple burl with black or rosewood border, or walnut burl with maple border.

But to my eye, even a burl ring looks like a blank canvas waiting to have some imagery added to it :) I'm pretty sure I'm the only one, though.
Author:  Alain Lambert [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
I used purfling for mine.
2 bwb together (easier to bend)
Here is how it look

Attachment:
Uke TU-1-3 small.jpg
Author:  PeterF [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 5:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
DennisK wrote:
But to my eye, even a burl ring looks like a blank canvas waiting to have some imagery added to it :) I'm pretty sure I'm the only one, though.


Nope, I like unique rosettes too! To me it is one of the the most important visual aspects of the guitar (or uke). Without one, it would look unfinished IMO.
This is definitely not simple, but this is what I've just done on my piccolo guitar (just a bit bigger than a uke):
Image
Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  ukelele rosette
Simple, understated is best. Zipflex with maple purfling strips.

Image
Author:  Mike OMelia [ Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
Nice work Pete.
Author:  Kevin Mason [ Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
Any style or material you would use for a guitar will work for a ukulele. Just make sure it is in proportion to the sound hole and the top area. For my tastes, large, complex rosettes look odd to me on a uke. No rosette is too boring.
Author:  Quine [ Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
Here's one I did on a concert uke. Just some marquetry purfling that I bent into a ring using a clothes iron, and a b/w/b ring. It wasn't too hard to do and I still like it
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
Looks Nike Kevin, that's a lot like what I was thinking. BTW, I hanen't forgotten about you, things just got really hectic here.
Author:  Tai Fu [ Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
I've always wondered how to bend something sideways because when I bend them on a bending iron they would fall apart or bend in the wrong direction...
Author:  CharlieT [ Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: ukelele rosette
Kevin - that's a mighty handsome uke! [:Y:]
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