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PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:46 am 
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Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:23 am
Posts: 207
First name: Dennis
Last Name: Ramsey
City: Lawndale
State: Ca
Zip/Postal Code: 90260
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Just wondering .... in a hardwood top on a Ukulele does the wood need to be quartersawn?
I was thinking about using Imbuia for a top.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:51 am 
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Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:50 pm
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Location: Seattle WA
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No, not from a performance perspective. But, I think the more qs it is, the more stable it will be.

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These users thanked the author Pmaj7 for the post: D. Ramsey (Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:31 am)
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:18 am 
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Location: Raleigh, NC
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Pat is correct... we use quartersawn wood because it usually shrinks and swells about half as much as flatsawn wood with changes in humidity, making it much less likely to split in really dry conditions. Honduran mahogany is a notable exception... it moves about the same in either orientation.

Imbuia is quite stable so you might be able to get away with a flatsawn top, but a qs top would be ideal.



These users thanked the author James Ringelspaugh for the post: D. Ramsey (Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:31 am)
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 10:49 am 
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Joined: Sat May 17, 2014 12:45 pm
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First name: Lonnie
Last Name: Barber
City: Manchester
State: Tennessee
Zip/Postal Code: 37355
Country: United States
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I've wondered about why ukes and some parlor guitars used hardwood for the top. Figured it was just a cheap instrument as that was all I'd seen. But I've learned that Martin has made some guitars with the same top as used on the back.
I was thinking of making maybe a parlor guitar from African mahogany. I like it's rich golden color. Just finished a baritone Uke EIR back and sides western red cedar top. The little girl I made it for given her choose of several different tonewoods chose it because of it's color. I'll be delivering it to her shortly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


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PostPosted: Fri Jul 25, 2014 12:09 am 
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Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:42 am
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Location: Hudson, MA
First name: Kevin
Last Name: Quine
City: Hudson
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Country: Usa
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Ukes probably started out with hardwood tops because they were made in Hawaii....not much spruce around there
Mahogany is not uncommon for a top. I've seen koa, walnut and maple tops too. They can sound great but usually don't have the range of spruce.


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