3 Wood Challenge: Small Wonder

[Musiclogic]

Hey All,

So I decided to go off the board a bit, I don't like posting things that are common. Using just 3 woods is really a challenge for me, so I decided to stay in my wheelhouse with my 3 favorites; Padauk, Wenge, and Zebrawood. I also decided to go with a 5 String Bass Ukulele, and a Single Cut. I figured this would be something fun to do and something people might have an interest in seeing done with a broad explaination of what I am trying to achieve. Keepo your Fingers crossed

Specs:

5 string Single Cut Bass Ukulele
Padauk and Wenge Neck
Wenge Fretboard
21" scale, 22 fret
Bolt On
Carbon Fiber reinforcement

Zebrawood Body top and back
Padauk and Wenge body core
Wenge Bridge
string through body
Piezo saddle pickup
Active preamp

This is my Uke body Style

I hope to start this in the next 2 weeks after I finish the 3 customer and 2 shop builds I have going. Thanks for looking

 

[octaedro7]

Wow, that's a wonder indeed!
Looking forward to it

 

[gitlvr]

Cool! Bring on the Hawaiian music!

 

[Musiclogic]

We'll try and channel a little Don Ho and a lot of hula girls....

 

[SaintMez]

Tiny Bass Bubbles! This sounds really cool!

 

[adam.beauchene]

Very cool JC. Can't wait to see how it comes out. What's the tuning going to be?

 

[Musiclogic]

Not sure yet Adam, The last couple I have done have been standard Bass tuning EADG, probably be BEADG unless I sell it and they want a different tuning, can get proper strings for any tuning

 

[tZer]

Man, that is really nice looking!

I am curious to see how the padauk looks in the mix.

 

[Nomad98]

That is a sweet looking body!

 

[Musiclogic]

This is the Uke that body was part of, just that pic was a better display of the body shape

 

[HaMMerHeD]

Is the lower half of the back of that body all removable cavity cover?

I like how the strings ends are concealed.

 

[bassman314]

You should have gone for a 5-string and called it 5-Oh.

 

[Musiclogic]

Yeah Mark, the whole bottom half of the back is the cover and removable to access the electronics and battery.

That's funny Geoff, it will be a 5 string, and I did consider the name 5-0, but my complete and utter disdain for the garbage remake of the original just couldn't bring myself to do it....LOL very cool thought though Geoff.

 

[ukulelelele]

sweet

 

[J Posega]

Do you use the Hipshot custom tuners for U-bass? Looks awesome, except the knobs look kinda tacky.

 

[Musiclogic]

No, I am doing my own tuners. I don't even know if the Kala tuners are available from anyone but Kala. I believe Hipshot makes them proprietary for Kala. Any Tuner can be modified for these strings, the mod is only required on the lowest 2.

Thanks for the compliment, it came out really cool for a first go, hopefullt this new Uke build will be just as cool but with frets....LMAO

As for the knobs, they were by the customers request, Personally I like them, and this was not modeled to be a UBass, it's more like an Ashbory with Pahoehoe strings, better piezo and preamp(great sound)

 

[scojack]

That is just so cool!
Really looking forward to seeing this.

 

[Dave Higham]

Hipshot made the custom tuners first for Owen Holt (Road Toad) who designed the Ubass for Kala. When I wanted some I couldn't get a reply from Owen, although I'd bought stuff from him before; too busy I guess. So I asked Hipshot and they sold me a set.

Owen has them on his site here:
http://www.roadtoadmusic.com/accessories.html

 

[Downunderwonder]

No, I am doing my own tuners. I don't even know if the Kala tuners are available from anyone but Kala. I believe Hipshot makes them proprietary for Kala. Any Tuner can be modified for these strings, the mod is only required on the lowest 2.

Thanks for the compliment, it came out really cool for a first go, hopefullt this new Uke build will be just as cool but with frets....LMAO

As for the knobs, they were by the customers request, Personally I like them, and this was not modeled to be a UBass, it's more like an Ashbory with Pahoehoe strings, better piezo and preamp(great sound)

Do you mod standard tuners by enlarging the slot on a slotted one? I imagine it might be easier and tidier to drill out ones that have a hole through the shaft instead of top slot? The hipshot ones are kind of expensive compared to standard tuners.