For one to construct an instrument, one must understand what recommended construction materials are used to obtain the correct internal acoustics.
Upon researching information, the official name of these timbers are tone-woods.
Tone-wood refers to specific wood varieties that possess tonal properties which make them good choices for use in stringed instruments.
Certain tone-woods include:
Upon researching information, the official name of these timbers are tone-woods.
Tone-wood refers to specific wood varieties that possess tonal properties which make them good choices for use in stringed instruments.
Certain tone-woods include:
Softwoods
Image 49-52 : Refer to bibliograpghy
From top left: Cedar, Redwood, Spruce and Western Cedar
Hardwoods
Image 53-60 : Refer to bibliography
From top left: Mahogany, Maple, Rosewood, Walnut, Ebony, Blackwood, Ash and Koa
specifics
Mahogany: Alongside Maple, Mahogany is a classic ingredient in both slab and multi-wood (or laminated) bodies, and is a common neck wood. It is also used in single-wood bodies. Harvested in Africa and Central America, Mahogany is a fairly dense, medium-to-heavy wood that yields a wide range of guitar/ukulele-body weights, depending upon stock sources. Used on its own, Mahogany’s characteristic tone is warm and somewhat soft, but well balanced with good grind and bite. There is usually good depth to the sound, with full but not especially tight lows, and appealing in unpronounced highs.
Maple: Used for both bodies and necks, Maple is a dense, hard, heavy wood, sourced mostly in the Northeast and Northwest United States and Canada. Maple is often used as an ingredient in a multi-wood body, where it is generally partnered with a second, lighter wood. All-Maple bodies aren’t unheard of—although the weight is usually off-putting—as, on its own, a Maple body produces an extremely bright, precise tone with tight lows. This light-coloured wood with a tightly packed grain doesn’t always carry dramatic figuring.
Rosewood: This highly prized tone wood is seen frequently in fretboards, and in the backs and sides of many quality flat-top acoustic ukuleles. Rosewood makes for a very heavy and overly bright-sounding ukulele—and an expensive one, too—people are typically interested in it for its looks and novelty factor rather than its tone.
Walnut and Blackwood: Dense and fairly heavy, with sonic characteristics similar to those of Mahogany, Walnut is occasionally used in ukulele bodies. It tends to be warm and full, but usually with a firmer low end, and more overall tightness. Walnut’s rich brown colour and often pleasing grain patterns means it looks good under a simple coat of translucent lacquer.
Spruce and Cedar: The two most common woods for the tops of acoustic ukulele.
Ash: Ash's sound is twangy, airy and sweet. It offers firm lows, pleasant highs, a slightly scooped mid-range and good sustain. Ash from the upper portions of the tree are also used, as well as the harder northern Ash. Both tend to be denser and heavier, and have a brighter, harder sound that might be more useful when cutting or distorted tones are desired. Ash is traditionally used for single-wood, slab-bodied ukuleles.
Ebony: A very dense, hard wood. Ebony offers a muscular, controlled bass and snappy, sizzling highs.
(Hunter, 2008)
Maple: Used for both bodies and necks, Maple is a dense, hard, heavy wood, sourced mostly in the Northeast and Northwest United States and Canada. Maple is often used as an ingredient in a multi-wood body, where it is generally partnered with a second, lighter wood. All-Maple bodies aren’t unheard of—although the weight is usually off-putting—as, on its own, a Maple body produces an extremely bright, precise tone with tight lows. This light-coloured wood with a tightly packed grain doesn’t always carry dramatic figuring.
Rosewood: This highly prized tone wood is seen frequently in fretboards, and in the backs and sides of many quality flat-top acoustic ukuleles. Rosewood makes for a very heavy and overly bright-sounding ukulele—and an expensive one, too—people are typically interested in it for its looks and novelty factor rather than its tone.
Walnut and Blackwood: Dense and fairly heavy, with sonic characteristics similar to those of Mahogany, Walnut is occasionally used in ukulele bodies. It tends to be warm and full, but usually with a firmer low end, and more overall tightness. Walnut’s rich brown colour and often pleasing grain patterns means it looks good under a simple coat of translucent lacquer.
Spruce and Cedar: The two most common woods for the tops of acoustic ukulele.
Ash: Ash's sound is twangy, airy and sweet. It offers firm lows, pleasant highs, a slightly scooped mid-range and good sustain. Ash from the upper portions of the tree are also used, as well as the harder northern Ash. Both tend to be denser and heavier, and have a brighter, harder sound that might be more useful when cutting or distorted tones are desired. Ash is traditionally used for single-wood, slab-bodied ukuleles.
Ebony: A very dense, hard wood. Ebony offers a muscular, controlled bass and snappy, sizzling highs.
(Hunter, 2008)
(Leolani Ukulele, 2012)
Gaining knowledge about different timbers and their affects on the ukuleles sound is essential when proceeding into the construction stage.