Modified Falcate/Kasha Tenor Uke

[J.F. Custom]

Why the modified hybrid you might ask?

Well, some background is required. The design criteria was for "something different" in visual design, bracing style and 'hopefully' tone. Kasha was put to me as a potential to meet those demands. And so this design started life as a Kasha instrument on paper/computer. However, I had reservations about the Kasha bracing without some experimental modifications or, as Eric Devine does, a bridge doctor in from the start. A bridge doctor solution did not appeal to me, so I played with the bracing. Long story short, in my mind, Falcate bracing provided the best 'fix' to what Kasha lacked. So it was that I had the discussion over Kasha vs Falcate. Falcate was accepted, but not until after the design had been drafted in Kasha style....

Born from that was a hybrid that needed to keep the drafted aesthetic, while encompassing the Falcate bracing system in so much as possible. My solution you'll see below. With the offset soundhole, I opened as much of the soundboard potential vibrating area as I could first, then heavily reinforced the upper bout. Well, if you're still with me, pictures say it best...

Specs as follows :

Soundboard - Sitka Spruce (Purportedly Master)
Back/Sides - Figured Blackwood
Neck - Qld Maple
Fretboard - Bocote
Bridge - Bocote
Binding/Purfling - Blackwood and Maple
Rosette - Amboyna, Ziricote and M.O.P.
Saddle/Nut - Bone
Falcate Bracing - King Billy and Carbon Fiber
Tuners - Waverley with Ebony knobs

And some details...

falcate_bridge.jpg (190.51 KiB) Viewed 22811 times

The inner workings...

jfcustom_falcate_mod.jpg (467.9 KiB) Viewed 22811 times

jfcustom_falcate_mod_2.jpg (165.5 KiB) Viewed 22811 times

And some dancing tea leaves early on in the scheme of things, just for fun
(Sorry, no late tea leaves)

falcate_chladni_1.jpg (112.89 KiB) Viewed 22811 times

falcate_chladni_2.jpg (160.65 KiB) Viewed 22811 times

While I think there is always room for improvement and further experimentation, I was pleased with the resulting instruments tone for a first attempt.

Cheers and thanks for looking.

Jeremy.

[Nick]

Always class when your hand is involved Jeremy Nice Uke

[lauburu]

Such a beautiful instrument inside and out. Any chance of a sound clip?
Miguel

[colburge]

You really set the bar very high with your instruments, and this one is no exception, it is unreal.

Col

[Frenchy]

Very sexy and inspiring. I really liked the inlay work on the rosette.

[56nortondomy]

Superb, Jeremy. Wayne

[Trevor Gore]

Another nice one, Jeremy!

[J.F. Custom]

Cheers gents. Much appreciated.

Things are painfully slow in my workshop at present and for the past year...

Sorry Miguel, no sound clip as yet. Unfortunately, I can't play well enough to justify recording, nor do I know anyone locally that can for me... I'm working on it though. If it eventuates, I'll certainly post one.

Also, a special thanks goes out to Trevor Gore. Trevor was most gracious in allowing me to run my design by him to pass comment on. A generous luthier that one.

Jeremy.

[Dekka]

Exquisite instrument!
I'm assuming what looks like a heart-wrenching crack in Pic 3 is just a trick of the light?

[Bob Connor]

Lovely work as usual Jeremy.

Regards

[H3ytm@n]

Beautiful looking instrument Jeremy

[J.F. Custom]

Ha! No Dekka, reflections of light abound through those photos - no cracks. Hard to photograph very shiny things without reflections...

Cheers Bob. Nice to see you on the list for the Melbourne Guitar Makers Festival. I hope to make it down for a look round and g'day in general. I'll see if the opportunity arrises. Perhaps one day I'll have some stock up my sleeve to be a participant instead.

Thanks Mike.

Jeremy.

[Allen]

Very nice details as usual Jeremy. I quite like some of the elements in the rosette. Similar to mine and they give me some ideas to spice up future ones.

[Graham Long]

Hi Jeremy,
I second all the good comments, lovely work. It just so happens I have a sound board cut out ready for Kasha Bracing, you've inspired me to go the Falcate way instead.
Cheers
Graham

[J.F. Custom]

Cheers Allen.

Yeah, rosettes have always been a favourite of mine to play with - different ideas, designs and techniques etc. I've done carved lattice, staggered, inlaid, tiled, mosaic... A little bit of room for improvisation and expression on a custom instrument imo. Though I've drawn several ideas like this over the past few years, this is the first opportunity I've had to implement one - it was fun. I was particularly inspired to try and work it into a design for a willing customer after seeing some of Michihiro Matsuda's work years ago. Probably the master of the style.

Yours are certainly suiting the 'whole' of your instruments - spice away.

Jeremy.

[J.F. Custom]

Hey Graham.

Cool - good luck with that. There aren't too many around as yet...

I'm sure there would be many here interested to see how you get on, so post up along the way, or when you're done.

Jeremy.

[DarwinStrings]

I have been thinking about binding fretboards lately but I reckon if I pinch your ideas Jeremy it will look better.

Jim

[J.F. Custom]

Thanks Jim, pinch away.

There is a time, place and instrument for all methods I feel.

Jeremy.

[Kim]

Beautiful tight work there Jeremy, a very refined little uke indeed and once again you've demonstrated your very fine eye for style.

Cheers

Kim

[ozwood]

Again Jeremy,

Superb stuff , I can but only aspire to turn out insruments with that level of craftsmanship.

Love everything about that Uke.

I also made a FB uke and was happy with the sound , might be the way to go I think.

Cheers,

[Donovan]

This uke has class!!! Jeremy, do you compliance map? If so, I am interested to know if you change your stiffness pattern/distribution with the Falcate/Kasha bracing as compared to your "normal" bracing system. Trying to get a feel for the difference in sound across bracing systems but with similar stiffness patterns? I'll be doing similar experiments soon and would be willing to trade notes. Sorry if my questions are covered in the Gore/Gilet books. I don't have access to them yet so I'm not speaking the same language as you guys yet but I can pick up on some of it because I have been reading David Hurd's book which seems to cover similar topics.

[J.F. Custom]

Cheers Kim, Paul and Donovan.

Donovan, as to compliance mapping/top deflection, chladni, frequency plotting etc... I've only just started gathering this sort of information myself. I don't have enough data yet. This was also the first ukulele in Falcate bracing for me, so it was experimental in many ways including stiffness. I have not really found any numbers/targets out there with respect to ukulele building, as opposed to guitars which Trevor gives more detail on in his very good and recommended tomes. In some years with more similar builds recorded, I will hopefully have some useful numbers!

Good luck with your builds and data collection!

Jeremy.