Posted by Larry Epstein on December 27, 2013 at 5:41pm
Four four-string resonator cbgs (from l to r): Bokay Grande box with brass resonator; Cabrillas Balboa Natural box with copper resonator; Astral 1992 Vintage Lujos box with brass resonator; Bering Grande with aluminum resonator. All resonators are from Old Mike Lowe. All electronics are Tone Monster from Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. All bone nuts and saddles. Hand-carved biscuits.
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Keith, the two baritone ukes I built have a 20-1/8 inch scale and 23 frets on a roughly 15-inch fretboard (measured to the last fret). On the Astral box (Build #3), the body meets the fretboard at about the 19th fret. But that box has round ends, making the neck brace a real challenge. On the Bering box (Build #4), the body meets the fretboard at the last fret, as traditionally on a 14-fret soprano ukulele, although the tongue extends a little farther for aesthetics.
The Jumbo Tenor I like by Mele Ukes has a 19-inch scale and 19 frets on a 13-inch long fretboard where the body meets the fretboard at the 14th fret, which is typical on modern ukuleles. On some older ukuleles, particularly for use by smaller people, the body meets the fretboard at the 12th fret.
Keith, I relied on the Dukes --- who made the neck blank and unfinished fretboard --- for the proper scale for my baritone, and it seems to work. It's so new that everything hasn't settled into more or less permanent positions and tension. The Dukes cut the grooves for my frets, so my job was a little easier; math is not one of my strengths.
I have researched it a bit, and scale lengths for ukuleles vary as they do for guitars. Baritone ukulele scales can vary from about 18.5 inches to 20.5 inches depending on the manufacturer. Although the most common measurement is 19 inches, based on the literature, Pono makes one with a scale almost 22 inches long. Baritone ukes also typically have a total length of 30 inches, although that seems to vary by a few inches, too. My Build #3 is 31 inches long. My build #4 is 29 inches long plus 1-1/2 inches for the tailpiece.
The baritone commonly is tuned DGBE, like the top four strings of a standard guitar tuning, distinguishing it from the Soprano, Concert and Tenor sizes, which commonly use the "My Dog Has Fleas" tuning (GCEA). I played guitar for decades, so when arthritis made it harder for me to play guitar, it was easy to switch over to a baritone uke with standard DGBE tuning. I didn't have to learn new chord shapes. Now I also use a lot of open tunings, too (Drop D, Double Drop D, and Open G tuning are my favorites), which make it easier to use a slide.
Maybe the folks in the ukulele group webpage on cigar box nation can help you more with scale length and fret layout when you're ready to build. Or you can research the proper scale and fret layout on your own. There are many fret calc sites. You might try Electric Ukulele Land (http://ukeland.co.uk/tools/fretcalc).
These are all gorgeous, and really it is hard to just pick one. It would be nice to hear all of them played. The baritone uke, is that the normal distance for them, from nut to bridge? Want to make one eventually.
Thanks, Muddy! That's why God made Mahogany and Spruce and Cedar and Cherry and... well, you get the idea. Build #1 (on the far left) was an amazing experience; went together very easily and plays like a dream.
Comments
Thank you, Chris. And Felíz Año from Baja California, Mexico!
Superb group Larry, well done mate. Nice to see some detailed info for once. Happy new year from the UK, Chris. :)
Glad to be of help, Shane. Good luck!
Hey thanks for the web site Larry very helpful I am going to try and build a uke now inspiring pics
Thanks for the reply. Yes you said a lot, but there was also some history in there. 20 1/8 will be what I build one by.
NICE
Thanks, Clock & Keith!
Keith, the two baritone ukes I built have a 20-1/8 inch scale and 23 frets on a roughly 15-inch fretboard (measured to the last fret). On the Astral box (Build #3), the body meets the fretboard at about the 19th fret. But that box has round ends, making the neck brace a real challenge. On the Bering box (Build #4), the body meets the fretboard at the last fret, as traditionally on a 14-fret soprano ukulele, although the tongue extends a little farther for aesthetics.
The Jumbo Tenor I like by Mele Ukes has a 19-inch scale and 19 frets on a 13-inch long fretboard where the body meets the fretboard at the 14th fret, which is typical on modern ukuleles. On some older ukuleles, particularly for use by smaller people, the body meets the fretboard at the 12th fret.
Keith, I relied on the Dukes --- who made the neck blank and unfinished fretboard --- for the proper scale for my baritone, and it seems to work. It's so new that everything hasn't settled into more or less permanent positions and tension. The Dukes cut the grooves for my frets, so my job was a little easier; math is not one of my strengths.
I have researched it a bit, and scale lengths for ukuleles vary as they do for guitars. Baritone ukulele scales can vary from about 18.5 inches to 20.5 inches depending on the manufacturer. Although the most common measurement is 19 inches, based on the literature, Pono makes one with a scale almost 22 inches long. Baritone ukes also typically have a total length of 30 inches, although that seems to vary by a few inches, too. My Build #3 is 31 inches long. My build #4 is 29 inches long plus 1-1/2 inches for the tailpiece.
The baritone commonly is tuned DGBE, like the top four strings of a standard guitar tuning, distinguishing it from the Soprano, Concert and Tenor sizes, which commonly use the "My Dog Has Fleas" tuning (GCEA). I played guitar for decades, so when arthritis made it harder for me to play guitar, it was easy to switch over to a baritone uke with standard DGBE tuning. I didn't have to learn new chord shapes. Now I also use a lot of open tunings, too (Drop D, Double Drop D, and Open G tuning are my favorites), which make it easier to use a slide.
Maybe the folks in the ukulele group webpage on cigar box nation can help you more with scale length and fret layout when you're ready to build. Or you can research the proper scale and fret layout on your own. There are many fret calc sites. You might try Electric Ukulele Land (http://ukeland.co.uk/tools/fretcalc).
All of that's probably more than you wanted....
Neat-O!
These are all gorgeous, and really it is hard to just pick one. It would be nice to hear all of them played. The baritone uke, is that the normal distance for them, from nut to bridge? Want to make one eventually.
Thanks, Muddy! That's why God made Mahogany and Spruce and Cedar and Cherry and... well, you get the idea. Build #1 (on the far left) was an amazing experience; went together very easily and plays like a dream.
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