Tenor 4-String Ukulele
This is a new Artist Model tenor 4-string ukulele which I recently sold. In my Artist Models I experiment with new ideas of design. On this instrument I have used an unusual bridge design. I call it a low shear stress bridge. I first saw this idea used on some instruments from South American years ago and have been wanting to try it on an ukulele. The main advantage of this design style is that the strings actually press down on the bridge and help it from coming unglued from the top. In a normal design the strings are tied to the bridge and are constantly trying to pull it off the top. Changing strings is very easy on the low shear stress bridge. The hole drilled through the bridge and the top is angled towards the soundhole. The string is pushed through the hole in the bridge, then pulled out the soundhole. A small bead is placed on the end of the string, the string is knotted and it pulls itself tight as you tune the uke.
This tenor is made with matching curly koa top, back, and sides, Honduras mahogany neck, and an Indian rosewood bridge and fretboard. The binding is ebony with a contrasting white purfling strip on the top. The logo and I'o ( Hawaiian hawk) inlay is mother-of-pearl) as is the heelcap. The rosette is abalone shell. The inlay is all real shell, not laminated shell. I do my inlay by hand rather than using lasers. The finish is traditional nitrocellulose lacquer. It has Grover enclosed gear tuners with real ebony buttons. The nut and saddle are micarta, which is my preferred material for this use. It was constructed in my dehumidified shop at 50% relative humidity, so that it can withstand the normal varieties of conditions found around the world.
