TL002 Tenor Long Scale UkuleleNeck Preparation

The large Tasmanian Blackwood block that was purchased for the TL002 Tenor Long Scale Ukulele was initially cut down into enough pieces for two tenor sized neck blanks, along with heel blocks and tail blocks. The Blackwood neck blanks were perfectly quarter sawn, with tight strong grain. While slightly heavier than traditional neck timber, these Blackwood necks will be extremely stiff, and more importantly stable for many years to come. The scarf joint was cut and joined to produce a 15 degree break angle between the neck and headstock, which will provide the right string angle from the nut to the tuning posts, and ensure suitable downward string force over the nut. The top surface of the neck was then slotted along its length, and a carbon fibre stiffening rod fitted to increase the stiffness and stability of the neck. The heel blocks were then glued to produce a stacked heel, following the plans for a Spanish style neck/body connection, with the neck joining to the body at the 14th fret.

Tasmanian Blackwood neck blank

MAKAIO Ukuleles are constructed using a traditional Spanish style neck/body connection. With this neck design, the sides are fitted into pre-cut slots in the heel block, and the soundboard is recessed into the top of the heel block. This creates an extremely strong one-piece connection between the neck and body, which reduces loss of sound energy into the neck. By not using any mechanical fasteners to fix the neck to the body, the heel of MAKAIO Ukuleles is able to be made delicate and in proportion to the small body size, allowing access to more of the fretboard.

Once the neck scarf joint and heel blocks had been completed, the neck was tapered roughly oversize for the finished dimensions, and the heel carved to its final shape. The table of the heel blocks was then recessed to accept the Blackwood soundboard so that when the body and neck are joined, the soundboard and upper neck surface are perfectly flush. The remainder of the heel blocks were cut down to reduce mass, while maintaining strength in the neck/body connection. The final step in preparation of the neck was to add ears to the side of the headstock, to provide increased width, and allow the headstock to later be cut to the unique MAKAIO headstock shape.

Spanish style Tasmanian Blackwood neck with carved heel