The mad scientist is back at work. It’s a new bracing experiment that we’re calling chopsticks, because, well… they look like chopsticks. It’s not just a frivolous experiment either. In our ongoing search for new and better ways to build our ukuleles we came up with this bracing scheme. In this test, we built two crisscrossed, arched braces that attach to the bridge plate, arch up off the soundboard and then connect to the upper bout. This reduces the mass of the bracing on the lower bout and frees up the area around the soundhole. Here are the first spy pictures.
How will she sound? Time will tell. Preliminary tapping on the body is very encouraging however. Drawbacks to our chopstick bracing? It definitely takes longer to shape the braces and to get the braces to fit just right. Lots of hand shaping. Also the “X” blocks the soundhole but that’s a tradeoff because we think it looks wicked cool! Bottom line is, if it sounds great, it’s worth the effort.
Smile when you play that!™
Very Interesting Hugo, you mad doctor you!
wicked cool! I am interested to hear how it sounds