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Builder's Entry

This is the build I submitted for the Builder's Challenge. I noticed that photos submitted to the specific thread do not show up on the general pic board, so I decided to repost them here. I hope you will enjoy them, as this was one of my most ambitious builds to date.

A Shamisen inspired 4-string Tenor Ukulele. A shamisen is a centurys-old 3-string Japanese instrument utilizing cat skin to cover it's body. Lacking a cat, I decided to do a version using a cigar box.

The entire neck is actually made of 11 separate wood pieces. The nut and saddle are genuine ebony, and the tailpiece grommets are polished aluminum rivets, The string holes on the underside of the tail are countersunk so the ends of the strings are hidden. The neck has an 18" scale, 14 frets to the box, with an 11-degree scarf joint. There is a piezo element under the bridge, and I was pleasantly surprised by the tone and projection (both acoustically and amp'd) by the Aquila strings

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Tags: challenge, shamisen, uke, ukulele
Albums: Shamisen Uke

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Comment by Uncle John on December 26, 2011 at 11:20am: Nice ideas, work and end product, Mr. Hal. Should be a contender.

Comment by Bill Ludeman on December 25, 2011 at 11:15pm: Stunning creative design. I have an odd instrument that someone gave me that must be a shamisen knockoff made in Pakistan - your note gives me a search starting point. Again kudos on gorgeous build

Comment by Keni Lee Burgess on December 25, 2011 at 8:09am: Okay...I am floored. What an absolutely beautiful build. I say "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner"!!!

The tuner design combines the modern geared tuner with the aesthetics of the traditional Shamisen tuning peg in a very beautiful way. Fantastic.

Now my only problem is brother, is digging up the cash to buy one from you. Where is my ski mask. LOL

Thanks for building.

Happy Holiday. Enjoy.