These are two curly maple tenors I built to compare a more traditional “fan” bracing with a newer, off-center “Kasha” bracing. They are indeed different, with the Kasha bracing having a more “guitar like” sound (deeper, more resonate) while the fan braced one has a brighter sound (one might say it has a more “ukulele like” sound). Which one is best? That all depends n what you are seeking in the sound from a ukelele. They both sound good, just different.
- Back and Sides: Curly maple, cut at a sawmill about 10 miles from my house back in the 1970’s
- Tops: Sitka spruce, one fan braced, one Kasha braced
- Neck: Pennsylvania black walnut
- Binding: Paduk
- Fingerboard, bridge: Bocote
- Nut & saddle: Mammoth ivory
- Black-White-Black purfling, Paua abalone rosette, white pearl rosette
- Headstock: Kasha braced – Curly maple with red abalone maple leaves
- Headstock: fan braced – Bocote which showed a natural “goat” image. I just added the horns and eye pupils.
