Sergiu PărgrasIndustrial designer
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Woodworking · Luthiery · Product design

Acoustic Uke-Bass

Year
2020
Client
Personal project
Role
Designer & maker
Close-up of the sound hole and strings of a handmade acoustic uke-bass

Driven by a passion for music, woodworking, and a constant curiosity about how things work, I set out to build an acoustic instrument that combines the compact size of a ukulele with the deep, low-frequency range of a bass.

Built from reclaimed material

Most of the instrument is crafted from reclaimed wood salvaged from architectural fit-out scraps. The back and sides of the soundbox are laminated oak, the soundboard is selected tight-grain pine, the neck is maple, and the fretboard is Padauk.

I developed the instrument through drawing, digital modelling, CAM preparation, machining, and hands-on luthiery, using Rhinoceros, Vectric Aspire, and MACH3 CAM.

Handmade acoustic uke-bass photographed from above
A compact acoustic body carries the low-frequency character of a bass.
Front view of the handmade acoustic uke-bass
The finished instrument combines a tight-grain pine soundboard with a Padauk fretboard.
Back detail of the handmade acoustic uke-bass
Laminated oak forms the back and sides of the soundbox.
Process montage showing the woodworking steps used to build the acoustic uke-bass
The build moved between cutting, shaping, bending, joining, and hand-finishing the body components.
Process montage showing machining and assembly of the acoustic uke-bass
CNC-assisted operations and workshop assembly refined the neck, bridge, and soundbox construction.
Close-up of the soundboard, strings, and sound hole of the acoustic uke-bass
The instrument's soundboard, bridge, and string path were tuned as one acoustic system.
Close-up of the Padauk fretboard and strings of the acoustic uke-bass
The Padauk fretboard gives the neck a durable, richly coloured playing surface.
Handmade acoustic uke-bass shown with its maple neck and compact body
The completed instrument brings compact proportions, reclaimed materials, and low-register sound together.
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