The Prairie Oasis of Lutherie

Ukelele, Flattop Mandolin and Bouzuki Tops

Most tops are 2 piece and bookmatched, however It is possible to use a single board of a Guitar top (whose bookmatch disappeared) and glue a wing on the treble or bass side to make a top wide enough for a flat top mandolin. Some are guitar sets that had a sap pocket that could not be worked around, yet fit a ukelele, bouzouki or mandola very nicely.

If you are curious about our grading system, you can find an explaination right here.

Size (approximate):

Ukelele:
Bouzuki: 3/16" x 6 3/4" x 17"
Mandolin: 3/16" x 6" x 16"

Engelmann Spruce top 680EH

Straight grain, excellent vertical cut. 12 - 27 lines per inch. Consistent yellow-brown colour.

20.625" x 6.5" (at centre) x .200", planed on one side.

Purchased in 1995. From the estate of Erica Heyligers.

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Engelmann Spruce Master top 96EH

This will be a master grade top within the pattern. Super tight and straight grain, excellent vertical cut. 25 - 33 lines per inch.

Consistent yellow-brown colour with one band of brown near the bookmatch centre.

19.125" x 6" (at narrowest) x .183", planed on one side.

Purchased in 1995. From the estate of Erica Heyligers.

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Engelmann Spruce Master top 70EH

Master grade top. 18.875" x 6.25" x .200" planed on one side.

23 - 37 lines per inch. Straight lines and excellent vertical cut. Medullary rays present. Consistent Engelmann spruce yellow-brown colour.

Purchased in 1995. From the estate of Erica Heyligers.

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Engelmann Spruce Master top 42EH

Master grade top within the pattern, as pictured.

17" x 7.375" x .160" planed on one side.

16 - 45 lines per inch. Straight lines and excellent vertical cut.

Colour mostly consistent spruce yellow with one brown streak.

Purchased in 1995. From the estate of Erica Heyligers.

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Western Red Cedar AAA top WR261

Bands of colour. Straight, tight grain at 30 - 37 lines per inch. Excellent vertical cut.

Picture shows size of tenor ukelele.

20.125" x 7.375" x .190" planed on one side.

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Western Red Cedar AAA top WR264

Bands of colour in this top. Straight, tight and even grain at 30 - 37 lines per inch. Excellent vertical cut.

21.75" x 7.625" x .209" planed on one side.

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Western Red Cedar AAA top WR263

Grain 29 - 37 lines per inch. Straight lines, excellent vertical cut. Contrasting bands of colour.

19.875" x 7.75" x .170" planed on one side

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Western Red Cedar AAA top WR262

This top has bookmatched contrasting bands of colour--browns, reds. Grain is straight and consistently tight at 30 - 37 lines per inch. Excellent vertical cut. It will make a striking and good sounding top!

19.875" x 7.625" x .200" planed on one side.

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Engelmann Spruce AAA Ukelele/Mandolin top 863

This AAA top will make a beautiful top for a uke or mandolin. 1 piece top with Wings or 1 wing cut from the excess on the one end.

22" x 8.25" x .171" planed on both sides.

20 - 25 lines per inch. Consistent colour. Straight grain. Excellent vertical cut.

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Sitka Spruce 118-7

Single board AA+ Sitka Spruce, 13 - 22 lines per inch.
Could make a very good ukelele or mandolin top, one-piece with wings, cut from the extra length of the same board.
Sitka yellow-brown colour with medullary rays, excellent vertical cut.
Length 26.75”, 68 cm; Width 8.675”, 22 cm; Thickness .153” planed on one side.
Weight 7.5 oz; Density 21.28 lb/cubic foot.

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Sitka Spruce UK890

AA suitable for a ukulele, mandolin or bouzouki. Straight grain lines, 10 - 20 lines per inch. 90 degree vertical cut. Corner clipped as this board was near the top of the billet.
Length 18.75”, 47.7 cm; Width 7”, 17.9 cm; Thickness 0.193”.
Weight 11.7 oz; Density approximately 24.84 lb/ cubic foot.

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Sitka Spruce - Ukulele Top

All tops are cut to fit a Tenor Ukulele, If you are looking for something larger please contact us and we will find what you are looking for. Some of the tops are one piece 24" long so you cut wings from one end to make the body wide enough for an ukulele.This keeps the bridge area stronger as there is no glue join there.

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