Considering a Kala Baritone or Tenor Ukulele

[Tom]

UAS has stuck! I found a lovely Pono acacia baritone in Vegas.

Sounds great in these videos, but a little pricey.

Did you buy it? Congrats.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Tom,

We’re getting ready to head out for a family backyard camp out (Big backyard). I’ll try to get all the pictures, measurements and sources together for you.

Would you prefer super glue jell or double sided electronic assembly tape? The tape is removable, super glue probably is not. But it goes on the inside back of the instrument which doesn’t have much to do with the tone so that may not be a big concern.

Tonewood sells their X-Braces for $32 each. An absurdly high price for a piece of molded plastic with 4 neodymium magnets. The whole assembly is too thick for most ukes.

If you’re think of getting a TWA2 they’re having a Memorial Day sale. ONLY $280 +tax & shipping of course. It really brings a GS-Mini to life.

 

[Tom]

Tom,

We’re getting ready to head out for a family backyard camp out (Big backyard). I’ll try to get all the pictures, measurements and sources together for you.

No big rush Russ, whenever you have time

Would you prefer super glue jell or double sided electronic assembly tape? The tape is removable, super glue probably is not. But it goes on the inside back of the instrument which doesn’t have much to do with the tone so that may not be a big concern.

Tape sounds less messy and easier to apply (?)

If you’re think of getting a TWA2 they’re having a Memorial Day sale. ONLY $280 +tax & shipping of course. It really brings a GS-Mini to life.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[UTTransplant]

Sounds great in these videos, but a little pricey.

Did you buy it? Congrats.

Yes I did! It was on sale, and even his list price wasn’t quite as high as the advertisement, but it sounds heavenly. Now I have to improve enough to make it worth while. I am a solid advanced beginner, and this instrument deserves a solid intermediate plus. Interesting enough, the fretboard is a bit narrower than the Kala and the frets are just slightly closer together. I had been playing most chords without looking on the Kala, but I have to look on the Pono. So I am going to go back to the basics of chord transitions until I get the feel of the new instrument. Then I can start learning to pick some, the next step I was planning on doing. BTW, know anyone who wants a lovely spruce top Kala? She’s going up for sale when we get home.

 

[Tom]

BTW, know anyone who wants a lovely spruce top Kala? She’s going up for sale when we get home.

Will you list it here? Just curious - Pickup from/delivery?

 

[UTTransplant]

I was going to list it in Iowa, but if you want it and you are still in Ohio, I am sure we could work something out for delivery or pickup. We will be back in NE Iowa on 30 May. We will be just generally hanging around during June and early July for medical things. Won’t be back west until October. Feel free to email me. I am sure you have the account name in my profile.

 

[Tom]

Feel free to email me.

See conversation (envelope icon).

 

[8Muddypaws]

OK, i got the measurements and drew some diagrams and all that and then had the crazy idea to google “Build your own Tonewood amp XBrace”. All I can is “Well Duh!”. Of course somebody already thought of it.

To build your own custom DIY X-brace for a ToneWoodAmp, you need to replicate the exact structure of the official 4-magnet magnetic holder. Building your own is an excellent, cost-effective alternative if you want to swap your single amp across multiple guitars without buying extra retail braces. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Here is a step-by-step guide to building your own X-brace using easily accessible materials.

---

Required Materials & Tools

• Magnets: Four (4) strong Neodymium disc or cylinder magnets. For the proper magnetic attraction through the guitar's back wood, 12mm diameter x 10mm thickness N52-grade magnets are highly recommended. [1]
• The Frame: You have two primary options for the structural "X":
  • 3D Printed: If you have a 3D printer, you can download pre-made community templates like the Tonewood Amp X-Brace on Thingiverse.
  • Handmade Wood/Plastic: A thin cross-piece made of lightweight balsa wood, basswood, or rigid plastic strips. [1]
• Adhesive:
  • Strong Cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) or Epoxy to secure the magnets to your DIY frame.
  • Double-sided foam mounting tape (such as 3M heavy-duty foam tape) to secure the brace inside the guitar. [1, 2]
• Measuring Tools: Blue painter's tape, a ruler, and a marker. [1]

---

Step-By-Step Build Instructions

1. Measure the Magnet Spacing
The magnets on your DIY brace must perfectly align with the internal layout of the ToneWoodAmp unit.

• Place a piece of blue painter's tape across the back magnetic rails of your ToneWoodAmp.
• Use a marker to trace the exact center points of the four magnetic contact zones.
• Transfer these precise measurements to your frame material to determine exactly where your four DIY magnets will sit.

2. Construct the Frame

• If 3D Printing: Print the Thingiverse 3D Model using a lightweight but rigid filament like PLA or PETG.
• If Crafting Manually: Cut two thin, lightweight strips of wood or plastic. Notch them in the middle to create a half-lap joint so they interlock flushly into an "X" shape. Glue the joint securely. [1]

3. Set the Magnet Polarity (Critical Step)
Neodymium magnets have strict north and south poles. If you glue them backwards, they will repel your ToneWoodAmp instead of attracting it.

• Take your four loose Neodymium magnets and let them naturally snap onto the back of your ToneWoodAmp unit.
• Mark the exposed face of each magnet with a marker. This marked side is the side that must face away from the guitar wood (pointing toward the inside of the body).
• Glue the magnets into the four corners of your DIY "X" frame, ensuring the marked side remains visible and facing up.

4. Apply the Mounting Tape

• Once the structural glue dries completely, apply a small square of double-sided 3M foam tape to the flat, wooden-facing side of each magnet.
• Leave the protective backing on the tape for now. [1, 2, 3]

---

Safe Installation Process
To prevent the magnets from violently slamming into your guitar or scratching the internal wood, follow the official dry-test method: [1]

1. Position the Amp: Temporarily tape or hold your ToneWoodAmp in its desired playing position on the back of your guitar. [1, 2]
2. Loosen Strings: Slacken your guitar strings completely so you can easily fit your hand through the sound hole. [1, 2]
3. Dry Run: Reach inside the sound hole holding your DIY brace at a 45-degree angle. Slowly guide it toward the back until you feel the magnets grab onto the ToneWoodAmp. Ensure all 4 corners pull with equal resistance. [1]
4. Final Adherence: Pull the brace back out, peel the protective liners off the double-sided tape, carefully guide it back into its snapped magnetic position, and press firmly on all four corners for 10–15 seconds to permanently set the adhesive. [1, 2].

A bit of information missing is that the magnets are arranged in a 50mm square.

Errata: My TWA2 does not have magnets in it. The only magnets involved are in the X-Brace so the polarity (N/S) will not matter.

 

[Tom]

OK, i got the measurements and drew some diagrams and all that and then had the crazy idea to google “Build your own Tonewood amp XBrace”. All I can is “Well Duh!”. Of course somebody already thought of it.

To build your own custom DIY X-brace for a ToneWoodAmp, you need to replicate the exact structure of the official 4-magnet magnetic holder. Building your own is an excellent, cost-effective alternative if you want to swap your single amp across multiple guitars without buying extra retail braces. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Here is a step-by-step guide to building your own X-brace using easily accessible materials.

---

Required Materials & Tools

• Magnets: Four (4) strong Neodymium disc or cylinder magnets. For the proper magnetic attraction through the guitar's back wood, 12mm diameter x 10mm thickness N52-grade magnets are highly recommended. [1]
• The Frame: You have two primary options for the structural "X":
  • 3D Printed: If you have a 3D printer, you can download pre-made community templates like the Tonewood Amp X-Brace on Thingiverse.
  • Handmade Wood/Plastic: A thin cross-piece made of lightweight balsa wood, basswood, or rigid plastic strips. [1]
• Adhesive:
  • Strong Cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) or Epoxy to secure the magnets to your DIY frame.
  • Double-sided foam mounting tape (such as 3M heavy-duty foam tape) to secure the brace inside the guitar. [1, 2]
• Measuring Tools: Blue painter's tape, a ruler, and a marker. [1]

---

Step-By-Step Build Instructions

1. Measure the Magnet Spacing
The magnets on your DIY brace must perfectly align with the internal layout of the ToneWoodAmp unit.

• Place a piece of blue painter's tape across the back magnetic rails of your ToneWoodAmp.
• Use a marker to trace the exact center points of the four magnetic contact zones.
• Transfer these precise measurements to your frame material to determine exactly where your four DIY magnets will sit.

2. Construct the Frame

• If 3D Printing: Print the Thingiverse 3D Model using a lightweight but rigid filament like PLA or PETG.
• If Crafting Manually: Cut two thin, lightweight strips of wood or plastic. Notch them in the middle to create a half-lap joint so they interlock flushly into an "X" shape. Glue the joint securely. [1]

3. Set the Magnet Polarity (Critical Step)
Neodymium magnets have strict north and south poles. If you glue them backwards, they will repel your ToneWoodAmp instead of attracting it.

• Take your four loose Neodymium magnets and let them naturally snap onto the back of your ToneWoodAmp unit.
• Mark the exposed face of each magnet with a marker. This marked side is the side that must face away from the guitar wood (pointing toward the inside of the body).
• Glue the magnets into the four corners of your DIY "X" frame, ensuring the marked side remains visible and facing up.

4. Apply the Mounting Tape

• Once the structural glue dries completely, apply a small square of double-sided 3M foam tape to the flat, wooden-facing side of each magnet.
• Leave the protective backing on the tape for now. [1, 2, 3]

---

Safe Installation Process
To prevent the magnets from violently slamming into your guitar or scratching the internal wood, follow the official dry-test method: [1]

1. Position the Amp: Temporarily tape or hold your ToneWoodAmp in its desired playing position on the back of your guitar. [1, 2]
2. Loosen Strings: Slacken your guitar strings completely so you can easily fit your hand through the sound hole. [1, 2]
3. Dry Run: Reach inside the sound hole holding your DIY brace at a 45-degree angle. Slowly guide it toward the back until you feel the magnets grab onto the ToneWoodAmp. Ensure all 4 corners pull with equal resistance. [1]
4. Final Adherence: Pull the brace back out, peel the protective liners off the double-sided tape, carefully guide it back into its snapped magnetic position, and press firmly on all four corners for 10–15 seconds to permanently set the adhesive. [1, 2].

A bit of information missing is that the magnets are arranged in a 50mm square.

Errata: My TWA2 does not have magnets in it. The only magnets involved are in the X-Brace so the polarity (N/S) will not matter.

Whew! A big thanks for posting that Russ.