Thread: Big brother

just about to embark on my first hand made Ukulele have some beaut quilted sequoia grown in Aussie it looks just the business for the Ukulele body. Any tips greatly appreciated.

Have you got a plan or design in mind as there are many ways to do it. I mostly mess around with strung up boxes although I have done a couple of things resembling electric guitars. Cal may be the man for advice if you are going the the acoustic way with bent sides. Anyhow sure to be someone on here with answers to most instrument related questions.
Regards
John

No plan as such purchased a complete kit to use all the components less the body ,still waiting for delivery so not sure how it will turn out. Heard of someone making main body by routing out and joining top and bottom in two halves. Only plan is to make a concert ukulele because of timber size issue with Sequoia. [already have two ]Thank you for your input.

I did similar with a dulcimer build. I found the build instructions on line just never bought the kit.
When your kit arrives you can use the parts as templates.
Regards
John

thank you for the reply John, the intention is to use the kit as a template as you suggest, bloody Ukulele is addictive once you start you want more of the little buggers.

Nice Guitar

made the ukulele very pleased with the look but struggling with final tuneup almost given up just can't tune the bugger may have to get a pro to attempt the tuneup [not part of plan.] but gone this far .

The setting up of an instrument is something you are going to have to learn. Building one is woodwork but the magic is getting it to play. You can read up plenty on line but it may be a good idea this first time to find someone that can set it up for you. If you can also sit in, watch and learn then its worth the money. I was lucky enough to get some pointers from a guy from the Gladesville Guitar Factory who was at a uke gathering doing setups and re stringing. I had just built my first cigar box guitar then and by good luck it was playable but what I learned that afternoon really set me up to keep making instruments that play. He would have a $100 uke playing as well as one that cost many hundreds. Only high end instruments get a proper setup before shipping the others are just how they roll off the assembly.
Regards
John