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Thread: A new set of ukuleles
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26th April 2020, 05:41 PM #1GOLD MEMBER
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A new set of ukuleles
Just starting to embark on a new set of ukuleles. These three will be baritones. I will also be adding some tenor and maybe a concert or soprano.
Timbers in two of them will be Sapele back and sides with Western Red Cedar for the tops and Mahogany necks.
The third one will be an experiment in an all Huon Pine body. Will see what I come up with.
I have to create new bucks for this lot as they are a different design to my last ones. These are a modern standard in ukulele design as built by Graham McDonald and Allen McFarlen here in Australia.
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29th April 2020, 08:53 AM #2SENIOR MEMBER
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just a question Cal on what thickness are the body top and bottom I built my first concert ukulele happy with the build but not the sound any suggestions.
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29th April 2020, 04:41 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
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For concert size a thickness aimed for is 1.5mm all round, meaning soundboard sides and backs. Tenors are 1.75mm all round and Baritones are 2mm. There is always a but! This all depends on the timber being used. For sides of any of the above, it depends on how well the timber wants to bend at a given thickness for a given radius. For backs it’s the stiffness, for soundboards it’s the tone and resonance.
The other thing that will happen with your instrument is it will improve with age, sounds strange I know but the timber will relax and the ukulele will start to resonate better as it gets older.
I’m learning a lot as I continue my journey through building, and I’m only at the beginning. It’s a great ride!
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30th April 2020, 08:35 AM #4SENIOR MEMBER
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thanks Cal the sides are Queensland oak at 1.5 mm the top and bottom are walnut about 3mm this may contribute to quality of sound ,good to hear that the quality will improve with time, once again thank you. I agree the ride is interesting to say the least.
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30th April 2020, 11:54 AM #5GOLD MEMBER
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Looking forward with great interest how this journey goes for you, and what you produce and how they sound.
Enjoy the journey Cal and please take us with you. Thanks
Eugene
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30th April 2020, 07:32 PM #6GOLD MEMBER
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A new set of ukuleles
I have been side tracked!
A friend at work asked me to convert a 6 string guitar to a 5 string, I tried as hard as I could to refuse the challenge, but he insisted.
So I decided to just get it done, I have had a bit of a go at it this afternoon. Had to turn up some plugs for the headstock and remove the original cover plate.
And then run some timber through the drum sander to create veneers for the front and back of the headstock. I used Sapele for the back and Sheoak for the front.
I also removed the original bridge with a trim router, I will make a new 5 string bridge and cut a new saddle for it. I will have to route the soundboard out where the string pins go and glue another piece of timber in before fitting the new bridge so I can drill and ream new pin holes.
I will clean up the soundboard for the bridge with the trimmer after inserting the new piece in.
I have never done this before, I hope it all works out ok. As mentioned earlier my friend was insistent that I do it, that will teach him!
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2nd May 2020, 09:11 AM #7GOLD MEMBER
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Early start in the shed (6am), headstock complete, polished and tuners on.
Cleaned up the fretboard and frets (he didn’t want me to dress the frets)
Will have breakfast before I wake the neighbours up!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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2nd May 2020, 01:43 PM #8
Nice work Cal. I take it you will just have more room at the sides of the fretboard and keep the string spacing much the same. Got me pondering on a strat neck I have waiting for the right project to come along.
Regards
John
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3rd May 2020, 09:11 AM #9GOLD MEMBER
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Thanks John, the player has large hands and has marked on the original nut and saddle where he wants the string placement which leaves the two outer strings pretty much where they are.
I will set it up as per his request, but if he wants to change it after playing I will just make a new nut and saddle for it.
I would have liked to pull the frets and reshape the neck to narrow the whole thing down, but that’s more trouble than it’s worth.
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3rd May 2020, 12:22 PM #10GOLD MEMBER
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Yesterday my friend come around to help me with the new bridge, I routed out the pin holes in the soundboard to level with the bridge patch underneath.
Cut a new piece and glued it in place.
I let it dry and then levelled the soundboard to remove the old glue and accept the new bridge.
I then cut a new bridge out of some quarter sawn redgum. It’s not overly hard like some other redgum I have but plenty hard for a bridge.
I will set out the nut slots and saddle position then the pin positions. I will drill and ream the pin holes and create a temporary saddle for setting the intonation. I won’t put any strings on it for a few days though, just to let the glue really bond the bridge to the soundboard (I used Titebond 3)
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7th May 2020, 08:22 PM #11GOLD MEMBER
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A new set of ukuleles
Picked up a new toy this arvo
That should make things a little easier.
All I have to do is ditch the crappie dust port and make a new one for a 150mm port!
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9th May 2020, 07:08 PM #12GOLD MEMBER
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A bit of melamine and a couple of hinges gets the job done.
I can open the lid fully for paper changes and a single m8 hex head bolt holds it all in place. I left a bit of room either side of the drum for air to make it’s way in aiding dust removal.
I have used it a fair bit today and the paper still feels fairly sharp.
Mahogany back and sides.
Huon pine back and sides
Camphor Laurel back and sides
Southern Silky Oak back and sides
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10th May 2020, 02:10 PM #13
Setting a fast pace there cal. The sander will surely speed things up. Almost a production line going on.
Regards
John
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10th May 2020, 07:53 PM #14GOLD MEMBER
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A new set of ukuleles
I’m just trying to get all of the timber into thinner stock so that it can reach equalibrium and I don’t have to bide my time waiting for it when I need it.
And yes to let you in on the secret, I have a few to build. Two good friends now want me to build them a baritone each.
I have had a few people asking for me to build them one. I am not going to build them to order, the plan is to build them and have people try before they buy. I can’t commit to timelines for commission builds.
I’m going to have a red hot go at producing quality instruments that people can’t put down.
I found some nice book match pieces of Huon big enough for a concert size this morning.
Along with some more Blackwood and Silky Oak.
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10th May 2020, 10:41 PM #15
Hi with the melamine box over the sander I would keep an eye for stress if it’s a typical cast housing I had one from jet that cracked at the motor end nearly impossible to find anyone to repair it. Cheers Peter
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