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Thread: Ukulele build
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25th September 2018, 10:21 AM #61GOLD MEMBER
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Ukulele build
Thanks Pete, the Camphor Laurel was originally 150x150x1500mm I run it through the bandsaw to get book matched pairs about 4mm thick running the billet through the thicknesser each time to get a clean face. Then due to my thicknesser only able to go down to 5mm, I placed a piece of 16mm melamine onto the bed of the thicknesser with a stop block on the end and sat the boards on to it to run it through. A couple of limitations with this is the anti kickback fingers in the thicknesser need to be pushed forward when inserting the melamine so that they don’t get jammed up and stop the height being adjusted finer than 5mm and tear out can be an issue. So I had to come up with a way of getting a clean surface, I have a 150mm wide 900mm long belt sander that I made an attachment for to get down to my desired 2mm thickness. I placed the Camphor Laurel onto a piece of MDF with double sided tape and pushed it through my contraption, as close to a drum sander as I could afford. For the cut out section of the upper bout I had to thin the Camphor Laurel down to 1.6mm to get such a tight bend (I split one trying at 2mm). So the soundboard, sides and back are all 2mm aside from the tight bit just mentioned.
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25th September 2018, 06:05 PM #62
Thanks Cal. I am really impressed with your effort. I bet you Daughter is thrilled that her Dad could produce such a quality musical instrument. I was going to attempt to make one but seeing yours and your workshop I think I will skip and go to plan B.
I purchased on E Bay from China a Baritone head and fretboard for $12 and four tunings for about the same price. They are sitting on my workbench waiting for the next blast of inspiration, at least I know now, what I will not be doing. My ukulelle cost $120 and I am happy with it for a Beginner's first. My playing does not justify any further investment of funds with the likely result being a disaster.
Maybe a Panelle might be the go, converting a saucepan into a hybrid ukulele and tuning it to GCEA.
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25th September 2018, 08:08 PM #63GOLD MEMBER
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Thank you for the compliments Pete, you would be surprised with what you can do with very little tools. My tools are not expensive by any means, I try to make do with what I have. The first one I built was just a pretty box with a stick hanging out the end of it, a friend has had success with thin ply from the recycle centre and his sounds great. Have a look on cigarboxnation.com, heaps of inspiration there from ukulele to six string and bass to biscuit tins and a heap more, the sky’s the limit. Fretboard can be cut with a fret saw from carbatec for about $40, measurements can be calculated via the stumac website. With careful measuring a fretboard isn’t hard to do. If you have any questions just ask and I will try to help, I’m no expert though!
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25th September 2018, 08:40 PM #64
Thanks Carl. It appears that you know where I am at. The main issue I have to get my head around is the curvature of the sound board. I know of the Stumac Website so I have done some research.
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25th September 2018, 09:29 PM #65GOLD MEMBER
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Don’t curve the soundboard, ukulele are generally flat and flat fretboard, no neck angle. I radiused the back only and that was just to see if I could! Most mass produced ukulele don’t even radius the back. Keep things simple to start with, try a rectangular box that has a bit of bracing in the corners and one or two on the sides, a heal block and an end block and a hole of some sort to let the sound out. From that you will learn a heap, cheaply and quickly too. Keep it fun and don’t get too bogged down with specifics.
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26th September 2018, 04:20 PM #66
Cal,
Does the sound hole need to be in a particular place or is there a fair bit of discretion?
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26th September 2018, 10:36 PM #67GOLD MEMBER
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It depends on if you want to follow specific builds, there is a science to the whole body of the instrument, tap tone, the soundboard, the shape, sides, back and bracing. At this point in time I have little interest in traditional instruments, I’m experimenting in my own style. What ever you make will have a sound, it may not be to some people’s taste but it will work. A few makers are also including side ports in the upper bout that face the player. Have a look at Barron River Ukuleles, Allen builds very fine instruments. He is on Facebook and many luthiers forums including anzlf.com and the ukulele underground forum.
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27th September 2018, 08:02 AM #68
Thank you Cal for taking the time to answer. I have to get my head around all this but need to start off in the right direction. I have a few advantages but that does not make up for a lack of technical and fine first class workmanship.
Excuse my meanderings. Rather than fill this wonderful thread up with my crap, If it is ok by you I will start a new thread with all my thoughts.
Thanks
Pete
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27th September 2018, 09:24 AM #69GOLD MEMBER
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You’re welcome Pete, take your time and have fun with it. I’m at the start of my journey and have learned a lot from my mistakes as I do with anything new I start, it’s part of the journey. Have fun with the process though! I will look out for your thread, pm me if you like too! Cheers Cal.
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28th September 2018, 09:02 PM #70GOLD MEMBER
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All four builds together, finally finished off the biscuit tin fretless today.
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28th September 2018, 10:33 PM #71
Woh! Love it.
What a fab selection. I never would have thought that when I joined this forum back in 2007 that I would be interested in the Musical Section. I did not even know it existed.
And yet, here I am, looking at a Ukulele build.
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2nd October 2018, 11:16 PM #72GOLD MEMBER
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Well I finally handed over the ukulele to my daughter who was suitably chuffed with the end result, I had my three children with me for a week and unfortunately had to drive them home again on the weekend (16 hour return drive in one stint) the ukulele now resides with her. I loved seeing the look on her face as she removed it from it’s case, the grin never left her face nor the giggles. I hope I installed a little bit of confidence in them all by saying that building the ukulele was to show them that they can achieve anything if they put their minds to it. I have two more instruments to build and hope to get a start on them soon.
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3rd October 2018, 07:32 AM #73
What a lovely young girl. I know she will remember that for the rest of her life no matter what we think the future may hold. Thanks for sharing that photo. It is special to do something for your kids.
Sometimes, it is the little things we do, and other times, things like this.
You should be very proud, from that photo, your efforts will be been well rewarded way into the future.
Pete
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3rd October 2018, 06:12 PM #74GOLD MEMBER
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Thanks Pete, I think that she really appreciates the effort I put into the ukulele. She is a great kid too!
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