Uke Building Process

[Jeremy D]

Hi guys,

Just wondering what your process is for building a uke? I searched the forum and and it looks like a lot of guys use a solera and a Spanish heal. I was thinking that I would do it the same way I build a guitar, with outside mold, radius dishes and a bolt on MT neck. Can you see any potential pitfalls in building this way? I have the Hana Lima manual and plans and I would like to build a couple of tenor ukes. Is there anyone on the forum that builds them this way?

Thanks.

[johnparchem]

I just finished two made just the way you describe. One followed the Hana Lima tenor plans the other a Martin Tenor shape but I switched to a bolt on glued butt joint for the neck. I have the Hana Lima manual but mostly followed the their plan. Careful though their plan placed the bridge without compensation. The manual included it.

I have a bunch of pictures of my process on my web site.
http://harvestmoonguitars.com/Nikkos1.htm

[Jeremy D]

I just finished two made just the way you describe. One followed the Hana Lima tenor plans the other a Martin Tenor shape but I switched to a bolt on glued butt joint for the neck. I have the Hana Lima manual but mostly followed the their plan. Careful though their plan placed the bridge without compensation. The manual included it.

I have a bunch of pictures of my process on my web site.
http://harvestmoonguitars.com/Nikkos1.htm

Great stuff, exactly what I was looking for. Very nice ukes too!

[colburge]

Hi guys,

Just wondering what your process is for building a uke? I searched the forum and and it looks like a lot of guys use a solera and a Spanish heal. I was thinking that I would do it the same way I build a guitar, with outside mould, radius dishes and a bolt on MT neck. Can you see any potential pitfalls in building this way? I have the Hana Lima manual and plans and I would like to build a couple of tenor ukes. Is there anyone on the forum that builds them this way?

Thanks.

I did my first 2 using the Spanish heal method and the last 2 with mortice and tenon bolt on. I switched to bolt on because I wanted to be able to route the bindings and purflings all the way round, where as I had to hand finish them on the Spanish heal. You do get a perfect neck to body join with the Spanish heal though, which I struggle with normally. You will need a variation on the outside mould using Spanish heal to accommodate the neck.

I had no plans but instead used Allen's advice here -viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2930.

Good luck

Col

[Jeremy D]

Thank Col.

[ProfChris]

Most of the builder I know use outside moulds and a bolt-on neck.

But there are lots of other ways - increasingly I build face-down on a flat board (sopranos, no doming) without using a mould at all. Usually Spanish heel but sometimes bolt-on.