1st uke build.....help......please

[68matts]

Well she's finished and I'm pretty happy with the way it's come out.
I really thought with the battleship bracing and near armour plating for the top and back that it end up sounding like a uke from the $2 shop but I reckon it sounds like it would be worth at least 10 bucks =).
Unfortunately Allen the Aquilla's didn't make an ordinary uke sound good this time=(.
Actually to be honest I quite like the sound there's just not a lot of volume.
Anyway onto No. 2 now with a bit more knowledge than before. Thanks to all.

[charangohabsburg]

Congrats!
It looks very classy to me. Like others I like the end graft. It also has a very nice binding.
The "eclipse" on the headstock look cool too.

[ozziebluesman]

Good on ya Matt. Looks great to me. I especially like your inlay work on the headstock. Seems like each guitar and ukulele we build get lighter each time. Its all good fun getting the feel of what makes a difference to tone and volume. Addictive!!

Cheers

Alan

[John Maddison]

Just to echo Alan, "it's all good fun."

Feel proud of your achievements, Matt - she's a stunner for a #1 ... am thinking ukes are a great way to get into building; regardless of how they turn out you can always get a half-decent sound, while successive builds teach you the art of refinement.

[ProfChris]

am thinking ukes are a great way to get into building; regardless of how they turn out you can always get a half-decent sound

Well, maybe. You might be right for the larger sizes, but sopranos are contrary little buggers, and I've been able to make one that didn't make it to half decent.

Well done Matt on this - much better finished than my more agricultural efforts (I make the excuse that I'm shooting for sound, but really it's a lack of both skill and patience), and it might actually be louder than you think. Have you listened to someone else play it? I'm constantly amazed how much louder my ukes are when I'm the hearer rather than the player.

Assuming the bug has now bitten you properly, the next challenge is to make one equally pretty but with more of the sound you want. As someone else posted, lightness seems to be the key, I think for sides and back as well as the top. Thin and flex, thin and flex, until you can bend an appreciable curve (cross-grain) with only light finger pressure. Brace as lightly as you dare - I think the next set of bracing could be half the thickness, plus you could lose the two longitudinal braces either side of the soundhole. And if you build a soprano, two top braces plus bridge plate and one back brace are plenty.

Have fun with the next one!

[Kim]

Great work Matt

Must say that this one clearly shows you have all the chops, eye for design aspects and taste in wood selection to make a 'great' looking uke. Now its just a matter of using a little less wood where it matters and you will soon be making very fine ukes in every regards.

Excellent 1st effort

Cheers

Kim