uke build

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GregL
Blackwood
Posts: 229
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Lismore, NSW

uke build

Post by GregL » Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:26 pm

Hi,

I have just finished my first scratch build (concert uke), here are some pics. Not as good quality as most on here (both the uke and the pics!), but I'm happy.
Australian Red Cedar back (curly) and sides, Huon Pine top, Silky Oak and Myall neck, ringed Myall fretboard, bridge, nut, Danish Oil finish.
29a.jpg
29a.jpg (45.38 KiB) Viewed 11642 times
24a.jpg
24a.jpg (41.65 KiB) Viewed 11642 times
14a.jpg
14a.jpg (102.24 KiB) Viewed 11642 times
22a.jpg
22a.jpg (101.12 KiB) Viewed 11642 times
Thanks for looking.
GregL.

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colburge
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Location: Upper Caboolture

Re: uke build

Post by colburge » Sun Nov 30, 2014 1:44 pm

Looking good Greg, you learn a lot building from scratch. Can I ask what the go is with the back and the abalone dots, I've not seen that before. Also, what strings did you use and how does it sound?

Cheers

Col

GregL
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Posts: 229
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Lismore, NSW

Re: uke build

Post by GregL » Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:40 pm

Hi Col,

Thanks for the comments.

The paua dots are to hide borer holes in the Red Cedar, the timber was rather "holey" but I just loved the curl, so I did my best to maneuver around the holes and just filled the ones I could not avoid.
I think the strings are D'Addario classical guitar nylon strings.
It sounds like a uke! I play more guitar, so I haven't used the "normal" uke re-entrant tuning - just D, G, B, E like the top 4 strings on a guitar, and it sounds OK to me. And it's actually a tenor (17 1/2" scale) - I mistakenly called it a concert size before.

Thanks,
GregL.

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colburge
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Location: Upper Caboolture

Re: uke build

Post by colburge » Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:55 pm

I thought they must have been placed there because of borers or something - novel way of covering them up.

Cheers

Col

nnickusa
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Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:07 pm
Location: Brunswick Heads, NSW

Re: uke build

Post by nnickusa » Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:59 pm

Nice Greg. That the one you had on the way when I came by yours?

Looks good. Remember, you will cring every time someone looks at one of your guitars--I do--but they will only be bewildered by the fact that yu actually made it. All of what we see as unsightly blemishes are invisible to them.

For comparison,top in to Planet Music and have a look at the $4,000 Martins etc, and see what you get from them for that kind of dosh....

Good work, mate...
I wish I was half the man my dog thinks I am....

Cheers,
Nick

https://www.facebook.com/pages/DMI-hand ... 744?ref=hl

GregL
Blackwood
Posts: 229
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Lismore, NSW

Re: uke build

Post by GregL » Sun Nov 30, 2014 6:54 pm

Hi Nick,

Yes, that's the one - seems like I was making it forever!
Thanks for the advice re: blemishes! I might just visit Planet Music and check out the Martins!

Thanks,
GregL.

johnparchem
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Re: uke build

Post by johnparchem » Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:51 am

The ukulele looks great. I love the back.

GregL
Blackwood
Posts: 229
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Lismore, NSW

Re: uke build

Post by GregL » Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:33 am

Hi John,

Thanks for the comment!
I just love curly timber! Here is another shot, this time the headstock overlay, I used the same curly australian red cedar on that, and you can see a bit of the ringed (curly) western myall fretboard too:
21b.jpg
21b.jpg (54.45 KiB) Viewed 11570 times
(the timber looks much nicer "in the flesh", I'm not a very good photographer)

Thanks,
GregL.

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charangohabsburg
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Location: Switzerland

Re: uke build

Post by charangohabsburg » Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:52 pm

That's a very nice ukulele Greg, not only because of the beautiful timber. :cl

I find the photos OK, but if you want to take better ones without taking a deeper dive into photography, taking pictures of instruments on a sunny day at a shady spot generally helps a lot (not beneath a tree because green can get a bit problematic).
Markus

To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.

GregL
Blackwood
Posts: 229
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:01 am
Location: Lismore, NSW

Re: uke build

Post by GregL » Thu Dec 04, 2014 9:38 am

Hi Markus,

Thanks for the comment, and the photography tip! I have a reasonable camera, but not much photographic skill!

Thanks,
GregL.

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