Tenor Uke Build

WezV

My partner has been complaining that she doesn't have an instrument built by me.   I pointed out she could help herself to any of the guitars in the house, but apparently that is not enough.

We agreed I would build a uke and she would definitely learn how to play it.   A few weeks later she realised just how slow I moved with these things, and she wanted to learn now.  So we got her a little Soprano uke to practice on whilst I slowly built a Tenor  that way she could keep both and have options.

first step was to get a top and back plate, made from limba for this



I cut some simple braces from a piece of tightly grained pine that was packaging from a new oven we had recently. Don't tell her I didn't want to use my proper bracing stock   No radius on this, keeping it really simple for speed


I messed up the matching sides as I tried to bend at 2mm thick, which works well with the walnut i have been bending on recent builds, but the black limba just didn't work.  so swapped out for some pear, thinned down to 1.5mm - it bent incredibly easily


I decided to go with a pre-made neck from ebay, which turned up like this.  


She was okay with me using a repaired neck, so we are now up to this point, waiting on binding


Its going to be painted, likely with posco pens once a design is settled on, so the mismatched wood is not bother.   I did also say I would do one with fancier woods and proper detailing if she sticks with it

Mattharrier

Oooh, interesting. I look forward to seeing the progress.

PhilKing

WezV said:

A few weeks later she realised just how slow I moved with these things

I've never noticed that Wez ;p

WezV

I did warn her  

WezV

binding on, just white plastic for this

Roland

Which tuning will you use?

Mattharrier

Did you ever get any further with this @WezV ?

WezV

yes, its strung and hanging on the wall waiting for me to move on to finishing

Mattharrier

Did this ever get to the finishing stage, Wez? Or did your partner decide that learning the ukulele wasn't for her?

WezV

it's still hanging on the wall.  She stopped learning  

Mattharrier

Hahaha, rubbish! Does it sound OK though?

WezV

Yeah, in fairness her job got very busy so I don't really mind.   We will finish it at some point but I've been focused on other things for me to play instead