Building and learning how to play a ukulele

snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
SO
Tonight I strung it up and strummed it a little. sounded horrible.
I can't get the thing tuned at all. I looked at video's online and tried to tune it like that. I guess I have the thing tied wrong or something everything sounds flat. No idea how to fix it just yet, but I'm not giving up. I'm going to sand and seal it tomorrow morning and finish it tomorrow afternoon. I will be returning those other strings that I purchased. They are for a baritone uke instead of a soprano.
After building this kit, I have really started getting my mind turning about building an actual solid mahogany uke instead of this laminate one that I just built. I think that it would be better if I built a concert uke from scratch and used professional tuning pegs and a bone neck and martin strings. UGH! Another expensive hobby. I know that luthiers though are few and far between - and it could easily evolve into money over time if I get good enough at it. A small backyard hobby shop would be all that is needed. I just have to start learning how to tune and play a few of em.
I've already decided that after I get the uke tuned and I build the *real* one and learn the uke really well, that I want to learn a little of the mandolin next.
so lets see...
1. gardening
2. saltwater aquariums
3. photography
4. and now luthier? (making and repairing musical instruments.)
I don't consider any of these hobbies... they are just things that keep me occupied. I'd much rather read a gardening or saltwater book or (now) strum an instrument and be learning something new than to watch "reality" television... Amish Mafia, anyone?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Very nice build thread Snake. Thanks for sharing. Does everything need to dry out better before it will tune correctly?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Thanks guy. I got this kit for measirements basically. I was planning on building one from scratch but didnt have a template.
I love these kinds of build projects. I can really take my time and not worry about getting it done on a deadline ever.
I checked the tune this morning and it seems like once it fully dried the sound got better. I am going to try to tune it better. If i still cant get it right my friend can teach me how this weekend.
Im putting the sand and seal on it this morning so it will be dry after i get back from the bbq.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Well, Everything is done... I got it toned and everything. Looks good enough to me to pass for a kit ukulele.
Hopefully later today I will get around to post some pics of the final build and then once I learn a tune I will make a youtube video of myself blundering through it.
I am really planning on building more musical instruments. I just want to learn a few things with this uke first and go from there. I am seriously considering building an actual uke out of solid mahogany soon. Building musical instruments might become a past time, actually. I know there is a lot of money to be made in it around my area... who knows where it will go from here.
I finally got my uke tuned and my musician friend said that I should use less string on the tuning pegs since that will be less to stretch, it should give a much better sound and stain in tune better. I'm going to try it and see.
 
D

dragonzim

Active Member
Earlier kidding around aside, this is a cool project and something I can see doing with my boys in a few years. I have a buddy who scratch built himself a violin and a set of shuttle pipes (a type of bagpipes) for the sole reason that someone told him he couldn't do it
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Thanks Zim.

Lacquor finish. Never use polyurethane on an instrument. Too thick, changes the sound.
I absolutely rushed through this build. I just wanted to test my luck. Next build ill be testing my skills. I have this uke that i can play and learn on for now. Ill be looking for a used rice cooker around town. Once i get that, ill have to get some pricing on some mahogany. Ill keep this thread open for building the next uke.
After the uke and learning the uke i was thinking about the mandolin. A buddy of mine wants me to start building guitars and selling custom ones. He said there is a great market for it, since leuthing is a dying art.
 
D

dragonzim

Active Member
Mandolin is going to be a much more difficult instrument to play. I believe there are 8 strings as opposed to the 4 on the Ike or 6 on a guitar
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Didnt say i would really learn how to play it. I will probably know how to pick a few strings but i dont expect to be really good at it. Lol. I like the way it sounds mainly.
A banjo would be neat, since i live in the south. I found plans online.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I took the rubber bands off of my buddies ukulele and it seems pretty nice and tight. He will have to do an alcohol rub and a final sanding before a stain. I was hoping to kinda go ahead and do that myself and let it get dry before letting him put on a lacquer finish and get it gone. But, I guess it's a Summer project for him.
I am learning some cords for my uke. It's pretty interesting to strum it. My fingers are getting a little tougher every time I play it. I am thinking about sanding down the nut a little bit so that the F chord isn't so hard on my fingers. So far, I have learned C, F, G, D, A# and E. I have also bought a Snark tuner with a vibration sensor, so it is extremely accurate. It's nice to keep it in tune. Also, after a few days of keeping it in tune and stretching the nylon strings... it's holding a tune longer and longer each day. I know I will probably have to tune it practically every time I pick it up, but I'm fine with that. Just glad to know that the stock strings sound pretty good.
I learned the tune and strum to "you are my sunshine" this weekend... and I have learned the chords and can hit them fairly easily now... but I have ran into a problem. I can't make myself keep the strum beat the same while I am singing. lol. In any case, I bet if I keep at it and keep practicing, I will eventually get it.
This was me this afternoon... sitting on my front porch, strumming away.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Alright... I promised a video, I should follow through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=266FnjEF6qc&feature=youtu.be
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
OK!

So, I have taken to the uke pretty well. I figure it's only a matter of time and practice till I learn to play it really well. I feel like after I heard a real solid wood uke play, that the sound is much, much better. A man that plays strings recommended to me Aquila Nilgut strings, which makes the uke sound much better. We will have to see.

I have been talking to my friends about how I was thinking about building a uke over my winter break and how I had found a source of local maple that would do perfectly and everything.... well, a friend of mine gave me a rice cooker! Woohoo! Now all I have to do is modify it to become a steam oven and I'm good to go! I have a picture of it but it's still on the camera. I'll upload a fully modified version of it soon. I think the steam pipe is going to be just big enough to steam the side panels of small instruments... all the way up to a baritone uke.

I also found a good source of maple locally... quilted maple at that. I won't truly know what it is until I start cutting it and stain a piece. 12 board feet is under $35, and if cut correctly, I can make three ukes out of it. ... wow, just think, all the uke wood for $11 each. XD

I think I'll have to order some Indian rosewood or ebony. I haven't found an exotic wood supplier locally, and it's doubtful I will. At least I can find maple and white oak. The strings are $6, the stain - dirt cheap. The only expensive thing on the entire build is a set of tuning pegs... depending on the style can be either $4 on up to $100. The nut and saddle I can use leftovers at the local music store for $2 each. Or, I could get something more expensive like cow bone. Ah, the possibilities. lol. Anyways, I bet ya'll can't tell at all that I am excited.

My gift to myself for Christmas is going to be a tenor uke. Stay "tuned" for the build!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Alright. So I totaled everything up. It will cost me $61 in supplies per ukulele. Given a professional quality build and finish, I suspect someone would pay $250-300 for a
hand made uke
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Been doing a ton of research on tenor ukuleles... watching a lot of videos on how to build molds and jigs for them. It's all really fascinating! It's like a whole new hobby and there's not really that many luthiers in the US that can build musical instruments anymore. I talked to a man that lives behind my parents - a street behind them... He has been a luthier his entire life. He made one Violin a month to pay bills and save for retirement. WOW! I guess it's all in your skills and what people like.


I'm fixing to print off a free tenor uke plans at my college... they have a 48x48 printer that I can use. Fixing to print... so excited!
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Looks pretty good for your first one. I've been studying a little bit guitar lately, myself. They tell me it's therapeutic, not sure I believe them yet though. :laughing:
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
It's cheaper than therapy to me. Lol.
I come home and unwind for the day by playing it and learning something new. Just sit on the couch and strumming helps keep my mind occupied on it instead of all the problems. Soothing for me, anyways. So is wood work. I love to make me some sawdust. :)
 
phixer

phixer

Active Member
The older I get the more I realize thru wisdom that therapists are full of crap and the only thing that really works is strong drugs and after effects of extreme physical exertion. Triathalon is my drug of choice.

Woodwork is a great hobby.
 
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