First build - Thanks

baog · Jul 13, 2017

I recently finished my first uke. It's a low G tenor out of sapele and curly maple, bolivian "rosewood" fingerboard and bridge. The finish is Waterlox over shellac (messed up a french polish and lost patience).

I want to thank all of the members of this forum, I've been lurking for a long time using the gorgeous pictures as inspiration. I certainly couldn't have done it without all the great information provided by the amazing luthiers that share their knowledge so generously here.

-baog

photoshooter · Jul 13, 2017

You really know how to make an entrance &#55357;&#56832;
Congrats on a beautiful first build.

sequoia · Jul 13, 2017

A very nice first effort. Congratulations!

greenscoe · Jul 13, 2017

It looks good for a first build so you should be congratulating yourself on this achievement. I've used sapele a lot as its a cheap and readily available wood for hobby makers in the UK though not much used by the pros.

You don't say whether you are happy with the way it sounds, that's what making ukes is really all about. I hope it sounds as good or better than you expected.

Vespa Bob · Jul 13, 2017

Excellent work, you can be justifiably proud! Is the headstock motif an inlay, or applied by another method?

Bob

ksquine · Jul 13, 2017

Very pretty uke. You found some great looking sapele for it!!

baog · Jul 13, 2017

The headstock is an inlay. I have three young daughters and I wanted to have a motif that would relate to them.

As for sound, I'm pretty happy with it but I don't have much to compare it to since I don't have any other ukuleles and I'm not a player (yet?). It's louder than I would have expected and it has good intonation so I'm pleased that it can make music in the right hands.

Wildestcat · Jul 15, 2017

Fantastic first build!

Henning · Jul 19, 2017

Congratulations!
Please remember that it would take some time to find its real playing abilities.
I would be interested in what you learned during the building, your experiences.
Do you intend to build another one too?

Rrgramps · Jul 26, 2017

Very nice build. What is your finish?

That's interesting that you build first; play later. How did you come to the decision to build; did you play another stringed instrument? Regardless, that is a ukulele anybody would be proud of; to have, to hold, to play.

baog · Jul 27, 2017

I don't know if I'll build another one. If I do it will be in a few years; too many other projects to work on. I'm proud of the result, it's one of the nicer things I've built.

I built it because my daughter was playing ukulele at school and asked for one. I was going to build a cigar box uke for her but the project took on a life of its own. My daughter will not own this one, but she may play it.

I find myself picking it up frequently to noodle around with, I don't really have the patience to practice proper technique though, I just pick out simple major key melodies.

The finish is an incomplete french polish with Waterlox on top.

First build - Thanks

baog

New member

Attachments

photoshooter

Well-known member

sequoia

Well-known member

greenscoe

Well-known member

Vespa Bob

Well-known member

ksquine

Well-known member

baog

New member

Wildestcat

Well-known member

Henning

Well-known member

Rrgramps

Well-known member

baog

New member

Similar threads