Rllink
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Good for you Rollie!
If you check out my posts in this thread, you will see several options for getting a neck that fits (Mainland), who also sells bridges and tuning machines/pegs...
Good for you Rollie!
If you check out my posts in this thread, you will see several options for getting a neck that fits (Mainland), who also sells bridges and tuning machines/pegs...
also CB Gitty has parts, and lots of discussion on cigarboxnation.com - check out Justin Johnson and Shane Speal on YT for CBG players too...
Well, I don't expect this instrument to be a Mainland quality instrument. Besides, I have a Mainland already.I was at Mainland Tuesday, rummaging through the neck/fretboard bins. The tenor necks were $39 with frets installed on a separate fretboard, and a set of inexpensive friction tuners.
But I ended up buying a nice Mainland tenor with cedar top, plus a tweed hard shell case. It was cheaper than I could tool-up, purchase raw materials, and build one of that quality.
Those necks would do a cigar box up real fine. Mike has the four common sizes covered.
One thing as well though, I was thinking of building a small amp and speaker into the ukulele itself. I've seen that before, but I don't know how difficult it would be. But I'm pretty slow to get to things, so I'm pretty sure there is going to be a lot of talking before I actually get to work.
I've not been struck with UAS in the sense that I have wanted to buy a lot of ukuleles, but the thought of making my own has appealed to me. And also, making my own in a more primitive way, not trying to pull off a woodworking masterpiece, but rather putting together a playable instrument out of an old cigar box that I happened to find in a second hand store. The question now is, do I get everything else that I need to from Mainland and just put it together, or do I find a pieche of wood, get out the spoke shave like booli, and start forming a neck?
Congrats on the boxes. Booli makes some great points. Ultimately follow your heart and have some fun!
Might I suggest to you to consider your priorities? (which are wholly subjective for each of us)
With the spokeshave, you can expect to invest some time, sweat & elbow grease, and satisfaction (or disappointment) in that 'I made this all by myself from raw wood' when you are done. It might take a few tries, and mistakes can be made depending upon your level of finesse with hand or other tools. What is your tolerance for frustration and/or failure? How willing are you to restart from scratch if errors are made beyond the point-of-no-return?
OTOH, with the parts from Mainland or CB Gitty, you still have a time investment, and some assembly of pre-made parts, which you still might have to massage into place to meet your own requirements, but the effort, frustration and chance of failure (that may require a complete do-over) are much less IMHO....
In the end, you still have something that YOU made, from either all raw wood, some parts and raw wood, or all pre-made parts, and no matter what, you would still have the satisfaction and pride that you did this with your own two hands.
With the pre-made parts, it's more of a 'kit project' but one that not everything comes in the same box like the Wolfelele or StewMac or CB Gitty (full kit) uke kits.
No matter what you decide to do, or how you chose to execute it, I am confident that if you persevere through any failures or obstacles, that you can be happy with the end result, as long as you set your expectations properly at the start, and are willing to adjust said expectations during the process of making that cigar box into something that renders a musical sound.
There's lots of expertise here in the Luthier's Lounge from the pros and amateur builders alike that can offer support.
Be fearless, brother Rollie!
That sounds like fun. Up until recently I haven't had any interest in expanding my interest beyond the ukulele, but then I discovered Cigarboxnation, and I think that the hook is set.Rllink, a few years back I got a three string strummer from a really nice man in Va. and I love it. I also used it as a guide and have built several now myself. The people that bought them really love them. They are tuned like a mountain dulcimer. I have also built many one string diddley bows that are a lot of fun. A great way to get many people making music.
I have the parts on the way. No spokeshave this time around, small steps to start with. I'll see how it goes, get some experience on this one, and then maybe I'll learn some things that I can apply on the next one. I'm kind of excited about this. I guess that I'm going the opposite direction from most, but I have to say that those hillbilly three string guitars are talking to me too. I don't know what kind of ?AS this is, but I could see me catching it. I saw a video of Shane Speal playing a one string 2x4 with a slide. I'm surprised at what you can make music on.
Let's get started.
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This is kind of what it will look like.
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I'm building this with just basic hand tools and no shop to work in. In other words, I'm building it on the front steps and the kitchen counter. I cut down a piece of lath and made some bracing. This is how I held it in place while it dried.
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