Hi,
After a first uncompleted attempt, I want to make ukulele again. Also I want to make a 9 days long event with some friends when we should all build our own ukulele at my workshop (wich is not complet yet, but already have jointer planer, bandsaw, sander, chisel, drill press, japanese saws... I'll still need good rasps and a few other things, but I'll buy them).*
Now, the question for which I (currently) need help is : which plans should we use ? Christophe grellier provides apparently precise plans of old martin sopranos and this is definitively an option. Maybe newer bracing are interesting ?
The most important criteria about the plan would be to have something that sounds great (or good) if you just follow the plan (that is, requiere no experience in order to adjust the bracing / thickness of the top, because we won't have any ). Can I hope to have something sounding as good as an opio on first try ?
Another good think would be something which does not require lot of hard to source or expensive wood. I have stock of sipo, so by just buying ebony I could make the martin soprano, which is nice (without the inlays / binding, which are out of the scope of this event)
I think I'll go for soprano (funnyer for people who just want to biuld an instrument and my never rally learn to play it), but if you have good reason to go other way for this event, let me know. I'd be happy to listen to any advice about how to run it.
Jaunedeau.
* : if what you are thinking of it that I first should take some experience before I attempt this : I do too, and this is precisely what I'm trying to fight
** : Target price for the ukulele is 100€ :
-60€ of sapele or sipo will be more than enough for 5 ukulele (10€/uke), <-- edit : 2€ per uke if I pay sipo 1629€/m3 !
-10€ of ebony, pau ferro or bubinga for fingerboard and saddle/nut.
-3€ for fret wire
-20€ - 40€ for tuners
-10€ for sanding paper, lacker, glue, ...
So I still have some budget left to buy a few fancy things (MOP dots, head plate ?), but do not want to add too much work (no binding)
After a first uncompleted attempt, I want to make ukulele again. Also I want to make a 9 days long event with some friends when we should all build our own ukulele at my workshop (wich is not complet yet, but already have jointer planer, bandsaw, sander, chisel, drill press, japanese saws... I'll still need good rasps and a few other things, but I'll buy them).*
Now, the question for which I (currently) need help is : which plans should we use ? Christophe grellier provides apparently precise plans of old martin sopranos and this is definitively an option. Maybe newer bracing are interesting ?
The most important criteria about the plan would be to have something that sounds great (or good) if you just follow the plan (that is, requiere no experience in order to adjust the bracing / thickness of the top, because we won't have any ). Can I hope to have something sounding as good as an opio on first try ?
Another good think would be something which does not require lot of hard to source or expensive wood. I have stock of sipo, so by just buying ebony I could make the martin soprano, which is nice (without the inlays / binding, which are out of the scope of this event)
I think I'll go for soprano (funnyer for people who just want to biuld an instrument and my never rally learn to play it), but if you have good reason to go other way for this event, let me know. I'd be happy to listen to any advice about how to run it.
Jaunedeau.
* : if what you are thinking of it that I first should take some experience before I attempt this : I do too, and this is precisely what I'm trying to fight
** : Target price for the ukulele is 100€ :
-60€ of sapele or sipo will be more than enough for 5 ukulele (10€/uke), <-- edit : 2€ per uke if I pay sipo 1629€/m3 !
-10€ of ebony, pau ferro or bubinga for fingerboard and saddle/nut.
-3€ for fret wire
-20€ - 40€ for tuners
-10€ for sanding paper, lacker, glue, ...
So I still have some budget left to buy a few fancy things (MOP dots, head plate ?), but do not want to add too much work (no binding)
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