Stewmac tenor kit
- Thread starter Pete Howlett
- Start date
Pretty detailed instructions too.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,...nor_Ukulele_Kit.html?tab=Instructions#details
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,...nor_Ukulele_Kit.html?tab=Instructions#details
sweets
Well-known member
I bought one! My wife saw how my Grizzly turned out and got real nervous about the flamed Koa I bought from Pete. She gave me "permission" to do the StewMac tenor first.
It should be here Wednesday - I'll post my impressions in this thread.
It should be here Wednesday - I'll post my impressions in this thread.
RevWill
Well-known member
WANT!
sweets
Well-known member
Nope. Currently that uke is failing at being both player and a wallhanger. I put a couple huge runs in the finish with superglue when I was setting it up, and then discovered that the neck has very big problems. I'll update my thread with the results of the repairs, but I'm not hopeful.
Since it's a $25 kit, I would not put too much confidence in the absolute overall quality. Nevertheless, it should be a lot of fun to try for a first build, or maim it into a Frankenuke double-necker like fellow member Russbuss has done.
The Stew-Mac soprano kit, on the other hand, has good reviews and building diaries all over the innernets. The tenor kit looks cool as well, and for not much more money.
Pete, do you think a hobbyist would be better off trying a soprano or a tenor? Or will both turn out like a steaming twisted little heap of bodily waste the first time? I remember you saying sopranos are more difficult because of small size > less margin to make mistakes.
This looks great. I'm gonna get one for my first real (sort of) attempt at a build. I have a feeling I won't be using the linings in the kit, though. I think it would be much better to make some real kerfing, yeah? I've seen too many ukes with linings rather than real kerfing that have fallen apart. Wish me luck and pray I don't end up with a steaming twisted little heap of bodily waste. I'll document the build and post pics for anyone interested.
SuperSecretJohn
Well-known member
I would totally do this if my garage didn't have a pool table in the center. Looks like fun.
Put some plywood on top--instant work bench!
OP
OP
Pete Howlett
Well-known member
Straight linings look good if they are done right. They also make the uke 'stiffer' which to me seems to improve projection...
OP
OP
Pete Howlett
Well-known member
Both violins and classical guitars have them.
6stringconvert
Well-known member
I like it! The plastic looking sound hole purfling, do you guys think you could swap it for abalone/mop?
6sc
6sc
sweets
Well-known member
Kit arrived today! Looks to be of reasonably good quality - the mahogany has the same ribbon grain that I've seen in stewmac soprano kits.
I don't see any reason why you couldn't substitute a blingy rosette for the plastic one, either by using a rosette of the same dimension or by routing out the channel to accommodate something wider. I'll probably be substituting fiber purfling on mine. I'm also going to ditch the sealed gear tuners if at all possible.
I don't see any reason why you couldn't substitute a blingy rosette for the plastic one, either by using a rosette of the same dimension or by routing out the channel to accommodate something wider. I'll probably be substituting fiber purfling on mine. I'm also going to ditch the sealed gear tuners if at all possible.
sweets
Well-known member
Here are pictures and notes from my first day of building:
http://tinyurl.com/yl3rt7x
I'm very happy with the speed at which it's going together.
http://tinyurl.com/yl3rt7x
I'm very happy with the speed at which it's going together.
Looks great! You should start a new thread. No one wants to know what's going on in this tired old one!
Good job with the purfling. Well done. Mine didn't come out nearly that good. There's a pronounced separation. At least it's lined up right, so it kinda looks like it's supposed to be there.
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sweets
Well-known member
Yeah, there's a lot to be said for a design that extends the fretboard over the top of the rosette. 
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