Uke Kits starting at $24.95!!! (not self-promoting spam)

Between my brother and BoingBoing.net, I found that Grizzly Industries offers a semi-DIY ukulele kit for only $24.95. If you have more time than cash, this might be the thing for you: http://www.grizzly.com/products/Ukulele-Kit/H3125 They also offer these musical instrument kits: http://www.grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=235040 Apparently, this soprano uke can be built in less than a week.

Here's a step up in the world of uke kits. This comes from Stewart-MacDonald. Their soprano and tenor kits feature solid mahogany bodies. Eye spik da tooth! Soprano goes for $99.99 or $119.97 with the instructional DVD from Gordon and Char Mayer of Mya-Moé Ukuleles. The tenor kit goes for $136.98. Link here: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Ukulele_Kits.html These look more challenging than the Grizzly kits, but this is also an opportunity to have a solid mahogany uke.

I thought I would pass on these links to those confident with their skills.

--Dave E.

I've built one of those $ 24.95 kits. The ukulele you get in the end needs other tools, such as wood glue, wood stain and finish (unless you want it to look like plywood), clamps, and drills. Also, the instruction you get is in japanese... I had an experienced instrument builder help me, and I still needed to place a call to the company because crucial measurements (such as where to place the fretboard) were missing. in the end you get worthless strings (must be replaced), plywood soundboard, friction tuners that don't work, and a plastic fretboard. I say unless you want to just get practice building, splurge to the Stewart-MacDonald kit.

The builder helper had a Stewart-MacDonald soprano, and this model was a pretty good starter ukulele. If you have the tools, go for the Stewart-MacDonald model.

The instructional video that Stew-Mac sells is pretty good.

Don't forget Pete Howlett in the UK and Hana Lima.
Pete kindly offers several excellent 'how to' videos on YouTube.
If your willing to search the internet, there's lots of stuff.

...search? what is this ...search...?

JT_Ukes said:

...search? what is this ...search...?

Click to expand...

If you Google 'search' you get 4,200,000,000 returns in under half a second.
A bit overwhelming. Probably a lot easier to find the answer here on UU. Or at least part of the answer.