My First Custom Hand Made Ukulele

On Sept. 16, 2007 I started my journey to becoming a luthier.
I took an old skim board, and started stripping off the clearcoat so that I could make it into an Ukulele.
Today, May 30, 2008 I have Finished that quest.

It took over 140 hours in my spare time over the last 8 months, and every second was worth it.

This Ukulele is made of the following materials.

Plywood: soundboard, backboard, headstock veneer
Oak: Headstock, neck, and heal
Basswood: sides, patches, and inlays
Black Walnut: fretboard, and bridge
Misc. Wood: bracing, tone bars, and tentalones
Plastic: nut and saddle

I used Ping Percision Tuning Machines ( made for guitars ) and I carved the nut and saddle out of the same type of plastic that cutting boards are made of.

I have had so much fun on this Journey that I am absolutely sure that Luthiery is what I want to do for a career.

I am going to attend Hana Lima Ia school of Ukulele making this fall, and after I have graduated I will be trained and equipped to sell my creations to you, my friends and peers.

Anyway, enough of that, here are some pics, I hope that you like them.


This is a view of my Ukulele from the front.
It is a Tenor size, with 19 frets, and uses the fan bracing pattern.


Here is a view of the backboard, and the neck.


Here is my logo for the Acabo'oe Ukulele Company.


Here is a shot of the headstock from the side. This is a good shot of the tuners.

Ok, I would like to take this time to point out that it doesn't have strings yet, because I am moving to Oahu in 4 days, and don't have time to do the final set up, but the main part is finished.


Is it perfect?...........no, but it is my first try, and above all else, I am proud of my work.

Thanks to all who showed interest in my first build as a luthier.

Aloha
Acabo'oe

Congratulations on your first completed uke! That piece of work looks amazing for your very first one. I hope your transition to Oahu goes smoothly.

as soon as you slap some strings on it...you have to make a video. who knows...plywood may be the way to go.

pretty coool. like the look of how the fretboard meetes the uke itself

Congratz dude, and good luck in the fall!!!! U :rock:

looks so much better now then before.. nice jobbbbbbbbbbbbbbb :bowdown:

Verrryyy niiiice Bro! Congrats on the craftsmanship and having the tenacity to see it through to the end (140 hrs - whew!).

thats a great looking first ukulele! Congrats man

Thats exciting to see you pursuing your dream, and it was awesome seeing the progress you made on your first build! thanks for keeping us posted! Someday I want to own a custom acabooe ukulele!! Along with a dominator ukulele perhaps.

Heyy congratssss. Its good to see you want to have a career in Luthiery. Can't wait to see your future project cuz this one is niceeee. Be safe bro!

congrats dude! what a great feeling it must be to make your own ukulele. it looks really good and best of luck with your move to sunny HI.

good stuff mate!!

congrats bro. its nice for a first built uke. hope the more you make, the better they get.

A skim board! That's awesome! A while ago, I read about a guy who made a guitar out of a coffee table from Ikea.

Great job on your first build. I can't wait to see more.

Very cool. The hard one is done.
Hopefully it gets easier from here on out. Can't wait to see what you make in the future.

Really nice job! Anxious to hear it. And, good luck with the move. I'm jealous...

Congratulations! That's a nice-looking ukulele!

I like that heavy grain look. Keep it up!

congrats on the first uke! a vid of it's sound would be awesome too. can't wait to see your future works. keep it up acabooe

good job man!

it looks sweet!


now lets see some vids!

Congratulations!!! OMG it's so beautiful!!!

And i wish u good luck and lots of succes over ther in Oahu!!!!

Ingrit