Search:

I think the other half to that equation is having the right process for the tool. I agree it would be incredibly frustrating to try to use torch tip cleaners as actual files to file slots. Or even to...

I use the welding tip cleaner style files for guitar and uke sized strings. If you're just adjusting a slot in a precut nut, they're more than adequate. For a new nut, I start the slot with either a...

Yes, turn it into a feature!

When you check out at Amazon, you can choose to deliver to an "Amazon Locker", which is basically the same idea as the services mentioned above. I live in the middle of nowhere and have several to...

Or just make your own from scratch! It's not as hard as it sounds (and probably easier than sawing up a completed uke like you were asking), there are good kits, books, and forums out there to help...

That 18" grizzly was on my shortlist when I bought the Jet, but a) it was constantly out of stock, and b) I decided I couldn't really afford to give up the floor space for a big 200-some pound...

There are potential issues on unfinished wood as well - although they're less likely to be issues on ukes, since ukes need serious fretboard work (binding or fret replacement) less often than other...

Speaking as a builder and repair tech, I don't use lemon oil on my instruments. It can cause issues with repair or refinish work down the road. Surfaces with oil buildup on them won't take new finish...

In my experience 33 mm is a little narrow but not unheard of.

Measure the distance between the two outermost strings. See if you can find the string spacing for the nuts you're considering, and...

Yes, my concern would be more about damage to the edge of the hole than about the actual structural integrity of the instrument.

I won't comment on the soundport being on the lower bout because I've never built one that way. I suppose it would be easy to try and see how you feel about it. But in many cheap ukes, the when the...

Any non-abrasive metal polish will work fine to remove tarnish on your frets. You should mask off the fretboard before using any messy product (that's the real benefit of the eraser style, you can...

Solid vs. laminate top is a good rule of thumb, but don't get hung up on it. There are many okay sounding laminate instruments, and many bad sounding solid tops. And laminate ukes are more durable in...

I use LMI's FW74 almost exclusively as well. I use their medium size crowning file (FFRM or FFPF) and it works very well. I bought the file about 20 years ago and it's just starting to show some wear...

I have a Jet 10-20. It definitely fits the bill of "smaller drum sander" yet it has plenty of power and good build quality. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. It will go thinner than you'll ever...

Microfiber cloths make a big difference. I generally use microfiber cloths with a small amount of very hot water on them. This can cut through very stubborn years-old finger grease on fretboards (the...

If you're cutting out the preamp and just wiring this passive, with the pickup direct to the jack, the black wire should go to ground. A piezo will work either way, but the larger pad is connected to...

Uke strings are typically very soft materials. If your nut slots are either sharp enough or undersized enough that the string is hanging up, the nut really needs to be fixed. Slots the correct size,...

I think there's a variation that's sort of halfway between your two suggested techniques - you can mute a fretted string by letting up on your finger pressure. And you can mute an open string by...

Jerry, thanks for the shout out - but I can vouch that I am not David, although from what I know of his work it is definitely worth checking out!

I'd have a hard time believing that the level of radius typically put on a uke back has any impact on volume (assuming all else remained the same). For me, our slight radii on top and back plates is...

Also - I hope you can take this as well-intentioned commentary, but making a statement like "if I were a builder, I'd just build thin tops and have the customer accept the risk" makes it sound like...

I just answered your related post in the Uke Talk forum. I don't think there is an answer to "Single Most Important Factor" for any specific trait (tone, volume, sustain, etc.) A uke is a system and...

You're getting a lot of great feedback here. The one thing I would add is this: There is danger in focusing too much on one specific variable. I think it's dangerous to say something like "X is the...

Thanks! and yes - though I typically do my ukes with flat fretboards, I build other styles of instruments with radiused boards (guitars, basses etc) and have jigs set up for 10 and 12 inch radiuses.