My granddaughter asked me to build her a ukulele. I know nothing about them, so I bought a Stewmac kit. I've built a couple of mandolins and a half dozen guitars so I'm not new to building instruments, but I need a little advice about the top bracing.
The kit is a concert size with the plywood back/sides and solid mahogany top.
I laid out the braces on the plan and it appears the bridge plate is too short.
I pushed it where it fit between the braces and got this:
Then I laid the bridge where it will attach according to the dimensions given in the instructions and have this:
My thoughts are that the front of the bridge will be supported by the x-braces and the bridge plate extending aft of the bridge will provide support to spread the twisting force of the bridge to a larger area of the top.
So, will it be okay to build it like that? I measured the bridge location several times and I'm reasonably confident that is where it will go.
Advice? I also have plenty of bracewood so I could just toss these braces in the trash and build a better pattern from scratch.
Thanks.
The kit is a concert size with the plywood back/sides and solid mahogany top.
I laid out the braces on the plan and it appears the bridge plate is too short.
I pushed it where it fit between the braces and got this:
Then I laid the bridge where it will attach according to the dimensions given in the instructions and have this:
My thoughts are that the front of the bridge will be supported by the x-braces and the bridge plate extending aft of the bridge will provide support to spread the twisting force of the bridge to a larger area of the top.
So, will it be okay to build it like that? I measured the bridge location several times and I'm reasonably confident that is where it will go.
Advice? I also have plenty of bracewood so I could just toss these braces in the trash and build a better pattern from scratch.
Thanks.