I want to build a cigarbox ukulele in tenor scale. However, I have little to no experiance with such matters. Can anyone offer me any helpful tips or tricks/advice.
thanks.
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Omaha's local billionaire, Warren Buffet, is a Uke-player.
Always thought it'd be fun to build him a couple to dink with, & or have him sign them then donate them to an auction for charity. Talk about "value added." ; ]
I just finished my first Uke build. I'll be putting up pictures today. It wasn't much different, other than the fact that I used Ping friction pegs which just tighten on with a screw. Much easier than old school pegs. I used nylon strings, tuned it to standard G and that was it. I used a 15 inch scale.
Thanks for all the advice everybody! I'm really eager to start on this project and wil definately post pics through the process. Unfortunately, it may be some time before I start as I've got a lot of school work in the way right now and still need to acquire the necesarry materials.
I'm working on a concert-size tenor Uke right now. First time out for me, too.
I'm trying to keep it simple--I'm building it with the neck through the box, and I'm gonna try making my own tuners with thumbscrews and wing-nuts (no pics yet).
I've been shaping all my necks, recently, with a spokeshave. Much easier than using a rasp, especially if you're working with harder woods.
I use a band saw to cut the rough shape and than go at it with spokeshave, rasp, plane to get into the real shape followed by lots of sanding. Drill and bits. Most tuners I've used need a 7mm bit for the use of the grommet. Be great is you have a drill press to drill nice perpendicular holes but lots of people get by with a hand drill. Saw for the fret grooves. Miter box or something to keep the saw square. Could I recommend this video? it really takes the mystery out of building and he uses inexpensive hand tools.
For first builds I've gotten a coule sets of these tuner pegs real cheap. I think the most I've had to pay is $3. They are on e-bay all the time. They work pretty good. As you get more into it you can buy better ones. They can get spendy.
My son and I are in the process of building a baritone uke, using a small Te Amo box.
Per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukulele , the standard scale length for a tenor is 17" (430 mm). I would try following one of the "stock" plans here (e.g., http://cigarboxguitar.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/cigar...). With the 17" scale length in mind: your neck will need to be that length plus the length from bridge to the end of the tail, plus something for the headstock. Tuners should be your only real expense. Good luck!
Search the photos on this site. Tinyguitars makes them all the time and has posted many pictures on how he attaches the necks and tail pieces. I have attached necks by re-enforcing the inside of the sid with 1/2 plywood and than epoxing the neck to the side and dricing 2 screws into the neck from the inside. Have had no trouble but I have only built a couple. Mine sound good (to me) but I'm sure thry don't sound quite as goos as Tinyguitars either. Next one I am going to try his method.
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Always thought it'd be fun to build him a couple to dink with, & or have him sign them then donate them to an auction for charity. Talk about "value added." ; ]
I'm working on a concert-size tenor Uke right now. First time out for me, too.
I'm trying to keep it simple--I'm building it with the neck through the box, and I'm gonna try making my own tuners with thumbscrews and wing-nuts (no pics yet).
I've been shaping all my necks, recently, with a spokeshave. Much easier than using a rasp, especially if you're working with harder woods.
Post pics when you're done!
http://home.hiwaay.net/~jehle/store/CBG-DVD.htm You can get it a little cheaper off e-bay lots of times.
I"ve done all my neck shaping by hand with a 12" wood rasp / file, something like this:
The only power tool I think is really essential is a drill and a good set of woodworking bits.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Four-Black-Ukulele-Tuning-Pegs-NEW_W0QQitemZ230...
Per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukulele , the standard scale length for a tenor is 17" (430 mm). I would try following one of the "stock" plans here (e.g.,http://cigarboxguitar.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/cigar...). With the 17" scale length in mind: your neck will need to be that length plus the length from bridge to the end of the tail, plus something for the headstock. Tuners should be your only real expense. Good luck!
http://cigarboxguitars.com/PDF/cb_uke_plans.pdf
http://www.carolinafiddle.com/images/pdf%20files/How%20to%20Make%20...
Here is the Fret calculator I use. Look at the dropdown menu and it lists Ukuleles.
http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator
Get going and good luck. Post pictures of your progess.
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