Advice for my first uke

Posted by Mickey Ray Parker on August 18, 2014 at 11:30pm

Howdy,

I am looking for some advice on my uke build.  I just completed my first CBG, and I am about to start a uke for my wife.  She is a teacher, and she thought it would be really cool to have a uke made out of an old school, paper-covered crayon/school box.  She ordered a vintage one from eBay, and, aesthetically, it is perfect.  I just have some concerns about its construction.  It is a small box (8 x 5 x 2), but I think it should work for a soprano uke.  But, it is just a thick paper box, with no underlying wood.  I was thinking about gluing a tie bar bridge on the box, but I worry the string tension may buckle the box top.  Is this a valid concern, or will the nylon strings not have as much tension as steel?  Should I brace the box top, or will that dampen the sound too much?  Or should I just scrap the tie-bar bridge idea, and do a neck-through design with a tail piece?   

Thanks in advance for your comments!

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Replies

  • Mickey Ray Parker November 7, 2014 at 10:52pm

    Here is a progress shot of my crayon box uke.  Hoping to get the fretboard glued on this weekend.306375849?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

  • Lane Martin August 19, 2014 at 12:09am

    I built a tenor uke out of a larger box. You should be good for a concert or soprano sized uke. My box had a paper lid, but with a neck-through design, it's doing fine. I used Aquila strings and the sound is good.

    • Mickey Ray Parker > Lane Martin August 19, 2014 at 12:12am

      Thanks for the reply.  Did you use a floating bridge or did you glue it on?

    • Lane Martin > Mickey Ray Parker August 19, 2014 at 12:27am

      Floating for now. When I'm positive it's like I want it, I might glue it down.

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