I want to build either a concert or tenor uke. Tenor I am thinking. So, I have built several 3 string cbg, and happy with it, and learning to play. So as a new player, i like the extra space, I have been happy with the 3 string spacing of .5 inch apart on a standard 1 by 2 oak board neck (actually .75 by 1.5"). Want to do the 4 string uke.....so what is standard spacing? What do do you prefer? From a building perspective it would be nice to use the standard 1 by 2 boards at Home Depot for the neck, but if I need wider I can custom cut something. Thoughts on this and any other thoughts on a first time uke build . Thanks.
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
Kinda late with this reply but I thought some folks might like to know about the string spacing gauge.
Most ukes are 1 3/8" wide at the nut and 1/3/4" at the 12th fret. I like to leave about 5/32" between the center of the first string and the edge of the neck at the nut. Then, there is this cool gadget made by this guy in England for laying out string locations. You can see it here
He has 6 string gauges now too. They are kinda spendy but man, they save a lot of time and I like it so much better than the ones that StewMac puts out.
Thanks guys....I ended up making it pretty wide, gave up on using the "stock' 1 1/2 wide boards at home depot and cut my own at a touch over 1 5/8", and set my strings at the nut at 11-12 mils. Pretty wide for most, but I am a new player and for now it seems easier to get my fingers on the chords. I got the action set pretty low, and am happy...good volumn from the box. Now on to the next,....going to do a hybrid baritone uke/tenor guitar probably about 22 scale length with a cohiba box I just scored! Thanks again though for all the advice.
The ukes I own are about 3/8" spacing at the nut. For four strings that gives about 3/16" on either side of the outer strings on a 1 1/2" wide neck. 1/2" spacing would take the outer strings right to the edge of the fretboard unless you made it wider.
The standard spacing on this size of uke would be around 9mm or about 1/3 inch. But, as there are no rules, you can use whatever spacing you need. I have a 'special' medieval style baritone 'lute' ukulele with a string space of 12mm or 1/2 inch
HarleyTodd > Yellowbelly FlattJune 24, 2013 at 1:46pm
Replies
I tend to go for 9mm at the nut to 11mm at the saddle, I've got quite big fingers and that seems to work for me.
Kinda late with this reply but I thought some folks might like to know about the string spacing gauge.
Most ukes are 1 3/8" wide at the nut and 1/3/4" at the 12th fret. I like to leave about 5/32" between the center of the first string and the edge of the neck at the nut. Then, there is this cool gadget made by this guy in England for laying out string locations. You can see it here
http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?57339-Nut-sa...
and here
http://ukulele-innovation.tripod.com/string-spacing-gauges.html
He has 6 string gauges now too. They are kinda spendy but man, they save a lot of time and I like it so much better than the ones that StewMac puts out.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_tools_for_Nuts_and_saddle...
Thanks guys....I ended up making it pretty wide, gave up on using the "stock' 1 1/2 wide boards at home depot and cut my own at a touch over 1 5/8", and set my strings at the nut at 11-12 mils. Pretty wide for most, but I am a new player and for now it seems easier to get my fingers on the chords. I got the action set pretty low, and am happy...good volumn from the box. Now on to the next,....going to do a hybrid baritone uke/tenor guitar probably about 22 scale length with a cohiba box I just scored! Thanks again though for all the advice.
uke.JPG
The ukes I own are about 3/8" spacing at the nut. For four strings that gives about 3/16" on either side of the outer strings on a 1 1/2" wide neck. 1/2" spacing would take the outer strings right to the edge of the fretboard unless you made it wider.
The standard spacing on this size of uke would be around 9mm or about 1/3 inch. But, as there are no rules, you can use whatever spacing you need. I have a 'special' medieval style baritone 'lute' ukulele with a string space of 12mm or 1/2 inch
Cool....thanks for the info YellowBelly!