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Here's my latest build....a walnut concert ukulele. Based off the Martin style plans from Elderly
All walnut body, mahogany neck, wipe-on poly finish. It sounds really sweet so far!!

Has anyone used wipe-on poly on rosewood? The finish went on great except for the rosewood veneer. It didn't seem to cure well, even after a few days. It wasn't sticky, but soft and easy to fingerprint. I ended up scraping it off and using shellac on the headstock.

Nice looking uke ;
I really like the rope styled purfling,
jack

Very fine uke!
And rope on ukes just seems perfect. Walnut is a nice change from mahogany.
You say you got the plans at Elderly?

Joe

I like it a lot. Very nice work.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
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1109 Military Rd.
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Much prettier than the walnut uke I've got in the works at the moment!

Quine:
Nice job!
How is the action? The saddle looks a tad high but if the action is right , its right.

Bob

Wow! Make me want to build a uke now...mike

Thanks Unkabob. The action is a bit high now. I plan to drop it some and do the final adjustments to the saddle. I also have to shorten the strings some....almost ran out of tuner capstain. Man these nylon strings can stretch!!
I just got to the point where I wanted to string it and play it for a while!!

Quine:
That rope purfling is to die for.
A truly fine piece of work.

Bob

Very nice looking uke. I am always curious on how the neck is attached on uke's? How do you attach yours? Thanks in advance.

Quine,

This is a very nice looking ukulele. I really like the rope binding and purfling. Did you make the rope? If not where did you get it looks perfect on the ukulele. Yes, it does look like pretty high action.

Great Job!

Philip

_________________
aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

Nice looking uke.

As you mentioned, polyurethane doesn't dry too well over rosewood. I found that it helps to do a couple of coats of shellac prior to the urethane.

Pat

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There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

Thanks Philip. I didn't make the rope this time. I got it from LMI

Tom...I used a mortise/tennon joint for the neck. I figured the hole was too small for a bolt on

Just got back from Hawaii yesterday and was thinking I need to build an Ukelele. Saw some nice ones in a store in the Sheraton.

This one and hearing Bruddah Iz for the last several days just reinforces it. Beautiful Uke.

Darrin

Great looking Uke. I've just started a Koa Baritone Uke for my uncle.

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Rob

I'd also be interested to know how you liked the plans. I'm finishing a second guitar right now through the Colorado School of Lutherie (http://www.evd303.com/school.php) with Edward Dick. I was thinking that a concert Uke would be a great project to try on my own. I've been looking around for a plan to start with.

Phil

Quine,

I think I will use your ukulele as an example for a future build. The look is classic and stylish.

I also wanted to let you know about the current Luthier sale going on at Hibdon Hardwoods. They have Mahogany sets and wood for necks that have some issues but are really inexpensive. It is likely that the ukulele template will clear the wood better than a guitar template. Since you and Hibdon are in the same town I would think you can pick the woods yourself. Also, on the next ukulele build you might try a pass through pinless bridge instead of the tie bridge. This is very popular in the ukulele community. Check out this thread that has photos from Dave White. It really makes a clean looking intrument.
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=22416&p=308356&hilit=bridge#p308356



PhilL,

If you are checking out plans you might try the following two locations. Hana Lima ‘Ia has a variety of plans including Kasha braced plans. Another site to try is Bob Gleason’s Pegasus Guitars and Ukulele.

http://www.hanalima.com/
http://www.pegasusguitars.com/


Philip

_________________
aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

Hey Phil

Here's a link to the plans.... http://elderly.com/books/items/113-45.htm
Its a good set of blueprints with a few options on construction....even a pineapple body shape. I used the standard 2 tonebar style.