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OK, I screwed up, cleaned out my PM stuff, now, I need a recommendation for ukulele sets, tenor, either mahogony or koa. Plus, plans (again).

Don't think I asked about plans before.

Mike

I got mine here: http://www.pilgrimsprojects.biz/uke.html and here for Tenor and Baritone: http://www.hanalimastore.com/servlet/the-Plans/Categories

Never had to order any Uke sets. I just repurpose Guitar sets and get Aircraft Spruce offcuts. $40 for their Grab Bag is enough for a bunch of Ukes and bracewood.

Just a quick note
A back and sides set for guitar (preferably SS) can supply two back and sides sets for ukulele. The backs are used for sides and the sides are joined for backs. This works for tenors but I am not certain if it works for baritones.

Good luck.

Bob

That's an awesome tip Bob! Got plenty of sets around. Got some cedar on the way. Maybe good for the top?

Mike

Plans for sop/conc/tenor MIMF, baritone MIMF,

After looking at a bunch of different uke plans, I find the Hana Lima plans to be the most useful in a number of respects, but mainly I find the body shape pleasing. However, I recently discovered an English uke maker named Pete Howlett how is selling his tenor uke plan (and a harp uke plan) on his web site, and I intend to add those plans to my collection of uke plans.

As far as uke sets go, you can use anything you would use for a guitar, but I gotta tell ya, it is hard to beat really nice koa (back, sides, and top). Getting pricey, but it is soooo beautiful.

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Kevin Mason
Mason Guitars and Ukuleles on Facebook
http://masonguitars.net

For smaller instruments I usually use Steel string sets as well. I can make a top, back, and sides for a concert uke with material left over for solid linings from a guitar back set. No sides necessary unless it's going to be bigger than that. Ask for a big set because you want plenty of room in there. If you go for a full b&s set, use the sides for backs and the backs for sides.

+1 for Hana Lima Ia I built one from their older tenor plans. They have done an update and it looks even better.

They hav a good construction book too.

The advice on using the guitar sets is good advice. Wood is wood until you make something out of it. Bruce Cereps (not sure if that is how you spell his last name) is a good source for Koa sets. Also check Pegasus Guitars. I have purchased from Bruce and it was better than expected (and better than what I was paying for).

Good luck,

John

I have found that cedar works well on larger ukuleles (baritone, tenor) but mahogany brings out the brightness of a concert. I have never built a soprano, my fingers are too big.
I would love to build a koa ukulele, I have the sides but koa is too pricey for my taste.

Bob

Plans, kits, wood, etc. are also available from Blues Creek Guitars.

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso

Bob there are several koa vendors on e- bay usa, whose prices are a bit more reasonable, than the reg so called luthier wood vendors

If you are building guitars, the cut-offs are perfect for ukes. The problem is what to build with the uke cut-offs?

I've built a lot of ukes with many different combinations of woods, & I prefer, for Soprano & Concert Ukes, the "soft hardwoods" like Honduras Mahogany are the best sounding woods for all the body parts.

Traditionalist? Without a doubt I am. I think that Ukes are not "little guitars" and using the conifers for tops is a mistake.

All personal opinion...

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Point taken. Thanks

Hmmm. That was my first thought. I emailed John, but did not hear back. Maybe his out of town.

Mike

Rosettes.

Be careful binding a ukulele. My usual side thickness is 0.065"-0.070" and I feel that even a sixteenth of binding is iffy. I prefer to leave mine unbound.

A sixteenth thick binding uses two layers of edging-veneer and sand flush.

Bob

John has been a bit slow to respond since the storms blew through there a few weeks ago. He may still be patching things up.

He has posted a bit on the Kit Guitar Forums. You might look him up there.

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Jim Hansen