Tim Hooper Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 Welcome aboard, Geoff! It's always surprising when you hook up with other players in a non-related context, isn't it? Fair progress today..... I've embedded four 8mm dowels in the heel end of the neck, and drilled corresponding holes in the body. There are another two, smaller, holes (circled) which accept the screws which pass through from the inside of the body, through the heel block, and into the neck. Installing the fret wires is a simple job involving a vice and a hammer! I secure the ends of each fret with a tiny drop of CA glue. The ends are then filed smooth, and the tops of the frets levelled and polished. I still have the option of buying a ready-made bridge, but I thought I'd have a bash at making my own first, using a scrap of (oak?) hardwood. The slots for the saddle were cut with the pullsaw. Shaping the bridge. The soundboard is glued to the (stained) body. The neck is trial fitted - a long screwdriver passes through the hole for the strap button, and then into the heel block. A couple of issues here; The neck is too low on the body, so I need to saw off the dowels, re-drill and fit new ones about 3mm further down. I may also introduce a little bit of back angle to the joint itself. Secondly, the bridge looks just too bulky, so it;'s probably going to get slimmed down on the sander. It's not glued to the body yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted April 13, 2020 Author Share Posted April 13, 2020 Another day, etc...... I've sawn off the dowels as threatened, and fitted new ones to raise the neck a little. The neck is now permanently attached. The long screwdriver fits through the hole for the strap button in the base of the body, and passes all the way through to the screws in the heel block. A bit of masking tape protects the soundboard whilst I sort out the bridge position. The scale length is typical for a tenor uke at 430mm. Tape is removed to allow the bridge to contact the soundboard, and to protect the board from excess glue. The bridge is glued and clamped. The final job this evening was to lightly sand the instrument and apply the first coat of varnish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted April 16, 2020 Author Share Posted April 16, 2020 T'is done! The strings went on this evening, and a bit of fettling to the nut and bridge to get the action where I want it. It'll take a day of three before the strings settle in and it maintains its tuning for more than 2 minutes. Only then willI consider embarrassing myself..... It has a mellow tune - not too loud, but nice for home playing. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Tis a thing of beauty Tim, nice change watching it being built. Looking forwards to the premier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 Thoroughly enjoyable thread, we need more of this kind of thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Todd Posted April 17, 2020 Share Posted April 17, 2020 Looks very nice indeed Tim, well done that man, you've inspired me to restore an old JE Dallas Zither Banjo i picked up at an auction (can't play Banjo - yet, mind you some say I can't play guitar either) . Linds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted April 17, 2020 Author Share Posted April 17, 2020 Thanks Gents! I've been trying a few chords on the new one. As I said at the start of this nonsense, the tricky part is remembering which chord shapes (guitar or uke) are applicable to it. It's a bit confusing! Lindsey check your PMs...... Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 Posted by Tim Hooper on 17/04/2020 21:27:15: As I said at the start of this nonsense, the tricky part is remembering which chord shapes (guitar or uke) are applicable to it. It's a bit confusing! I just call a 'uke D' a D, even though its really a G Edited By Phil Green on 18/04/2020 17:17:51 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted April 18, 2020 Author Share Posted April 18, 2020 Posted by Phil Green on 18/04/2020 17:17:11: I just call a 'uke D' a D, even though its really a G That's OK if you're playing on your own. Not so good if you're playing in a group. Even worse if you're actually leading the group! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted April 18, 2020 Author Share Posted April 18, 2020 Okaaaaay...... Here's the finished thing having its first thrashing! Valerie Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 Excellent Tim, sounds pretty good you should be chuffed with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Copping Posted April 18, 2020 Share Posted April 18, 2020 That sounds great Tim, well done. It's inspired me to have a go at making my own uke once my local Shed opens again. In the meantime I must stop procrastinating and pick up my ukes while the lockdown is on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken anderson. Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 well done from me tim.. ken anderson...ne...1... musico dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo565 Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 And its well done from me also,nice mellow sound. JC ne---23 music dept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted April 20, 2020 Author Share Posted April 20, 2020 Thank you Gents! A couple of years ago, if you'd have forecast that I'd be playing/singing live in public some day, then I'd have considered you as insane. True, I've been strumming a guitar in the privacy of home for decades, but the decision to a) get a uke, and b) join a club, really has been a life-changer. Firstly, the realisation that I'm no worse than anybody else was a spur in itself, allied to the dawning revelation that I could actually sing a note or two! The next progression was to occasionally join the (amplified) front line at the local club. Soon after that I was approached by the admin of a neighbouring club, who was looking for a new leader. So I bought an amp and a mic, and the rest is history. Bad Moon Rising Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Ferguson 2 Posted April 20, 2020 Share Posted April 20, 2020 Posted by Tim Hooper on 20/04/2020 21:36:42: a) get a uke, and b) join a club, Bad Moon Rising Tim a) We went from guitar, classical for her, folk for me and we both have ukuleles. The thin ukulele is a Traveller and her one has circled the world including through Europe, England and Ireland. One chap in this country quotes, "If you know how many you have you don't have enough." "How many do you have Paul?" "Oh about 85." he says. Obviously not enough. He does sell, fix and run weekend / training sessions. I think my partner knows how many she has - I think she does ???? b) Join a club and they simply won't hear your mistakes so you can get the practise in without too much of a problem. Bad Moon Rising - I often pick that one as it works so well. Note - have you ever thought it covers Global Warming very well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted April 21, 2020 Author Share Posted April 21, 2020 Alex, It's been very interesting to watch new members come along, and to witness their progress as the weeks pass by. Starting with their tongues stuck out in concentration as they play simple down-strokes with their thumbs, whilst squinting at the music sheets. Some never get past this level, and that's fine. Others delve into the internet tutorials, and pretty soon you see the purchase of a better uke, and the emergence of barre chords, muting, etc. It's a great leveller, socially too. I'd been to one or two guitar clubs previously, and found they was a bit like a camera club; some posturing with their Martins and Taylors, and then then the eagerness for their turn in the spotlight, to show off their own (considerable) skills. Uke players, on the other hand, tend to hang around the bar in a cheerful mob, irrespective of their relative skill levels! We attend a couple of uke festivals each year now; my wife doesn't play but she loves the people and the social aspect, as we'll set up a circle in the middle of the local campsite, pub car park and start banging out a few tunes for the populace. It's the social aspect that I miss the most at the moment. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted June 28, 2023 Share Posted June 28, 2023 (edited) Old thread I know, but just bobbing back to the Mountain Dulcimer , this popped up in my queue today, this is how it should be done!!! Edited June 28, 2023 by Phil Green 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Copping Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 I will start a new thread so I don't hijack this one but here's an update. This spring we moved out of our 1st floor flat into a bungalow 50 miles away. With everything being open again now, I joined the local Men's Shed where I came across a lovely piece of Sapele and so was inspired to crack on with making my own tenor Ukulele. I've made the neck and now I'm making the mould for the Tasmanian Blackwood body. As I say, I'll start a new thread and do a build log on it. Thus far, the neck is Sapele, the fingerboard is Rockwood composite Rosewood and the headstock is laminated with Ziricote. Thanks for the inspiration to get on with it. At the weekend I was at a bbq and was able to pull my uke out of the car and lead a sing-song which is what it's all about. PS. I've found a local uke club too, heaven. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Hooper Posted July 31, 2023 Author Share Posted July 31, 2023 Geoff, that neck looks like a fine piece of work - well done! I'm still very active on the local uke scene. Last weekend our Shifnal club took to the second stage at the Shrewkfest festival here in Shropshire. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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