Half Size Ukulele - build

[stevo]

Hiyas, just thought i'd add my latest project...

I've made a couple of Ornamental Ukuleles to go on the cabinet. These are a half size simplified version of the normal ukulele. I'll add some more info and pics

Comparison photo from left to right:
/1. Half Size Soprano /2. Soprano /3. Soprano Long Neck /4. Tenor...

 

[Mark]

You should be selling your woodwork as fine art you'd make a tidy sum Stevo!

How does it sound? Any chance of uploading a quick recording?

From sheds to wake boards to ukuleles you're a diverse craftsman mate...

 

[stevo]

Cheers Marks, it's an interesting concept, .. selling things...building vs worth / price

These are purely ornamental. While they do make some muffled sound, they can't be tuned or played. Maybe only after a few drinks They're half size, so half size of a standard Ukulele.

I'm not that great at playing, but I like creating things with timber, so to take a break from the bee hives I thought i'd try this. I made one for my neighbour and one for myself. They're getting the better one. (there's always a good and less good one ....

I have started to make a full size playable ukulele but that will take some time. I guess I could create a thread for that.. it'll be one of those .. "high risk of failure" projects as there's quite a few things to get right with a musical instrument.

cheers again - I just love makin stuff

 

[Ash]

Amazing work Stevo.
Thanks for sharing this step by step journey. People do appreciate the look of a fine musical instrument, even if they cannot play it. Well done.

 

[stevo]

It lives!!

I've been working on a slim body pineapple uke. I made the body and neck and bought the fret board, bridge and tuning pegs. People do make their own fret boards but I'm not that advanced.

There was a few a us around a fire last Friday night with a few ukes and it was quite popular, it's pretty nice to play. It does have a bit of a tinny sound because of the thin body and it's probably not the best wood for a musical instrument (apparently there's "tonal" kinds of wood that sound better) .. but it's "what I got".

I think I made the sound hole too big and have been experimenting with changing the hole size by blocking it up and it sounds better. The sticky tape is temporary, i'll make some kind of shape with the wood and glue it on

 

[Mark]

Very nice Stevo!

The tightening of the strings in the handle is that your own design or do you buy them from a guitar/music shop and then install it?

I like them both - don't think I could choose a favourite.

 

[stevo]

I'm not that skilled Mark!

I bought:
Tuning pegs - chrome bits that wind up the strings
Fret board - the dark timber section that you play chords on
Bridge - dark timber piece at the base that holds the end of the string

I'll have to get a youtube account and add a video to show the sound

 

[Mark]

I'm not that skilled Mark!

Well... from wakeboards to ukuleles and sheds there's not much you can't build by the looks of things!

I'll have to get a youtube account and add a video to show the sound

Be sure to subscribe to my channel then

 

[stevo]

1. "Jack of all trades, master of none"

2. I do look every now and then at your videos on there and read some comments, there's a whole different world out there with different social media sites

 

[Mark]

I do look every now and then at your videos on there and read some comments, there's a whole different world out there with different social media sites

Yeah, YT can be a little dangerous but you are able to moderate the comments on your own channel though... I get plenty of nutters which I mostly ignore although I have to say the majority of people and comments in my genera are good.

I think your ukulele project or any of your other projects would be of interest to many on YT especially how the viewers are evolving from a typically young audience to a general cross section of ages.

 

[stevo]

oooooookkk... a demo

as mentioned previously, I made the hole too big, so I have covered it up with a flower

 

[Mark]

Brilliant! You play quite well Stevo!

Subbed Wilson