Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on December 11, 2014 at 7:21am

Ukes can be  problematic because the strings are very light and at relatively low tension, so it's difficult to get the top of the box to vibrate. Here's my top tips:

1. Use a traditional glued on bridge.

2. Use a tenor scale (longer scale = more tension on the strings, which sort of "pre-loads" the top).

3. Use a box with a thin top. 

My experience is that you need all 3 of these factors to get a cigar box uke to perform half decently.

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Permalink Reply by samuel schold on December 11, 2014 at 7:45am

Thanks Chicken Bone!!  Sounds like good advice. I'll give it a try. Merry Christmas!

Sam Schold

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on December 11, 2014 at 9:42am

thought ukuleles use nylon strings?

if that doesn't work how you want it as john said how about a built in amp.

some guys on here have done to their cbg's.

check in here.....

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/builtin-amp

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Permalink Reply by samuel schold on December 11, 2014 at 10:28am

Hey John! What a neat idea!  I will consider doing one just to see how it sounds. Thanks!!

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Curley on December 11, 2014 at 10:20am

I've no experience with ukeleles but I know that on an acoustic guitar the break angle is a significant factor. A higher angle puts more tension on the bridge and transfers more energy through to the soundboard. May be less of a factor with lower tension nylon strings.

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Permalink Reply by samuel schold on December 11, 2014 at 10:32am

Hello Patrick, I guess that may work also because a violin has really got an angle for string pressure on it's bridge.I am not sure how much a ukulele would need, but it's worth testing this out. Thanks!!!

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on December 11, 2014 at 11:52am

All good suggestions. There are limits to how loud a cb uke can get. Never as loud as standard uke. If you are willing to think outside the box, so to speak, consider longer than tenor scale as CB John said, and try baritone 19 inch scale, tunings of adf#b or dgbe, or even longer guitar scale up to 25.5 inch, with same variation of uke tuning. Adf#b with 2345 strings, dgbe with 1234 strings.

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Permalink Reply by gary herget on December 11, 2014 at 2:18pm

I put a home made reso cone on one and was really suprised at the increased volume. The cone vibrates much more easily than the top will.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on December 12, 2014 at 3:37am

Lots of good suggestions here.   I vote for the Aquila strings and I like them in low G, so the 4th string is lower and more guitar like.   But many would say that makes it less uke like.   A bigger box and going concert or tenor size helps too. 

 

I just posted a video 'White Dove'.   I am using metal strings, the 4 small strings off a standard guitar on a concert sized uke and tuned low G-CAE.   Pretty good volume.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on December 12, 2014 at 3:57am

Samuel, my fret skills are not what I would like them to be.  The shorter the scale, the more precision is a necessity.   So for me, a concert or tenor scale is more achievable. 

 

I regard Rob Uker as one of the top - if not the top- cigar box uke makers.  I will ask him to chip in here.

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Permalink Reply by samuel schold on December 12, 2014 at 7:59am

Thanks!  I appreciate all  your help.

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Permalink Reply by Rob (Uker) Porras on December 12, 2014 at 9:10am

I build a lot of ukuleles and have found that sometimes you have to make a choice between making them pretty or making them sound good. This is what I've experienced.

The back of the box is usually thinner wood and sounds better then the front. But the front is usually a lot better looking. On an Arturo Fuente for example, the front is thick masonite and the back is 1/8 inch plywood. That being said I still sometimes use the front because it is so good looking.

Put the sound hole close to the neck joint , centered between the sides( the traditional spot). There's a reason most professional builders do it this way.

Make sure the bridge isn't right on the end. Look at your favorite uke and design yours to roughly meet the same specifications.

Don't run the wood straight through the body.

Of course I've broken all of my own rules numerous times because making unique one of a kind instruments is what attracted me to building my own instrument.

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