Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chester Winowiecki on May 17, 2010 at 4:03pm

Nice uke!
Here's my suggestions:
If you're using ukulele strings, you shouldn't have to worry about them cutting into the wood. The tension on uke strings is much less than steel strings. Once you have it strung up, if the strings feel too loose to you or the uke sounds a bit too quiet, you can tune up from GCEA to ADF#B and that should give you a bit more volume. You might want to tie an extra large knot in the ends so they don't pull through or you can tie them on to small beads. Check out this photo:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/tailpice-of-cakepanjolele?conte...

You could just leave the plugged holes, but if you want to cover them up, you could cut a slice off of the top (and the bottom) and glue on a cap of another piece of wood. If you do one side and then the other you can use your existing holes to guide the drill bit into the one side and then the other.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on May 18, 2010 at 3:29am

I filled the old holes with sawdust and super glue but I'm wondering if there's any way to better conceal them?

Drill them out again and fill it with toothpicks. Cut flush and finish. Should be less visible. OR veneer over it all and drill in the good holes again.

I am also wondering what would be best to insert into the holes to keep the strings from cutting into the wood.

I use 1/8" wide pop rived sleves. drill 1/8" holes and insert (remove the nail first) sleves in. Voila!

Not one fret has popped out yet. A true miracle.

Not bad for a first go! My first stunk on ice.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Hip Bone Bellaire on May 18, 2010 at 10:50am

I used tuners like that on my first build... you're not gonna like them...sorry,but they are a real pain / hard to twist and tune...
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/build-1-d?context=user

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Permalink Reply by Matt Jones on May 18, 2010 at 11:06am

thanks for the tips!

@Chester - those beads look like a great idea. Never would have thought about that. and thanks for the alternate tuning suggestion

@Wes - Thanks for the toothpick tip. I'll probably go that route since recapping the end would be a lot of work.

@Hip Bone - yeah, I knew those tuners have mixed reviews. Since I won't be using steel strings I'm hoping they will hold but we'll see when the strings come in tomorrow.

matt

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Permalink Reply by Chester Winowiecki on May 18, 2010 at 3:19pm

Matt,
Another thing about uke strings...there's really no need to leave slack in the string before you start winding (like with a steel string) the nylon will stretch a lot and you'll still get 3 or so windings on the peg even if you start winding with the string taught.
The tuners should work ok, but friction tuners are a lot more finicky than geared tuners. As you get closer to pitch the tiniest turn can change a lot so be patient. Make sure to keep a screwdriver handy as you'll probably need to tighten the screw at the back of the tuner to keep it from slipping. Oh, and expect the strings to continue to stretch for a day or two. You'll probably need to retune it everytime you pick it up for a little while.

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Permalink Reply by Matt Jones on May 19, 2010 at 4:20am

Gary, thanks for the comments. I have played the guitar and stringed instruments for 30+ years so I thought if I was going to build something I wanted to make it as playable and comfortable as it could be. I probably spent too much time over thinking a lot of what I did and who knows, it may turn out to be a total dog once I get it all strung up! Definitely a fun project, though.

At any rate, those holes were cut with a drill and hole bit. I tested it first on a Padron box and thought for sure it would rip the wood up but the cut came out really clean and just needed some light sanding.

Chester, good to know about the string stretch! Hopefully the strings will come today.

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