Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by DrByte on February 9, 2011 at 4:19pm

Is the neck attached to a block or is it neck through the body?  What is your bridge like? The sound-hole should be about 1.5 inches in diameter. How about a picture or two, especially the neck attachment and the inside of the box might help us figure it out.

Permalink Reply by ukeplayer on February 9, 2011 at 6:12pm

Well the neck is attached to a block, I was useing a banjo bridge but was getting even less sound so i went to a bolt and i got a little bit better results, but it is still not right. This is my first build and so far this is really the only problem i have run into. I dont have any pics of the inside and my dialup out here in the boonies isnt going to let me load anymore pictures at the moment but here are a couple to give an idea of what it looks like

Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on February 10, 2011 at 5:55am

Your soundboard looks thick to me. Plus you haven't said what what your bridge is like. How much string pressure does it have? Your neck is low in relation to the soudboard, almost level it appears and I doubt the bridge is making good contact with the top. The bridge transfers the string vibrations to the top.

Don

Permalink Reply by ukeplayer on February 10, 2011 at 2:01pm

yea the sounboard is about 3/16"  and im still not sure about what kind of bridge to use, right now im just using a bolt. I was planning on using a

 floating bridge but if an attached bridge would work better let me know thanks

Permalink Reply by Johnny Debit on February 10, 2011 at 3:01pm

I think Don has identified two issues that might be contributing to the problem.  Try to isolate the issues to see how much each one is contributing. If it currently stays in tune when played, then you know that your neck join is solid. Try increasing the string break angle and the downward force on the bridge by putting something hard under the bolt to raise it up. You won’t be able to play it like that, but that will let you know how it would sound with an attached bridge. If it still sounds dead, verify that the box lid is shut up tight with no paper or labels getting in the way.  If that checks out, then you might have to thin the lid from the inside.

Permalink Reply by Johnny Debit on February 14, 2011 at 6:36am

P.S. If you find the soundboard thickness is not the main culprit, you might just have to raise the neck a little above the box top. I usually make mine with the neck level with the box top and then glue a 1/4" fingerboard over the top. This allows the bridge enough height for a decent break angle. Since you already have your fretting done, you can accomplish the same thing by removing the neck and gluing a ¼” shim of hardwood under the neck heel and then reattach the neck.

Johnny Debit said:

I think Don has identified two issues that might be contributing to the problem.  Try to isolate the issues to see how much each one is contributing. If it currently stays in tune when played, then you know that your neck join is solid. Try increasing the string break angle and the downward force on the bridge by putting something hard under the bolt to raise it up. You won’t be able to play it like that, but that will let you know how it would sound with an attached bridge. If it still sounds dead, verify that the box lid is shut up tight with no paper or labels getting in the way.  If that checks out, then you might have to thin the lid from the inside.