Making Ukuleles

Making a ukulele involves a multitude of tasks.  These include:

• selecting the proper woods for the back, and sides taking info account their vibrational properties and the look they will achieve
• selecting the best quality tone wood for the  top 
• resawing the back sides and top to an appropriate thickness for surface sanding
• sanding the major componets of the body to appropriate thickness
• selecting the wood for the neck and cutting it to the right size for the model of ukulele, baritone, tenor, concert and soprano
• Building the forms
• Cutting the rosette channel and gluing the rosette in place
• Preparing the top and gluing the top sides and neck
• Cutting and shaping the Neck
• Installing the Head Stock inlay and Tuner holes
• Binding the top and back
• Cutting fret slots and adding fret wire
• Making and installing the Bridge and Nut
• Sanding, sanding, sanding and more sanding
• Finishing with multiple coats of oil based finish
• Stringing the instrument with high quality nylon strings
• Adjusting the nut and bridge for proper intonation and action

Some views of the process

Early Assembly

Inserting the Kerfing

Making Binding Grooves

The Shop:

Some of the Details