Btw, building a uke is just as time consuming as a guitar. Also, check out RC Tonewoods (above, sponsor here) for permafrost mahogany uke necks. Think they might not be bolt on though...
Mike
Edit: Permafrost?
Iphone spellchecker. "preformed"
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| Author: | Laidback1 [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 3:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Folks, I returned this week from 3 week guitar building class at Vermont Instruments. Great Class! The instructor, George Morris, was very patient and guided the 4 students to produce some really nice guitars. The guitars we built had a bolt on neck. He recommended that we quickly start building some ukuleles to really solidify the process in our minds. His thinking, smaller body will allow us to work thru the process quicker to get a good understanding of everything we learned. Question: Any idea where I can locate any Uke Plans w/Mortice & Tenon bolt on neck? I want to replicate the process with a couple of ukes to start out. Any help is appreciated...... Thanks, Mark |
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| Author: | Kevin Mason [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
I have to say, it takes me about the same amount of time to build a uke as it does a guitar. A smaller body doesn't make it go faster. Yes, the steps in the process are more or less the same--you are just using less material. If you want to build ukes, go for it. But if you want to build guitars, keep building guitars. You won't get there any faster building a bunch of ukes. For any first-time uke builder, I recommend the Hana Lima plans. You can substitute any method of attaching the neck that you want. |
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| Author: | ballbanjos [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 7:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
The Hana Lima plans are definitely a good way to go. But I agree--the amount of time it takes to build a uke isn't much different (at least for me) than the time to build a guitar. The biggest time savings on a small instrument are in sanding and finishing time. With the tighter curves on ukes, the sides are actually a bit harder to bend than guitar sides--at least they're a bit easier to crack if you're not careful. Ukes aren't really just little guitars either--they need to be built considerably lighter in order to sound like ukes instead of little guitars. The bigger difference, which could make a difference to a new builder, is in cost of materials. Uke sized wood is a lot cheaper than guitar sized wood. I tend to build more ukes than guitars, but it's because I really like building and playing ukes, not for time or material savings. But George's advise to go home and build another right away is good advise. When I came back from Earthworks in the 70's (with Charles Fox and George Morris as teachers), I immediately built another guitar. The experience showed me immediately where I needed to focus going forward without the benefit of an on-site teacher like I had at Earthworks. It's quite a bit different going at it alone! Dave |
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| Author: | Laidback1 [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Kevin & Dave, Thanks for info on Hana Lima plans. Will definitely check it out. Also, thanks for sharing your perspective on building UKE as a "timesaver" to learn the process. Something for me to consider. I have all of my power tools. My other tools from StewMac and LMI will be delivered over the next couple of days. Can't wait to get started. I have guitar wood already stacked and acclimated to my area. If I bought some Uke wood, how long would you recommend that I let it acclimate to my environment (S. Texas) before using? Thanks for your help. Mark |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Could be wrong, but the Hana Lima specify a Spanish Heel neck. That said, I modified the tenor plans very easily for a MT bolt on. This is no big deal. Also, I lessened the depth to 2.75", I did not want a Spanish uke. But the body style is beautiful. See my pics in the other uke thread below (tony_in_ny) The Hana Lima plans are awesome. Make sure u get 3-4 professional duplicates for template making Mike |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Btw, building a uke is just as time consuming as a guitar. Also, check out RC Tonewoods (above, sponsor here) for permafrost mahogany uke necks. Think they might not be bolt on though... Mike Edit: Permafrost? Iphone spellchecker. "preformed"
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| Author: | Quine [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
I don't know of any plans with a bolt on mortise/tenon joint. But its a simple to modify any plan with a bolt on neck joint The M/T probably won't work on a uke though. There just isn't enough room without a huge neck block (for a uke). I use a butt joint with a threaded nut insert in the heel. Or look up Pete Howlett on youtube to see his joint with a dowel bolt buried in the heel. Probably how I will do it next time I get the uke bug Ditto on ukes being about the same work time as a guitar. Don't worry about bending, the tight waist really isn't that scary. Go for it...ukes are cool |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Quine wrote: I don't know of any plans with a bolt on mortise/tenon joint. But its a simple to modify any plan with a bolt on neck joint The M/T probably won't work on a uke though. There just isn't enough room without a huge neck block (for a uke). I use a butt joint with a threaded nut insert in the heel. Or look up Pete Howlett on youtube to see his joint with a dowel bolt buried in the heel. Probably how I will do it next time I get the uke bug Ditto on ukes being about the same work time as a guitar. Don't worry about bending, the tight waist really isn't that scary. Go for it...ukes are cool http://rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store/index. ... ts_id=2749 You can get Dovetail M/T for ukes. I like the straight M/T bolt-on. But I don't think Bob offers one. Mike |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Sat Aug 11, 2012 10:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
It's really hard to do bolt on with a uke, because you just don't have as much space to work with as a guitar so mounting them would be more difficult. Plus the hardware adds considerable weight. Next uke I build will be dovetail. |
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| Author: | Mark Fogleman [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:23 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Pete Howlett uses a barrel nut inserted in a vertical hole in the top of the heel hidden by the fretboard. |
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| Author: | blindrobert [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Hey, Mark - it's your housemate from Vermont Instruments here! Hope your travels back home went well and you are enjoying the TX heat without the benefit of Lake Fairlee two blocks away. I ordred the Tenor Uke plans from LMI and the uke construction book by Wickham which goes along with them. That should get me going. Not sure it's a bolt on neck or not - but I'm going to give it a whirl. Buying lots of tools, how about you? And how's your guitar settling in? Roberto |
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| Author: | Michael [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
I have shown this picture before on the forum. I don't think there is enough room on the neck for a M/T joint. These are tenors. I have built 6 of them and they are all doing well.  Michael |
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| Author: | Kevin Waldron [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Don't have any pictures right now of tenon ukulele necks but it can be done. Here is an idea of template size. Blessings, Kevin |
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| Author: | Dave Fifield [ Mon Aug 13, 2012 8:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
I always use a M&T joint on my tenor ukes (which are modified Hana Lima plan based). Doesn't seem to be any issue with space to me. I use two 10-32 bolts and matching steel bushings in the neck tenon. Tenon is 0.75" wide x 0.5" deep x about 2/3 of the body depth long. I made my own joint routing templates for the Luthier Tools neck jig. My neck block is 1.25" thick. AFAICT a single 1/4-20 fixing using a barrel nut would work well also - I'm in the process of making another tenor uke right now, so I may give it a try and report back. HTH, Dave F. |
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| Author: | Tai Fu [ Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Might be fine with tenor ukes but for soprano ukes space is just too tight. I could only use a single 1/4" bolt... and its difficult to get any tool inside to tighten the bolt. |
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| Author: | Mark Fogleman [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
A long ball end hex key will engage a neck bolt through the soundhole in a soprano uke. Plan the position of the bolt in the block to give you <20 degree angle between the neck edge of the soundhole and the neck block. SM sells long truss rod hex wrenches that will work. Wiha has nice ones that will engage at up to a 30 degree angle: http://www.wihatools.com/200seri/264inch.htm. |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:10 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
Yes, you do not have to use M/T with a Uke. But I'm not sure why I keep reading how a M/T will not (or may not) work. My new neck fixture from Chris at Luthier Tools includes a mini M/T template (much like above). And I am currently finishing a Tenor Uke with a bolt-on M/T. And the neck block is not large at all. Pretty much to scale with the rest of the body. I'll post an inside the box picture later. Mike |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Uke Plans w/M&T Bolt On Neck? |
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