Soprano Ukulele Kit

I received my kit about 3 weeks ago and was excited to get started on my new project. I inventoried my parts and laid everything out to make sure everything was there. Everything was good to go so I started with the first step and continued until it was completed about a week later. I purchased the video to help with the build and was glad I did, the book is helpful, but the video was in more detail.

I don't know what I'm going to build next, maybe the tenor. All in all it was a great project. I added some purple heart in the bridge instead of using the inlay provided, also changed out the nut with purple heart and some more purple heart on the heel.

This ain't at my first stringed instrument build and stewmac served me well for years and still do, but this wow !?!? There's nothing like finishing the whole thing and realize it would need 3/4 inch saddle to string it. This is NOT a fit and glue project. The neck heel is so randomly cut, mine will need at least a 1/8 inch wedge to get the neck right (after cutting the neck off the body, make the wedge, reglue, sigh...)

The son of a friend was to perform in a fund raiser "Hawaiian" night but did not have a Uke, so I took this as my excuse to give the Stew-Mac Soprano Ukulele kit a try. As usual, the kit arrived fast, it was all inclusive and nicely prepared. The instrument went together quickly with little effort. I opted for the kit with the accompanying CD even though I have built a number of kits prior to the Uke. I managed to pick up some new tips and techniques from the CD.

Overall I been very satisfied with everything from Stew-Mac. I highly recommend this kit (with or without the CD) to anyone who wants to build a fine little, beautiful sounding instrument.

Congratulations to Stwemac on a first class kit and service. I received my kit in Australia on a Wednesday night and completed the build at 2.30 AM on the Sunday night. IT IS ADDICTIVE. I upgraded to the Grover machine tuners which are well worth the small extra. I also added some ivory inlay on the head which came up great. I will be ordering a tenor kit immediately.

I have just now started work on the project, so I could change my mind. It was shipped quickly, all of the parts are there and in good shape. I would be further along if it was not for the huge list of things I need to do the job. All can be bought at a hardware store, I think, but I have been to two and do not have it all, yet.

My big b***h is that it could have come with the jig. I lucked into a generous and not-busy guy at Home Depot who cut mine from scrap...total cost- $.51. Yep, fifty one cents. for $150 bucks they could put one in the box at that price.

I do think the uke kit is good. Wish it came with cardboad cut outs make it a little easy for the kids

Have just finished the kit and love the end result, great tone and sound. Prefer this to the tenor uke which I also made. As with other reviewers buy decent strings those supplied with the kit are rubbish. Also replace the friction pegs with better machine heads. Converted the kit to left handed version no problem as nut was generically slotted rather than with different gauge slots.

very good kit

The kit was marvelous. Instructions were very clear (no "bad english" like other instruction manuals I have used). The quality was very high and beautiful. Parts were well manufactured and were easy to put together. I also bought the video, which was a great investment. It really went hand in hand with the written instructions.

I have done other stewmac kits in the past but not for many years. The kit instructions are fairly clear. It goes together well. A couple notes: I would forgo the dowel in the neck next time. Properly fit the neck to the body by putting sandpaper on the body and sand the neck and making sure you get a 100% fit neck/body. Unless you have a drill press or are very lucky you will not be able to get the dowel 100% true. There is not much tension on those nylon strings. Throw away the strings in the kit or use them for fishing. They sound like crap. Purchase machine uke tuners. Friction pegs are terrible although a little rosin in the friction area makes them better. Be very careful with the instant glue on the sound hole. The instructions say it darkens the wood but will be invisible after the finish. Not so. It darkens the wood and it remains visible. Especially to the builder since you know about it. I finished mine with the brush on finish then wet sanded down to 2500 sandpaper in stages after lots of coats of finish. Then rubbed with rotten stone and got a deep lustrous finish. Sound quality is great for such a new instrument. You will be disappointed at first but the quality of the sound starts to build fast. Just keep playing it. In a couple weeks you will be very happy with the sound. All in all a nice project.