Lesson 1: LET'S GET STARTED

Lesson 1: Let's get started

Dan walks you through the kit, shows off the woods, outlines your build, and gives you a sneak peak of the finished ukes.

In this video you'll learn:

Outlining your build
The different sizes of ukulele you can build
Discussing your finishing options

What you'll need:

Your new ukulele kit

NEXT UP

Lesson 2: BRACING THE TOP+BACK

Video Transcription

[on-screen text reads: How to Build a Ukulele. Lessson 1: Let's Gets Started!]

Dan Erlewine: I am really pleased that here at StewMac, we've come up with three of our own Ukulele Kits. The soprano little one, medium size concert, and the bigger tenor. These kits are fun and easy to build and they make great sounding instruments. We shot 10 videos, one for each step, and it shows you everything you need to know. And if you follow along step by step, you can't go wrong. You don't need special tools. Most of the tools you probably already have around the house and you don't need a workshop, you can build this kit right on the kitchen table.

Options for staining and finishing

We came up with this really simple jig that you can make from a piece of plywood and four angle brackets that holds the body in shape while you build. The finishing is easy. We use Wipe on Poly, which is a good-looking durable finish, easy to apply. It doesn't require any spring or hassling about it. You could finish this any color you wanted could be a stain or a sunburst. We finish it with clear on one, just a natural mahogany. In the other, we stained dark brown to look like an old Martin, and we'll show you how to do that.

The building process

That's mahogany top solid wood. The same mahogany in plywood holds the shape for your sides. It's pre-bent. They'll fit right into the mold that you make. The neck is pre-shaped. You couldn't shape a neck your first time out, but you do have to sand it when you put the fretboard on. The fretboard is walnut and it's pre-slotted so you don't have to cut the slots and get off, but you do have to fret it, and that's fun and that's your entry into luthiery. So let's get started.

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