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harp ukulele build blog - together at last!.
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:42 pm
by johnnparchem
I have not done all that much yet. I copied a set of plans I had to use to make a set of plastic templates and a bending form. I also made a slotted headstock out of plywood to use as a quide.
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Re: Starting a harp ukulele
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:39 pm
by johnnparchem
I roughed out the mold and I decided to use koa for the back and sides and cedar for the top. My koa set is for a guitar, so I though I would cut out a set of koa binding and put them in with a black fiber side purfling. I will use the thuya burl you see in the photo for the headstock and peg board veneer and possibly the rosettes. Also you can see in the picture that I will make a rosewood fretboard and a rosewood bridge.
Re: Starting a harp ukulele
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:07 pm
by darren
sweet!
Re: Starting a harp ukulele
Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 4:54 am
by Valleyisle
Very interesting. Thanks.
Re: Starting a harp ukulele
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:53 am
by johnnparchem
Re: Starting a harp ukulele
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:33 pm
by johnnparchem
Re: Starting a harp ukulele
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:43 pm
by johnnparchem
Re: Starting a harp ukulele
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:45 am
by darren
Looking good John. Much better than my attempt at the cumpiano style of cutting a slotted headstock.
I just love seeing a headstock shape almost ready for finish sanding hanging on to a neck blank like that.
Re: harp ukulele build -- Power tool wake-up call :(
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:19 pm
by johnnparchem
On the back of the harp headstock there is going to be 1 " radius curve. I have a very sharp 1" radius cove bit. A big bit 2 inch around an inch or so high. Some how I must not have tighten down the bit well enough in the router because half way through the cut the bit took off into the air like a whirly toy taking the board and my hands with it. I think I let go of the board but as the bit was flying by it nicked my index finger. Ouch! Nice clean but deep cut. I did not hit any thing important as it hit the out side index finger between the first joint and nail.
But ignore all of that; with nice safe hand tools (as long as one keeps their body parts out of the way) I have the neck rough carved.
Re: harp ukulele build -- Power tool wake-up call :(
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2012 6:26 pm
by Ken Hundley
Looks great, John! I would love to do something like this, but have no idea what I would do with it when finished!