Portland Oregon
Fireball Ukulele
I wanted to build a ukulele from scratch, or at least build a ukulele from plans (not a kit). Here are my construction photos of the building of a prototype Grande Concerto "Fireball Ukulele" 15.5" scale (loosely based on the shape of a Martin Tenor Ukulele). The design and construction method is based on the limitations of my minimalist shop environment. I did not build up any forms to aid in shaping and the result is a very organic final shape. If you would like a custom Fireball Ukulele of your own, please contact me.

 

ukulele construction
Soaking rosewood 		ukulele construction
foil tray		 ukulele construction
electric heat 		ukulele construction
rosewood side bending 		ukulele construction
organic shape
ukulele photos
cedar neck slotted 		ukulele photos
sides fitting 		ukulele photos
glue neck to top 		ukulele photos
top cedar 		ukulele photos
clamping jig
build a ukulele
flat jig 		build a ukulele
glue side to top 		build a ukulele
glue sides 		build a ukulele
heel and braces 		build a ukulele
sound hole outline
fireball ukulele
sides in slot 		fireball ukulele
fan bracing 		fireball ukulele
basswood kerfing 		fireball ukulele
more kerfing 		fireball ukulele
shaping bracing
fireball ukulele
shaping bracing		 fireball ukulele
shaping bracing		 fireball ukulele
shaping bracing		 fireball ukulele
cut sound hole 		fireball ukulele
bottom kerfing
fireball ukulele construction
clothespin clamps 		fireball ukulele construction
cedar bottom bracing 		fireball ukulele construction
cedar ukulele bottom 		fireball ukulele construction
shaping bracing		 fireball ukulele construction
sanded bottom edge
custom ukulele design
edges sanded flush		 custom ukulele design
adding fret wire 		custom ukulele design
cutting fret slots 		custom ukulele design
mangled frets replaced 		custom ukulele design
bottom detail
custom ukulele design
edges sanded flush 		custom ukulele design
first fireball ukulele 		custom ukulele design
beggining design of bridge 		custom ukulele design
still shaping bridge 		custom ukulele design
bridge too big!
ukulele strings
after finishing 		ukulele strings
bridge better size 		ukulele kit
based on martin tenor 		ukulele kit
cedar ukulele 		ukulele parts
Fireball Grande Concerto
rosewood
neck and side 		cedar
bottom detail 		ukulele strings
black keys 		ukulele strings
Cedar neck 		ukulele strings
rich cedar
ukulele strings
rosewood fingerboard 		ukulele strings
bridge like classical guitar 		Grizzly ukulele kit construction photos
compare to the grizzly soprano ukulele I built from a kit 		minutemen on ukulele
Video of me playing Corona 		 

Some of my favorite ukulele links

Fireball Ukulele

Tune your ukulele

Ukulele Boogaloo

Brudda Bu's Ukulele Heaven

Sites of Ukulele Players

James Hill - Ukulele Seriously

Some of my favorite Banjo links

Tune you Banjo -by Harrell Stiles

Geoff Hohwald - banjo tabs

How and Tao -by Patrick Costello

Banjo Ben - bluegrass lessons

Sites of Banjo Players

John Thomas Fowler

Some of my favorite Guitar links

Chords for Guitar

Chordie.com - this is a great site that gives chords for ukulele, banjo, and guitar.