Building a Ukulele Start to Finish

[@Matthews_Media]

This is absolutely stunning. The best looking Ukulele I have ever seen. Amazing work. You should be so proud.

[@customukuleles]

@@Matthews_Media Thank you, if you ever want me to build you one, I’d be happy to work with you!

[@haroldkemp6957]

Music and poetry in the hands of this master craftsman. A luthier extraordinaire! Thank you for this calming lesson.

[@navaskin]

That was a fun watch. Best bowl of cereal while watching. Thank you for sharing. Wish I could afford one. I'll look you up

[@customukuleles]

So glad you enjoyed your cereal! And I do know that although a lot of manufactured ukuleles sound pretty good, they can’t compare with one hand built.

[@navaskin]

I would appreciate that. Thank you.

[@customukuleles]

@@navaskin I am back in the states. Feel free to contact me and we can discuss your tenor! [e-mail] .

[@shawnhulke7385]

Very beautiful and fine craftsmanship.

[@judywooten5055]

Beautiful and so fun to see the whole process in one video!

[@customukuleles]

Thank you Judy, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@petergeen2198]

Quite exceptional Oliver, a peaceful relaxing watch packed with tips soaked in experience 🙏

[@customukuleles]

Thank you Peter, my intention is to also let people know that there is actually a great deal that goes into making a quality instrument. My Catalan grandfather quite accurately said “manufacturing will be the death of the artisan”. When musical instruments are built by hand, giving attention to the individual properties of every individual piece of wood and how they interact, it is as if they give it a soul. Even though there are decent sounding factory made instruments, this is a quality they just aren’t able to achieve.

[@customukuleles]

Thank you!

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Spectacular !

[@allenmay8850]

I cherish and play daily, the Ukulele Oliver made for me.

[@customukuleles]

@@allenmay8850 Hi Allen, this touches me deeply and I’m so glad that you’re enjoying your ukulele.i would love to hear a clip sometime. Janna and I send our best wishes . . .

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

Very nice mate, beautiful instrument, and a relaxing watch 😊

[@customukuleles]

Thank you for your kind words, so glad you enjoyed it!

[@mpd-diy-guy4241]

Truly a work of art, wish I could afford such a masterpiece. Nice video

[@customukuleles]

Thank you for you kind words. If you are truly interested in acquiring a high quality ukulele that could become your best friend, contact me and perhaps it could happen . . . [e-mail]

[@mpd-diy-guy4241]

@@customukuleles Thank you, that’s a very king offer, but I’m the guy that buys the $50 version on Amazon, but I appreciate the offer. Perhaps my playing will one day get to a level where I can showcase it with a custom instrument but right now it’s more like perfume on a pig. p.s. I loved the touch of having your video accompanied by music from ukuleles you made. They sound as beautiful as they look.

[@jrgenbaadsgaard]

Fantastic work. Nice that you want to share how you build your ukuleles

[@customukuleles]

@@jrgenbaadsgaard Thank you for your kind words. And of course I share my techniques - if they can be of benefit to anyone I am happy. Also if anyone has any suggestions on a better method, I am always willing to learn from them.

[@RogerAlmeidaLuthier]

It's a gourgeous Uke! Congrats for the great job. You are very tallented!

[@customukuleles]

@@RogerAlmeidaLuthier Thank you for your kind words.🎶🎶🎶

[@pfeampfl]

A truly wonderful instrument, built by a master luthian. I'm sure its sound matches its looks. Wish I had a ukulele like that, but it would be wasted on my modest playing skills anyway.

[@customukuleles]

@@pfeampfl Thanks for your kind words. The right instrument becomes a part of you, a best friend that can inspire you and you can grow with. I’m sure that you probably play better than you think. Everyone wants to be better.

[@CRP2426]

Such a beautiful piece. Love every detail. Is there a longer version of this video? I would love to hear the commentary while being built. Bless you!

[@customukuleles]

It is taking me a while to respond to your comment as I am currently visiting family in Spain. You might enjoy some of my more detailed videos on my channel if you are interested in a particular part of the build. I am also happy to communicate with you directly if you have any questions or comments. My email is [e-mail] .

[@bryan3550]

A delight and a privilege to watch you work! Thank you. Clearly, mutch effort was put into the construction of the jigs you use, making them fit for purpose. What is the padding in the jaws of the vice you used many times?

[@customukuleles]

@@bryan3550 The padding on my vice jaws is urethane, about 3/16” thick available from StewMac. It is the perfect material as it holds tight, lasts a long time and doesn’t mar any surface. And yes, I am a perfectionist when it comes to my jigs as their performance is critical.

[@beneditofilho2784]

Parabéns ,ficou ótimo.👏🏻

[@customukuleles]

@@beneditofilho2784 Gracias!

[@marimaeabreu]

Beautiful

[@lexm9416]

Lovely work 👏👏👏😃

[@customukuleles]

@@lexm9416 thank you!

[@Jaxon_chickenjoe9]

that is amazing !! nice work !!

[@customukuleles]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@davidrachubka5300]

That was a beautiful wood set and very nice detail. Tung oil must give a nice thin finish and preserve a little more tone. I thought the tuners were exceptionally nice looking. I'm wondering where you sourced them. I haven't seen anything quite like them. I always pick up a tip or two by watching a build like this. Thank you for going to all the effort to make a video for every one to enjoy and learn from.

[@customukuleles]

@@davidrachubka5300 For finishes, I prefer either tung oil or French polish (natural shellac). And those tuners? They are Rubners . . . www.rubnertuners.com/ukulele-machines .

[@navaskin]

I'd like a custom one for sure. What do the prices range for a tenor?

[@customukuleles]

@@navaskin There are so many variables and I will be happy to discuss more details when I am back in the States next week.

[@ositoCastro]

Beautiful job, plays fantastic. What king of stain did you apply? Thanks

[@customukuleles]

@@ositoCastro Thanks for your comment. Actually there is no stain - the color is the natural color of the wood. On this ukulele I used a tung oil finish, first coat wet sanded to 400 x, second coat wet sanded to 800 x, 3rd coat wet sanded to 1,500 x, then 3 more coats, all buffed out. Tung oil provides a long lasting durable finish and a lot of work and as there is a waiting time between coats, this process takes almost 2 weeks. There is only a light oil on the fingerboard and bridge specifically formulated for that.

[@shawnhulke7385]

Looks like you might have got your fingers a little close to the sharp side of the saw blade.

[@customukuleles]

@@shawnhulke7385 Years ago I was raising some panels for cabinet doors, running cherry over a moulding cutter, and a flaw in the wood caught the blade and kicked it out of my hands and . . . . I have been working with wood for over 60 years and have to admit that, at the time, having been so comfortable around machinery (having worked with it so long) plus being in a hurry plus not being in the best mood, it could have been avoided. A painful lessen. But it hasn’t kept me down and I have learned how to not let it become a handicap. So be careful and if you feel in a hurry or aren’t in the best mood, stay out of the shop!

[@thirdson2441]

@@customukuleles I lost the distal part of my thumb on my dominant hand just this April. After 40 years of working wood I got a bit complacent I guess. I am back in the shop building. Nice to see you got past it as well!

[@customukuleles]

@@thirdson2441 Yes, it seems that it is usually the experienced woodworkers who get just a little too comfortable around dangerous machines. I’m sorry for the loss of part of your thumb. I have learned how to manage quite well with my hand but it did take awhile and those fingers are still very painful if I bump them, I don’t think I need to tell you, I’m sure you know. My accident was with a molding cutter, raising panels, wing in a hurry and not being in the best mental state. Now my new rule is - stay out of the shop if tired, not in a good mood or in a hurry.