How To Build a Ukulele in 10 Lessons

By Frank Byers September 21, 2023

The StewMac Kits are designed for the first-time instrument builders. Have some fun in your shop building each of these three versions: Soprano (small), Concert (medium) and Tenor (large) sizes.

Each kit includes:

Solid mahogany top
Laminated mahogany back
Laminated mahogany sides
Fully shaped mahogany neck with two dowel pins for neck joint
Walnut fretboard, slotted and inlaid with position markers
Tuners with mounting hardware
Shaped string nut
Carved, drilled walnut bridge
Shaped saddle
Plastic dowel for making side dots
Fretwire
Rubber binding bands
Spruce braces, quartersawn and carved for top and back
Two spruce soundhole braces
Bridge plate
Full-sized bracing plan
Instruction book
Strings

Check out all three in detail and purchase at your participating Woodcraft stores or online at Woodcraft.com.

Legendary repairman, builder and author, Dan Erlewine takes us through a ten lesson step-by-step process with video instruction.

LESSON 1: Getting Started

Introduce the kit unboxing.

Discuss the building process.

Cover finishing options.

LESSON 2: Bracing the Top & Back

Laying out the bracing pattern.

Gluing up the braces.

Lesson 3: ASSEMBLING THE BODY

Building a mold to hold your ukulele during construction. Gluing the sides, neck & tail block. Installing the linings.

Lesson 4: PREPARING THE NECK

Preparing the neck. Installing the side dots. Installing & gluing in the frets. Gluing on the fingerboard

Lesson 5: LEVELING THE FRETS

Final shaping the neck. Leveling the frets. Rounding the fret tops. Fine tuning the fret ends.

Lesson 6: SANDING THE BODY & NECK

Final fitting / setting the neck. Positioning the bridge. Final sanding the body and neck before finishing.

Lesson 7: STAINING THE BODY & NECK

Mixing custom stains. Preparing end grain for staining. Why you should stain the neck and body separately.

Lesson 8: ATTACHING THE NECK

Getting the fit of the neck just right. Gluing on the neck (while keeping it straight). Gluing and clamping the fingerboard extension.

Lesson 9: APPLYING THE FINISH

Final prepping the wood for finishing. Scuff sanding. Finishing with a rag and brush. Applying the final coat.

Lesson 10: ASSEMBLY & SETUP

Gluing on the bridge. Installing the tuners. Fitting the nut & Saddle. Fine tuning the action and playability. Oiling the fingerboard and bridge.

You’re all done and ready to play! Post your finished Uke's on our social media pages, and perhaps a little video on the tunes you might play! We'd love to see and hear your results!

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