Here's my first homegrown uke, built in August 2004. I bought the neck on eBay in a rough-cut shape with the scarf joint already done. The rest of my ukes have my own necks (I got braver!) With the rough-shaped neck came an unattached maple fingerboard, conveniently slotted and waiting for frets. My first fretting job went very well and this uke is very playable.

This electric semi-solid concert-sized ukulele has an alder body, and is hollow inside except for a 1" strip running down the center. The mahogany top is close to 1/4" thick. I really overbuilt this, although it was intended to primarily be an electric uke anyway.

You can see the endpin input here, which leads to an under-saddle pickup. I got a great deal from K+K Pickups on a small batch of these and I'm pretty happy with the sound, although some playing technique adjustment is necessary to minimize the dreaded "popping" effect that seems to be common with low tension nylon strings.

I crafted the bridge from a rosewood blank. It's styled pretty much after a classical bridge. I used Graph-Tech graphite blanks for the saddle and nut. I've done setup work on guitars for many years, so I had a set of nut files to use.

I did all of the body shaping with a handheld rasp and belt sander. After becoming more comfortable with power tools, I'd never do it that way again. It's amazing to see your own creation take shape. I've never been much of a do-it-yourself wood guy, but my personal working formula has become passion overcomes resistance.

I use a water-based lacquer called KTM-9 from LMI. I brush it on, do a lot of sanding between layers and hit the buffing wheel. It's a lot of work to get a glassy finish but the reward is breathtaking.

I was so concerned about the neck staying on that I bolted AND glued it. Mission accomplished: it'll probably never come off, even if I wanted it too! Now I use a one bolt system with a threaded brass insert. No glue in the neck joint these days.

Carving these parts and getting the pieces together and putting strings on your own instrument for the first time is a feeling that is unequaled by any other inamimate object that you can create.

This uke project gave me the confidence to continue more building. Several books, videos, websites and personal communications with great builders have helped me to assemble my own set of procedures that work well for me.

I started out using a minimal amount of power tools. Musicians naturally hate power tools. When I built this uke, I only had a Dremel, belt sander and power drill. I used a lot of hand tools such as files, hand saws, rasps and microplanes. You can take a lot of wood off in a short time with a rasp. A very fun tool. Get one with a nice handle. Also, my Stanley #5 hand plane that I found in an antique store for $40 has brought me more pleasure than I feel comfortable describing.

I have become more brave and disciplined in the last year, and now use a drill press, buffing wheel, router, palm sander, mitre saw and table saw. All of them are small economy tools. I won't be building anything larger than a uke.